A normal carotid pulse feels regular and easy to count. An afib carotid pulse is significantly different - fast and very irregular and very hard to count. For some, it's very easy to know when you are in or out of afib. However, that's not the case for many. I have a friend in her upper 70's and is overweight. She never knows when she is in or out of afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's easy to say relax, it's no big deal to have afib, but for many, it does significantly impact their life. However, I had afib for 11 years and had over 300 episodes that lasted from a couple of hours to three days. All converted back to normal rhythm on their own (early on, I had one cardioversion, but after that, no reason to do any more since I always converted back). I haveby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
What ever technique gives the abolitionist the best outcome - why not? I didn't know it until after it was over, but I would have agreed to it if it had been explained before hand. Actually, it probably was explained beforehand, but that was 12 years ago, so my recollection is a bit fuzzy.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had three points of entry, both legs/groin and one neck.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wonder if each heart is different in terms of it's efficiency when pumping during afib. Meaning - would an athletic heart (pumping more efficiently) be less likely to cause a stoke than an unfit heart? I doubt there are any studies. I had undiagnosed afib for 5 years (diagnosed as a irregular beat because of mitral valve prolapse) and took no meds. Then finally diagnosed correctly whby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
One thing that is clearly apparent here is that we all have different experiences with afib. My ablation experience was simple - put under immediately as I entered the operating room. Whatever prep, shaving, etc. was done while I was under. All I remember is starting to count down from 10. Recovery was easy with no pain with just an overnight in the hospital. Lots of bruising at both femoralby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
So how does the Dr. do the burning? Stop the heart and burn, re-start and induce afib, then stop and burn? Is it possible to burn while in afib, or during normal rhythm? Never thought about this issue until I saw the video.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth said: Sanjay recommends Ranolazine, it is used for angina, not a new drug. I read that a short study was used--2000 mg. of Ranolazine was given to those that were in AF and if their AF was terminated within 6 hours its use was a success, nothing new, flecemide does the same thing. I wouldn't get my hopes up. The majority of my afib episodes terminated within 6 hours by doingby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey said: No one knows with certainty how length and frequency of afib episodes affect risk, so there's no way to account for it. May be, but frequency and length seem like the greatest factors determining stoke risk. It seems like the risk would be exponentially higher for someone having weekly episodes compared to someone having one, two hour episode per year.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
The more ablations a Dr. does, the better he/she should be. BUT, doing too many back to back because of high demand may lead to rushed/botched ablations. Same with any surgery, so looking at the total number done alone is not a full proof measure of the quality of the surgery. Just a skeptic/realist.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Plus, one would have to define what is a "successful ablation", then Doctors would have to have accurate follow up data on their ablation patients. Then there would have to be a system in place to collect the data. The same issue(s) apply to all medical procedures when looking for the best available Dr. Bottom line - it isn't going to happen. We all struggle to find theby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
My point is that by deep breathing or hyperventilating, you do not increase the O2 in your blood, unless you have some physiological issue and have below normal levels (95-100% is normal). Other than a couple of deep breaths to relax and focus before a race, athletes don't try to flush CO2 or increase O2 with deep breathing (swimmers, runners, etc.). Flushing CO2 by hyperventilating redby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Don't expect much from deep breathing (hyperventilation) other than reduced CO2 in the blood. However, it can help you relax if you don't over do it. ... Mar 14, 2015 · With hyperventilation you can increase O2 saturation of the arterial blood by 1-2% depending on its basal level (checked with professional pulse oximeter). However, since arterial blood constitutes only ~25% of toby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, Thanks for the detailed information. I guess my episodes are likely afib since the irregular pattern and reduced blood flow are there. Checking my pulse during the three episodes that surfaced in the last 12 years, felt just like it did before my ablation, just at slower rate, plus they lasted a few hours each. Hopefully down the road, the afib won't happen very often.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Will someone explain the differences between afib, flutter, PVC's, PAC's and ectopics? Do all impact circulation? I was successfully ablated 12 years ago, but have had three breakthroughs of something, each lasting a few hours, but years apart. Felt like afib but my heart rate was only in the 90's, not 180's like before. There was shortness of breath when active (windsurfiby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
You should check out Dr. Kevin R. Wheelan - Baylor Med. Center, Heart Place, Dallas, TX. He did my ablation 12 years ago and it was a BIG success. Still no afib. You can read my 12 yr anniversary report on this forum for details.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have my 12-year ablation anniversary in Nov. Here is my story, plus it’s worth noting that I didn’t find this website until after my ablation. 73 years old; excellent physical condition; 6', 170 lbs; 11 years of LAF; was on meds for the last 6 years after diagnosis; averaged 33 episodes per year for those 6 years (documented when and how long they lasted). The episodes ranged from a fewby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
More than likely, the arrhythmia potential from a colon prep is from dehydration, which all preps can induce.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
It all depends on how afib impacts your lifestyle. The only things I would not do if in afib was anything that was physically demanding - workouts, jogging, hiking, etc. I had over 200 episodes over several years, all converting on their own. I did go for one conversion, but then didn't see a need to go for any more. I was always in excellent physical shape, so afib was a minor inconveniby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I had un treated afib, my pulse went form 55 to 180. No watch needed to detect afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had 192 documented afib episodes over 6 years, plus an unknown number of episodes during the previous 5 years before diagnoses. Except for a few seconds of ectopics, I never experienced any warning or "pre-feeling" before an episode. All were surprises.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
From: "Moderate success rates average around 50 percent overall. “Research shows that with medication there’s a good 40 to 60 percent maintenance of normal rhythm at one year,” says Saliba. “And that’s acceptable to some patients.”" Only one source, but if this was/is true, there wouldn't be many ablations. I don't disagree with your statement about "fewer ablby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Cary said: "The definition of success that honest EPs use is freedom from all atrial arrhythmias without AADs from the end of the blanking period to one year". If that was the recognized standard world wide, there probably wouldn't be many ablations. I am 11 years and 10 months afib free. I would call mine a success. If I was back in afib after one year - I would call that a sby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
All of those "success" rates are meaningless, unless "success" is defined. Plus there must be universal agreement on the definition and it must be used as an established standard that all EP's go by. I don't know, but I doubt that when one Dr. says 50% and another says 80% that they are using the same definition of success. I can't even venture to guess whaby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
jpeters said: A lot of endurance athletes also consume energy drinks, which can be lethal when the body is trying to cool down. Never used or use energy drinks.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
bolimasa, I too was (and still am to some extent) a hiker and climber (now age 73). My last big trip was in 2012, the "Tour de Mont Blanc" a 10 day, 100 mile hike around the circumference of Mt. Blanc, through three countries. I also spent a week hiking in the Dolomites in Italy a year after my ablation. I have been as high as 18,491 ft. - Pico de Orizaba in Mexico. Talking aboutby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Define "exercising". My Dr. said to wait a month, which I did since he knew what I did for "workouts". I returned to my normal routine which was doing twice a week weight workouts (70 mins including warm ups and stretching) that included more or less 25 sets of 10 lifts of 10-20 repetitions. Alternating upper and lower body to minimize rest. Some jogging and at least onceby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had afib for 11 years (last 6 diagnosed). I never identified a relationship between exercise and afib. At the time, I jogged, ran occasional 5K races, did weight workouts twice a week and windsurfed up to 70-80 days a year, plus walking golf once a week. I do recall maybe a couple of episodes occurring while exercising, but I never thought exercise was a trigger. During the 6 years of diagnby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was in excellent physical condition when I had my successful ablation 11.5 years ago (age 62). Back to work and normal activity two days after the ablation. Back to normal workouts & weights after one month - Dr.'s advice. Anaerobic threshold came much sooner, but slowly got back to normal in one year. It all depends on your physical and mental state when you have your ablation, soby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pompon said: And it sounds stupid when we think that here in Belgium, very good (yes, very good) healthcare is nearly free. There's only a small fee for the patient, but it appears lots of them don't have this small fee or, to say it another way, are not disposed to part with it for their health. Healthcare is never free - most Europeans pay very high taxes for their "free"by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM