They probably put you on Multaq because they probably get kickbacks for getting patients on Multaq which is expensive. I've heard of doctors getting kickbacks for putting patients on new, expensive drugs.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, Thanks for the response. In any event, before I actually move to Denver, I'll visit for at least a week (probably more than one visit). That'll give me a chance to see if altitude is a trigger. And I'm sure I'll take some hiking trips to the mountains at higher altitudes. If altitude seems to be a trigger, I won't be moving. I should definitely visit aby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have the opportunity to move to Denver (there are a lot of advantages to moving there). However, since I have AFib (which is currently well-controlled taking Flecainide), I'm wondering what the implications of living at high altitude are (I've lived at sea level my entire life). Would a move to high altitude improve AFib episodes or make them worse? High altitude has a lot of effecby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I read in Consumer Reports Health today that women are at much higher risk of stroke, heart failure, and other ills from afib than men are. That worries me. Incidentally, almost all the AFIB research I read about is done on men. I don't even think it's being studied much in women. Maybe my EP is going to put me on warfarin when I see him in May (for a routine checkup). By the wby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I tried that once. Sleeping sitting upright, if anything, made afib worse for me.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
In my experience (I have vagal AFI Metoprolol actually made AFIB worse, and I have also read the same. It is only good for androgenic AFIB. Now I'm taking it with Flecainide (fortunately Flecainide reduces the arrythmogenic affect of beta blockers, and you're supposed to take a beta blocker with it anyways to avoid the possibility of long QT syndrome). I believe if I hadn't beby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sandra, I've found this electrophysiologist's blog an excellent source of answers on afib: In his opinion, there are things you can do to stop afib without drugs or medication (read the above blog post) especially if you catch it early. I find reading his blog addictive: you read one article, then click on links to other blog entries of his and so on and so on. There is lots oby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
In my case beta blockers turned out to make my AFib worse, and ultimately led to daily episodes. I had to go on Flecainide. In hindsight, since my episodes had been infrequent, the pill in pocket approach probably would have worked better for me. I have vagal afib, and vagal afib is often aggravated by beta blockers. 50 mg once a day caused nightly episodes, and 100 mg a day was much worse.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I found it's better not to talk about it. The few times I told someone, they usually said a parent suffered from it, so that just made me feel old (and they were around my age). I did once get into a conversation at my new job where a couple of guys were talking about their afib (and one was definitely younger than me). One said he'd had an ablation 10 years ago by Hugh Calkins andby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, Dr. Mandrola recommends that people with afib avoid alcohol completely. That sucks for me because I love champagne.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been on flecainide successfully for about 1 1/2 years. Recently, I've noticed when I have an alcoholic drink, I seem to have bad PACs or short periods of AFib (but only seconds long) that really feel like they could become full-blown episodes. They happen up to a few days after the drink. I don't seem to get them when I don't have a drink. I took a new job recently,by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb, Sorry to hear that. Dianeby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'd ask for a calcium channel blocker. It works just as well to keep atrial flutter at bay when taken with flecainide. In women calcium channel blockers can cause breast cancer (which is why I'm still taking a beta blocker with flecainide) but guys shouldn't have to worry about that.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
What about the Virginia Heart Rhythm Center in Falls Church, VA? They are close to where I live. Here's the list of doctors: ◦Dr. Walter L. Atiga ◦Dr. Anthony Chang ◦Dr. James Duc ◦Dr. Robert L. McSwain ◦Dr. Haroon Rashid Anyone heard of any of these guys? Dianeby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
To all, I've recently moved to the DC area for a job. Does anyone know of a good EP around here? I was reading about a Virginia Hospital in Arlington (near where I live). Does anyone know anything about it and if they have a heart rhythm department? I've never seen any doctor recommendations in the DC area on this list, although I do remember someone having a good ablation experiby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since I've been on flecainide, cold drinks (iced drinks) haven't been a problem. But something very cold like that smoothie can be. That's like drinking ice. Before I was on the flecainide, everything seemed to be a trigger (cold drinks, turning, sleeping in the wrong position, bending over, yoga, etc, etc, etc) and it was impossible to avoid. I think my Afib started becomingby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had some of my husband's smoothie after a long bike ride today. I drank it too fast and got a really bad "ice-cream headache". I noticed my heart trying to go into AF while it lasted. Fortunately the AF didn't stick (the Flecainide is helping with that) but for a while, I was worried it would. I have to be careful in the future when drinking these ice-cold drinks (I drby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Amiodarone is a dangerous medication. My cousin has been on it for 5 years, and already has lung damage from it, and also some red skin on his face from it. He's in Canada, and they won't do an ablation on him (he's in Alberta). Murray (above) has had great success with Tikosyn. I don't know much about the other two. Dianeby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Are you on a beta-blocker? They had that affect on me after being on them awhile (50 mg of metoprolol a day). I have vagal afib, and metoprolol made it much worse after about 3 months. Dianeby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had an ultrasound kidney stone treatment while in AFib. I was in AFib before I was put under, and when I woke up I was in NSR. They said it wasn't a problem.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Here's news of a groundbreaking ablation study from Dr. John Mandrola's website: This is very exciting!by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I knew someone who cured her heartburn by completely removing gluten from her diet. Doing the low-carb approach mentioned above would significantly reduce or eliminate one's gluten.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
If the lone afib stroke risk isn't any higher than the general population, why do all the doctors say otherwise? And why do they cite study after study showing otherwise? Hans, the reason you don't hear of strokes on this list is that when members have them, they are likely too disabled to get back on the list (they'll just drop off and you'll never hear from them again).by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I believe ablation does provide a very large dose of radiation compared to mammograms and other forms of diagnostic X-rays. I don't have an exact number, but from what I understand, the X-ray machine is on for 30 minutes or more. They do try to minimize it as much as possible and it is less than it used to be (they used to leave it on for the whole procedure but now turn it off when they cby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'd be curious to know the reason as well. Is Rhythmol more expensive? Does it have side effects in more people than Flecainide? I heard it has one side effect I wouldn't want: dry mouth (that significantly increases the risk of dental cavities which are a pain).by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lisa, What is wrong with using flecainnide instead of Rhythmol? I'm on flecainide and it is working very well for me. I've read that both flecainide and Rhythmol have the potential to cause 1:1 atrial flutter in exercisers (which I am), but so far flecainide has worked well for me with no problems. I take a beta blocker with flecainide to reduce (or hopefully eliminate) that risby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I seemed to have the stomach'heartburn problems with aspirin. I stopped taking it for skin cancer surgery (they took it off while it was still small so wasn't a big deal) and stayed off it for about a month. I'd been taking it about 2 hours after breakfast. I started it again about a week ago but now take it with breakfast, and seem to be having better luck. I am doubtful wby Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've read in more than one source (unfortunately don't remember them now) that one or two minutes of AFib is enough to form a clot, that it doesn't take much at all.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
According to this site: , the bleeding risk of aspirin is similar to that of warfarin, especially in people over 65 years old. Go down to this section to see the text: "Are there any other treatment options to help to prevent a stroke?". Is this really true? I thought the bleeding risk of warfarin and the other novel anticoagulants was way higher than on aspirin.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM
According to a recent post from Dr. John Mandrola on TheHeart.org (Trials and Fibrillations), Dr. Sonny Jackman is the creator of catheter ablation for AFib. Anyone heard of him, and is he still practicing, and is he any good? I've never heard of him here.by Diane98683 - AFIBBERS FORUM