Hi, I just had my Natale ablation 8/2/19. I looked forward to getting off of sotalol & Xarelto (the latter drug will have to stay a while longer I am told). Since my ablation I have had a kind of cough reflex in that when I take in a little more air (a slightly deeper inspiration sometimes), it causes me to sort of gag/cough. Totally non-productive cough and non-relieving, but kind ofby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, This is my first time to post in this area as before I have always done so on afibbers forum. My question is not directly related to afib this time though. I just had my Natale ablation 8/2/19. I looked forward to getting off of sotalol & Xarelto (the latter drug will have to stay a while longer I am told). Since my ablation I have had a kind of cough reflex in that when I taby Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Hi Ingrid, Sorry to be slow in responding. QuoteIngrid Hi Madeline, I hope that your GI and coughing issues have subsided by now and that your ablation continues to be a success. I am a new Afibber recently diagnosed and reading as much as I can on this forum. I am 55 year old healthy female that had a recent Afib episode that lasted 10 hours before I converted. This has happened aby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteLeo J When to stop taking the sotalol is probably in your discharge papers. I was instructed to continue taking multaq for two months following the ablation. I initially had some wheezing that was caused by fluid buildup in my lungs—seems like it took around a week to subside with the help of diuretics. No it does not say when to stop. Just to continue sotalol 80 mg twice daily - which toby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesafib It often isn't clear that one's only condition is afib. There may be latent coronary or thyroid disease, or perhaps some issue with not having a thyroid, which is aggravated by sudden discontinuation. That's why gradual reduction of nonselective beta blockers over a period of 1-2 weeks is safer. This is a seperate issue from monitoring for QT prolongation when initiatiby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMissSunshine Madeline - be careful of stopping or (worse) starting Sotalol without medical supervision. When starting or changing dosage on Sotalol, your QT interval can elongate and cause major problems for you. When I used to take it, I had to go in for an ECG when I either began or increased Sotalol to make sure that my QT interval was in range. Best wishes. Thank you Sunshine. Good rby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, I have written one of the nurse practitioners at Saint David’s but haven’t heard back yet. I would like to experiment not taking the sotalol today. Would that be all right? The thing is I can barely take a breath in without the tickle in my chest followed by the immediate dry cough all day long and I’m sick of it. I don’t want to keep ingesting something that’s causing that to happen toby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Carey, Well, you answered a lot for me. I have actually been constipated since the ablation last Friday until the frequency started a few days ago after I had a small juice glass of prune juice one night & then have had the swing from the constipation to too much movement. I thought all might be due to anesthesia effects. I had a bad headache, irritable mood & some depression wheby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I had my Natale ablation 6 days ago. It is a pretty easy procedure to undergo. The after effects of anesthesia were uncomfortable & took a while to abate. My energy comes & goes in spurts. Have taken walks, cleaned house, etc. However, 2 conditions exist. I have had GI effects of bowel problems (like one would get if they take too much magnesium). Sometimes it is almostby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Scanning through many of these posts, I am seeing that some people don’t feel the need to get ablation if your symptoms aren’t so bothersome and are controlled with medicine. I think that would be me, but I am on the list to get ablation. I do look forward to getting off the anti-arrhythmic & blood thinner, but other than that my afib is not heavy duty by any means. I was surprised to see pby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Given the critical nature of the drug for you at this point, in particular since you have an isolated LAA, I wouldn't even think of rolling those dice. With an isolated LAA, missing even a single dose or two has been known to lead to stroke (per unpublished research by Dr. Horton at TCAI presented at HRS-2018). Incidentally, I also have an isolated LAA with a documented inadby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteShannon You are right Rich, once Madeline has an assigned date it’s hers. Shannon I do not have an assigned date yet. I have only been approved and been told that the estimate was August which lately was said to be possibly September but no specific date for me yet. So if I put myself on the cancellation list and they give me a date and it’s too quick, am I further back in the queuby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch I contacted Dr. Natale’s office April 8th for a 1-trip visit, sent in all the required information & got approved by April 23rd, but still have not been confirmed for a date. I was told it may be August but now they say it’s looking even further out. Make sure you get put on their cancellation list if you are able to go on shorter notice. That would depend on how mucby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I contacted Dr. Natale’s office April 8th for a 1-trip visit, sent in all the required information & got approved by April 23rd, but still have not been confirmed for a date. I was told it may be August but now they say it’s looking even further out.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Josiah, I definitely think there can be a connection. I have or should I say had? Hashimoto’s thyroiditis with goiter. A suggested fine needle aspiration biopsy report came back as suspicious for malignant neoplasm and exploratory thyroid surgery was recommended. As it turned out, much to my surprise the general surgeon completely removed my thyroid. I had never even been given a chance to do tby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack Taurine is safe up to several grams per day. Just don’t go crazy with it. ; Wolfpack, If I recall correctly from my reading over a year ago, the taurine might do the same thing that the beta blocker and prescriptions I am on now do. So it would not be something I should do while doing sotalol. I still have bottles of 1000 mg, but stopped them once I started the prescription mby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKen 11.5 years ago I had my one and only ablation for paroxysmal afib - Not Natale. 11 years of afib prior to the ablation with well over 200 documented episodes. I have had three 2 hr. afib episodes in the last 11.5 years, but that doesn't concern me, at least not yet. No afib meds since the ablation, but I do take Taurine, K and Mg. Ken, How much taurine, K and mag do you take?by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey As for your cardiologist, I don't know what's up with him but a doctor doesn't just walk away from his practice for months without finding another doctor to cover for him. I don't buy the family emergency thing. Something's going on with him and if I were you and felt the need for a cardiologist between now and August, I would find another one. But do you reaby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN On an iPhone, go to Apps and then search on Kardia and select update (if it isn't done automatically). I'm not familiar with Android, but they must have a similar procedure. If less than 50, it will likely read Brady and above 100 Tachy. You can just look at the output and come to the same conclusion. Thanks George. I do have an iPhone & managed to do it. At fiby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack Rate control to < 100 bpm and anticoagulate. Then you have nothing to worry about for days or weeks until you either convert or get shocked. Thank you Wolfpack. Do you mean if I get to less than 100 bpm, and keep taking xarelto that is fine. But how do I control the rate - just by what I did - upping my sotalol back to 80 mg BID? I am never sure how to handle it either whenby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I was put on sotalol 80 mg BID 8 weeks ago. On the 7th week, last week, I lowered to 40 mg BID Monday night. I felt better right away, more energy, less fatigue, better sleep. However, by the 2nd night (Wednesday) I got a short run of afib, about 1/1/2 hr, recorded 129 BPM. Yesterday, Friday, 4:30 pm I went into afib again. I am still in it now, though my BPM has come down some. Highesby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, et al - I did cut my pill in half & Monday night took 40 mg & Tues took 40 BID & today have had 40 so far. Maybe it is my imagination, but I felt better immediately. I slept much better the past 2 nights & I do not feel sluggish & tired. I have not had a reply from my cardiologist yet about decreasing, but regardless of what he says, I am sticking with this & jusby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Are the tablets scored? If so, you can cut them in half. If they're not scored, check with a pharmacist but I'm 99% sure you can. That's what I would do if I were in your shoes. If you end up in afib, just go back to the 80 mg dose. Yes, they are scored & I cut in half & will take 40 mg starting tonight. I was wiped out today after a long walk. I did get a Piby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman When I was put on Sotalol in 2016 by my local Cardiologist, I was actually put in the Hospital to get my dosage right. I cannot say why this was done but my Cardiologist would not do it any other way. I was in the Hospital 3 days. I could not take Multaq because my Insurance would not pay for it. I was in the hospital when they started it as well. Started it 10 pm one night &by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Sure, why not? You know sotalol isn't a life saving drug for you, right? The worst that will happen from reducing or even stopping it is you'll have more afib episodes. So you don't need anybody's permission to reduce your dosage or even stop it altogether. But it probably would be a good idea to get your cardiologist on board and write a new prescription for yoby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I feel like I am getting more tired more often the longer I am on sotalol. Have been on it 7 weeks now, 80 mg BID. Do you think I should try to contact cardiologist to get it lowered? My ablation is said to probably take place with Natale in August, still waiting for exact date. Thanks.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteShannon Starting next month, in early June, the name of the room you with check into for ablation prep may change as the whole operation is being shifted into the all new St David’s ElectroPhysiology Center which is in a brand new wing of the hospital with 6 state-of-the-art EP-Labs (i.e. an EP dedicated operating room) and all private brand new patient rooms. I have been meaning to ask tby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, right after my last post here, I got an email from Dr. Natale's people saying he said I could stay on Xarelto. I wonder if this is a good idea - certainly don't want any bleed incidents or strokes during the EP live tests at procedure time. I did just put a call in to my cardiologist to ask if they had any discount programs available or could give me enough free samples to get tby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePBqltbook I'm on Medicare, and my drug plan covers Eliquis. My general practioner recommended two years ago that I switch from Xeralto to Eliquis based on what he'd read comparing the two. Hmm. I believe there are different drug plans one can choose and since I wasn’t taking any prescription medications I guess we have the basic. There might be a few tiers of choices and pay plaby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks all. I wish I knew for sure the causes of my hip/leg pain. Most likely it is due to back problems as several years ago I did have a great deal of sciatica for a solid year and had to be very careful for three years. I had a herniated disc as well as the usual narrow spaces in the spine. So ever since then, my lower back/waist area and right side hip/leg bother me. I’m never sure whetherby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM