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Re: Pain relief question - 1 year ago

Quotekliving I plan on asking about Gabapentin when I can get my next appointment. Not sure how much it would help, but it does seem to be a reasonable candidate to try. If you wouldn't mind, could you recommend a CBD oil to try? And maybe a good starting dose. Gabapentin seems to be a "try it and see" medication. I had to start with a very low dose and slowly increase it as it m

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Pain relief question - 1 year ago

How about Gabapentin? I take it and it is helpful for some types of pain. It doesn't seem to affect my heart. A couple other ideas: oral CBD oil--my EP gave that a green light. I take it for sleep but it does help many with pain. It is also helpful as a cream. And here is a far out one (not really as there is a lot of research on it) Low dose Naltrexone. I take 3 mg when the "norm

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Taurine and L Arginine - 1 year ago

QuoteFibberMcGee Has anybody here tried taurine and L-arginine for PVCs and PACs? I have had PVCs and PACs for two years, sometimes several or more per minute. They are really bothersome, even though my EP doesn't get too excited about them. I started taking taurine and L-arginine a couple of weeks ago and they are almost gone. Just wondering about other's experiences. Yes, I used the

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Watchman Experience - 1 year ago

QuoteMcHale Good evening all, Arrived at Saint David’s at 5:00AM today for A touchup Ablation and a Watchman implant.120 minutes under, was in my room and walking a few hours later. Natale stopped by for a quick chat, good seal minimal burn time no AFiB detected but PVCs might be a burden. Was totally at ease and calm,….no fear …. there’s a special place in Heaven for Natale. McHale Glad

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sinus node dysfunction after successful ablation? - 1 year ago

Quotecalvin The cool thing about the pace maker is they can read it and tell you the % of time you are not in Rhythm. They also read the battery life and at my 3 month checkup my battery had 13 more years of life. And you don’t have to have heart monitors stuck to your chest anymore (unless you are in a hospital telemetry unit where they need to see it in real time). I get a 16 page readout se

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sinus node dysfunction after successful ablation? - 1 year ago

I was getting pauses and sick sinus syndrome several years before I had a successful ablation. Getting the pacemaker was a relief but my Afib/flutter still progressed and after failing 2 antiarrythmics, the ablation was an even bigger relief. Since the time that pauses often happen is as you go back into NSR after a run of Afib, I’d think that it would be very reasonable to wait a while after

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation tomorrow - 1 year ago

QuoteFuzzyduck Oh no, they wouldn’t give me a written report and said I have to request it through the portal. I would really like to know what they found. I know they ablated three areas including the apVI, posterior wall and a minor part on the appendage. I had a brief moment of afib during it. I don’t know how my heart is going to perform but so far so good They use 2 portals, one for St

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation tomorrow - 1 year ago

QuoteFuzzyduck Thank you Megan, it went smoothly so far. Are you having an ablation with Dr.Natale? I think I saw somewhere you are thinking about it? If you have any questions feel free to ask!! Glad that it went well and hope all continues to be smooth. Be sure to ask for your written report before discharge—it tells the story in detail and you will be glad to have it in your medical records

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation tomorrow - 1 year ago

QuoteFuzzyduck I am scheduled for PFA tomorrow, but I am now really nervous and wondering if I am doing the right thing as I have been in NSR since November, but have had lots of ectopics and arrhythmias since the episode in November. I am also last on the list at number 6, scheduled for 3 pm, this is also making me really nervous- would appreciate words of wisdom from those who have been there

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sotolol NEXT - 1 year ago

QuoteGeorgeN Don't know if some form of this would work. My wife takes 3 mg low dose naltrexone (LDN). We self-compound, which is much cheaper, especially since insurance won't cover LDN. Naltrexone normally comes in 50 mg pills that will dissolve in water (& is used for a completely different purpose). I put 50 mg (which is also 50 mL) of water in a jar with the pill. It di

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sotolol NEXT - 1 year ago

QuoteMeganMN The other, recently Bisoprolol, was too strong. I am going to look into getting it compounded at a pharmacy What about cutting the tablet? I just googled whether it was safe to cut and apparently it is. We've discussed here about some excellent pill cutters that give you a very accurate cut. For instance, some here cut the 5 mg Eliquis tablet in half if they have been prescri

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: walking after procedure - 1 year ago

QuoteShiny Sleeves I like to walk. Ablation causes some inflammation of the heart. When will I be able to do my strolling again? I don't want to inadvertently hurt myself. You'll be surprised--as soon as I got back to my room after my ablation, the nurse came in to orient me and then told me to WALK, walk, walk! She said that she wanted to see me out in the corridor as much as possibl

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Progression question - 1 year ago

QuoteYuxi Are your taking strontium alone? how much? I recently started taking AlgaeCal, which has 360mg calcium as well as magnesium, vitamin D3, vitamin C, vitamin K2, and boron. I only take 1/4 of the suggested daily dose because I am also sensitive to calcium.. I also take the other supplements you are taking plus Biotin and a couple of other bone supplements.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Progression question - 1 year ago

QuoteYuxi Are you not concerned about your bone health without enough calcium intake? I have osteoporosis and was told to consume 1000mg calcium per day. Ugh, such a dilemma! I am also sensitive to calcium and my doctor recommended strontium instead (not radioactive!) and it doesn’t bother me.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation Insurance/costs - 1 year ago

Quoteswhanson FuzzyDuck- My experience at St David's was very good. One surprise was that I was asked for a $2500 deposit payment when I arrived. I was able to put it on a credit card, but otherwise I didn't have means to pay that with me. Be prepared. Good luck. That must depend on your insurance—with Medicare I didn’t have to do this.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation Insurance/costs - 1 year ago

St. David’s I presume? Best wishes for a successful ablation. And, enjoy the great food—something to look forward to if you are going through pre-ablation jitters!

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ablation Insurance/costs - 1 year ago

quote=swhanson]How receptive are Ins companies to second, third ablations? I can only speak about US Medicare which pays in full (after adjustments and assuming you have a supplemental policy) no matter how many ablations you need.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Post-ablation impressions - 1 year ago

QuoteMel-O I wonder if my doctor plans to fit me with a Holter monitor. That will be revelatory. Have you been asked to send Kardia readings regularly since your ablation? Some EPs check on you this way initially.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Progression question - 1 year ago

QuoteShiny Sleeves I wondered what the experience of the people here is? Do you find this applies to you or what? I'm looking for personal experience and not what someone has told you. Is your avoiding of triggers having a good effect on you? My story is similar to Carey's. I avoided all triggers, took antiarrhythmic medications and still it slowly progressed for about 12 years until

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: shingles vaccine - 1 year ago

QuoteGeorgeN As others have noted, it is not something you'd want to experience. On the other hand, not to minimize the importance of vaccination, but when a shingles lesion appeared above my eyebrow, I immediately recognized what it was, went to urgent care, started Valtrex the same day, and it was gone in three days with hardly any symptoms. I know I am lucky, but just want to say that

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Post-ablation impressions - 1 year ago

QuoteMel-O Apparently the inside of the heart has no pain sensors! How else can they punch a hole through your septum between the atria and then scorch the lining yet it feels fine? Curious about this? I certainly felt pain for a short time in the Recovery Room until they gave me a hefty dose of Tylenol. They said that it was from the inflammation. They also give colchicine to help prevent it.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Post-ablation impressions - 1 year ago

Good for you Mel-O— pat yourself on the back and send roses to your EP! Enjoy your steady heart and baby your groin punctures for a few more days to protect against a hematoma. I also came out of it wondering why I had waited so long! Well, I have an excuse—mu local EP wasn’t in favor of ablations but thanks to all the experienced patients I met on forums, I made my own decision and self-referred

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Watchman Experience - 1 year ago

QuoteYeah he's that good! Thanks! A great story showing his commitment to patient care.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Watchman Experience - 1 year ago

QuoteMcHale Gotcha! Understood, his office called it a redo or touch-up ablation, my last ablation was 8 years ago. I did have that 4-5 day 110BPM flutter 3 years ago and my chest implant LINQ did catch a brief a few episodes. Yes it's good practice, I'm totally confidant with Natale My situation was similar and pre-procedure they termed it as a probable touchup plus Watchmen. I ha

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Watchman Experience - 1 year ago

QuoteYes they know its a priority, I spoke with Norma Natale's Nurse today and Shannon last week who was going to speak with Natale. I gave them my Prostate MRI report and they aware of my time restraints. Tip: if you go to Austin for your 6 week TEE after the Watchman, you usually get the results the same day. There were several of us scheduled for TEEs the day I was there and we had th

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Watchman Experience - 1 year ago

QuoteMy understanding is after 45 days of device placement, I should be good to go..... I don't want to put off the biopsy longer than 3 months..... I got a Watchman last April from Natale after an LAA isolation 6 months earlier and immediately after placing the Watchman, he put me on a half dose of Eliquis. When I returned for a TEE 6 to 8 weeks later he said I could hold that half dose

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: why am I taking diltiazem - 1 year ago

QuoteWhich is all why I'm leaning more toward the ablation so if I get lucky and get a one-and-done procedure I can quit the drugs and quit the ER visits. Seems like it is time, especially with your gut sensitivities. And as you will have read here, please go to the very best – the travel is well worth it!

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Cleveland Clinic & Dr. Santangeli - 1 year ago

QuoteRolfE I have been looking to possibly get an ablation by Dr. Natali, but as things goes they are very busy. Rolf He does have a cancellation list which often will get you in more quickly if you are able to be flexible with travel.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Sinus Rhythm with Wide QRS - 1 year ago

I can’t read an ECG to comment but there was a period when I got a lot of Sinus Rhythm with wide QRS and it was when Flecainide was giving me heart block. So, yes, just another topic to discuss with your EP. And George is right, keep an eye on your form when holding the Kardia.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: High BNP test results - 1 year ago

Quotecornerbax I wonder what percentage of people do have that issue and what percentage don't. I only had this (and it was intense) when my rate was very high--like over 150. That might or might not be true for others. As soon as I was on meds that lowered the rate, I never had it again.

by Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM