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A forum for sharing experiences regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias.
Re: 10 years after my Bordeaux ablation - 10 months ago
Gill, I remember you well from the “old days” on this board. Your story was one of the reasons why I booked my ablation in Bordeaux. Glad to hear that everything is well with you and that Dr. Hocini was able to get you back into sinus rhythm. I can only hope that my story goes as well as yours. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: 10 years after my Bordeaux ablation - 1 year ago
Thanks, Glen. I looked at your previous post and saw that you’re having some issues with PACs right now. I went through a period about eight months after my ablation where I started getting really bad PACs. I made appointments with another electrophysiologist and was fairly convinced I was going to need a touchup. After looking after myself (healthy, eating and reducing stress levels) they eventuby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
10 years after my Bordeaux ablation - 1 year ago
Hi all, Today marks 10 years after my Bordeaux ablation. I’ve had a few bouts with PACs here and there and a weird round of PVCs last fall but no afib that I know of. All my thanks to Dr. Hocini. I owe her so much for this gift she gave me. Briefly, my story was I had my first episode in 2009 at age 38. Two episodes in the next year and this kept increasing in frequency. Started pill in pocby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PVCs. Never really had before. Need advice. - 1 year ago
Susan.d, Sorry, I wasn’t clear about that. After my ablation things were 100% better and so, about 2 years later, my EP said that I didn’t need to see him again unless I had a problem. Now, at some point in the last seven years he moved away. Now that I have a problem, I’m waiting on a referral to a new EP. It’s only been about 3 weeks. I appreciate the sentiment though. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PVCs. Never really had before. Need advice. - 1 year ago
Susan.d, I haven’t had an EP since 2017. I’m waiting on a referral right now. My doctor knows about my increase. I’ve been on bisoprolol since the ablation in 2015, mainly at my own request. The instructions are to take 1/2 to one tablet daily. I take 1/2 99.9% of the time except when I have bad ectopics. So I’ve taken the odd full tablet here and there over the past 9 years but I’ve never hby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PVCs. Never really had before. Need advice. - 1 year ago
Susan.d Glad to hear atenolol is helping you. I bumped my daily bisoprolol from 2.5 to 5mg and it certainly makes them less noticeable, which is nice. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PVCs. Never really had before. Need advice. - 1 year ago
Hi Carey, The reason I think they are PVCs and not PACs is because in the past when I have captured PACs on the Apple Watch they show a complete QRS complex close to the previous beat and then another complete one after a longer pause. What I see here has no premature QRS complex, but rather a weirdly shaped complex followed by a pause. As far as what the ECG machine printed, my GP Is sendingby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sudden increase in PVCs. Never really had before. Need advice. - 1 year ago
Hi All, So I posted last week about an increase in PACs that started about 10 days ago. At least I thought they were PACs but the ECG appears to show that these are PVCs (see attached). I'd appreciate someone's opinion on that. I have never really had appreciable PVCs before. It's always been PACs (and afib before my ablation) and this scares me a little. I'm gettingby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PACs - not sure what to do next - 1 year ago
Kliving, I took propafenone for about 18 months and it got less effective as time went on. Eventually, I started getting serious side effects and had to stop. How many did you get before going on meds, and how many do you get now?by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sudden increase in PACs - not sure what to do next - 1 year ago
Megan, Thanks for responding. I took a look at your story and you have had quite a journey. I wish you every success with your upcoming ablation. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sudden increase in PACs - not sure what to do next - 1 year ago
Hi all, I posted last week that I had suddenly started getting constant PACs after 9.5 years being free after a Bordeaux ablation. Despite starting magnesium, coconut water, and controlling my reflux, nothing has helped. I’m getting between about 60 per hour fairly consistently. Prior to last week, I might get one or two a day, if that. I’m really not sure what to do. I don’t even have aby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Question about post ablation blanking period - 1 year ago
When I had my ablation, Dr. Hocini recommended I continue propafenone and warfarin for 3 months afterwards. I continued the warfarin but discontinued propafenone since it was causing me significant side effects. She said that keeping me on anti-rhythmics was, in her opinion, a good practice, but that it was not well supported by evidence. She was OK with me stopping it.. So, again, to echo evby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: PACs - tips to settle them down? - 1 year ago
Thanks George. That’s actually what I was looking for, but I couldn’t find it. Do you have any personal experience with this or any other suggestions?by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: PACs - tips to settle them down? - 1 year ago
Colindo, Obviously, these things are all no nos from me as well, and I try to avoid them as much as possible. Sometimes we make bad choices though. I’m not trying to find a way to maintain that lifestyle and get rid of the PACs, I’m trying to get things back on track after I went a little bit down the wrong path. I.e. I recognize that trigger Avoidance is number one.by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
PACs - tips to settle them down? - 1 year ago
Hi all, I used to be a regular on the forum about 10+ years ago. Quick history, first episode of afib in August 2009, got progressively worse, took propafenone for about 15 months in 2013-14 until I started getting breakthrough events. Was getting afib almost daily by the time I went for an ablation in June 2015. I went to Bordeaux and saw Dr. Hocini who worked her magic on me. No events sinceby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Best EPs in Canada? - 2 years ago
Hi all, I don't come to this forum much these days. I had a successful Bordeaux ablation in June 2015 and it has been holding ever since. At the time, I had spoken to multiple people (mostly members of this group) that had ablations done in Alberta Canada where I live and none of the stories were very positive. Multiple ablations and still no resolution was the most common outcome. Asby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Does a List of the Top EP's for Ablations Exist? If Not, Why Not? - 3 years ago
I would say you also missed Dr. Pierre Jais and Dr. Melize Hocini in Pessac (Bordeaux) France. In my books, they’re easily as good as Natalie. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Dear Afibbers, one and all ... - 3 years ago
I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Hans Larsen. When I was first diagnosed in 2009, finding this board and all the wonderful people on it was a godsend. I bought Hans’ book and learned an amazing amount from this board which he was still moderating at the time. My condolences to his family. Leaving behind this board, all the work he did, and all the people he helped is no small legacy.by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Flecainide Stopped my Afib- Should I still get my ablation? - 3 years ago
I took propafenone for about 18 months. First year it worked 100% and then I started to get breakthrough pacs and eventually breakthrough Afib. I started getting side effects too. I then got an ablation and have been good ever since. I’d ride out the flecanide while you can but if you get any side effects or it starts to be less effective, go for the ablation. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Help! - 3 years ago
Hi Marty, Welcome to the club that no one wants to join. I lurk around here once and a while but I'm not around much anymore. First had afib in 2009 and it got progressively worse (daily) until I was put on propafenone for a year. Once I started to get breakthrough episodes and have some drug toxicity, I scheduled an ablation in 2015. Aside from a few periods of PACs here and there, Iby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: PACs & PVCs & paroxysmal afib - 4 years ago
Before my ablation in 2016 the PACs and PVCs were almost worse than the afib episodes themselves and were very disruptive. I was taking propafenone and metoprolol and still started getting break through ectopic beats . Before my ablation I asked the Dr. Hocici if the ablation would help the PACs. She said "maybe, let's hope so". After the ablation it has been 95% better with aby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Ablation scheduled but having second thoughts... - 5 years ago
Hi Ingrid, Here’s hoping everything goes well for you post-ablation. I had mine 5.5 years and it was the best decision I ever made. I went from daily episodes to virtually symptom free. Life changing. I know that’s not everyone’s experience and I expect I may need another at some point but whatever happens, I have had 5 and a half years of my life back. Hoping the best for you. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Ablation 5.5 years ago - so far so good - 5 years ago
Kleinkp, I started taking a small dose of bisoprolol after my ablation. I’ve found that it seems to keep the ectopics from bothering me so I’ve stayed with it. No antiarrhythmics and no anticoagulants. I also take a PPI sometimes. Heartburn used to be a trigger so I try to eat to avoid it and treat it with a PPI or antacid when it happens.by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ablation 5.5 years ago - so far so good - 5 years ago
Hi all, I used to be a regular reader of this forum and occasionally posted stuff myself. Quick rundown: - developed paroxysmal Afib in 2009 at 38. - Had one or two episodes a year for the first few years and then started getting more frequent and controlled with PIP - Up to weekly episodes by late 2013, started on propafenone daily - After 1 year or so started getting break thru episby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Roll call - lurkers and silent majority? Please respond - 5 years ago
48, M, 1, 5 years Dr. Hocini in Bordeaux Had a few spots here and there where i was getting a lot of ectopics but pretty calm for the most part.by montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Looking for advice about exercise post-ablation - 6 years ago
Hi everyone, I know there are a lot of fairly athletic people on this board and I’m hoping they have some advice. I had a Bordeaux ablation 4 1/2 years ago and things have been fairly good to this point. I’ve had a couple times here and there where I get PAC’s for a little while but then they tend to go away. Usually related to stress or bad diet choices. Lately I’ve been really trying toby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Dental Appointment - 7 years ago
I always found that dental work triggered my Afib pre-ablation. Now when I go I ask for no-epi anesthesia. Though to be honest, I try and get as much done as possible without anesthesia. You’d actually be surprised. For a minor filling you really don’t feel much of snything. I guess I developed a bit of an aversion to freezing after the Afib episodes. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Dr. Natale - 7 years ago
Shannon, Don’t forget Dr. Hocini. I would put her on par with Jaïs and Haissaguerre. Of course I’m somewhat biased since she performed my ablation. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Canadian seeking guidance with selecting an experienced EP for an ablation - 7 years ago
Lorraine, I’m from Canada as well and I went to Bordeaux about 3.5 years ago for an ablation. I have no hesitation in recommending that team. I did research Natale as well and would have loved to have had him but the price was prohibitively high (like 4X or more). If you have any questions, let me know or shoot me a PM. Montyby montos - AFIBBERS FORUM