Cindy: Glad to hear your update but sorry to hear of your continued aggravations. I've got the T shirt here as well as you know. My latest is a wee bump on my finger that all of the doctors poo-poo'd until I happened to be in a surgeon's office with my wife (for her). He looked at it and said "Next Friday morning at 11 a.m. - whatever the heck it is it has to come out"by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why is it that I rarely hear TIKOSYN (dofetilide) mentioned on here, even though it appears to be the most effective antiarrhythmic on the market presently? I have been on it since December and in NSR. My follow up in August will be very interesting. I realize TIKOSYN is not for everyone and not everyone can tolerate it... but it is the most effective according to the studies, is it not?by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Holy smokes. At 50 mg. of Metoprolol b.i.d. I was about catatonic. When they reduced it to 10 mg. b.i.d. I had so much energy I had trouble sleeping. It does work to reduce BP to be sure. You don't say if your mom is still in aFib or has been converted. Each are seperate issues and IMHO demand (at least I would be demanding) top notch specialists addressing each. And regardless as to wby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
To be clear; I think we need to recognize the difference between rhythm control and rate control meds. They are two different kettles of fish. One controls rate and the other rhythm - both of which have their downsides. I was in hospital on life support in 2009 after/with H1N1 Influenza A and acute bacterial pneumonia. I had one foot on the other side and was in lala land. When I left theby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
The last two or three issues of the aFib report have had some interesting information on the efficacy of various drugs and treatments. Well worth subscribing and reading. Some of the best information I have read. aFib is not simple and one needs to soak up as much information as quickly as possible, which I did not do and as a result got screwed by my cardiologist. Now on the right track Iby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
There are many, many studies on the association between aFib and stroke. I think the bottom line is simply that there is an association and an increase in risk. The deeper question is, of course, what kind of aFib, what kind of blood thinners, what INR range, what shape is the heart in and on and on. A complex topic in the micro view; a simple topic in the macro view... there is an associationby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Have you read the studies on rate and rhythm control in the latest aFib journals? And the efficacy of various antiarrhythmia meds? I was on a huge amount of Metoprolol b.i.d. to control my rate. By the time I finally got to a cardiologist that had a clue, it was one of the best and I was taken into hospital for three days and put on TYKOSIN (dofetilide) 500mcg b.i.d. and my Metoprolol reducby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Update: After reading some more and digesting I have come to the conclusion that, especially in Ontario under OHIP, the first line treatment should be antiarrhythmic meds while awaiting a slot for ablation in a top notch centre by a top notch EP. Therefore, if on August 17 I am showing significant shrinkage of my LA as we are praying for, I am going on the list for ablation with Drs. Verma anby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just read the recent aFib Journal and am pondering. Seems that we have rate control (like Metoprolol) and we have rhythm control (and apparently studies show that, if tolerated, dofetilide/TIKOSYN is top of the chart). Rate control does not produce NSR; as expected it only controls rate and keeps it from 'taking off' on you. NSR is much more beneficial for obvious reasons, not the leby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
My EP, when starting me on TIKOSYN, very early on ensured that I was at least 'in the ballpark' with regards to Magnesium, Potassium, etc. And then did the electrocardioversion 'by the book' using the latest tecnology and techniques tried and proven in white papers from many other hospitals. (i.e. conductive pads instead of paddles when shocking my heart.... using a defibrilby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
My only issue with Pradaxa is that there is no 'antidote' should you find yourself in a trauma situation and bleeding badly. I was there in November and they allowed my INR to drop to almost normal before taking care of my bleeding problem by surgery. Don't know how long the Pradaxa would have delayed things but they sure do cover their butts on their television commercials.by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's a tough question but am glad you asked it... I take 500-600mg. of Magnesium Glycinate (Chelated/Albion Process) in capsult format at present. That takes me to bowel tolerance although I am beginning to think that I could sneak a bit more in there about now. I have been hearing lots of talks about Waller Water for Magnesium intake as well as other forms of taking in Magnesium and wby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Gill: With government sponsored health care everything is done on a prioritized basis and continuously triaged. My six month recheck would have been June sometime but what happened was that I got THE CALL in June to set my appointment up and lo and behold.... no appointments for consult available until August 17. THAT, then, is the big day and they even send us a letter to confirm it! Readby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
I use my Contec CMS50EW pulse oximeter, which came with a hard belt case and I try to carry it with me all the time. I have two of them, one that is the latest, with Bluetooth and one that is older with standard USB. Both have lithium polymer battery pack that recharges for 24 hours of continuous use and will record up to 24 hours but only a single session; it records over the last session if yby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Certainly food for thought here Cynthia. I am on TIKOSYN here since December and believe I have been in NSR 99.9% of the time excepting when I do a real dumb thing like take in caffeine, etc. The question then arises.... how long is this TIKOSYN going to work for me? Could be six months. Could be six years. I am inclined to stick with the TIKOSYN as long as possible and certainly long enouby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
A Heather Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thank you Tom and Barry. > > I completely removed all wheat from my diet and > that helped a lot with the way I was feeling, Tom, > where did you get your cardy meter, I am very > interested in this. And the next question is, how > does one use it? > > Barry, I have the unopened baby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
I began TIKOSYN in December and have been in NSR following electrocardioversion on day 3 of TIKOSYN. Occasional 'blips' along the road but they are few and far between and often a result of my messing up supplementation or ingesting triggers, in especially salt. A good shot of Potassium generally fixes me up in short order and back to NSR, no blips. I am trying to follow a Paleoby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was sorta where you are. First Cardiologist tried to kill me for a year (and I would not say that lightly and I would have him before the college of physicians and surgeons if I weren't afraid of repercussions.) He was so full of BS his eyes turned brown. Then I got a referal to one of the top rated EP's (actually TWO) on the forum and I have not looked back although I am still batby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Anyone care to suggest a commercially available Mg oil?by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, guys, yesterday was 'one of those days'. Fathers Day and our 22nd. Wedding Anniversary. Daughter's 20th. birthday this week. Son is in from UofWO Engineering. And we bought a new BBQ to celebrate. Everyone was having a miserable day. Pet rabbit clawed Joy in the AM drawing blood. Dropped LS V8 bottle onto the tile floor and right onto Joy's foot. It exploded.by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my cardiologist attempt an Electrocardioversion on me; done 100% incorrectly according to the white papers I have read. When it was unsuccessful, he did the same thing. Never said a word to me... just left. We demaned a referal to a better cardiologist/electrophysiologist and to make a long story short.... have never looked back. Started TIKOSYN in December and ECV on Day 3 and have beby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
How much Magnesium exactly is that? No bowel tolerance issues? I seem to be able to get up to about 500mg or so and then bowel intolerance sets in depending on what I ingest. No issues with potassium and have taken to dissolving Magnesium Gluconate powder in Polar seltzer water (no sodium). It dissolves quite easily and tastes fine. I also drink my low sodium V8 (a beer cup full each day)by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Every day, all day, 24/7/365. That was me. First cardio farted around for a year and then tried an electrocardioversion which failed (did everything wrong... had no clue) all the time my left atrium was expanding in size. When I finally got to a competent cardiologist/electrophysiologist I was at 60mm and no longer a candidate for ablation. So they started me on TIKOSYN last December. Now TIby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
By the way, I'd change cardiologists asap as your cardiologist is like my first cardiologist who wanted to push colonics of all things. He didn't know diddly poop about aFib and arrhythmias and neither does YOUR cardiologist, from his statements to you. The sooner you find a highly experienced cardiologist/electrophysiologist and a solid institution, the better off you are going to beby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Amazingly (or not); I find my triggers are totally in sync with Lou's. I sit here at midnight or so having just had a cup of LS V8 juice and a couple of tspns of Potassium Gluconate in Polar Seltzer Water before retiring for the night. We ate out today and I KNOW that I took in some excess salt..... had some tests at the hospital this AM and could not eat nor drink since yesterday afternooby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
My head spins just thinking about it.by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Highly recommend googling both Low Sodium V8 and Mott's Garden Cocktail recipes online. We bought a great juicer/blender but the thing smells like it is going to catch fire and we are in the midst of returning it and replacing it with a Vitamix or something... in the meantime we are drinking the aforementioned... the Mott's is a bit 'peppery' and is great during the day or atby Murray L - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Chuck: One other thing. Regarding electrocardioversions.... somewhere around here there is a white paper on electrocardioversion. The right way versus the wrong way. I read it in detail several times before going in for my first ECV. It was a dismal failure and I knew it was going to be before I arrived to have it done. The second ECV? I had no doubt in my mind (well, maybe a smidge) thaby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dick: It is my understanding that going this pacemaker/defib route is, in a way, a 'dead end' route, as there is nowhere to go once it is done. How far off would this statement be? The other thing weighing heavily on my mind is that no other avenues have been attempted to resolve this AF it would appear. In my case there was nothing before, during or after the Electrocardioversionby Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chuck: Erling will steer you directly to what you want to read and I highly recommend it; I have not read the book mentioned and am going to order it online tonight. You are on the right track here; don't deviate. Educate, advocate, activate.by Murray L - AFIBBERS FORUM