I called my EP's office today and UPenn's protocol is to have patients wear the holter monitor for 30 days afters the ablation! It seems a bit excessive compared to other EP's protocols. I requested they ask the doctor if I can cut it short a week, since the last week would be a major inconvenience due to other committments.by MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the feedback. When I read Dr. John's blog, he makes the recovery sound like a nightmare. Some of the things I've read now have gotten me a little worried. Several years back I needed to get a hernia repaired and I saw many warnings of complications and problems, which similarly had me worried - but in the end it turned out to be such an easy procedure with no issues -by MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation is being done in about 10 days and a few questions about the recovery came to mind: How long is the typical recovery time, and what are the stages (if any)? I'm in my mid-40s, in reasonable health, exercise frequently (though usually just in the form of 1 hour brisk walks). Some of the specific 'milestones' in recovery I'm wondering about are: - How long unby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had symptomatic paroxysmal afib for about 6 years now, and have had about 50+ occurrences of afib during that time. Sometimes it can be up to 9 months between episodes, though more typically it happens monthly, and sometimes weekly or more. I’ve been following the strategies listed on this website since the problem first began with some success, though I also used flecainide pill-in-tby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the feedback everyone. I had been settling into the new meds the past couple days, then last night had a bit of a scare with my heart rate dropping to 50 bpm, and making me feel dizzy. It seems the low dose of Cardizem LA is maybe too much for me - and there isn't any lower dose and the tablet can't be split since it's time release. I spoke to one of the PAs at my Eby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, a few weeks ago I restarted my previous supplements. I had stopped when an Ayurvedic doctor recommended stopping all supplements and getting all my vitamins & nutrients naturally (a lot of good that did!). BTW, I saw the Ayurvedic doctor for general wellness, nothing related to afib. My afib had been doing very well, so I hadn't even been worrying about it at the time when I tookby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yeah, I totally empathize with doctors not being interested in treating afib with supplements; it can be complex and unique to every individual, it can be time consuming to get it right, many patients might prefer a 'quick fix', etc. This may also be true with medications to a degree. If a doctor is skilled with ablations and has a high success rate, I can understand them wanting to qby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
For the past five years since my afib started, I've just been taking the recommended supplements from this webpage and using PIP Flecainide when need. Recently I had stopped my supplements and in time the afib episodes started happening once a week, so I started them again and began taking 75mg of Flecainide nightly to fend off the episodes (I have vagal afib which almost always occurs whenby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the feedback. Maybe I'll try switching to organic. I have been trying adding ginger to my regimen. It hasn't yet been the magic bullet, but I'll experiment some more to see if it helps. With my recent streak of episodes, I'm wondering if I need to take Flecainide nightly for a while, after which maybe I can taper. I've got an appointment with my new EP nby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been considering if I should cut out caffeine to reduce the incidence of vagal afib. I can understand how caffeine could be bad for someone with adrenergic afib, but does it make a difference with vagal afib? My afib almost always occurs in my sleep, during when my heart rate is low (between 50 to 60 bpm), and I sometimes wonder if stimulants could actually help prevent it. But posby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, Thanks so much for the informative reply! My appointment actually is with Dr Fermin Garcia, so I feel in good hands now. I originally tried to get an appointment with Dr. Marchlinski or Dr. Callans due to their general acclaim, but was unable to. It guess God stepped in and steered the situation in the right direction. I look forward to seeing Dr. Garcia. This morning I had aby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Thanks for the feedback. My nephrologist hasn't been too concerned about my intake of potassium, magnesium, protein, etc. At this point, my renal function isn't a problem - though in time IgA nephropathy can progress to kidney failure in a percentage of people with the disease. I do restrict sodium, never adding it to foods and avoiding salty foods most of the time. Oneby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been taking the supplements listed below for several years which have worked well for me, but recently I had stopped and after a couple months my a-fib began occurring weekly. I've starting taking them again, though it might take some time to catch-up. Do you have any suggestions for modifying the supplements I'm taking? Some notes: - The Thorne multivitamin contains 1by MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had periodic afib episodes for the past 5 years, all of which quickly converted with a pill-in-the-pocket (300mg Flecainide). When it started, I would get it a few times years, though it progressed to about seven episodes last year - but the past five weeks it has become a weekly event (usually on Sunday night / Monday morning). It's vagally mediated, almost always occurring whilby MarkF786 - AFIBBERS FORUM