I have a new Horiba B-731 Potassium meter, and I have questions about using it properly. About a month ago I posted a thread about how I thought my IC K+ levels were spiking upon withdrawal from Anti-inflammatories I started a new round taking prednisone for about 5 days and have been trying to monitor my Saliva and blood K+ levels with the K+ Meter both during, and after I stop takingby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
If your in NSR, than your not also in somehow subtly in AFIB. Wearing a Holter monitor for a week or some other device would tell you if their is any AFIB going on. Could be NSR with some PAC's or PVC's mixed in, but that's not AFIB. Could be something else is wrong with you, and you intuitively sense this, but don't know what it is, and it's just that the AFIB comesby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear I was right about you Converting on your own. The old standard to get CV was 24 hours, and some ER Doctors still tend towards that. Helps if you have your Cardiologist nudging them on to do the CV.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since your asymptomatic and converting on your own in less than 48 hours, it is not at all necessary or even advisable to get an Ablation. EP Doctors tend to be busy and don't take the time to connect the dots and treat patients specifically. You have ample time to try the supplements, Mg in particular. You have time to experiment with your drug regimen. You have time to use "by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hospital ER almost certainly will not cardiovert after 48 hours since Episode started. The 3 weeks Goerge talked about would be if you weren't sure or if your Dr. wasn't convinced that you were in NSR continuously up until the onset of the episode. As an Out-Patient, the Hospital can still do the CV after 48 hours, a TEE would need to be done, and the ER room would probably not do a TEby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Easiest way is by checking your pulse, sounds like you have done that, but NSR is always considerably more regular than AFIB. NSR will also feel stronger than an AFIB pulse. My AFIB is also slow and regular, sometimes it takes 10 seconds to feel 2 beats that are closer together, followed by a pause. When I went to the Doctor's, Medical Technicians missed it most of the time, because they onby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thankyou Jackie and Windstar Yes, I have been on a strict Gluten Free diet for 3-4 years, and I avoid toxins like MSG, and Artificial Sweeteners. I was somewhat improved after making this change. I did this on the advice of Mother who is very sensitive to Gluten and I think also Celiac, she doesn't even consume diary products either.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thankyou Jackie and Windstar Yes, I am on a strict Gluten Free diet, and also I am avoiding MSG, and Artificial Sweeteners. I was somewhat improved after making this change. I did this on the advice of Mother who is very sensitive to Gluten and I think also Celiac, she doesn't even consume diary products either.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
My doctor recommended Greg Feld from UCSD.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
"In early 2013, I had 3 episodes in a 3 month period, but cardioverted on my own each time. " Just based on the info presented, it appears that you just had several short episodes, that spontaneoulsy converted on their own. Why the EP interpreted this as "losing control of the AFIB" and warranting another Ablation seems a little over-reactive. Unless your episodes just hby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's only been several days, but if it continues after you've ruled out other acute causes, like stress, or medication, then you should be aware that a faster pulse rate of about 10bmp over normal is a common side effect from having an Ablation. It should subside in 6-12 months. Others from the site have used a low dose of a cardio-selective beta-blocker called Bystolic (2.5mg) in ordeby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
GoergeN: Thankyou so much for the info, I will look over that. Yes, if you have any special insight on manual self-treatment of muscle spasms/trigger points, I am interested. I would get massages every day, if I could afford it. I wonder if I could get cheap massages in Mexico? I do alot of specialized exercises and stretches in the Gym to try to keep physically functional. I feel oveby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
RE Blood Thinners: We just discussed this in the Forum a month or so ago. What came out of the dicussion, was the belief that Doctor's try to err on the side of caution, as a stroke is devastatational an if it would occur would a liability issue.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take it the 5-Ablations were not accomplished exclusively by Natale? I wonder if there are any posters on this site who failed 1-2 Ablations with Natale. My Doctor said the referrals that he has sent to Natale have failed, although I don't think it is a large number.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, thankyou for responding, I need your input. I was taking the anti-inflammatories for what has been diagnosed as borderline (Lupus SLE), which is an over-reactive immune system response in the connective tissues. My condition also seems to fit in with the term MyoFascial Pain Syndrome aka Cronic Myofascial Pain. In response to acute stress, my muscles/fascia tend to knot up and unlby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tsco: I think that inflammation is labeled as a factor that contributes to a Heart tissue substrate that is more conducive to maintaining an AFIB episode, and not that it's an actual trigger, like getting drunk (vagal-mediated AF) or high (adrenergic AF). AFIB is a complex medical condition indeed. The drugs not only effect inflammation, but have numerous other ways it affects the bby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Case Report: My Doctors don't believe me, but this story is true, swear to God. 30 out of 35 of my last AFIB episodes occurred within 2-10 days after cessation of pulse Anti-inflammatory therapy. Most of these episodes occurred at 2-5 days post Anti- Inflammatory therapy. I had these episodes after taking both NSAID's (Naproxen) and SAID's (Prednisone tablets/injections aby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale: I'm sorry I was speaking in generalities, not specific to your case. I have heard many acounts with other Doctors of patients having an impromptu ablation, followed by a second one, and they still had AFIB. I do doubt that hardly any Ep's that perform Ablations will recommend supplements. The supplements have helped some like me, but not at all cured the issue. I just sby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
You always here about all these Heart-warming stories about how some Creepy EP Ablationist rolls out the red carpet for some total stranger, and alas somehow is able to perform an Ablation almost on the spot. (maybe several hours later). The Ablationists make a hell of alot more money performing their Ablations, than sitting in an office telling patients that their condition can be much improvedby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is what I just ordered off Amazon. (250g for $19). It is Magnesium Glycinate, but does not say the term "chelated" Is all Mg Glycinate chelated?by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz: Sounds like the 25mg was way to high if a dose for you. I had a Doctor try to make me take 50mg/day of Coreg, but when I got to 18mg, my blood pressure was so low (45/80) that I was very dizzy, let alone sedated tremendously. I was scarred to even drive, because if I got pulled over in a traffic stop, I might be charged with DUI (being under the influence of drugs). So was the effectby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
After being on Beta-Blockers, even low doses of coreg 6-9mg and Bystolic 5mg, I am wondering if this effect can be somewhat permanent even after discontinueing the drug. Like there is some sort of after-effect of permanently blocking the receptor sites for adrenalin to the Heart. It seems as though my Heart does not want to speed up like it used to 5 years ago, as in during exercise. The HR dby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all the good info. Shannon, George, or anyone else: I'm taking 600 mg of Dr's Best Chelated Mg. It says on the back "Magnesium (elemental) 200mg (from 2,000mg magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate) I have thought about switching to Bulk Supplements Mg Glycinate powder, to save money. Is the conversion the same? I mean, do I need to take more mg of the Bulkby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ha, Ha that's right the urine color is the "gold standard" for determining hydration status. I used to marvel at how clear and clean my urine did seem, looking just as good as the tap water. Actually, I did have hyponuetremia requireing hospitalization with a blood level of 120, (135-145 normal) in the past, but it was was when I was consuming closer to 15-20L of fluid, and alby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
What is the best way to monitor IC levels "on the fly"? I have read about this Horiba Na+ and K+ meters on this site, and am trying to clarify some things before I buy one. If I'm worried about the IC Na/K ratio fluctuating and impacting my AFIB status, then should I get both the Na+, and the K+ meters? What is the consensus here as to whether or not the Horiba meters reflby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Everybody says it just gets worse, but I am successfully fighting in the other direction. , 3 years of undiagnosed Asymptomic permanent AFIB, leading to Cardiomyopathy (EF 20%), Then 4 years of persistent AFIB using constant Anti-Arythmics, (recovered EF to 64%) Followed by 1 year of paroximal AFIB using only Flec PIP, and now this year, I'm going get off hte Flec altogether. All donby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Update: Shannon, you were right it did indeed turn out to be Atrial Flutter, but ratio was 2:1, not 1:1. The EkG machine made the same mistake on 3 different EKG's. The second p-wave was being buried in the QRS complex wave, so it was'nt seen by the machine, and it wasn't noticeable to me as I don't know all the details of how to read an EKG. I guess the EKG machineby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom : My BP is fineduring these episodes using Flecainide-PIP, averaging around 135/80 which is a little higher than normal, but that may be because I was in the ER room. I know what it feels like to have really low BP, one time I was at 80/45, while not taking the Flecainide. That felt more dizzy, when I stood up, etc. These episodes felt just like bad Heart Failure, which I had before wby The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
The 1st 7:30 of the video covers this area, then it moves on to more recent advances that she talks about incorporating into the procedure.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
That is a good post George, a very good presentation, and also an honest one about the downside of making burns on the Atria.by The Anti-Fib - AFIBBERS FORUM