Researcher, I am sure you are correct. My vague recollection on why I had three catheters was for some sort of visual or mapping process, but when I had mine done 6 years ago, I didn't have much knowledge of ablations nor did I ask a lot of questions other than experience and success rates. I now wish I had. My Dr. did offer cryoablation since he was involved in a study, but I passed oby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is interesting and it makes me wonder what my ablation 6 years ago was like. I had mine before finding this web site or doing any comprehensive research on line about ablations. Because of this, I didn't ask many questions before or after my successful ablation. However, I did know that he was good and I even waited more than a year for my ablation so that he could perfect his techniby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
If your Dr. is clueless and says that it's high blood pressure, which you don't have, then it would seem to be a good time to find another Dr. I had afib for 11 years until my ablation. I had hundreds of episodes, many over 24 hours and several over 50, and NEVER any pain or discomfort during or after the episodes.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom, I just believe in painting a clear, balanced and rational picture for those trying to decide on what to do regarding a colonoscopy. Your views are relevant, but at the same time pretty volatile. It's only fair to present "the other side" of the issue. Murry's comment regarding the discomfort of a colonoscopy I guess depends on the type of sedation given and who isby Ken - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Paranoia isn't good advice. I talked to my wife, who was the director of Gastroenterology at a major hospital about colonoscopy dangers. She said that perforating the bowel with the scope while "driving through tunnel" is a rare occurrence, but it's always good to have an experienced driver. She said that when perforations do occur, it's usually when a polyp has beby Ken - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Here's a question I will ask my wife. Since the Dr. can see everything they are doing inside the colon during a colonoscopy, how does one rupture the colon without knowing it? Snipping off a polyp could cause bleeding, so it would be VERY important to be sure you are not on blood thinners. This could be an issue for afibbers on meds, but you would likely have to stop the blood thinnersby Ken - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
neginf, Without a beta blocker, my heart rate was 180 while in afib. I was on meds for 6 years for my afib (approx. 2.5 episodes per month) to make it tolerable. I always self converted. Finally a successful ablation 5 years ago. I was/am in great health and physical condition, so no reason to go to the hospital for anything while in afib. What you do depends on the frequency of youby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy, I doubt low blood pressure (yours is just normal) cause afib. However, when in afib, it makes sense that blood pressure will drop a bit. Since the heart doesn't have it's normal strong beats, but instead quick, irregular, smaller ones, blood pressure will be lower because a smaller amount of blood is being pumped out during afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
As with all medical procedures, there is risk. One has to do research to find the "best" doctors, whether its an ablation or colonoscopy. My wife was the director of the gastroenterology department of the largest hospital in Dallas, and is/was quite familiar with the risk/benefits of the treatment. I have had three and my wife has had two, and both had polyps removed. When you mby Ken - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Maria, Do some research on "drinking too much water" on the internet. If you aren't very active, you may be drinking too much. Excess water and other fluids will flush your system of sodium and other electrolytes. This will make you more thirsty and you drink more, complicating the problem. Plus your diuretic adds more to the issue. If you are on a low salt diet, you couldby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
And of course the other possibility is that with drinking all that water, you can flush your system of sodium and everything else, which can also give you afib. You chemistry is clearly out of balance. There is NO reason to drink more than 6-8 8oz glasses of water a day unless you are very active and losing water through sweating or heavy respiration. The more water you drink, the less sodiuby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
What Hans said. Regarding post ablation activity. Dr's will vary in what they say, plus your state of fitness and health will play a role. I was in great physical shape (health and fitness) before my ablation and as a result, I literally felt 100% normal two days after the ablation. At the time, I was 61. I went back to work full time and did all normal activities with the only restriby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy, What you are experiencing is similar to my last 6 years of afib before my ablation. I was on meds to help control it, but still had about 3 episodes a month from 2 to 50 hours and always self converted. Finally, I got tired of it and had a successful ablation 5 years ago. My situation occurred before I found this web site, so I didn't try any supplements to manage the afib. I dby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a 100% successful ablation 5 years ago after 11 years of afib. Done by Kevin R. Wheelan at the HeartPlace, Baylor Hospital in Dallas,TXby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was in great shape prior to my ablation and actually felt 100% normal a few days after my ablation. However, I did wait one month before I got back into my workouts and other physical activities at my Dr's recommendation. Other than a slight loss of conditioning, I was back up to almost full capacity in a couple of weeks. "Almost" refers to my healing heart and reaching my aby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Every evening - Glass of sangria A few ounces of mixed nuts Small dinner Two pieces of Dove dark chocolate Medium dish of ice cream (usually some chocolate chips or similar in it) Never a hint of afib or flutter Go figure........... I should also add that I have 12% body fat and keep in good physical shape.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy, While I can't relate any experience with pot, afib for me before medications was either in (150-180 HR) or out (55HR). No transition time, just like a light switch. Your experience may not have been afib, just a reaction to the pot and drinks.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erling, Thanks for the follow up. I too spent 5 years with afib without knowing what is was until I finally got in to see an electrophysiologist while having an episode of "palpitations". Prior to that, I was diagnosed with an irregular heat beat from mitral valve prolapse, which was not the case. No mitral valve prolapse after further tests. This all started 16 years ago. I wasby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erling, Great story, but would you define "a bad case of afibs" and how it was diagnosed?by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lorne, After my ablation, my resting heart rate was at 70 bpm. Before doesn't mean much since I was on Toprol XL (it was in the 40's). However, after one year, my resting heart rate leveled off at 60. Prior to the ablation, I didn't pay much attention to my maximal heart rate, but after, it seemed unusually high. On a Stairmaster, I can sustain my HR at 160 easily and caby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM