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Re: how long is it okay to be in afib? - 6 years ago

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 fi

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: how long is it okay to be in afib? - 6 years ago

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 when

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

how long is it okay to be in afib? - 6 years ago

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. Highes

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: if sotalol makes one too tired, do they change the dose - 6 years ago

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 & jus

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: if sotalol makes one too tired, do they change the dose - 6 years ago

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 Pi

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: if sotalol makes one too tired, do they change the dose - 6 years ago

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

Re: if sotalol makes one too tired, do they change the dose - 6 years ago

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 yo

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

if sotalol makes one too tired, do they change the dose - 6 years ago

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

Re: What to expect before, during and after Ablation - 6 years ago

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 t

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Eliquis recommended over Xarelto - 6 years ago

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 t

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Eliquis recommended over Xarelto - 6 years ago

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 pla

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: What to take for inflammation while on Xarelto - 6 years ago

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 whether

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Eliquis recommended over Xarelto - 6 years ago

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, no

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

What to take for inflammation while on Xarelto - 6 years ago

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

Eliquis recommended over Xarelto - 6 years ago

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 month

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Heart arate app - 6 years ago

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

Re: sotalol vs sotalol AF - 6 years ago

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

Re: sotalol vs sotalol AF - 6 years ago

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 (30mi

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: One Year Natale Post Ablation Today - 6 years ago

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 think

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: sotalol vs sotalol AF - 6 years ago

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

sotalol vs sotalol AF - 6 years ago

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, som

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: to ablate or do some meds first? - 6 years ago

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 such

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

to ablate or do some meds first? - 6 years ago

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

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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 mov

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: To ablate or not to ablate??? - 6 years ago

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/i

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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 Wolfpack

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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 Propafeno

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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 ab

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: ?s re propafenone & treatment for different types AF - 6 years ago

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 s

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM