McHale - did you get the impression from the cardiologist and EP that you spoke to that they did not recommend Dr. Chinitz? That was the impression I got from your post, which surprised me. I thought he was highly regarded. I know Jackie has good things to say about him.. I have heard of Dr. Marchlinski. Guess I have some homework to do in figuring out who to meet with...but at least someby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - why do you say "take Dr. Chinitz's place"? Did he leave? He was the first one I was thinking to try. Hans ~ do you think that two ablations might be a possibility with Dr. Natale too? Or does he seem to 'get it" with one? Also, Jackie had mentioned David Callans at U. Penn. Are there any clear choices with all of these EPs or would you consider them aboutby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I went to bed not feeling well last night, and feel the same today. Sinus issue and some coughing, etc. To make it worse, my Afib kicked in while lying in bed and coughing this morning. I think I'm ready to talk to an EP about a possible ablation....enough is enough. I saw your post, Hans, in which you asked if someone's Afib is self terminating and if it never lasted 24 hours. Thby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I started taking Flecainide about 4 years ago, at first it seemed to work pretty well, but as a frequent afibber, not well enough. The cardiologist increased my dosage and it worked better - but still not completely. I complained about the "breakthroughs" and when she said it looked ilke I was gettin some Flutter, she suggested increasing the dosage again. I did that, and also hby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes Murray..good point. I probably should see an EP again, but I'm basically hanging in there OK...hate to stir things up. I just have a week sometimes when I get more Afib then usual and and tired of it...but again, it's manageable. I have no enlargement...all my tests were normal. I believe my Chads score was 1, and that was because I have slighly elevated BP...but then sometimeby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear you are in NSR 100% Murray. That must feel wonderful! Yes, I wouldn't mess with those results either. I agree with all of the "if's" that you mentioned at the top of your last post, but it's harder when some Docs think you should wait and some Docs think you should do it. I dont' really go to the EP I went to a couple of years ago as I haven't reby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good luck Gianfranco We will be eager to hear of your success and happiness again! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many excellent points and perspectives here. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and your thoughts. I have had paroxysmal Afib for almost 10 years now. Within the first 5 years, it had gotten to the point that I had it at least once, sometimes twice a day. I never had an episode last more than 14 hours (most were less), and I always self converted - usually after a brisk walk. I got tiredby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all of your responses. I live in New York and could much more easily go to someone like Dr. Larry Chinitz at NYU (although I'm not sure of that situation as NYU hospital was out of commission due to Hurricane Sandy flooding....or another very good EP in the NYC area. He has a great reputation, but it is good enough or should Dr. Natale be the only one to really consider when &quby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wonder if I spend too much time researching, fretting, and vacillating about getting an ablation. One of my associates, Tricia had Afib for just 9 months, did basically no research, went to a local heart hospital and had an ablation, and all is fine. It seemed so effortless and simple for her. Makes me wonder if I should "just DO it"! Am I - are we - making too big of a deal outby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Donny - I had afib several times a week, which increased to once or twice a day - over the course of 5 years. I finally gave up and started Flecainide, which has worked quite well for these past 5 years. I did find that I needed to increase to a high dose in order to get my episodes to stop. The initial dosing of 50 mg. twice/day helped, but not enough. They increased it to 100 mg. twice/day,by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - saw your comment about Dr. Reddy and Dr. Steinberg and had to comment. If it's Dr. Reddy from Mt. Sinai, my cardiologist said he is brilliant and is also cutting edge and sought after. I plan to get a consult with him over the winter myself. Is Dr. Steinberg from the same hospital? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI eveyone - Last Tuesday I had a consult with an EP from the office of my cardiologist, regarding his feelings on ablations and what he recommended for me. I had no intention of using him should I have an ablation, but decided to talk with him anyway, at the suggestion of my cardiologist (who I do like). Dr. Altman said a few things that seemed wrong to me...First that ablations just go to (by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - I have gone for acupuncture for well over a year now. I can't imagine why it would be a concern for anyone on a blood thinner, as you don't bleed. The needles are very thin and don't cause any bruising or similiar issues - and even if they did cause a little bruising for someone on thinners, that would be the worst of it in my opinion. I'm not a doctor, but I do haby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Same here, Stevie. I also had a colonoscopy and had no problems with the anesthesia, even though I take a high dose of Flec each day. Good luck ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
All the best, Tom! I am thinking that will be me in the not too distant future, so I can empathize too. Keep us posted ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
This sounds very promising, Mike! Do you know whether this has been the chosen method in any hospital yet? Or are they still in the prelimarly research phase..? It appears to be the research phase. I wonder how long it takes before something like this becomes accepted practice. My questions on all of this are....why is there such a prevalence of Afib? If they don't know what the rootby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Phil - that's a good idea too.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your replies Doug is back home now and feeling pretty good! He is on quite a few medications, which I came to learn are standard protocol for those who had a heart attack, whether you really need them or not. Case in point, his cholesterol was 127, LDL was low (can't remember the number but I know it was a low one), HDL could be slightly higher, and trigylerides were only 94. Yby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello everyone - this past Friday night, my 75 year old husband, Doug, had a heart attack. They determined that he had a 95% blockage in his left atery (called the 'widow maker"), and had a stent put in on Monday. His heart enzymes remained high, so they kept a watch to see when those numbers were 'trending down"...which they had by this morning. About 20 minutes after theyby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Neroli, for that link. Sounds like the CHADs score gets mixed "reviews"..some feeling it's good, others not. What was your take?by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie - does he mention how high of a dose he recommends for Gingko? i do take it daily, but not sure what dose he feels is best. To play devil's advocate, couldn't someone say that this is just one doctor's opinion, versus many, many studies done on aspirin? I did take a baby aspirin last night...but would prefer to stick with my Ginko Biloba, reserveratrol, grape seed anby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie - I'm not sure what a CHADs score is...? I do go back and forth with high blood pressure, and my LDL's were too high last time they were checked (a year ago..I'm due for a re-check)...maybe that's why? My HDL's were great and my CRP was good too. Triglycerides very good. How long ago was that post on Idiopathic vs. Lone Afib post? I'll look for it. Hanby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had an upsetting arguement with my daughter this morning and in my anger and distraction, ended up taking 2 Flec pills equalling 300mgs. Called my doctor to see if I needed to be concerned or what to do, and they recommended coming in for an EKG and vitals a few hours later. All was OK (although my BP was up), but he said that he wanted me to take a baby aspirin every day, as my stroke risk wby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - I first went to St. Francis hospital to get a consult, and was completely turned off. The doctor I met with focused more on the fact that I had a tachycardia episode almost 25 years ago and then talked about how he could fix that, and what time he did them...and then acted as if I was going to do that. "I do these at 7am on Thursday mornings...you need to be here by this time,"by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great discussions, everyone! As often happens with me, I have now had a couple of good weeks, so am back to holding off.... I have since been diagnosed with a herniated disk that was giving me severe pain in my hip area, and was given a shot and some pain meds. (haven't been taking too many of the meds..don't worry But I'm almost wondering if the body knows it has something elseby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow - thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. So far, I haven't heard anyone say that they are NOT happy they went through with their ablations. The thing that did surprise me was how many of you didn't go to Dr. Natale. I guess I've heard so much about him and his success that I would feel he's the only one to go to....but he certainly isn't conveniently locateby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - I thought the success rate in top centers was even higher, no? I know everyone talks of Dr. Natale as being the "it" person for an ablation in the U.S. But are there other EP's that are basically on par with him? I thought Dr. Natale was down in Texas much of the time, yet that wasn't one of the centers you just mentioned. I haven't seen much on Dr. Larry Chiniby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello - I just added to my recent post about having more afib this month than is typical, and the concern that Flec may not be working so well anymore. Probably more than at any other time, I am more seriously contemplating an ablation. I'm just putting some "feelers" out there right now...how many of you who have had ablations, feel that it was a good move, and how many wishby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie - how much Ubiquinol and Ribose do you take? I am having another bad day with afib and am feeling that the Flec may not be working so well anymore...and I'm scared and very depressed. I was so hoping to avoid an ablation as I have read some of the horror stories on that - but I really am starting to lose my patience with this. It's been 9 long years, 5 of them with me struggliby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM