QuoteMwcf My surgeon other half and I are seriously wondering about laying some oxygen in. Trouble is, the $220 1.2kg 110L canisters available on EBay only last 1/2 to 1hr depending on flow rate, and if one does end up needing oxygen with Covid19 I'm figuring it would be dozens of such canisters rather than a couple.... You could always rent an oxygen concentrator—probably requires a script,by Daisy - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Have some good throat lozenges with you as your throat will be sore from intubation.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Everyone around the patient wears lead aprons for protection from radiation but the people in the control room don't need to. One should also be physically strong enough to wear 20 pounds of lead protection AMA qualification for being an interventional cardiologist--20 lbs!by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Almost makes me want to get an ablation! Love the St Jude’s Medical floor mat. What happens in the “control room” and who is in there during an ablation?by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Are you saying that you take Fleainide and Pradaxa? Why would you take 2 anti-arrhythmias. Maybe a typo? Flecainide is an antiarrhythic and Pradaxa an anticoagulant.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSueChef Tachycardia woke me at 7:50 this morning, tried my regular interventions My EP is fine with me taking a bit more of my beta blocker if I get tachy (which I rarely do). I also take flecainide regularly but the extra dose of the beta blocker is enough to get me out of tachy.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebkimura Hello, Can the 100mg Flecainide pills be cut in half? They are scored so I’m assuming so but waned to check with the forum here first. Thanks.Yes, they can be cut in half. My EP okayed me cutting 50mg tablets in half in order to get my 75 mg dose.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJackie The point is that when you begin optimizing vitamin D3 intake or if you would test (25 OHD test) and have a naturally high level, then you need to balance that out by taking the form of Vitamin K2 - Menaquinone 7 - which helps direct circulating calcium into bones (where it belongs) and helps prevent soft tissue deposits such as in arteries (atherosclerosis) or even making bone spurs.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteallofus I've seen several posts by members of this forum confirming their low vitamin D status. Is there anyone that has had AF for many years, but did a lot of outdoor/sunshine work, maintained a normal ~65 Vitamin D level, yet who still had frequent episodes? Thanks.I had normal levels—65 or above, but still developed Afib, though my EP got it under control with meds before the epby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSteveCarr As far as I know, since I provided info on this Forum over the last month or so, a handful of others are on the way to giving it a try -- with varying degrees of thoroughness. Your posts are very interesting. I have been doing something similar, though for other reasons. I see the target for vitamin D is 64–do you know of any potential problems if it is higher? Mine is around 80.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Tikosyn and Flecainide both sound like nasty drugs. They are only nasty if you are one of those who react to them negatively--which you discover very quickly! I have taken flecainide for a few years and don't notice anything from it other than staying in NSR--but then I am on a relatively low dose.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotecirenepurzalot Just wondering.... For those that have had an ablation, were there any symptoms that got worse, or new symptoms, after your ablation? Or is that uncommon? A general curiosity. The statistics tell us that complications (if done by a top-notch, high volume ablationist) are rare, new or worse symptoms rarely arise, but for those few it happens to, it isn't fun. If only we coby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth I guess this is the way all of these doctors are, they want to be the sole doc. I can understand that they think that there could be some conflict, but this is my body and I want the best advise. I think you were right in canceling your appointment as this is not how all EPs are and it looks like a pointer away from this doctor. Good on you for respecting your intuition.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDoes having a PV ablation increase the risk of needing a LAA isolation?As far as I know, not at all. It is progression of the illness that will involve more areas "misbehaving" and one of those areas is the LAA.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib The mechanism being that if the Ventricles are pumping strong, that they physically push up against the Atria during each stroke Does anyone have any idea how low ventricular filling pressures would affect this? I ask because I am in a patient cohort who has this problem.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe article mentioned that large clinical studies have shown that Omega 3 fatty acids have an anti-arrhythmic efficacy. (Has anyone heard this, too?) Some of us have noticed the opposite. I found that even a modest dose of a good quality fish oil gave me PACs. Some others mentioned the same. You might want to do a search and read others’ experience.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotecaliforniagal Does anyone have experience taking the European herb Strophanthus? I understand it keeps the heart in a steady rhythm and does this by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.If it really does activate the parasympathetic nervous system that would be bad news for those of us who have a vagal (parasympathetic) trigger—it could trigger Afib. But aside from that, reading aboby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteI am also definitely considering gong the Dr. Natale route and will see if he takes Medicare He does take Medicare. I've been following Afib forums for a few years and I think you might do well to get the basic questions answered here before a consult as each EP has favorite ways of doing things and you might get a more complete picture here.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Daisy: I have never had an ablation, but, you know I have had a Pace maker installed about 20 years ago and I have had more of these Aura migraines since then. Could there be a connection or is it because of my AF and family history? LizI don't know. I had a pacemaker implanted a year and a half ago and didn't get auras, but I did get them with the trans-septal punby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth There is also on this site a topic about people having these Auras and also AF, Carey has said that he got it after his ablation and a few others have said that as well. It seems that any cardiac procedure that involves a trans-septal puncture (as ablations do) can set you up for auras. I had a mitral valve repair that involved a trans-septal puncture and, sure enough, the auras stby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey A few years back they tried using pacemakers to override PACs to try and prevent them from initiating afib. The idea was when the pacemaker sensed a PAC it would pace the heart faster to try and become the dominant pacing source and "overrule" the ectopic source, but apparently that didn't work well. My Pacemaker has that algorithm and it seems to work well. I occasionalby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman I will call my Nurse Case Manager Monday about the Lovenox protocol. I hope it’s as simple as some say to get other specialists onboard. Just so you know, it is a subcutaneous injection in the lower stomach (as I remember, twice a day). The syringes come pre-filled and the injection is really easy.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack It’s helpful to combine the D3 with Vitamin K2-MK7. The D3 increases gut absorption of calcium. The K2 helps direct the calcium into the bones, where it’s beneficial, and not into the arteries and muscles, where it is harmful.That is what I am doing and haven't noticed any increase in ectopics or Afib. But, when I tried fish oil, that definitely increased my PACs--I tried startby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman Also, This procedure is generally paid for 100%. How will this bridging change the cost for this outpatient procedure? This will be my First time with Medicare and my supplement. Will Medicare cover this bridging? I am also on Medicare, my EP prescribed the Lovenox, Medicare paid for it = procedure paid for 100%. My gastro was okay with it as long as my EP prescribed it.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman It is time for my colonoscopy. As most know, I am on Eliquis for life. They want me off for 3 days. What is the answer to this? I definitely do not want to drastically up my chances of a stroke. I have had one colonoscopy done where one polyp removed 10 years ago that was one stage from cancerous. Also my Daddy has cancer of the transverse colon so bad family history. They will notby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotecirenepurzalot My cardiologist switched me from Metropolol to Cardizem today. (Mostly for rate control during AF I think.) Any thoughts on Diltiazem (Cardizem)? What has your experience been with it? Did it help your afib (or fast pulse during afib) at all? Any side effects that you experienced? Do you know if this can be taken as a pill in the pocket?Doubtful that it would prevent Afib,by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotecirenepurzalot These days it seems that ablations are so common that if you check the reviews of EPs you should be able to find one rather locally to do a good job. Am I wrong?"Finding someone locally" is often the cause of failed ablations--unless you find an EP who does hundreds per year and has been trained by the best. Ask them how many they have done, who trained them, etc. Iby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon Many cardiologists still don't trust this New technology and consider ablationists as barbarians.Cardiologists maybe but doubt many EPs feel that way.by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteIn your opinion, if general cases, if ablations seem so (relatively) easy and effective, why do people battle for years trying to get strong medications correct, suffering thru side effects, messed up combinations, possibility of stroke, death or afib getting worse, burden on the liver, etc.... Why don't they just get an ablation and be done with it? I know you can't speak for everby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotecirenepurzalot My EP won't give me flecainide (for pill in the pocket) until I have a monitored 3 day stay in the hospital. Is this standard procedure? I guess it's due to the potential dangers/side effects of flecainide?No, that isn’t the present standard though I believe it was in the past. When I started it I had to come back to the office a few days (2 - 3?) later for an EKG. Iby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM