The decision to have an ablation almost 2 years ago was an easy one for me, I did not want to be on the meds. I only dealt with afib 1 year to the day of my ablation with Dr Schweikert in Akron OH USA 330-344-4377. I did experience some ectopics but they went away completely after quitting CoQ10. I still supplement, watch my Sodium and check my Potassium levels at home with a Cardymeter.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ian, you will need a conversion chart of some kind to translate Calcium levels to correspond to medical tests, and what do you test blood or saliva? There is a Cardymeter for Sodium that might be of help to Afibbers available but without a chart to convert and not knowing what to test it cannot be utilized for our purposes. Researcher, thanks again for making us all aware of the Potassium metby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
The question is wether you want to be on meds and all of their side effects for the rest of your life, if not and you are a able to get an ablation, just do it and don't look back. Keep in mind that the factors that made you go into afib are still present, that is a sensativity to the levels of Sodium, Magnesium and Potassium, so to make the ablation last you must continue to supplement andby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Margaret,the amount of Sodium you consume has a direct correlation as to what your K level is, if you watch your sodium intake by watching labels and simply by taste (which becomes very sensative once you limit intake) you don't have to be overly concerned with the level if you are aware of your K level by home or lab testing. I prefer home testing with a Cardymeter because your K level isby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol, Multaq is a worthless drug for most that try it and it can be dsangerous as well. Flecainide 100mg. 2X, and Metaprolol (Lopressor) 25 mg. 2X should keep you in NSR until you decide your next steps.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tapering off slowly is the way to wean off of Metaprolol, I was able to get by on 12.5 2X a day by cutting a 25 pill in half. This was enough to give me the protection I needed against the chanch of a dangerous1:1 conduction racing heart when on Flecainide. I was told that when reducing the Met. dose or the Flec. dose it is best to cut back each drug separately, not at the same time to avoid prby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chuck, Dr, Robert Schweikert worked with Natale at CC before they went to other areas and they converse on a regular basis, he is currently at Akron General heading up the Ablation team there using the latest Stereotaxis technology, Akron is less than an hour south of Cleveland, the contact # is USA 330-344-4377.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Be vigilant when consuming food or drink with high potassium content, especially if you are supplementing as well, you may be getting too much, I would suggest self testing with a Cardymeter to know exactly where your levels are at any given time.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am one of those who found that CoQ10 causes ectopics.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chuck, if you are getting an ablation from from one of the "masters", they will most likely be using a Stereotaxis machine to aid in the ablation, Natale is connected with the company if you search out the topic and I am sure he uses one. When I had my ablation with Dr. Schweikert in Akron General and I was on the table, I looked to my right and felt a lot better seeing the words Stereby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
I should probably rethink my last post touting LS V8 and go back to the powder, my current 46 0z. 900mg. per serving , 140 mg. Sodium and 7g of Sugar.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bill, a dry cough is due to a mild allergy which causes a slow mucous flow down the back of your throat, that you have mentioned you have. This can be relieved with regular Claritan.(not D), if you are able to take it you should get relief.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry for taking so long replying to your questions. I did not notice a thing from my heart when at 5.2, however I was prompted to check my levels when I kind of sneezed when drinking something and my nose started to bleed, something that never happens to me. I ordered my Cardymeter from QA Supply Co. USA 800-472-7205, the price was $239. and included a starter kit that contains all that youby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been supplementing with Potassium Gluconate Powder, one teaspoon or 540 mg. 3X a day. I monitor my levels with a Cardymeter and try to maintain around a 4.5 level. Recently went on a vacation to the Dom. Rep. to one of those all-inclusve resorts. They had Banana juiced drinks for breakfast, very tasty, Papaya ones as well. I would usually have a couple and really did not think much aboutby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks you all for your information, I am going to see my GP to rule out something simpler. Thanks again, Tom C.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Michael, Great info. keep us posted. I plan to do the same in the near future as soon as I reach the level of Mag., Taurine and Potassium that Jackie discussed. Good luck, Tom C.by TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike, I believe that one of the reasons that this issue is so clouded is a legal one for the EP prescribing the meds, if there is a small chanch of aflutter it is still serious if something does happen, so the side effects of the BB are overlooked or ignored by the doctor. I also believe that this is the reason a lot of cardiologists do not favor PIP therapy even though the long term affects of Fby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, I just upped my mag glycinate to 3x200 mg. daily. I am going to increase up slowly to bowel intolerance. Then I am going to wean off the Flec and Metoprolol. I do believe that my a-fib and tinnitus are related to mag deficiency since my first bout of a-fib was during my colonoscopy in 9-09. Thanks for the info!! TomCby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tibbar, Jackie, Peggy M. and Michael, Thanks for your information, I looked up the drug interaction of Ginkgo, Flec and Metoprolol and there is a moderate risk of your body slowing down its removal of these meds when on Ginkgo. Here's the link for this info and other drug interactions: I plan on trying to get off the Flec also. Michael what process did you use to wean off and were youby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi everyone! I wonder if anyone has had problems with tinnitus. I was taking ecotrin 81 mg. daily but stopped a few days ago and am still experiencing chronic tinnitus. I also take flecainide 100 mg. bid, and metoprolol 50 mg. bid. Do these meds also have a side effect of tinnitus or just aspirin? Thanks, Tomby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie, Thank you for the information. I think someone at Cleveland Clinic is a good choice. Carol, My gastroenterologist said that all my electrolyte levels were within norms before the colonoscopy, but during the fasting and prep I became dizzy. I truly feel that I was depleted and this was the cause or trigger of my a-fib. The aenesthesia used was Versed and I have read at least one caseby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is my first time posting here and I must say I have learned much more from all of you here than I have from my MDs. I am 55 years old and had my 1st a-fib episode in Sept. 09 during a routine colonoscopy. I was cardioverted after 2 days. I stayed on the prescribed meds of flecainide, coumadin, and metoprolol for about 1 1/2 weeks but stopped the coumadin and flecainide because of side effby TomC - AFIBBERS FORUM