Thank you Carey & Wolfpack. I already have put in a request to Dr. Natale’s office to see if they could help with this drug switch, and I also intend to ask my cardiologist if there’s anything he could do to help me during the temporary switch time that I would most likely have to be on it. I figure there is some period of time before the procedure that he wants me to be on this as well, noby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am having a little flare of sciatica down my leg. I know I am not supposed to take an Aleve or ibuprofen. Tylenol is just for pain. Is there anything else that one could take just for a day or two to try and back the inflammation down? Thank you.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am going to be scheduled for ablation with Dr, Natale soon. In the first email notice that I received, I was told that Dr. Natale would like me to switch from my Xarelto to Eliquis. Medicare covers Xarelto once a large deductible has been met, which I have done. Eliquis is not covered by Medicare. I am awaiting a reply as to whether it matters if I stay on Xarelto since it is only $30 a monthby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have used Cardiio & it has a pulse waveform. I now also have Kardia, but I will still use Cardiio to take pulse.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pompon - Good you are back to better feeling times. What is better weather in Belgium! I have a brother-in-law from there near Antwerp - last name Bauwens. One of my other sisters also lived there for a time. So cloudy.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon After my PVI, back to sotalol, but side effects were then unbearable. Still afib 2x/week and thousands of ectopics. Switched to flecainide+bisoprolol. Far less ectopics, but still afib. Had 3 touch up ablations, 1st one useless, 2nd & 3rd more efficient. Free from rhythm drugs and BB now, and feeling far better taking supplementation... 15 days since my last afib episode (30miby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Teddy, Ugh, I just wrote a whole note to you & a computer glitch lost it. I don't want to start it over, but I will ask this now: Did your anesthesia problem with the intubation happen because of an inexperienced anesthesiologist or what? That is just as important as the procedure. I have had afib & sometimes flutter for 1 1/2 yrs about 3x/month & did not thinkby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJoe I was on Sotalol and it was not AF as far as i know. Initially on 80mg 2x/day but i kept reducing it over time. Even the 80mg didn't make me tired like the metoprolol i was given initially. Hi Joe, How much metoprolol were you on? I do find that I don't seem to have as many issues as I did on even just 6.25 mg a day of carvedilol twice a day. I felt a change in balance,by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, I was recently tried on my first antiarrhythmic of propafenone which did not work out for me. I was sent to the ER by my cardiologist where they gave me IV drip of Cardizem & I converted to NSR. I was then started on sotalol 80 mg q.12 h. I was observed in hospital for 2 doses plus EKG & released on it. The 2-day hospital stay gave me a booklet of paperwork to take home, somby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteShannon Hi Madeline, I agree with Carey, you’re situation will best be served by eliminating AFIB from your life all together! The issues of moderate temporary heart rate elevation post ablation and even less likely but also temporary potential GI issues post ablation are not that common and almost always tend to be self limited as well. And please don’t let an exagerrated fear of suchby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I was to start propafenone this past weekend after getting home from a trip. Unfortunately, though my trip was great I can't seem to handle the stress of moving & packing every 2 days & all the noise (deaf in one ear) & new faces. I am thyroidless & my adrenals get stressed easily. Travel home was abominable as I have experienced many times before with canceled &by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth I take Propafenone , 1 tab 150mg., every night before bed, I have for a number of years. I did try a higher dose last summer, my EP always wanted me to take a higher dose, he wanted me to take 1 and 1/2 tabs, I did that for a few weeks then I started waking up a couple of hours after going to sleep and my heart felt weird like it was starting and stopping and slow, I got up and movby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have read so many outstanding things here about Dr. Natale that I feel maybe I should book an ablation sooner rather than later just in case he is nearing retirement. That would be awful - to get to the stage of feeling like I really need something like ablation, but Dr. Natale is not available anymore! It is certainly a comfort hearing about him & knowing that is what I want to do when/iby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
So with my age being 69, how long would be too long to be on the anti-arrhythmic’s before considering ablation? And is ablation considered when the AF feels stronger or just when it happens often as in a few times a month, or when the duration has exceeded a certain length of time?by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Wolfpack. And thank you Carey too for letting me know no need to stress about exact 8-hr spacing of my t.i.d. dosing. I have an idea that hopefully I will calm down (about all my fears from what I read about these drugs and AF) once I actually start on something and especially if it goes well & I don't get any more afib. Oh, so WP (can I just say that instead of Wolfpackby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack I tolerated Propafenone just fine. I know the published info you read can sound pretty scary, but the truth is Propafenone (and flecainide) are really more the “lightweight” anti-arrhythmics. It’s safe to start them outside of a hospital. Neither one really prolongs the QT interval which is the big risk factor for dangerous (ventricular) arrhythmias. Worst case with either Propafenoby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack Propafenone should always be extended release so you can take it 2x/day instead of 3x/day which is a pain in the rear. The only reason I can think of is that the patent only recently expired on the extended release and some cardiologists who may not be current on the insurance side of things still prescribe the “normal” Propafenone so they don’t get complaints from their patients abby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I got a call from the cardiologist's office. Unfortunately I was at the gym & kept losing connection. But I got some things & want to ask you a question before I call them back. She told me the dr wanted me to start propaf. ASAP bec I have parox afib (wh I have had a yr w/o this med). She also said he intended for me to stop the carvedilol when I started the propaf. She only sby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I understand the difference btw rate & rhythm control & which drugs are used for what. That said, is there nothing else to say about what I wrote? I posted my ht rates in AF a few x over the yr. Is that what you call high? The dr knows my BP is high at his office (145/85), but I showed him my Kardia records & how it is good other times. They know all that, but they still wantby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, I did not say my heart rate was not high when I was in afib. What maybe you are referring to is that I said I do not have high blood pressure, which is what beta blockers were originally intended for. So when I take them, sometimes if it is too much like what my 1st cardiologist recommended last year, my BP was just in double digits, but she kept saying that was fine, though I thoughtby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Liz, I am a small person, actually the opposite build of the classic body for heart disease. I am lean from the waist up including my arms. I am 5'4" & 110 lb & wear the smallest sizes in clothes. By the way, I am not small bec of any hyperthyroidism. I am the same weight as I was before my thyroid was removed. I have 5 sisters & we are all lean; it is in our genesby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I started a new thread since this one has gotten off the original subject. I wanted help & advice starting on Xarelto & now I have started a new topic to ask about propafenone which has now been prescribed for me. So I just wanted to let you know I have more questions, but started a new topic w/propafenone in the topic line. Thanks.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I have recently written about the blood thinners I was advised to start on. Now I want to ask about the anti-arrhythmic recommended for me. I saw the cardiologist 2/14/19. Next day I got thyroid labs he ordered. He did an echo & stress test, which came back normal. When I first saw him in the office, he said he would probably start me on flecainide & stop the carvedilol I waby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you to all: Carey, MadMax, Shannonby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I am new to your site lately & on it whenever I can squeeze it in. I have seen so much helpful stuff to know now & for the future. Do you have any suggestions as to the best way to keep up with certain tips/articles? Is there a way to take certain blocks of info & drag them into some personal afibbers area of my own, so when I want to find that ???something that I can barely rby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Jackie. I have stopped the ginkgo 240 mg a day. Supposed to be good for your brain too tho guess I will give it to my husband as I have 2 bottles. When you say cut back severely on the fish oil supps, do you think: Maybe I could take 1 tsp of the cod liver oil (instead of the 3 tsp I was taking) the DHA 500 was recommended by Dr. Perlmutter - alzheimer prevention - Grain Bby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth, I agree I can't expect much good advice there. Most of them think you are crazy for taking anything. They think we get most we need from food - which may have been easier in times past, but not now.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
They have my detailed supp list & the frightening thing is I was sent home w/advice to start Xarelto & he said nothing about my 240 mg of ginkgo biloba daily. I knew about it bec I do research stuff & I am asking for more advice now. When I saw him the first time last yr, he did pooh-pooh many of my good supps. Much I take is recommended by thyroid and adrenal support groups &by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I was just on here asking about blood thinners, etc. Thought I would start a new post to ask if I might obtain advice about taking some of my supps when I start Xarelto tonight? Here is my list of some I think are questionable to take w/Xarelto tho possibly some can be taken in lower doses? Ginkgo biloba 120 mg 2x/day)is what I had been doing since not on a blood thinner before Cod Lby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks to both of you Wolfpack and George for replying. I am beginning to see that I probably do not have vagal afib as mine is mostly in the early evening after dinner and or wine & other triggers at other times as well. But not usually at bedtime, not lasting long, not terminated by exercise. I take iodine Iodoral 12.5 mg every morning with my thyroid medicine. I used to take a lot but tby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM