George, I am speaking my own experience, and agree that it may not be the same for others - how would I know? On the other hand, I wrote my response because I think The Anti-Fib misrepresented the situation in a way that would cause unnecessary fear for most people, perhaps leading them unnecessarily towards anti-coagulants.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - I have an AliveCor - the atrial beats are there when I convert. Suggesting to me (someone who feels everything accutely) that the ta-dump is double ventricle beats is akin to doctors telling me that laying on my left side can't trigger my afib! That article seems focused on CARDIOVERSION (although it says that it has been "reported" with spontaneous conversion - far froby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
The Anti-Fib - what do you base the following statement on: "Even after you convert back to NSR, the Atria muscle is stunned, and does not contract for a period of time from several days, even up to 3 weeks. That is why the more freqent the episodes, the more advisable anti-coag is recommended. In your case, your Atria may never me functioning properly, because the new episode may be startby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear that Jackie. Seems overdue if anything, and I'm confident it will be a smooth procedure for you (we know the excellent odds of success with Natale). Best wishes, Ralphby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree Shannon that if afib is significantly harming one's quality of life that they shouldn't wait around. But, this type of genetic fix could come alot sooner than expected as gene therapy is apparently in its infancy and advancing quickly. I am pretty certain that I recall Hans musing that a particular gene therapy idea for the heart might not work where there had been an ablationby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, I'll try it next time and report back for what its worth. Ralphby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, I won't take Flecanide because I also get flutter, and am simply unwilling to take the risk of the 1-1 conversion that can happen in some instances.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George. Sounds a little sketchy at best. I might try it if I have a really long episode (by my standards), but mine typically convert in a couple of hours - sometimes 4 or 5.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, I don't take any meds. I'll have an ablation instead if and when the time comes that my afib is progressing in a significant manner.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
I remember this study where IV magnesium is basically more successful than Diltiazam in rate control and terminating afib episodes in the Emergency room. Does anyone have experience or know anything about mega-dosing magnesium (pill form or topical or liquid) to terminate afib? Can it work in that immediate kind of way (obviously it does in some significant way when administered IV)?by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
See the post about left side triggers a few entries down.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
No doubt there is more to the puzzle Elizabeth. But my guess is that this is a big piece for many vagal affibers, right up there with magnesium and potassium. Also, although I'm not suggesting this is true for you or anyone else, I never thought of myself as someone who had a stomach problem until I started paying attention to what was happening.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
John, I just listened to this one hour program that I found after googling Roemheld Syndrome. A markety web-site host interviewing a markety M.D. who has his own supplement web-site, but very on point in my opinion. Seems to me that this (bloated stomach pushing diaghram up into heart and probably impinging vagus nerve) should be a front and center piece of the afib puzzle. It is for me at lby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey John, that Roemheld syndrome entrry is an interesting find. Probably the most accurate description I've heard of my problem. Not that there are any answers associated with it though : (by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
If I could sleep on my right side only, I might not have any afib episodes. 98%+ of my episodes start with positional changes, and 90% of the time those changes are shifting from my right side to either my back or left side. Less frequently they start when getting up from bed or from shifting from right to left. I can often sleep the first hour or two on the left side, but have to be on my rigby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tsco, you may not think you are a conspiracy theorist, but you show all the signs of one.by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, why do you believe that the story told about Dr. Sinatra's son is true? I don't mean him getting ill and recovering, but rather his story and conclusions about the causes and the heroic recovery. There are lots moving parts in people - working in the insanity of Wall Street would be enough explanation for me for a breakdown. The causes of his recover could have little to do wby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smackman, I appreciate your cynicism, but EMF's are scientifically verifiable and measurable - their effect is what is disputed. Some people seem to be very affected by them, and it is easy to think they are "imagining" it if you don't have the same type of sensitivity. Windstar, I am in no way suggesting that EMF's aren't a problem for you - just reacting to whatby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
You can test for EMF's - I've done so with special meters that are legitimate. The biggest sources are often cordless phones - even more than cellphones. Some of them broadcast lots of emf's whether or not the phone is being used. Wireless routers are pretty bad too, but much less so as you get further from them - make sure they are at least 10 feet or more from where you spendby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'd be very leary of any nutritionist, or anyone else for that matter, who "found that both my LCD computer monitor and bedroom area are causing insomnia and heart palpitation problems". Actually, I'd run the other way. How could he or she possibly know that? I'm not discounting the possibility that EMF's could be contributing, I'm just allergic to peopleby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erich, your description matches my experience very well - same thing - rolling over is main trigger and I can often feel it coming - it is a sensation in my solar plexus area. One thing that has helped to varying degrees is physically pushing down my stomach. I'm starting to do that when I roll over (means being awake to do it of course) and it seems to be working. I think stress is one oby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
My main "side" effect was to have even worse afib. Diltiazem lowered my resting heart rate from about 54 to about 47, and that was enough to trigger afib more easily. Other than that, the side effect I had was drowsinessby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Elizabeth. Here is an article pointing out the discrepency between some people's beliefs and the reality of litigation costs in health care 1 - 1.5 % of overall costs to ensure people have to answer for their negligence and worseby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had 6 episodes in the past 16 weeks - 2 hours, 2 hours, 10 minutes, 45 minutes, 2.5 hours, and 5 minutes. I've probably stopped 2 or 3 others during that time by standing up quickly which sometimes stops them before they get started. Most recently I've had success pushing the stomach down - that's right, digging in (firmly) below the ribs with both hands and then pushingby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since everyone has come in pro-ablation, I thought I'd voice another side of it. I'm not advocating either position, but just want to say that when my afib came on strong 3 years ago (almost every day for 2 - 10 hours at a time for most of 4 months - equally greater than a 10% afib "burden") I started trying lots of things. Recently I'm down to less than 0.5% burden (brby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
cryptic self promotion is the work of the devil's advocate. I think maybe anywayby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom, what are you referring to? Do you have any data behind that statement, and by acidic foods do you mean Jackie's acidic or PH acidic?by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
It makes no sense to me George. I am big on things making sense- at least to me. And, the article Morpheus posted, as I skimmed it, was more about bananas not having a significant immediate effect than it was about them not having a significant effect (90 minutes later for example). I chalk up the theory that eating bananas reduces potassium levels alongside the theory that eating a lemon is aby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
It seems circuitous at best to suggest that the a high potassium food like a banana would result in net potassium loss because it has sugar (if that is what you are suggesting George). Bananas appear to be working for me in any eventby Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron, is there something you've heard about bananas specifically, or are you talking about supplementing potassium without a cardy meter?by Ralph - AFIBBERS FORUM