Welcome to the Afibber’s Forum
Serving Afibbers worldwide since 1999
Moderated by Shannon and Carey
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Show all posts by user
A forum for sharing experiences regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias.
Re: Ablation Insurance/costs - 1 year ago
FuzzyDuck- My experience at St David's was very good. One surprise was that I was asked for a $2500 deposit payment when I arrived. I was able to put it on a credit card, but otherwise I didn't have means to pay that with me. Be prepared. Good luck.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ablation Insurance/costs - 1 year ago
Having finally recd an accounting of my Oct '23 ablation at St David's in Austin, I am curious about other's experience. The "unnegotiated" (cash) total hospital services price (not including doc's bills, which in comparison were minimal) was about $286K. Of course, the negotiated amount, $55K, actually paid by Ins (BCBS) was unrelated to the cash price. I paid abby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
5months Post Natale Ablation - Update - 1 year ago
This is an update - I have posted before about my experience: 64yr old, 6yrs history of flutter progressing to monthly/weekly flutter/tachy events and almost continuous PACs. Ablation by Natale last October. My experience with St David's was excellent...so glad I traveled to have the procedure there and with Natale. Post procedure, Natale acknowledged he was not able to get one spot.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Beta Blocker Information - 1 year ago
Yup. At the beginning I was super sensitive to metoprolol. With time I have had to double the dose to be effective.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Advice Needed: 24 Years old Athlete with AFIB (CANADA) - 1 year ago
Rel- Do you take metoprolol or other bblocker as well or Flec only? thanks.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Advice Needed: 24 Years old Athlete with AFIB (CANADA) - 1 year ago
Respecting post ablation tachy...yes it was happening prior to ablation. I would have a mix of afib/flutter/tachy. The ablation resolved all but the tachy which is coming (presumably) from the one site not addressed in ablation. Note: prior to ablation, I had PACS continuously, about one every couple seconds...for years. Gone with ablation. There is reason to believe that with the second ablby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
metoprolol and gout - 1 year ago
I have been having gout-like symptoms in a knee. But I have no other factors that typically lead to gout. EXCEPT: the research says the metoprolol (and other BBs) may contribute to gout and I have been taking metoprolol for 5yrs for afib/flutter. Anyone here have useful experience/knowledge on this? Thanks. -Svenby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Advice Needed: 24 Years old Athlete with AFIB (CANADA) - 1 year ago
Hey Brian- I feel your pain....really. Exercise/activity has been my life... running, tri, martial arts. At 64 yrs my competitive time is passed. But I do what I can to still enjoy moving. You should read "The Haywire Heart"...how I learned that this is an athletes problem. You should probably try medication first to see if there is a way to continue without much progression ofby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Fluoroscopy data - 2 years ago
Anyone have data on fluoroscopy times/exposures of different EP for ablation procedures?by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
5 days Post-Natale Ablation - 2 years ago
64yr old, 6yrs history of flutter progressing to monthly/weekly flutter/tachy events. Elected to travel from FL to Texas for Natale ablation 5 days ago. Best decision of my life. Worth the extra cost. Hospital, staff, ablation team all excellent. Organized and caring. I experienced what a well run hospital can be (unlike the famous hospital in my city). Now 5 days without PACs, without bby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Vagal/Nighttime only Arrhythmia - 2 years ago
Body hormone levels change greatly at night. As a result, it is very common (including in me) to have afib/flutter/tachy induced regularly at night (at rest/sleeping).by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Post Ablation heart care - 2 years ago
Thanks all for your comments and experiences.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Post Ablation heart care - 2 years ago
I am scheduled for Natale ablation in October. Just learned that a good friend is getting married 3 days after. Attending would require travel, etc. I am wondering about how much care/caution I should take in the days immediately post-ablation. Words of experience/wisdom? Thanks.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: New Here and Overwhelmed - 2 years ago
The why is ... life. When we are young, guys like your husband simply don't feel anxiety...me neither. Then we do. Part of getting a bit older. Anxiety brings heart problems...like afib. I had to modify my work. What was easy before, starting killing me with anxiety.....via afib/flutter. Welcome to the aging process. Sorry...it happens to us all. It has different forms for each ofby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sick Sinus? - 2 years ago
thanks. I had a consult with Natale and will probably have an ablation this year. I am trying to understand what he can and can't address.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Sick Sinus? - 2 years ago
At times I will go back and forth between brady/tachy within a couple of minutes. But I normally have low HR, so ..... I have an old Kardia and you're right at times difficult to detect p waves... but at times they are sufficiently clear when HR is high.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sick Sinus? - 2 years ago
8 yrs since first flutter episode...now once a month, self converting. Rhythm more and more irregular when not in afib with frequent bigeminy. Recently, exertion results in rapid onset tachycardia: HR from 70 to 145 within 5 seconds (not afib/flutter) and quickly returning to 70 with rest/deep breathing....or sustained for a couple hours. Kardia shows regular or irregular rhythm but not afibby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Flutter - 2 years ago
My first episode of flutter was 6 yrs ago. Second, 2 yrs after. Now every other month. Sometimes alternating with afib or mixed in. PVCs everyday for years, regularly all night and often during the day. Any thoughts/experience/wisdom on distinctions of flutter vs. afib respecting ablation? My EP doesn't seem to want to talk about it. I am on metoprolol and holding Flec as PIP, but thby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Wow- Good RX Flecainide - 3 years ago
You flecainide users....with or without a betablocker/metoprolol etc?by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: PACs / flecainide - 3 years ago
With myself, there is great variation in how PACs feel. Sometimes they are not noticeable. Otherwise, they wake me. Never are powerful....as other folks have reported. Some folks are greatly bothered and feel substantial impact. This is not the case with me. Sorry, I can't give anything useful.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: PACs instead of AFib? - 3 years ago
So, Carey, what has been your history after the period of intense PACs that your mention? There is no additional afib risk from PACs? If so, how is this known? thanks. (I experience 20k-30k a day and increasing.)by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
PACs / flecainide - 3 years ago
I'm 62 and generally healthy..except for this afib thing. Been on very low dose metoprolol 5 years after a couple of afib/flutter events. PACs have increased from a couple a day to several every minute. My cardio doc ignores them. PACS might be induced in part due to bradycardia: my resting HR is high 40s (ex runner). I am concerned that PACS accelerate the progression of afib and, seby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: I am suppose to have Persistent Afib - 3 years ago
Definitely flutter. I am a frequent flyer in that club. I have seen my flutter via ecg on kardia and 12 lead.by swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Flutter not afib - 4 years ago
Thanks. Very useful. I have an appt with my cardio tomorrow and this will guide my discussion. I am on my 4th cardio doc and none have discussed distinction between afib/flutter nor ablation option. thanks. again. -Svenby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM
Flutter not afib - 4 years ago
Flutter, not Afib, is my problem. First event 6 yrs ago. Then every 2 yrs, now every two months. Alway flutter. One electrovert after 10 days in flutter. Initially, events initiated in sleep – now also during intense effort (resistance training). Resting HR about 50 with 6mg x2 metopolol - limited by HR how much meto I can take. I am 62 and otherwise in great health and have always been actby swhanson - AFIBBERS FORUM