I do wonder about all those who have not experienced afib but do have high blood pressure or other comorbidities. I do not think they are advised about the ChadsVasc scoring or the need to get on blood thinners. I have a sister with high BP problems, which I do not have, but she has not been advised to get on a blood thinner & I don't think she knows about the CV scoring system. Dby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Does the Chads-Vasc score matter if you are free of afib/flutter problems?by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey All, I have been asking questions about my "what ifs" surrounding my not being on antiarrhythmics (AAR) or blood thinners anymore, but having had a flutter episode 9 months post ablation, preparing for the possibility of what to do if I have another episode. You have helped clarify this for me about my taking Eliquis as soon as I feel another episode & to keep taking it a weby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, Colindo. I have definitely heard good things about nattokinase. Appreciate your input.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I should have made my last reply to Pompon, not Colindo - re the EF. Sorry.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Colindo, I have no idea what my ejection fraction is, nor do i know what it would mean! But I should’ve clarified to everyone that I had my ablation 8/2/19 and I am clear of the A-Fib for quite a while but it’s the flutter that has come back a time or two. Dr. Natale is fine with me being off the blood thinner and only using it if I have another episode and then for sure eventually followingby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I asked an EP I highly respect that exact same question once. His answer was, "Why wait? Just take it as soon as an episode begins." He's right. There's no consensus on how long it takes for clots to form during an AF episode, and at least one study has shown it can be as fast as 6 minutes. Following some randomly chosen period of time to wait accomplishes nothinby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, Sorry to ask such a basic question and probably already been answered but forgotten. If one is doing well for months and has been given the okay not to do blood thinners every day, but only start one if an episode of atrial flutter feeling occurs for more than 4-6 hr, how much protection how soon does this give against a possible stroke? I will be taking Eliquis if that happens, so Iby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I love this group!!! Carey & Shannon are the best & everyone else who gives so much too. I tried to find out information on the Internet about the comparison between Plavix & the NOACs and was coming up short in my search every time. My husband wrote an email to the nurse of the single practice Doctor who did his surgery and then he made an appointment to go in and talk to the dby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, I got to thinking about blood thinners & wondering about the details of what is really best or safest. I remember Coumadin (rat poison) that my sister was on & how I took her all the time to get her PT/INR measured & it seemed it was never on target. If it was TIAs she was having causing her dementia, they apparently did not stop because her dementia progressed & iby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I want to work on the drug plan coverage & cost calculators. I am on Xarelto 20 mg a night. What is the equivalent with Eliquis? Thanks.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, It has been 14 months since my index ablation with Dr. Natale. Lots of times I feel racy & a little short of breath. My pulse runs high pretty often, like in the 80s. I've been sitting at the computer for maybe an hour (no activity) & I feel kind of a burning in my chest & took my BP 111/71 & pulse 82. I do not know what my pulse ran before the ablation; I did not pby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, We have not been able to find disinfectant wipes like Lysol or Clorox brand since this began, either in stores or online. We have the small bottles of hand sanitizing spray with alcohol & lavender, but that is pricey for overall daily use. If a grocery store does not have the wipes in their lobby or the pump bottles of disinfectant, I need to have my own ready to wipe my hands, anythby Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
QuoteCarey 2. Do you think if I had to get ECV for flutter again, I should accept going through the ER if allowed - in order to avoid overnight hospital stay? I feel safer not being in an ER & also being with my dr who knows me. But I don't want to have to stay overnight again. Covid is keeping me from getting my ablation in Austin now & it is complicating things if I need ECby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I want to ask some things about flutter. I had atrial fibrillation. Ablated by Natale Aug 2019. Got atrial flutter about 4 months later (but I had stopped my antiarrhythmic before that). Got flutter again this April, also not on an AAR at that time either. I am trying to understand something my cardiologist said, but he is a rapid speaker whose native language is Spanish & I aby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteLaniB I just feel so awful about all of your apthous ulcers! Stress causes them. I used to get them around Christmas time when I was in college, finals, Christmas stress, family issues..... I used to know someone who got them everytime she ate pineapple or grapefruit. There must be something running your system down. Surely there's a good Functional Medicine Doctor in your area wby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Carey. Will do. What about blood pressure - what is considered hypertension by most ppl these days? I read in 60+Y/0 y/o, it was ok if below 140/90. And if I take it at home & don't have the same pressures as at drs' offices, is it okay? I took my machine in to calibrate against theirs & it was the same. Like you say, the ppl taking BPs in the office donby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Susan. An everything bagel NY style sounds scrumptious. I have a distant memory of one. I will have to try it. Also, a lot of gluten free processed foods are no better for us with their other ingredients. But who eats only pure fresh food prepared & cooked by oneself 100% of the time. Sometimes a cake, a cracker, a chip, etc. is most desirable. Oh, what brand - is it Trader Joeby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN I still have 2 raging ulcers & once they develop, they can last 14-16 days, so I want to wait & see if I stop getting any once these heal or even now while they are here I can still get more. Wonder if you've ever tried l lysine for your mouth ulcers. Sometimes it can be quite effective. Actually, lysine is for fever blisters (herpetic sores on outside of lips)by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Carey. That is just what I wanted to know - if it even worked for flutter since everyone keeps telling me their afib experiences. I will get back on flecainide as soon as I can. I still have 2 raging ulcers & once they develop, they can last 14-16 days, so I want to wait & see if I stop getting any once these heal or even now while they are here I can still get more. If this cby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I weigh 107 pounds, take carvedilol (Coreg) 6.25 mg b.i.d. & when I take the flec, it is 50 mg b.i.d. My index ablation was 8/2/19, and got rid of the afib. I had one atrial flutter 3 1/2 mo after my ablation bec I had stopped taking the sotalol early. I had one more atrial flutter this April and was on no antiarrhythmic meds at the time, just my low-dose carvedilol & of courseby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been wondering if I would be eligible for PIP flecainide since I hate taking it all the time. I don't really understand it & I am sure I would have to know what I am doing to employ this method. I glanced at the resources on afibbers here to see if I could find out anything about it, but I got sidetracked with several other articles. I was started on flecainide 4/17/20, aftby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey You still get the point and it counts for everything except deciding on anticoagulation. So you're effectively a CHADS 1. Hi Carey, I am confused by your reply. I get "the point" for being female based on that 1st scoring system I listed? & I am a CHADS 1 by either test? What do you mean - it counts for everything? ......... & what do you mean by tby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN On the CHA2DS2-VASc scoring, does being female still give one a point? If not, then my score is only 1 (for being 70). On the CHADs2 score, I am 0. Both of these are according to the scoring I found on Wikipedia, which leave me still wondering what my score is in relation to anticoagulant therapy. My cardiologist says I have benign mild hypertension, but I do notby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Carey.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, I would like to see if anyone with a profile similar to mine has found one of the antiarrhythmics better suited for not causing side effects related to disturbance of the vestibular system. Specifically, either sotalol, flecainide or Multaq. I was ablated (index) last yr for afib. Many months later, I have had 2 episodes of A. flutter. I need another ablation, but prefer not toby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many thanks to all of you for your feedback.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello, I am needing my touchup ablation almost 1 yr after my index ablation because of atrial flutter 2 times after the blanking period. I was put on medicine after the first one, but did not stay on it long & for some reason 5 mo later during COVID they opted for ECV for my 2nd episode of flutter. I have put off going to Austin because of the coronavirus situation. We would have toby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I would like to see if the flecainide is making these worsened symptoms of dizziness exaggerated, but I wonder how long one needs to stop a med to see the effects disappear. Would about 3 days seem safe enough to give a trial so I can see if I feel better? I will still continue my carvedilol. The half-life of flecainide is about 20 hours, so three days would reduce your leveby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Honestly, it might be worth stopping it for a few days just to find out if it's the flecainide or the neuroma causing the vertigo. When you have a condition known to cause vertigo I wouldn't be so quick to blame meds. I would like to see if the flecainide is making these worsened symptoms of dizziness exaggerated, but I wonder how long one needs to stop a med to see the efby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM