QuoteCarey Did the study where the 1.7% increased risk was quoted say for every year? Stroke risk is normally quoted as an annual risk and that number jives with other sources I've seen for a CHADS 1. Risk assessment is determined by studies that are typically long term that compare large groups. Example: "AFIB patients are 5X more likely to have stroke." I don't thinkby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Did the study where the 1.7% increased risk was quoted say for every year?by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteBrian_og that gives you a 1.7% risk of stroke To be clear, that gives her a 1.7% annual risk of stroke, which doesn't sound so bad, but people need to understand that annual risks are cumulative. A 1.7% annual risk translates to a 15.7% risk of stroke over 10 years, or 29% over 20 years. It's a non-trivial level of risk. Thanks. Crap. I didn't know that either. Hmby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteErin I was scheduled for tonsils out and they wouldn't do it because blood wouldn't clot. Thats not bleeding, I know, but they were afraid of surgery. as in hemophilia ?by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Thanks Carey - Once you mentioned the nitinol, I did a search on the percentages of nickel and learned that in some, there are concerns about reactivity for some patients if they have nickel sensitivity... they also talked about that concern in stenting. It's good to know reactivity is not common or a serious concern. There's an interesting discussion about those coby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Looks like use of AC's is substantiated if AFIB or AT lasts longer than 5 minutes, and your CHAD2DS2 or ATRIA (age and history of strokes) score is => 2.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJim Benton Thanks Jackie, Does MK-7/K2 increase blood coagulation? I have seen reports that K1 does increase coagulation, but the information is less clear for MK-7/K2. I think it brought my INR up. It's derived from Natto.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Expertise yes, but simply quantity no. In fact, after establishing high level of expertise, I would prefer an EP that is not overloaded with daily procedures. In the EP world, quantity and quality go hand in hand. You literally can't have quality without quantity. Aside from the technical proficiency that comes with doing a lot of procedures, there's also the simple fby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey My PCP recommended him, he's got great credentials and reputation, and he gets glowing reviews from his patients on healthgrades.com. Nevertheless, he absolutely, positively does not know how to do an ablation. Think you missed my point...Expertise yes, but simply quantity no. In fact, after establishing high level of expertise, I would prefer an EP that is not overloaded withby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
While level of experience is important, I tend to place more importance on recommendations from former patients and those that know his/her work. Quality rules quantity. Looking at quantity numbers can lead you to ambitious, ego maniacal celebrity doctors...not really a great thing, unless you like being a number.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Maybe you can take Magnesium Citrate.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch It's still a developing process and I am certain that one day every ablation procedure will be a one and done. Hoping that about cancer too, but we don't even fully understand the causes at this point.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I was in enough pain from it that my EP gave me hydrocodone for 10 days. Hair standing on end...OMG "If you suddenly stop taking hydrocodone, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, teary eyes, runny nose, yawning, sweating, chills, hair standing on end, muscle pain, widened pupils (black circles in the middle of the eyes), irritability, anxiety, back oby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon So, I'm not surprised reading that some afibbers need a longer blanking period than usual. I may be one of them. And you too. I too greatly appreciate hearing people's personal experiences. What you said is very similar to what his EP told him.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotedocboss I am undecided about a martini tonight. Good opportunity for making more healthy decisions.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteafdude My EP doesn’t think we should rush to going back in as he has had several patients have bumps for up to a year and then go quiet for many years. Nothing since month 8 and I am now in month 13 Thanks, afdude So you're thinking people on this board know more than your EP?by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteggheld I wish Wolfpack had been around 20 years ago when I was diagnosed with Vagal and prescribed Amiodarone, Coumadin and Lanoxin by both my Internist and Cardiologist. Wolfpack has been around about 2 years, so there's abundant information all over the internet on side effects. Probably 20 years ago less was known and there weren't as many alternative options. I'm takingby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack Ami simply has no business in a paroxysmal, younger patient with no other structural heart disease or comorbidites. Write that in red ink and underline it three times. Okay, but who's taking Amiodarone? Am I missing something? I guess Jackie posted warnings after I noted a study supporting Berberine, a supplement.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJackie On the berberine use... It's important to understand that berberine is very effective at reducing blood glucose and related insulin issues... so when using it, be very aware if you notice symptoms of low glucose levels since one symptom can be palpitations and/or arrhythmia due to the mechanism that triggers an 'alert' response (adrenaline) in the body when glucoby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch Does he have you on medications? Yes. I started back on Ticosyn and Metoprolol following the ablation. Then I switched back to Flecanide and Metoprolol because I had the coincidental nerve pain when on the Ticosyn. I was off the Ticosyn for several days before starting back on the Flecanide. Looking back I should have probably stayed on the Ticosyn. I'm taking somby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch Had a third, more comprehensive ablation in Texas witih Dr. Natale in July and I'm not sure where that one stands right now. Im am having my second cardioversion done this week. Does he have you on medications?by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
There's certainly no guarantee that you will be better off with an ablation. In fact, things could get worse, so I'd need a good reason to get one.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Doesn't sound "vagal" to me, and clearly you want someone who can diagnose/treat your condition without your advice.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon the EP saw that one PV had slightly reconnected. He said it was frequent after a cryo ablation, especially with the right (if I remember correctly) PVs. . Interesting, did he tell you why that is?by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
An elite EP will make you wait about 3 months for the privilege. That's to make you think that you're lucky they fit you in.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Natale and his proteges aren't the only ones capable of the technique but I do believe he pioneered it. Hongo noted that techniques were being presented in workshops that they had been doing for 10 years.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf And by implication are all ablationists who don't make lines inexperienced and inadequately trained?? Obviously not. Published: 20 June 2017 both strategies were shown to be similarly effective for primary outcome. However, ablation and fluoroscopic time in group D were significantly shorter than those of group P. (42.9 min vs. 57.9 min, p=0.040 and 11.2 min vs.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Think he may be referring to dragging technique, which is different then cyro. That's exactly what I'm referring to. Natale makes lines with RF. It's not unique to cryo. Cryo just makes it easier and faster at the expense of being rather limited in where it can make lines. Thanks for validating that No, they're not the same thing (unless, of course, Hongby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf Hongo felt that lines were more susceptable to breakthroughs than points over the long term. Natale agrees, which is why he makes lines, not points. Experienced, well-trained ablationists make lines with RF. What cryo can't do is anything other than isolate the pulmonary veins. That makes it effective for simple cases, which apparently comprise about 65%, but if there arby jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Hongo felt that lines were more susceptable to breakthroughs than points over the long term. Natale agrees, which is why he makes lines, not points. Experienced, well-trained ablationists make lines with RF. Probably semantics, since Hongo trained under Natale.by jpeters - AFIBBERS FORUM