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Re: Cardioversion: a reset button? - 6 years ago

I had 3 cardioversions over the space of 18 months.. First one lasted 36 hours, second didn’t work at all, third, with anti-arrhythmic drugs, lasted 48 hours. I then went for ablation with one of the world's best in Bordeaux, still working after 15 years. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: How long do ablations last? - 6 years ago

Think I might be the longest - 15½ years. I had an ablation and touch up 3 days later in Bordeaux after years of paroxysmal AF and 18 months of longterm persistent AF. Get a fluttery feeling now and then but it feels like runs of ectopics not AF. Most crucial thing is to choose a maestro to do the job - I had Prof. Haïssaguerre, assisted by Dr. (now Prof.) Jaïs. Gill (female and pronounce

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Afib and scuba diving - 6 years ago

Ken is right, they dare not let you dive if you tick the heart condition box. Dive operators can’t be expected to know that AF isn’t going to kill you. I used to leave that box blank - the risk was mine and the dive operator would not have been blamed if something went wrong. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Afib and scuba diving - 6 years ago

I dived for many years with paroxysmal AF but I would sit out dives when it was actually happening. I stopped diving when it turned into long term persistent AF. 4 months after ablation in Bordeaux I was on a liveaboard dive boat in the Maldives. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Does ‘successful’ daily Flecainide usage ‘mask’ persistent AF? - 6 years ago

Carey is correct. Longstanding persistent AF was what I had before my Bordeaux ablation and touch up 15½ years ago. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: New ablation technique in JACC - 6 years ago

When FIRM was getting everyone excited I asked my EP about it. He replied "There have been many false dawns!" Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sadness - 6 years ago

Great post, Carey. Should be a compulsory read for all new afbbers. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: 11 months on from 1st ablation - 6 years ago

Thanks George, you are quite right! I have edited the post. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: 11 months on from 1st ablation - 6 years ago

Davros Since my ablation over 15 years ago I have been in nsr but had many ectopics, nearly 8000 on a 24 hour Holter. The docs in Bordeaux said they were a nuisance but not a problem. They did however feel very uncomfortable, like being kicked in the chest every few minutes. Following advice on this site I started taking magnesium, made no difference. I then added potassium, slight impr

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: What if TEE reveals a blood clot? - 7 years ago

The first time I went to Bordeaux in 2002 for ablation I had a TEE (TOE) the morning of the procedure - my choice to have it there because it was cheaper than in UK. They found a clot and I was discharged immediately with everything I needed to deal with the clot. I had already paid in advance by credit card for the ablation. Before I left I spoke to the finance people in the office and told

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Short Bursts of Radiation for AF - 7 years ago

Totally agree with George. If you pick one of the best ablationists in the world why would you question their methods? I would do masses of research before choosing the EP but having done that I would accept that they know their job and let them get on with it. No matter how many questions you ask, and how much reading you do, you will never know a fraction of what they know. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Rat posion - 7 years ago

Can’t remember where, but I once read that most people on Warfarin are outside the desired INR range a lot (most?) of the time. I took it for 18 months when I was in persistent AF and insisted on weekly, rather than monthly, blood tests. I adjusted my own dosage and was better at keeping in range than when the nurse did the dosage. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Losing hope and finding alternative. - 7 years ago

Quotekong2018 So basically we have no way out but suffer from it for life. That's plain simple and brutal. No so. As I have told you before, I have had over 15 years of normal rhythm since ablation. For me AF is a thing of the past, and if it ever returns I shall be back in Bordeaux as fast as they can take me. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: What's the longest NSR after Dr Natale's ablation you've ever heard/known about? - 7 years ago

I don’t really care if it’s 'curative' or 'at least partially curative' as long as I am in normal rhythm. Ablation doesn’t fix whatever caused the Afib but it stopped it happening and gave me my life back. That is good enough for me. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: What's the longest NSR after Dr Natale's ablation you've ever heard/known about? - 7 years ago

The Bordeaux team are on a par with Dr Natale. I have been in normal rhythm since ablation there in early January 2003, ie over 15 years. I needed a second ablation three days after the first, but I had been in long term persistent AF for 18 months so was not an easy case. In those days very few EPs would even attempt ablation for persistent AF. And the technology has improved since then.

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Unexpected replies from Prof Schilling & Bordeaux - 7 years ago

Good to hear from you Barry, pleased that all is well. My "cringe" ablation is still working, I’m happy to say. Those Bordeaux people know their stuff! Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Bordeaux or London AF Centre (Prof. Schilling) - 7 years ago

Mike I sympathise with your dilemma! In 2002 I didn’t have the same decisions to make because only a couple of EPs in UK were beginning to consider ablations, so Bordeaux was my only option. I had been in long term persistent AF for 18 months and the prospects for success were not good. I consider myself very lucky to have had all these years of sinus rhythm. Hope you too get it all sort

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Bordeaux or London AF Centre (Prof. Schilling) - 7 years ago

Mike The point of the TOE is not to see if you are in AF but to show if there are any clots behind the heart. I was first booked into Bordeaux in November 2002 and had the same problem getting the TOE at the right time via the NHS or paying for it. Bordeaux told me that they could do it immediately before the ablation, which was much much cheaper than paying in UK, so that’s what I did.

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Stopping Flecainide pre-Bordeaux-ablation and follow-up afterwards - 7 years ago

Mike The Bordeaux team sent a report back to the referrer, ie to the EP at King’s, who then did all the follow up. I wonder if your GP will organise follow up for you since he did the referral and will get the report? Worth asking him/her about what happens re follow up perhaps? Things might have changed, but in 2003 you could have a friend or relative stay in your 2-bedded room with you,

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Stopping Flecainide pre-Bordeaux-ablation and follow-up afterwards - 7 years ago

Mike This was many years ago (2003) and things may have changed, but I was referred to Bordeaux, at my request, by my EP at King’s College Hospital. They sent all my records and did all the follow up for several years ie anticoagulation, medication, regular checkups and ECGs. Re stopping flecainide, if you have chosen one of the best centres in the world, why would you question their instr

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Question for Bordeaux ablatees & Shannon - 7 years ago

Thanks George, I didn’t have time to dig out the links. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Question for Bordeaux ablatees & Shannon - 7 years ago

Tim I follow Jackie's instructions - perhaps she will jump in here. Everyone is different and you have to experiment to find what works for you. The doctors in Bordeaux say that ectopics are a nuisance, not a problem - worth remembering that. I started with magnesium to bowel tolerance, made no difference to the ectopics. Then I added potassium, still no difference. Added taurine,

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation options for U.K. resident - 7 years ago

The NHS is a gamble, acute services can be brilliant but you can’t be sure you are getting the best person's hands on the catheters. In your position, if I could possibly afford it, I would choose Bordeaux. When I had my ablations there (see my post on your other thread) I was not charged anything for the second procedure. Of course things might have changed since 2003. (Ms) Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Question for Bordeaux ablatees & Shannon - 7 years ago

Mike I had my ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, after many years of paroxysmal AF and 18 months of long term persistent AF, so I was probably a difficult case. They did all the lines that were known to work at that time, ie isolated all 4 pulmonary veins, roof line, and line from the left inferior pulmonary vein to the mitral annulus. They also did the right side flutter line 'on

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Fluttering, skipping, or rapid heartbeat...all AFib? - 7 years ago

I was once in A&E and after an ECG the non-heart-specialist doctors said it was Afib. However when the EP looked at it a few days later he said it wasn’t Afib, just runs of ectopics. So it isn’t easy to tell if it’s Afib or not. I would just press the button whenever you felt something abnormal, then let the EP decide what is happening. Ms Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Cardiac Arrhythmias - The Missed Cause - 7 years ago

What Travis said makes sense to me. Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Cardiac Arrhythmias - The Missed Cause - 7 years ago

I have an old medical book published in 1909. There is a section on Auricular Fibrillation. Were EMFs around then??? Just to amuse you, the book says "Treatment is very unsatisfactory, and during exacerbations of this condition rest in bed and cardiac tonics must be prescribed. Auricular Fibrillation is a very serious state and is usually fatal." Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: is there a test to confirm recovery from afib? - 7 years ago

Dear Peggy, I don’t have any advice or help to offer I’m afraid, but not having heard from you for a while I just wanted to tell you how delighted I am that you are still posting angry, funny and pertinent messages on the board. Long may it continue! Do keep on fighting and believing in your own intelligence! Gill

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ectopic beats 3 months after cryoablation - 7 years ago

Herbert >>Gill did you know your blood potassium level prior to taking the supplement?<< I knew that it was within normal range. I have blood tests every 6 months to check kidney function is ok because any excess magnesium and potassium are excreted by the kidneys. The results are always the higher end of normal for both of them. I understand your quest for solid evidence,

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ectopic beats 3 months after cryoablation - 7 years ago

Herbert After my ablation in Bordeaux in 2003 I experienced huge numbers of ectopic beats, almost 8,000 on one 24 hour Holter. They were very uncomfortable, like being kicked in the chest every few minutes, even though the EP said they were a nuisance not a problem. Following advice on this forum I started supplementing with magnesium, no difference. I then added taurine, slight improveme

by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM