Nick, A lot of the concern with both of new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), both Xarelto and Eliquis, stemmed from the initial lack of a reversing agent. In the presence of a hemorrhagic event such as stroke or trauma, these can lead to fatal bleeds in rare cases. Coumadin (warfarin), on the other hand, is readily reversed with Vitamin K. Recently, however, there have been reversal agents developby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, Outside my knowledge base, I'm afraid. The anticoagulation decision is between doctor and patient. I have heard of studies using the new oral anticoagulants (Xarelto, Eliquis) as a pill-in-pocket (PIP) approach. Primarily it was done for folks in high-risk professions, such as law enforcement and fire fighting. I believe they showed positive results. Just take the thinner when youby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, It has to do with what exactly gets ablated. In this case, the left atrial appendage is ablated, which eliminates the AF trigger but also makes the muscle less contractile (it doesn't "beat" along with the rest of the atrium). So blood can still pool up in it and form a clot. This is why the EPs do a TEE to check how blood is flowing in that area and if it is below a certaiby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it's the drugs. I jogged every morning for 6 months on rhythmol and it felt like I was dragging a boat anchor. Make sure your cardiologist is aware of your routine. Exercise on anti-arrhythmics carries some risk, albeit minor. All the more reason to get off the darn things as quickly as you can!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ken, I had PACs diagnosed with a Holster monitor when I was 25. Afib started at 41. It's no mystery. I had triggers in my PVs for all my adult life and I just got to the point where they started to take over. The electrolytes will keep them at bay. Adjust accordingly.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
PACs, for a lot of us (myself included), seem to be a common aftermath of an ablation. Electrolytes and proper hydration are your best bet. Mine were real bad in the months after my ablation. Now a year and almost a half out, they are just hit and miss. Go figure. As long as they don't turn into AF, who cares?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good question. Grind one up and see how soluble it is in water. tvanslooten Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Wolfpack: > > Could you use potassium gluconate instead of potas > > Travis > > wolfpack Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > > Nancy, > > > > I'd bet my last dollar onby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great news on the heart rate! I don't think age really should be an exclusion factor for AF ablation any longer. The science is really progressing to the point where almost anyone can benefit. I'm certain Shannon can add more to that discussion.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
No cardiologist should ever object to an EP consult for arrhythmia. If he or she does, it's time for a new cardiologist in my opinion!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joyce, Your previous post is why this forum needs a Facebook-style "Like" button! Yes, a lot of mainstream medicine excels at treating acute illnesses, broken arms, etc. But anything chronic must be your own fault. Tiresome, really.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle, Yes, quite complex! Iron supplementation is not easy. The engineer in me wonders about attacking the problem from the other side. Oxygen supplementation? Is it possible to get a tank or two and a mask for temporary use while your blood counts return to normal?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy, I'd bet my last dollar on dehydration. Maybe get some Gatorade if you can. Better than pure water if you're losing fluids the way you describe. You can also "homebrew" it by adding sugar, salt and potassium chloride (salt substitute) to water. A tablespoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 tsp potassium chloride in a quart of water should do the trick. If you donby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle, First I wish you a speedy recovery from what sounds like a terrible fall. Your heart rate issue is complex and best treated by your doctors. One question i would ask is about iron supplementation. If your red blood cell count is low from the bleeding, that will reduce the oxygen carrying capability of your blood, and the body will respond to that with increased heart rate.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, Yes, the AliveCor/Kardia AF detection algorithm "gives up" at rates below 50 bpm. "Unclassified" isn't necessarily bad, it just means the program can't (or isn't allowed) to figure it out. I get this all the time as I'll have rates in the upper 40's.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good point, Shannon. Might've been the drugs talking! In any case, I submit my own experience as a cautionary tale for fellow vagal AF-ers. Getting "mellow" on synthetic opioids was a disaster for me. Yet another reason to hate those things.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
kirk Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > hi Sorry ,but what is Metoprlol/flecanaide pip? th Kirk, Metoprolol is a beta-blocker, which acts to slow the heart rate but otherwise do nothing to affect rhythm. Flecainide is an anti-arrhythmic medication that slows atrial conduction and works to maintain/restore normal sinus rhythm (NSR). Edit: I should aby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I second Shannon's endorsement. The AliveCor/Kardia is a wonderful device!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Do you have a recommendation on a Zinc supplement (with male gender in mind)? Much appreciated!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
smackman, Maybe get a simple blood test (CBC plus metabolic panel) done by your primary care physician. Oral anti coagulation plus a history of gastritis is worrisome. If you had a little ulcer somewhere then the Eliquis could make that bleed. A quick check of the red blood cell count and hematocrit could be useful. I know from experience with my own esophageal ulcer a few years back that anemby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to see intelligent and informed rebuttal to the medical-journalism. I, for one, have stopped paying any attention at all to this physician's website as I believe it is in violation of the Hippocratic Oath.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
AlveCor showed some slight morphological changes in the EKG. I actually saw some S-waves, which I normally never see due to benign early repolarization (BER) that is a side effect of endurance running. 3 hours later they are gone. So I take that as pretty darning evidence that something temporarily altered the conduction in my heart. Either Hypokalemia induced by the surgical procure, the narcotiby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron, I have the same issues with outdoor running, especially in the hot, humid summer months. You are 1.5 years out from an ablation, as am I, so I wouldn't worry about the training regimen. Do it if it's what makes you feel good. My guess is you're going to need a more aggressive supplementation regimen to keep up with the electrolyte losses. I'm doing well on Potassium, Mby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I just had sinus surgery this morning (septoplasty and bilateral turbinate reduction). The nurse gave me 10mg/500 mg hydrocodone/acetomeniphen in recovery. Now I'm laying in bed and got some scary arrhythmia when shifting onto my left side. Let's call it a PAC storm bordering on full-blown AF. Subsiding now. Is it likely that the opiates are to blame? Anyone have a similar experienceby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Travis, You might not need a 2nd ablation. And Dr. Natale, as I understand it, trains a lot of EPs. There will always be somebody available who can do complex left atrial ablations. And what says that if you need a 2nd ablation, that it will be complex left atrial? It could just be reconnect-the-dots on the PVI. Keep calm and beat on!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, I'm wondering if it isn't more of an indication that propafenone was the wrong drug for me. Even in the absence of betas, propafenone itself has secondary beta-blocking effects. I think, given my daily running and high vagal tone, that the "slowing" effect was too much and a little bit of "juice" was enough to overcome it. Maybe flec would've been a bby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, I have no clue as to why, but I would break through almost nightly on Propafenone XR 325mg. Add two beers and I'd stay in NSR all night long. I told my cardiologist, and he said he could think of no reason why this would work, but if it did just keep doing it (with the caveat that it didn't become 4, 5, or 6!). I mostly followed that advice. Second the thought on the hby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Drew, If I read you correctly you are about 6 months post-ablation, so most of the healing should be done. However, it's not uncommon to experience after-effects up to and including one year. If it is possible for you to do so, I'd recommend getting an AliveCor (now Kardia) device for your smartphone or portable computer. It's an EKG machine that literally takes the mystery outby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
My personal 2 cents' worth is that it may depend on your AF mediation. If you're adrenergic, than alcohol is going to be a no-no. It irritates the heart and speeds it up. If you're vagal, then you may be able to ingest ethanol with little ill-effect (so far as rhythm is concerned. There are plenty of other bad effects). Speaking as a vagal AFer, I am in the odd and possibly inexby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
As I understand it, Eliquis and Xarelto are both in the same class of factor Xa (read 10-a) inhibitors. Xarelto differs really only in the once-a-day regimen versus Eliquis's twice-a-day. I can't understand preferring one over the other. This decision reeks of politics to me.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
JayBros Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Robert -- just a little humor here because I've > been down your road a number of times with the > multiple jolt routine. I don't believe they hit > you with volts, but did with joules. > I'm not a doctor, but I am an electrical engineer and I play one on the internet, too! Jouleby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM