Thank you for the updates. Where did Natale ablate this time? Are you having any ectopic beats? I apologize for not remembering if you had a watchman implanted. But, if you did, how does the EP ablate around that. Wishing you all the best and that the beast is finally put to sleep.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do you have an Afib nurse from you electrophysiologist that you can call? I would start there or the EP that is on call that is associated with your EP who did your ablation.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
So glad that it is resolving itself and not preventing you from living your life. Hope that you stay in NSR for the long haul.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Today, I had my annual appointment (an on-line one this time) with my EP, Dr. Rodney Horton at TCAI in Austin. He told me that my chance of my Afib being fixed are statistically 96 percent. I do not need to follow up with him unless my heart decides to act up again. I am thrilled as it has been a process. For those of you who are still going through that process, hang in there. This is myby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, thank you for explaining this. I am 16 months out from my second ablation done at TCAI in Austin. I had runs of ectopic beats until last fall, until all went silent last December. I would have a few here and there throughout last spring and summer. As a former afibber, I am very aware of my heartbeats. The end of August, I seemed to have PACs/PVCs every evening when I laid down. I wby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
After months of silence, PACs have reared its ugly head again. Last night I had to sleep sitting up, with my feet on the floor. When I laid down, the PACs start - every 3rd beat or every 7th beat. But, once I sit up, with my feet on the ground, they are gone. I spent the night in the recliner. I tried to raise my feet but the ectopics would start again. As soon as my feet were on the floor, gby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Madeline - be careful of stopping or (worse) starting Sotalol without medical supervision. When starting or changing dosage on Sotalol, your QT interval can elongate and cause major problems for you. When I used to take it, I had to go in for an ECG when I either began or increased Sotalol to make sure that my QT interval was in range. Best wishes.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’ve been told that anything less than 30 seconds is not a concern. Those of us who have dealt with Afib are just so much more in tune with every beat of our hearts. Try not to worry about it because that is no help. Be grateful that is resolved itself before it becomes something. I know that is easier said than done.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Texas is heating up! Safe travels and wishing you all the best with your Natale ablation. As you know, you are in great hands at St. David’sby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hang in there. This will all be a distant memory. Enjoy Austin and, as you know, you are in great hands - both Natalie and St. David’s staff. Keep us posted.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’m so glad that you are soon going back to TCAI and having a third ablation from Dr. Natale. One more month!!! Best wishes and please keep us posted as to your ablation and recovery.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rocketritch - sorry to hear about this. Do you think there has been some reconnectivity or are there arrhythmias coming from your LAA? If you go for another ablation, are you thinking about closing the LAA and a watchman? Good news is that you are converting in minutes vs days. I am sure you are weighing all your option. I was just in Austin on Monday for a TEE ( I had one earlier by my localby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Go! Go travel and live your life. Do not waste your time worrying about if and when your next Afib episode will happen. If you are worried about an episode, talk to your cardiologist and request a “pill in the pocket” such as Flecainide that you can take. Also, if you are not on blood thinners, you may want to get a prescription for Xarelto to have on hand if your Afib lasts more than 48 hours.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Oh be careful with that one. I would ask a lot more questions. When I was on Sotalol, I used an additional 1/2 dosage as the PIP. I used flecainide as PIP 3 months after my second ablation but was off Sotalol for months. I was told NOT to use flecainide when I went back on Sotalol after that episode. My EP nurse told me to wait a week before starting a low dose of Sotalol after I used flecainby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kate - I hear you. You are hoping the longer you are in NSR, that your heart would prefer to stay there! There may be some that have one Afib episode and then never again. However, as Mike, Carey and George have said, once you have had it, you are more prone to it. However, don’t dispair. Many, many people live long productive and happy lives with Afib. They may control it with meds and supplby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Today I had my TEE to see if I am able to get off my Xarelto. It is one year, to the day, that I had my first ablation. My touch up was the beginning of June. My local cardiologist did my TEE and I will be meeting with my EP mid-March. I was a bit surprised at some of the results. The findings were: 1. Normal LV systolic function with EF of 60 %. 2. Mildly increased left atrial size. 3. Dilaby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had Dr. Rodney Horton at TCAI do my ablation and I think he is fantastic.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good afternoon Rich - I am so sorry to hear about this. I am sure that it is disheartening, to say the least. How long were you out of NSR? It sounds like the flecainide quickly converted you. We all wish that our hearts did not have a mind of their own but a new normal may be that the PIP quickly gets us back into NSR. I am hoping that it is just a small blip on the road to a long full lifby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rocketritch - so glad that everything is going well! I hear you when you say you can feel every skipped beat. I think we afibbers are hyper sensitive to every beat of our hearts. Carry on and live your best life! I hope to be following you into decades of NSR! I had my second ablation in Austin on June 5th. I had a 20 minute tachycardia episode in mid-September but have been quiet since. Eby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
That is all great news. I hope that another ablation is not in your future. But, as one who has had a second ablation at Texas Cardiac Arrythmia, that is the last thing to worry about. Here’s to NSR for decades to come!by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations Rocketritch - I have been very interested in your progress as I feel that my post ablation experience has been a bit like yours. Please keep us all posted as to how things progress for you. I am wishing you only the best!by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you! You give us all hope to live our best lives!by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Are you sure it was afib? Could it have been a run of ectopics - PACs and/or PVCs? Sometimes a run of them can feel like afib but it is not.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Have a drink! Enjoy!! Like my EP said, have a glass just note the entire bottle.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rocketritch - I’m just wondering how you are doing? Hope that your heart is behaving itself? Any PACs or PVCs?by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Good luck! It's a breeze of a procedure. I was up walking around 2 hours later and eating dinner shortly after that. It's nothing at all like an ablation other than the fact that you'll have a groin insertion site like an ablation (but just one, not two). Carey, I am assuming that you has your LAA ablated. When did that happen? Did it take care of all of your arby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hang in there. It is still early and remember that it is a process of ups and downs. As has been said before, try to keep your anxiety under control and go for a walk. That has helped me. I have recently gone back on a very low dose of a beta blocker. That really quieted things down for me with regards to ectopic and a thumping heart. It has also made me more peaceful. I hope to get off of thby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey and AB Page - what was your determining factor in going for the Watchman? Could you no longer tolerate ACs? How have you been feeling? Did you deal with Pericarditis? Did your EP ablate before he installed the watchman? Thank you for your insight. You have no idea how grateful I am for all of you.by MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
TSCO - Dr. Horton at TCAI in Austin. His nurse told me today that he thinks that my current bouts of arrhythmia are coming from my LAA. On my second ablation, he did ablate around it but did not isolate it. I wore my Zio monitor for a week, ending last Wednesday. There were no long runs of anything, just a few ectopic and runs of 6 or 7 quick beats. However, I had a 20 minute episode this pasby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM
I just heard back from my Afib nurse that my EP is recommending ablating my atrial appendage due to continued arrhythmia after my second ablation and installing a watchman. This is just not what I had in my mind. I am a 55 year old, very active female. I think I am too young for this. Will it decrease my cardiac output and my way of life? Is there any long-term cautions about this or is it toby MissSunshine - AFIBBERS FORUM