The only possible trigger in my Life was Anxiety but nothing I mean nothing would bring me out of AFIB except a ECV. I never bounced in and out of AFIB at least after it was detected at a yearly physical. I had a yearly physical every year since 1998 and no AFIB ever detected until Dec 2011. Anyway,I do believe be a worry wart and staying stressed possibly could take one over the top.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My Cardiologist put me on 120 mg Cardizem CD to help calm my PVC’s and lower my Blood Pressure.I have been on a weight loss program since May 2,2020 and I have lost 34 lbs. I started the Cardizem cd last Thursday night. I weighed this morning as I have done every week and I gained 7 lbs! My ankles are not swelled; I do feel bloated but not real bad. Called Cardiologist and he took me off Cardizemby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My Daddy lived in Permanent Afib for over 12 years. He took Eliquis and a Beta Blocker for rate control plus BP medication. Daddy passed away at 85 almost 86 years of age. He lived a good life in AFIB. Daddy had other underlying issues such as Diabetes.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteNotLyingAboutMyAfib Smackman, did you even bother to read the links? Brennan Spiegel MD Director of health research @CedarsSinai Professor of Medicine & Public Health @UCLA peer reviewed paper- Today we released a new study of 53K Americans revealing that use of proton pump inhibitors (eg. Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium) is associated w/ a 2-4x risk of #COVID19. We found PPIs weby smackman - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
What are your medical credentials? Are you a Specialist in any field of medicine? I have scarring in my esophagus and stomach lining from daily aspirin use for a stent. Many that specialize in this field would disagree with you. My dosage is small but whatever the case, Personally I feel you are off the rails and fear mongering. Have a wonderful day and I will take my advice from someone who doeby smackman - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
For some reason, I have allowed this to “get in my Head”. I will white coat at Home. I just took my BP 3X and the average is143/83 and I know I am tense but cannot overcome it. My heart rate is around 70. I feel at times my BP is low because of weakness in my extremities at times. No Chest Pain; Just weakness in my arms. This is a fight or flight match for me. I was on 3mg of Klonopin a day and Iby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just got my lab results. All labs including potassium and Magnesium are good. I know it’s not a inter cell check but this is what 99% of Physicians go by. Either the Losartan is not working and/or my “Anxiety is my issue. I cannot even tell anyone why my Anxiety is high. Life is good but I cannot shake the Anxiety.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I've taken both and never experienced any sort of side effects. Dizziness and feeling weak in the extremities could simply be it's dropping your BP too low. 100 mg is the maximum dosage for losartan. BP not showing that. Actually, I am high like 155/85 at times. The next morning, It might be 121/80. My BP seems to always be higher in the afternoon hours. Also, I am more Anxioby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack The losartan contains potassium. You might want to ask your prescribing physician to check your serum potassium levels to make sure they’re in range. I should know the answer to that Tuesday. Blood Test ran by Cardiologist Friday.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My GP has me on 100 Mg Lorsartan 1x a day. Before this, I was on Valsartan 160 mg 1x a day. I have had dizzy spells in the afternoon hours and some Arrhythmia issues. I have come to the conclusion sits the BP meds causing this. Anyone have experience with these Blood Pressure Meds? They also seem to make me feel weak in my extremities at times. My BP has been hard to control lately. Should I beby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
It will blink red if you are not making proper connection to skin. I use tapeby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
It’s more than possible that the emergency means NOW. Unfortunately, I have seen several surgeries that had to happen immediately such as a blockage In the digestive system. So everyone does not have the luxury of going from Hospital to Hospital.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey The trouble is, even having that protocol doesn't mean a doctor will be willing to follow it. I've heard from a couple of patients who had surgeons refuse to do procedures despite having the protocol sent to them directly by Austin. BINGO! My point from the beginning. I guess my method of communication was subpar. The Question then becomes what does one do? Give in and possby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Most individuals who go to the emergency room will be appointed a Cardiologist not a EP when coming for Arrhythmia issues. In Monroe, Louisiana I believe there is one EP in the city of almost 100000. This Cardiologist visit was my 1st visit since my 2nd Ablation with Dr. Natale. That was in 2016. I had stop going to my Cardiologist in Monroe because he would take everything so personal if I justby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJake I had surgery, listened to the surgeon, went off Eliquis, had a stroke before I could start taking it again.[/quote Was the surgeon the EP that Ablated you? Has your LAA been isolated? I know what my Cardiologist says but my EP Dr. Natale says to Bridge. I listen to my EP’s in Austin but I do wonder why there is such a big divide on what to do. This Bridging Technique needs to be madeby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePC, MD Smackman, Please visit last entry here Agree to Disagree. My facts are real not statistics. My Wives Arrhythmia’s started 11 weeks after taking 50k iu of Vitamin D a week 1X a week. She never had issues before and the Arrhythmia’s stopped approx 2 weeks after stopping the 50000 iu a week. Our Cardiologist agrees. Also our Primary Physician agrees there had to be some “there there”.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack I’ve found that specialists often have dedicated nurses with whom they share close communication. My cardiologist, for example, works beside his wife. I often say he does the talking and she does the listening. Perhaps you could gather the information and have a talk with the nursing staff. It’s often easier to have a longer conversation that way versus the ever hectic 15 minute offby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why do you think my dosage of Eliquis was lowered from 5 to 2.5 mg 2X a day? Thanks for the reading above.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJackie Hello David ... I've just been catching up with reading on the forum... and after reading your responses here to this thread, I'm really sorry you have this worry hanging over your head..... I know you are smart and I certainly hope you find a satisfactory solution to the dilemma. I certainly don't want you to be harmed. I can't begin to imaging your frustratiby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Smackman, I spent a big chunk of my life living in rural America, so I'm familiar with the realities. But you seem to be saying there's no solution other than just going along with the guy and taking a monumental risk with your life. There is hard evidence that what he wants you to do is extremely dangerous. You might try printing out the research and showing it to him. Solby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I will not go against Austin. NEVER HAVE NEVER WILL. It’s just hard for some to understand the gravity of Firing a Cardiologist much less a EP. My name would be black balled big time in this area. No need in further discussion. I will do what I have to do if that time comes.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Individuals on this thread think that getting all Doctors onboard with the bridging protocol should not be a issue. They are wrong because they do not feel the way when there in house EP Says it’s okay. I've heard from others who've encountered the same problem so I know it can be an issue. Ask the EP to consult with Natale or his staff, and if he won't or he stillby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Yes, bridge for any procedure that requires you to stop Eliquis. You could make this easier by calling Natale's office and asking for a copy of the protocol so you can just hand it to local doctors and tell them you refuse to do the procedure unless they follow it. If you REFUSE, It’s no sweat off there Heads. What George said might help but no Doctor wants his patient to tell hby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Individuals on this thread think that getting all Doctors onboard with the bridging protocol should not be a issue. They are wrong because they do not feel the way when there in house EP Says it’s okay. It’s not about me disagreeing with Dr. Natale. It’s trying to convince another specialist that they are wrong and must comply. That is not the real world and I cannot travel 10 hours to Austin forby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have always listened to Austin. There comes a time when individuals have to be off blood thinners. What about a colonoscopy? No one will do a colonoscopy without being off blood thinners. It’s a 15 min. Procedure but being off blood thinner is a requirement. Do you bridge for this? Also, I desperately need some pain relief in my back. I need “injections“ close to spine. It also is a 15 min. Proby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, My LAA has been isolated but my ejection fracture is 55-60%. I do not have low flow.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My new Cardiologist is out of Shreveport, Louisiana. He works closely with a circuit of Cardiologists and EP’s. He has looked at all my work from Austin etc. He is determined there is no reason I could not stop low dose of Eliquis for even 5 days for surgery, treatment etc. from a missing A Wave. He says You are not in AFIB and there is a very minimal to Zero possibility that a clot could form frby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePC, MD Thank you George. My Wife is not allergic to Vitamin D3. Her body could not tolerate 50000 iu a week for 12 weeks. There is no other answer for it. Smackman, thank you for your post. My comment on toxicity came from the following graph But it looks like your wife’s problem might be more allergic in nature, as this is not a symptom of toxicity. The appearance of the ectopicby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chads score played no role in decision for me to be on Eliquis for life. A missing A wave was my issue. Everything else was above par.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My Wife’s Vit D levels were low at her Jan yearly physical. The Doctor put her on 50000 iu 1X a week for 12 weeks. In the 12th week, my wife started having over 25000 , PVCs, PACs a day. It turned out to be a overload of Vitamin D. After 2 weeks of being off the Vitamin D bolo, Her arrhythmias started to decrease. She is fine now. Vitamin D has a long half life also. Food for thoughtby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM