A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 09:40AM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 10:59AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 922 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 01:34PM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 741 |
I can share my experience as someone who has had Afib for 10 years, but has not had an ablation. First, the medications I am taking (Eliquis, low dose flecainide and low dose propranolol) have not caused noticeable side-effects or caused any changes in my labs. Flecainide has, so far, controlled Afib nearly completely and though it is likely to fail at some point. I also have other health issues that might make recovery from an ablation more difficult.Quote
In your opinion, if general cases, if ablations seem so (relatively) easy and effective, why do people battle for years trying to get strong medications correct, suffering thru side effects, messed up combinations, possibility of stroke, death or afib getting worse, burden on the liver, etc.... Why don't they just get an ablation and be done with it? I know you can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 01:41PM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 01:56PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,365 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 04:44PM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Interesting. I hadn’t heard that perspective. I thought most cardiologists were pro drug and pro ablation, at least in the US.Quote
Pompon
Most meds and methods are much older than ablations. Many cardiologists still don't trust this New technology and consider ablationists as barbarians.
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 07:04PM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 741 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 10:06PM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 4,234 |
Quote
cirenepurzalot
In your opinion, if general cases, if ablations seem so (relatively) easy and effective, why do people battle for years trying to get strong medications correct, suffering thru side effects, messed up combinations, possibility of stroke, death or afib getting worse, burden on the liver, etc.... Why don't they just get an ablation and be done with it? I know you can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 10:34PM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 322 |
Quote
cirenepurzalot
. . . if ablations seem so (relatively) easy and effective, why do people battle for years trying to get strong medications correct, suffering thru side effects, messed up combinations, possibility of stroke, death or afib getting worse, burden on the liver, etc.... Why don't they just get an ablation and be done with it? I know you can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Re: A curiosity.... February 01, 2020 11:54PM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 283 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 01:16AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 199 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 01:30AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,365 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 01:50AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 199 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 08:07AM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 11:45AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,520 |
Quote
Carey
I am not frightened of dying of AFIB, I am frightened of living with it.
Wow, that's a great line.
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 01:10PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 60 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 01:16PM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 07:02PM |
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Re: A curiosity.... February 02, 2020 11:18PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 68 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 12:36AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,365 |
Quote
JDfiB
How is the burden percentage number determined?
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 04:16AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 199 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 05:44AM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 07:08AM |
Registered: 12 years ago Posts: 199 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 10:25AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 68 |
Thank you !Quote
Carey
How is the burden percentage number determined?
It's simply the time spent in afib divided by the total time.
So, for example, if you spent 12 hours in afib during one week, that's 12 hours out of 168 hours.
The math look like this:
12 / (7 * 24) =
12 / 168 =
.0714 =
7% afib burden
Re: A curiosity.... February 03, 2020 10:47AM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 836 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 04, 2020 08:22AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 233 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 04, 2020 10:35AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,365 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 04, 2020 05:41PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 836 |
Re: A curiosity.... February 04, 2020 06:51PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,365 |
Quote
smackman
Carey, You got the watchman basically free right? If I would of had that opportunity I would have jumped on it like stink on a skunk. You also say your cost for eliquis is minimal. That’s not the case with me and many others.
What if I need surgery in the future? That is just one of my concerns that you really do not have to consider. You can get off Eliquis without having to worry about a stroke. You taking Eliquis for PM is smart but a personal choice. Eliquis puts me in the donut hole every year..
I cannot get nerve end therapy to my back anymore due to mandatory anticoagulant. All I get is medication for a chronic bad back. Now that stinks for me.
Re: A curiosity.... February 04, 2020 09:14PM |
Registered: 11 years ago Posts: 4,234 |
Quote
Carey
What's so frustrating about this is there's already data available showing that a Watchman becomes cheaper than NOACs after about 5 years. Plus there are no compliance issues. You can't exactly forget to take your Watchman. So Medicare and the insurance companies should be jumping all over it because it will reduce their costs in the long run. Probably substantially when you factor in strokes among people who aren't compliant with their meds (upwards of 40% of afib patients eventually quit taking their anticoagulant). I think they will come around and start covering it, and that will happen in the next few years, so I think you'll be able to get one eventually.
Re: A curiosity.... February 10, 2020 08:11AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 10 |
Quote
cirenepurzalot
In your opinion, if general cases, if ablations seem so (relatively) easy and effective, why do people battle for years trying to get strong medications correct, suffering thru side effects, messed up combinations, possibility of stroke, death or afib getting worse, burden on the liver, etc.... Why don't they just get an ablation and be done with it? I know you can't speak for everyone, but I'd like to hear your opinion.
Re: A curiosity.... February 10, 2020 10:05AM |
Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 236 |