Carey is right. If you are concerned you can ask for an ultrasound. I had it ultrasound because the pain felt like my experience with a one time dvt and it turned out to be a hematoma. It was never hard. It still is sensitive but I’m not concerned.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Correct me I am wrong...but can’t you start Eliquis and see if it agrees with you? The benefits outweigh the side effects unless the side effects cause more serious problems. You are over 80. Can you compromise with your doctor for the 2.5 dose?by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Is 50 mg of zinc a day too much? Yes, if you get too much. Signs of too much zinc include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and headaches. When people take too much zinc for a long time, they sometimes have problems such as low copper levels, lower immunity, and low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol).Jul 12, 2019 › factsheets Zinc — Consumer - Officby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hmm. I just told my GP about my GERD is getting worst from Multaq and how my PPI is failing and he took a zinc and b12 lab. Both within range. I wouldn’t mind taking zinc (already on b12) but if I am within range for the serum test, what would happen if I take zinc and I have too much zinc in my body?by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, aspirin can cause GI pain, thus a better choice to take Eliquis. I was like you. I asked my ep why some patients only take 2.5 and I had to take 5mg being normal weight and petite? He confirmed Carey statement of those over 80 with kidney issues process drugs differently by remaining in their body longer and 2.5mg would be advisable then. How is your kidney function?by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey- I only buy 4 drugs in the USA so with my copay I don’t know know if it’s worth the premiums. I used to buy flecainide, Tenormin, cancer drug, norvac, Prilosec, nitro overseas where it’s cheap but I don’t use those drugs except for prilosec. A lot of drugs at cvs like the water pill are so cheap (under $10/3 month supply) that I pay cash. Thanks for the tip.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have Medicare but no part D. My husband’s insurance pays with a $30-50 co-pay ($30 for grandfather drugs and $50 for new drugs). CVS accepts coupons while using multaq coupons. I haven’t tried Eliquis to see if they will accept as well.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well that’s my concern. AV ablation that I will need a pacemaker. My heart was still firing during the ablation near my AV. The ablation was terminated because of some issue. I was told if I need a touchup he would have to get to it from behind? to avoid my AV. My concern is an accidental AV node ablated. It’s only a wiggly wire. I got my Zio patch today. It ironic because I am getting pvc alby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
GeorgeN- the Apple Watch takes continuous hr every 3 minutes. You can see it in the health app. Obviously when you take it off to charge you won’t get any readings.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Go to their website to find coupons. $10 co pay With multaq, FYI, the manufacturer offers $50 off-exactly my copay so it’s free. I didn’t know about it. The CVS clerk printed it up for me.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, I’ll PM you the readings the next time it’s slow. In the hospital I had hypoxia so it was low from 88-92. My BP if I recall was staying about 80/50s in the hospital ICU. GeorgeN, my hr is faster now since the ablation. It was just 108 because I was on the treadmill for 33 minutes (yeh for my baby steps endurance!)) @1.1 speed and 1.5 elevation. It’s back to 64hr after 8-10 minutes. My hrby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Typo careyby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteLorraine Use a Kardia and if it records pauses, send the recording to Natale's NP. What does a pause look like on the recording? I’m not sure this is a pause but it’s a real slow beat. I got it from taking the 3rd flecainide earlier this year. I think it’s a 27hr. Casey would know what a pause is and maybe he can share an example.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pros and cons of the Kardia (which my local EP has all of his patients enroll with a BP kit: Lag time because I have to grab my phone, enter password, scroll for Kardia app, set it to record ekg, wet my knee and fingers. That’s in a rush a 20 second delay opposed to an Apple Watch which is instant (3 seconds) to get app and place my finger on the dial. 2. It constantly says during a violent 130by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I use my Apple Watch which monitors my HR. I’m aware if my heart is super slow, it could beat at 24 which on the ekg looks like my heart forgot to beat but didn’t actually stop. I looked at Apple’s heart app and saw week by week for six weeks prior to my ablation, my watch captured some low HR but never a zero HR...even when in AF. Post ablation I counted 22 times the watch captured a zero HR.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have a few polyps in my gall bladder since 2002. I had many opportunities to get surgery but didn’t because I read surgery could trigger an AF. Stupid really in hindsight because if a polyp grows it could become cancerous and gall bladder cancer maybe fatal. I did ask in 2012 when they double dip two surgeries at once (GI & GYN) and the surgeons refused saying two at one shot was a risk inby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
“Partly” from his skilled hands and experience and the rest from G-d I am in nsr. I know a lot of doctors that are not artists with their hands. Natale is a skilled mortal master. God is God a divine master...yeah, for a mortal Natale plays a big role so far in my recovery and I hope living a life in nsr. Happy Casey to clarify my statement.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Like Carey, Dr. Natale put me on Multaq two months ago after my ablation. I’m in nsr, partly I speculate from his skilled hands. I was one of the 28% who has the prolonged QRS side effect from this drug. The original minor side effects were annoying (gas, burping, the worst itch from scalp to in between toes and eyelashes-everywhere, rash on face, worst gerd, GI pain) but i don’t have the severitby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you GeorgeN! Very valuable info you shared. I wish I read this before I wrecked myself. All I read on this forum was 300mg and I didn’t think weight was a factor. I relied on a questionably EP. I hope those reading that those who weighs in their one teens to 120s to be educated and rethink the 300mg dose. Flecainide is a black label drug and to increase my dose to 300 at 121 pounds was anby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron, your weight must dictate your proper flecainide dose. I learned the hard way (3 days in cardio ICU) that at my weight 300mg daily caused a dangerous situation. I later learned I didn’t weight enough for 300 mg.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
? An ER dr once told me I was in AF because of low carbs. Before my ablation my GP put me in 50 carbs a day...lots of AF occurred. On the flip side, I would get AF after eating a high carb meal. Once 2 slices of gluten free bread, 2 rice cakes and hummus (chick peas/garbanzo beans) put me in AF. I asked my GP today how much carbs should I have. He doesn’t know now (has a separate degreeby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lucky you. I got the 5 and it never alerted me I had af. It notifies me of low hr but not high. I called up and Apple told me the Apple Watch is not legally developed for patients who has been diagnosed with af and he was not allowed to give me tech support. I then said I would give away the watch to my daughter but wanted to know why I didn’t get high hr alerts “to help my daughter set it up” (by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
pgrove1 I was very successful with my 15 years on flecainide. first 5 years with no AF and then an AF from throwing up and dehydration (3 weeks in hospital for my GI) then nsr for 3 years until throwing up again.. You should be fine. Age is in your favor and as was remarked, by the time you are 50 or older, treatment for AF will be improved. Good luck with flecainide! Just watch your herbaby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for sharing! “ Abstract D-limonene is one of the most common terpenes in nature. It is a major constituent in several citrus oils (orange, lemon, mandarin, lime, and grapefruit). D-limonene is listed in the Code of Federal Regulations as generally recognized as safe” Considers it low toxicity and would be a dream for me with my GERD however I wonder if it’s orange grapefruit anby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Those who take black label drugs should read the above CYP interactions to lower risks. I check similar sites when I was on Flecainide. Now I check while on Eliquis and Multaq, also black label drugs. Mayo Clinic also has a list for other drug interactions.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was lazy and didn't use my CPAP machine for 3 months and my AF returned so often to the point that I had to have an ablation for sanity because I am symptomatic. You should be tested for sleep apnea to rule it out. You can have a home test or a lab test where you sleep at their facility. I prefer my own bed vs a freezing room with an uncomfortable bed. I think the lab test is more detailedby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Why is Afib given so little attention? Even if it's not going to kill you, it's considered serious, isn't it? Liz There is a lot of research for race horses with AF. I guess they are more financially valued.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
100mg three times a day (300mg total in 24 hours) . I was on two 100mg a day for 15 years and a former EP told me to increase my dose. I ended up in icu.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM