QuoteCarey I agree that you should consider an ablation, but conversion pauses don't necessarily warrant a pacemaker. That should be looked at as a separate issue. One thing he really should have done is tried switching you to diltiazem instead of metoprolol. It's possible the metoprolol is responsible for or a contributor to the syncopal episodes. If it is, there should be no discussioby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d Once my ep mentioned he wanted to rule out a need for a pacemaker by having me wear a 14 day holter monitor. It showed my heart was fine and there was no need for a pacemaker because I showed him a single Ekg with a few pauses. I mentioned pre ablation to my np about occasional pauses and I think she said that perhaps my heart was trying to convert from af to nsr and wasn’t concernedby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth CC66: I You say that you get blackouts upon converting from AF to NSR. I had that happen to me as well, it was quite a few years ago--when going from AF to NSR I would almost black out,........my EP had written that he believed my 1st degree heart block was caused by the beta blocker that I had been taking. Since that time I avoid any beta blockers. Liz Yes, they are "by CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon AFAIK, "female gender" is not considered a risk factor any more. Now I'm confused. That's what I've read and have been told... when was that changed/updated?by CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey It's perfectly fine to keep seeing this guy for management of your AF, but if you choose to pursue an ablation, we need to talk about where and with whom. Bloomington is not the place and an EP practicing there is not the doc. That's not to diss Bloomington by any means. I love that town, but it's not the place to get an ablation. Indianapolis perhaps, but there are beby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I used to get episodes 1-2 times a month, but the frequency recently increased to 4 a month. I take 100 mg Flec (plus 12.5 metoprolol) at the start and convert in about 1.5 hours. I often get the black-out type "pause" upon conversion. Since this increase is recent, I set up an appointment with my EP to discuss options. I was mainly concerned about stroke risk, but my doctor seems moreby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had afib episodes since 2011 and convert with PIP metoprolol 12.5 mg and flecainide 100 mg. My episodes are always obvious to me -- I check my pulse/ox gadget, have to pee, etc. I have about 2-3 episodes a month and convert within 2 hours. My cardiologist wanted me to wear a Preventice monitor for 30 days to make sure I wasn't in afib more than I was aware. He's afraid Iby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
After almost 8 years of pretty stable afib episodes (about one a month or less), I'm having a lot more (4-6 times a month). So now I'm thinking about triggers again. My thyroid med? Maybe. I had to change from NP Thyroid (sublingual tablet) to Armour around the end of 2019, and that's when the frequency increased. Electrolyte imbalance? Probably. I used to think this was a trby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
My afib episodes tend to be mild 70 bpm irregular. I take 12 mg metoprolol and 100 mg flecainide right away, and it converts in about 1 to 1.5 hours - converts to my regular but slow 44 bpm. Most of the time I get episodes in the middle of the night and go back to sleep after I take PIP, but last night I got one in the evening and had a mini-blackout upon converting-- with my pulse sound zingingby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's a sensible idea...thanks!by CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks. I think it is good advice to get a second opinion about the metoprolol. My new EP left me a reply this afternoon, about my metoprolol concerns; he thinks 12.5mg taken with the flecainide won't be harmful, based on "it's such a small amount." I actually don't know what rate I convert to. I've looked at my pulse monitor and have noticed 50-60 bpm, but I usuaby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks to everybody for all the help and the link to PIP protocol. This is very similar to what my first EP doctor told me. He said that if my heart rate was over 110 in afib, to take 25mg of metoprolol, wait for an hour to see if I convert, and if not, then take 100mg flecainide and repeat in an hour if episode is still ongoing. He was aware of my bradycardia, but didn't mention anythinby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
The doctor told me it was for all women, afib or not. Maybe I misunderstood him... He didn't insist, but he wanted to inform me that these are now the new guidelines. I was surprised and it didn't make sense, so I told him I wouldn't start them. He said it was my choice. But I really expected to get more information in order to make a choice. I wanted to hear his opinionby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
My new electrophysiologist told me today that blood thinners are now recommended for women 65 and older (I'm 68). Not 75 or older as it used to be, and not just people with afib. What do you guys think? I take one baby aspirin a day, and fish oil supplements. I average about one afib episode a month-----take a PIP flecainide----and that's been working fine now for almost 7 years. I kby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you both. I confused things by writing "2 grains"---this is 2 grains of thyroid medication, not 2 grains of iodine. I will look into the other forms of magnesium. Free T3 = 3.6 pg/mL (Range 2.0-4.4) Free T4 = .93 ng/dL (Range 0.82-1.77) My TSH is .041 which is way out of range on the low side...but my doc says that's OK because FreeT3T4 are in range. Liz, itby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
To clarify...I take the hormone creams (bi-est, progesterone, testosterone) in the morning, but the progesterone capsule at night. I have been taking Blue Bonnet calcium/magnesium/D3, 2/day. (total = cal citrate 500mg, mag. aspartate 200mg). In addition, I take extra magnesium aspartate 400 mg elemental (chelated). I would be glad to quit taking the calcium, to tell you the truth. I do have osby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
In June I started using bio-identical hormone creams (Bi-Est, Progesterone, and testosterone 2%), plus progesterone capsule 25mg at bedtime. In addition, my doctor wanted me to take DHEA (starting with 5mg/day, then increasing by 5mg each week until 15 mg/day). This was based on results from 24 hr (urine test) comprehensive analysis (Meridian Valley lab), and 4 point saliva test. My cortisol leveby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it is definitely hard to get NHT dosage right--it's an everyday thing. When my thyroid gland was totally suppressed (on T3-only) it was easier (but probably not good for me). But now my thyroid gland is contributing----and it's up and down. Some days I feel great, and other days I'm so hypo that I probably shouldn't drive (spaced out, brain fog). The irregular heart rhythby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Looking forward to your research report. As for leaky gut---a person can repair it? Mine's faily stable, but how would I know if it has been repaired? I have tried the usual prebiotic/probiotic approaches with "good" gut flora, and they totally wreck my system--the lactobacillus, the FOS, etc. disastrous for me. Been tested for all exotic gut pathogens, but none found except forby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Tibbar for the support---glad you're doing well! Jackie, I don't follow a grain-free diet, but am mostly gluten-free since I was diagnosed in 2007. There are many ideas about what contributes to onset of Sjogren's and Hashi's, and I've listened to all of them. As yet, there isn't solid research on Sjogren's. Some believe it's a virus trigger, or lby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hmmm...stretched ventricles...hadn't thought of that at all. I wonder if getting a pacemaker would prevent or help that. I wonder if cardio exercise stretches ventricles more, and is that bad. Usually exercise is a good thing, yeah? My Bp after exercise seems more "normal" than when I'm sitting around. Calliby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the replies. I'm aware that I'm not very clear on what I'm asking here. Bradycardia started around the same time I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome and Hashimoto's. So it's probably related to Sjogren's, I think, since that does seem to affect heart electricals. I think the thyroid meds slightly increase my heart rate, since they increase geneby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I first got Afib in 2011, I was having trouble with my thyroid meds (Hashi's). At that time my resting heartrate was 38-42, and the EP said not to worry unless I was getting dizzy spells. I have PIP Flecainide which works for me for occasional episodes. Used to get these 5-6 times a year. In 2013 May, I switched to T3 only cytomel for my thyroid med, and that seemed to really lessenby CC66 - AFIBBERS FORUM