QuoteThe Anti-Fib Also what was your average Heart Rate while in Afib? What is the significance of your average HR while in Afib? Years ago, before getting on antiarrythmics I would have RVR, but these days my rate is much lower, even if I have suspended my antiarrythmic for a week.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was on Flecainide for years with few Afib breakthroughs, but every time I did have one, my EP raised the dose of Flecainide until I was at 150 mg x 2. That proved to be a dose I could not tolerate and I developed a serious side effect. My EP stopped Flecainide and put me on Multaq last February. It worked pretty well but I have had a few breakthroughs. After the bad experience with Flecainide Iby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I would opt for the virtual meeting. Thanks—that is all helpful information. Question: don’t they want to do a CAT scan the day before? I read that somewhere here.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadeline I got some dates from them today What range of dates were you given? I’m still waiting to hear and wondering when they are scheduling.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePoppino I dont think its advised to take Turmeric while on Eliquis I guess it depends how much! My EP was fine with me taking a moderate dose of curcumin which is sort of concentrated turmeric.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeocappy Any input as far a whether it is better to fly in day early meet with Dr Natale in person in office day before procedure or do telemed with him several days early and just fly in day before procedure From the perspective of another patient waiting for an ablation, I think I would prefer to meet with him in person as everyone says that he is so very reassuring and also in case thereby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeocappy I was notified on 4/19/22 that Dr Natale approved me for my ablation. I am just curious if anybody was scheduled for their ablation recently and when was their initial approval. Don’t want to bother Amy to ask if she has a ballpark estimate 3,4,5 months from approval date?I was approved May 18th and am not yet scheduled. I did have a conversation with Amy and asked to be put on tby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. Natale wants me to wear a heart monitor for a week pre-ablation to get a more accurate picture. It needed to be prescribed locally as I have not yet had an appointment with Dr. Natale. I had an appointment yesterday at a hospital clinic, asked for hypoallergenic and they gave me ePatch, extended Holter Monitoring by BioTel Heart. I’ve only worn it for 24 hours, but so far no irritation. I takby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many patients do report skin irritation and itching from the adhesive pads. I am also getting a week’s monitor next Tuesday at the request of Dr. Natale. After talking with other patients, I will request hypoallergenic pads.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Another thing that many of us find helps keep us in rhythm is a good electrolyte balance. If you have recent tests, check your numbers for potassium and magnesium. Many have posted on their favorite blend of magnesium but potassium may even be more important. Keeping it at the top of the normal range (about 4.5) really makes a difference. In the first years a hefty dose of food-based potassium wby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebettylou4488 im only on 50 am and pm. I don't know if I am a poor metabolizer of CYP2D6. I am familiar with what you are talking about because of head meds for our son but how do you KNOW if you are? what testing? I guess we shall see what the ECG says... what is "heart block" exactly and is it reversible? I really should know the answer to that but I don't. thankby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
What is your dose do Flecainide and do you know if you might be a poor metabolizer of CYP2D6, the pathway that Flecainide primarily uses? I ask because if you are a poor metabolizer of that pathway, your dose of Flecainide needs to be lower than ‘normal’ as it can build up in your bloodstream. I learned this the hard way when I started getting ‘wide QRS’ on my Kardia and then it progressed to heaby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebneedell I started taking the Multaq just now, finally got up the nerve..your encouragement helped a lot. Can I ask you (or others who have taken Multaq) what side effects you had and when did the occur after beginning this drug? I’ve been taking Multaq for a few months. As Carey said, it is considered to be a mild antiarrythmic with few side-effects. For me though, it gives digestive sidby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePoppino Daisy that sounds very similar to: POTS. But as I understand it : a low BP with tachycardia upon standing. POTS occurrs in ANS dysfunction. Will be very interested in your treatment and outcomeYes, similar to POTS except for the lack of tachycardia. My diagnosis was Neurally mediated hypotension. Here is another article that came out in May in Cardiac Rhythm News: Quotehttps://caby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks @Poppino! I believe that Dr. Natale will be ablating the autonomic ganglia in my case. My problem is not tachycardia but BP dropping when I am standing—I have about 1 - 5 minutes before I start to pass out. Here is an interesting article about another EP: QuoteDr. Peem Lorvidhaya has pioneered a new program at Mary Washington Healthcare, using cardioneuroablation to treat patients withby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePoppino after covid hes seen alot of autonomic nervous system dysfunction (which ive had some) albiet waaay better. Could you say more on this? I am going into an ablation with Dr. Natale with fairly severe autonomic dysfunction (began after another virus, not Covid), and am hoping that he will be able to improve my autonomic nervous system function by ablating the autonomic ganglia. Did youby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadelline I get my blood thinner (Xarelto previously & Eliquis currently) from Walgreens too. I haven't filled the Eliquis yet. I do see the Xarelto bottle is original, but the pharmacy's label covers the original label & when I tried carefully to peel it off some of the label was missing & I stopped. I did not see anything that said exp date or lot date, except exp. asby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Anyway, I rather doubt that household current could do anything to cause afib later in life. My indirect lighting strike (I had my hands in a water-filled sink when lightning hit the ground right outside) was strong enough to throw me across the room and stun me—always wondered…by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wonder if there might be any connection between having been struck by lightning or having had a significant electrical shock, and later developing Afib? Following a friend who was directly struck by lightning, I learned that the damage is not transient. I wonder how many of us have had such electrical shocks? I’ve been struck by lightning, but not directlyby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Multaq is actually one of the mildest antiarrhythmics there is with very few side effects. That also makes it one of the least effective, but there's no harm in starting out with the milder, safer choices. I started Multaq after Flecainide failed and, much to my surprise, it is working very well. It does give me digestive troubles which I am learning to manage with an awkward mealby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d Weight does make a difference. I had a flecainide overdose and my hr remained in 24 hr for days in the ICU. Flecainide is not a drug one experiments with. Read my links too Thanks. I read the thread and all the links, very helpful. I have no doubt about the potential toxicity of flecainide as it caused complete heart block for me. However, I did not see a reference to the weight limiby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I saw a new cardiologist today as my EP recently relocated. I chose a general cardiologist at a hospital-based heart group hoping that a general cardiologist would be more likely to liaise with Dr. Natale than an EP who might be miffed that I was not choosing him/her. He wholly supported me going for an ablation with the best—he said, “He’s the king,” and said that he would be happy to work withby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d 50mg flecainide is pretty low. Has anyone suggested 100mg twice a day? That is the maximum dosage if you weigh less than 154 pounds. If you weigh more than 154#, 300mg total in a 24 hour period is the maximum . Do you have a reference for the weight recommendations on Flecainide? I had one EP who didn’t seem to think weight was a factor in dosing, so it would help to have a referenceby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was told that after FDA approval (no projected date given) it would be available for touch-ups, though whether it would be available to those with implanted devices, was not yet known.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDr. Peem Lorvidhaya has pioneered a new program at Mary Washington Healthcare, using cardioneuroablation to treat patients with vasovagal syncope, sick sinus syndrome, functional AV block, and other types of dysautonomia such as POTS. Cardioneuroablation is simply a name for ablation of the autonomic ganglia in the heart. Since I have Dysautonomia and daily pre-syncope, I have been lookingby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take Miralax sometimes and have never noticed any effect on Afib. Perhaps your EP was concerned about Miralax causing diarrhea—which would mess with your electrolytes. Note: you don’t have to take the full dose of Miralax—there is no problem in taking a partial dose according to my gastroenterologist, if you want to be cautious.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadeline I want to ask about what kind of N95 masks to get for travel to Austin. What guidelines - FDA approved, made in USA?, KN95?, NIOSH?, what parameters to look for & what not to get. Just in case, shouldn't we get an extra good mask for travel to Austin for my ablation? I’ll also be going to Austin in the same period. A friend, who works for the NM State Dept. of Health, gavby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Have you found that the higher doses of flecainide and metoprolol are helping you? Flecainide is a tricky drug and I had severe side effects at 150 mg twice a day but most are OK with that dose. You can stop Flecainide without tapering, through metoprolol, being a beta blocker, may need a bit of tapering…or not. Dr. Natale’s NP will give you explicit instructions.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeocappy My resting heart rate is between 68-73. Was notified a month ago I was accepted and am awaiting some possible dates. I was just curious what an AF event feels like that warrants going to emergency. Was concerned I may be experiencing it but ignoring it somehow I have also been accepted for an ablation by Dr Natale (10 days ago). Norma told me that the next step was insurance aby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemikehansby I have had one 40 second episode of afib in the last 5 years. I know this because I have a pacemaker. My doctor recommends I go on eliquis as a preventive measure. I question the need for eliquis based on one episode. Does anyone have any thoughts? I also have a pacemaker and my EP told me that it will only register episodes of a fib within the range that she has set. So it is posby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM