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Re: SHOILD I GET A REDO ABLATION - 1 year ago

On the subject of sinuses and nasal sprays ..... Flonase tends to be preserved with Benzalkonium Chloride. Benzalkonium Chloride is a Very Bad Thing: . I actually think that using saline spray -- maybe before and 15 minutes after -- the Flonase is probably a good idea. An even better idea, though -- IMHO -- is to ask your doctor if there are any preservative-free alternatives -- ma

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Exercise rehab can lessen severity, frequency and recurrence of irregular heart rhythm - 1 year ago

Incidentally, I posed the question to AI, for those who are interested: Quotequestion posed A recent meta-study concludes that cardiac rehabilitation/exercise can reduce the frequency and severity of atrial fibrillation. The supposition is: "promotes favorable atrial remodeling, including reduced atrial stiffness and fibrosis." Does decreased stiffness automatically imply decreased f

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Exercise rehab can lessen severity, frequency and recurrence of irregular heart rhythm - 1 year ago

To me, this feels like another great use for strain echocardiography. Since strain echo's are an outstanding tool to measure what is, essentially, a surrogate marker of myocardial fibrosis and stiffness, it should be possible to monitor the progress of somebody embarking on a cardiac exercise regimen to find out if their atrial stiffness actually is decreasing. I'd say the same th

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Probiotics ? - 1 year ago

QuoteQwackertoo I didn't read the first link since I'm not "young" and apparently not healthy either. The second one, very complex. Above my pay grade. Last echo, back in January, they said I do have some diastolic dysfunction. When I check my BP here at home, it is always good, only one time was it elevated while systolic was on lower side. No worries. I only includ

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Probiotics ? - 1 year ago

Something to think about: If the 'atrial kick' is responsible for as much as 40% of stroke volume (and, therefore, cardiac output), and afib is disrupting/diminishing your atrial kick, this could mean that -- when you're in afib -- your cardiac output is temporarily reduced. Which has the body going into Plan B Mode: One of the first systems that the body is designed t

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Post ablation atrial contractility - 1 year ago

It may be worth your while to look at a thread I started about "strain echocardiography:" STRAIN ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY THREAD - CLICK ME! Here's an AI response to my inquiry about strain echocardiography and the atria: QuoteGemini AIYes, **strain echocardiography is absolutely used to characterize the function of the atria, particularly the left atrium.** While it originated

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Afib recurrence risk with radiation therapy - 1 year ago

I'm sorry that you are where you are. My mother went through this during COVID (left breast -- right breast is generally considered 'better'). Here's a bit of a summary of current best practices thinking: QuoteAmerican Heart Association Patients who have undergone radiation should be screened and aggressively treated for cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertensio

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

I updated the "Strain Echocardiography" thread - 1 year ago

... and I'm pretty sure there's no way to 'bump' that thread. What I added was the ChatGPT answer to the following question: QuoteQuestion posed to ChatGPT As a surrogate for myocardial fibrosis, how sensitive would (global longitudinal) strain echocardiography be in predicting the outcome of a catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation? The AI answer comports with

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Strain Echocardiography - 1 year ago

Not sure if I can 'bump' this thread, but I wanted to add a ChatGPT answer on the subject: QuoteChatGPT Global longitudinal strain (GLS) by speckle-tracking echocardiography is **increasingly recognized as a valuable noninvasive marker** of myocardial fibrosis and left ventricular (LV) function, and it has growing relevance in the context of **atrial fibrillation (AF)**—particularly

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: A strange afib recurrence - 1 year ago

Ohhhhhh. That Sandy from Michigan. Hi, Sandy!

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: A strange afib recurrence - 1 year ago

First, I'm a big believer in telling your physician(s) anything that you're on the fence about. It'll be their job to decide if it matters or not. Second ... are you aware of the connection between BC radiation and myocardial fibrosis (or other cardiac consequences) -- what tends to give rise to arrhythmias? My mother had left-sided BC treated during COVID. In her case, NSR,

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Co-Worker Ablation Death - 1 year ago

As somebody who is terminally ill as a result of a verry rare adverse drug reaction and a verrry rare consequent heart problem ... this hits pretty close to home. I join the others in offering my deepest condolences to those he left behind ... including you, @cornerbax. Just awful to hear. You truly never do know.....

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: How to reverse persistent AFib? - 1 year ago

QuoteTomR I am listening to an intersting presentation on another (not ivermectin) Covid19 treatment other than vaccines. Here's the link. Gauging by my default standard -- that the quality of the comments tends to reasonably reflect the quality of the content -- one would have to color me dubious, here. YMMV, of course.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: 'Kay, now it's gettin' spooky... - 1 year ago

You Ain't Just Whistlin' Dixie!!

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Just checking - 1 year ago

I guess I'll take this opportunity to break news. I have atrial fibrillation. There. I said it.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Wide IVC - 1 year ago

Is there any room to bump up your Tenormin dosage? Your story is -- again -- heart breaking . Parts of it are also painfully familiar. I've mentioned that I'm terminally ill due to treatment-induced issues (tail end = Trileptal > DRESS Syndrome > Non-tropical Eosinophilic Endomyocardial Fibrosis (a subtype of Restrictive Cardiomyopathy)). At this point, I'm a mixed pres

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Are We Inflating the Success Rate of AF Ablation? - 1 year ago

I think this paper/study presents a more nuanced approach to the question: Its conclusion: QuoteConclusion: Early atrial arrhythmia recurrence during the blanking period, particularly during the third month, is significantly associated with later recurrence. Although a blanking period is warranted, it should be abbreviated. Pulsed Field Ablation seems similar ... so far: QuoteC

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Tizanidine - 1 year ago

Slow heartbeat is a known side effect: It's also a "call your doctor" event. Have you discussed your unpleasant side effects with the prescribing physician? ETA: it can also cause low blood pressure: I'd definitely contact my doctor.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Heart Monitor - 1 year ago

QuoteCareyI've never dropped mine on tile floors but I've put two of them through the wash in my pocket. I would think that a reputable electrophysiologist would appreciate a clean EKG.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Update on my recent post about stopping Eliquis - with trepidation - 1 year ago

Quotesldabrowski Here is a recent article: On the other hand, there's this article: Which quotes two of the principals of the ARISTOTLE study cited by the DiseaseFix article. I think it's a worthwhile read, the bottom line of which is to work closely with your heart docs -- cardiology and EP -- so they can help inform the particular risks and rewards applicable to you.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Supplemental potassium when on keto like diet - 1 year ago

Quotetobherd My kidney function was fine until recently, when my ALT and AST were a bit higher, but that is likely due to my starting a statin drug within the past month or so.... FWIW, .... ALT and AST are measures of liver function, not kidney function. After just a cursory review of a couple of slightly questionable sites on the subject, it sounds like adding a glass of low-sodium V8 juic

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Supplemental potassium when on keto like diet - 1 year ago

Quotetobherd60% fat, 10% or less fat, and whatever is left over for protein. Should one of those have been carbohydrates?

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Anybody know a good EP in Baltimore? - 1 year ago

Johns Hopkins has some names: If you wish, you can narrow your search to Fellows of the Heart Rhythm Society:

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Good news - 1 year ago

Congrats! It's wonderful to know that knowledge and tenacity can pay off, even in 'strange lands.' And ... isn't a relatively benign pill a whole lot more appealing, right now, than another procedure? Hope it sticks!

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and A Fib - 1 year ago

I just glanced at your other thread. Atrial tachycardias are much more common, post-ablation, in HCM patients than in non-HCM patients: QuoteThe StudyWe now demonstrated for the first time, to our knowledge, that patients with HCM experience a relatively high number AT after AF ablation as compared with patients without or with another type of structural heart disease. Even after an isolate

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Decided to have an Ablation - PFA - Questions - 1 year ago

Natale: Santangeli: ETA: should have refreshed the page before posting this ;-)

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Decided to have an Ablation - PFA - Questions - 1 year ago

QuoteNBeener You've made reference to atrial size as an important predictor of long-term ablation success. Have you also undergone any studies (eg, strain echocardiography or LGE-MRI) to evaluate the presence or degree of fibrosis in your case? That's really the other most important prognostic factor in afib and ablation outcome. QuotembdI did have a nuclear stress test and MRI

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Decided to have an Ablation - PFA - Questions - 1 year ago

You've made reference to atrial size as an important predictor of long-term ablation success. Have you also undergone any studies (eg, strain echocardiography or LGE-MRI) to evaluate the presence or degree of fibrosis in your case? That's really the other most important prognostic factor in afib and ablation outcome.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: AFIB??? - 1 year ago

Since Norovirus can cause myocarditis, this is the kind of post that makes me think .... get seen by your primary care physician (or Urgent Care) to be looked at. Hope you're well, and soon.

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Long-term changes in frailty and incident atrial fibrillation, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stroke: A prospective follow-up study - 1 year ago

Even for the unfortunate afibbers who haven't been diagnosed with a Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (<grin>), I'm a big believer in quantifying the degree of myocardial fibrosis, since it's pretty widely known that more fibrosis tends to portend worsening afib and lower rates of success with catheter ablation (I don't know if this has been validated with PFA or not):

by NBeener - AFIBBERS FORUM