Yes, thank you Shannon and Jackie and all of the other kind people who have helped me this year. 8 months ago I was quite sick and anxious as my Afib was progressing very quickly. Happily after my Natale ablation I am now back in Sinus Rhythm. I am very thankful for this site and all of the kind people who have provided very wise counsel. Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
I recently learned that Stanford offers a health library, which is open to the public, both in person and virtually. Stanford Health Library Amazing this includes a free, online research service. Instead of attempting to explain it myself I will copy/paste. Research Link Quote We provide customized research, at no charge, for medical or health-related questions. Please complete theby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. Yes, I think it has .5% alcohol, which I'm hoping is low enough to be ok. I too am starting to drink a lot of them as they are a new thing for me and a treat. I will have 3 a night, but again unless I'm missing something seems to be ok in my book. To Jackie's point the gluten seems to be ok for me too.by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have abstained from alcohol since my ablation but recently started drinking NA beer. Taste-wise it's not bad and kinda a nice treat and great for social situations when others are imbibing. Does anyone do the same? Have any health concerns been found regarding my new discovery? As always thanks friends!by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, Just update here and a couple of questions. I'm 5 months post-ablation and all is going really well. Outside of a few days 1 week post-ablation in which I went into flutter (which self-corrected thankfully) I have stayed in NSR. I have heard from Dr. Natale office that I can begin weaning off of Multaq (which I have completed today) and in early December (6 months after the ablatioby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon for the update and best wishes for your visit with Dr. Rubenson! Let me know if you need some help with the site upgrade. Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie, I appreciate the advice. All the best, Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, I met with the Functional Medicine doc and she indicated that Vit B12 levels below 500 pg/mL require supplementation of 1000mcg. She recommended Methyl Balance from ProThera, which is oral. I will follow up and see what she says about sublingual B12. I think some of her thinking was due to the fact that my homocysteine levels were high. All the best, Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, that is great news. Congratulations to all and thanks for all of the help!by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Jackie for looking in this. It's really kind. I'm going to meet my Functional Med doc tomorrow. I'm sure that she will have the numbers. I'll report back. BTW: I've been on vit D now for about 2 weeks and I'm starting to feel much better. Better sleep, more relaxed, better sense of smell. I wonder if the impact could be that quick.by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
I decided to see Dr. Griffin at the CPMC — Institute for Health & Healing Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation. She is in-network for my insurance, which is rather amazing. I met with her and so far am pleased.by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon and Jackie. I would still be interested to learn what the preferred blood test value is. As I mentioned I was at 347pg/mL and the lab quotes a reference range of 211 - 911 pg/mL, which indicates that I'm at the low-end. I did find a new FM doc here in SF, Dr. Griffin at CPMC Heath and Healing Center. She seems quite knowledgable. I will check with her. All the best, Qby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, In my Sleep Apnea discovery I've had my B12 checked as it is suppose to relate to Vit D deficiencies per Dr. Gominak. Source D deficiency is the most common sleep disruptor but B12, B5 and iron deficiency also play a role. Most people become B12 deficient because they are D deficient. Low D make the parietal cells of the stomach produce less intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor iby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jackie, I called Rhein and they said they have CPT codes for the urine hormone test. They also state on their site under FAQ: Will my insurance cover the hormone profile? Most insurance companies reimburse fully for the Rhein Labs hormone profile. Of course, it’s wise to check with your insurer in advance. I also spoke to Meridian Valley Labs and they have CPT codes for their testsby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks McHale. Going back and looking at my Natale Ablation Report it states 2) Successful isolation of all four PVs and SVC for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. McHale/Shannon any idea if that means that he worked on the 3rd Fat Pat? Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie.by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie for sharing your personal experiences and the fruit of those experiences with us younger folks just beginning this journey. If there is any consolation at least your experience is helping a new generation of people hopefully avoid some of these problems. Of course traditionally MDs still resist any notion of vitamin of hormone deficiencies. I was at a sleep doctor the other day andby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
I got my Vitamin D, 25-HYDROXY blood work back today. 2 months ago it was at 20.2. I thought that I would try getting more sun to correct the problem. Unfortunatley that hasn't worked. I've been in the sun a good 20-30 a day without sunscreen on sunny days. I understand all of the variables (latitude, skin pigmentation, etc.) yet I still am way under. My new Vitamin D, 25-HYDROXY levelby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you everyone!by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Can someone please remind me of which hormone and Vitamin deficiency tests to have done? I recall Shannon mentioning that earlier but I can't find my notes. All the best, Queby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Can anyone recommend a general practitioner or functional medicine doctor in the San Francisco Bay Area? I would prefer one in San Francisco but I can travel if needed. I would like to have some tests such as the ExaTest and Hormone Levels and my current doctor doesn't want to prescribe those. Thanksby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it was Dr. Stasha Gominak that I was referencing. Her site is: She more or less lists every medical condition that I have. I also have very low vit D levels. The Vitamin D Council has a home test kit:by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George. I'm currently looking into all of this. One really interesting finding was Vit D levels and sleep healht. Check this out. Dr. Parkby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Came across this in my sleep apnea research. Seems like their is a 57% increased risk of AF after ablation for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) that are not on CPAP, which is the preferred therapy. Medscape Bottomline is that is you think you may have sleep apnea it is worth getting checked out. One initial sign is snoring, another is overall sleepiness during the day. And,by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pretty sure that this is my sleep apnea kicking in during the night. Spoke with the sleep doc and he seems to agree. Of course, there's no way to tell with an iWatch reading. Would need full EKG. rby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
You're welcome Jackie. I'm exploring therapies for my Sleep Apnea, which was recently diagnosed at Stanford and one leading option entails surgery. Apparently it is quite painful for 2 weeks post surgery and the doctor has indicated that he would keep me on pain killers. I believe they would be narcotics/opiates. What is the thinking these days for post-op pain management? Qby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Everyone, I received the results of my sleep study and am considering next steps. I was told by my sleep doctor that I was a difficult case to treat because my numbers were borderline mild to moderate. The large majority of abnormal respiratory events were hypopneas (a decrease in breathing opposed to a full stop, if I got that right) and during those events I was only mildly desaturatedby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ok, that sums it up well. Thanks kindly Shannon! Qby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was intrigued by the article "Left Atrium Appendage (LAA) Morphology and Physiology 'The Missing Piece of the Puzzle'" in the most recent Afib Report, June/July 2015. I am wondering if this additional diagnostic, LAA morphology classification, would apply to CHA2DS2 patients who have been successfully ablated, such as myself. I have a CHA2DS2 score of 0 and was recentlyby Que - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie, as always you are treasure trove of resources. This was a good article I found:by Que - AFIBBERS FORUM