Barb I didn't find this board until after my ablation. I had done masses of research over about 2 years before deciding to go to Bordeaux - finding the board earlier would have saved me many hours of work. I hang around for the reasons that Peggy mentions, but also because there are people here who have access to all the latest research publications and post links to them. If ever myby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stephen Now into my 11th year of sinus rhythm after ablation and touch-up in Bordeaux. When I asked about long term results my EP in London said 'You ARE the long term'. The procedure didn't exist 20-30-40-50 years ago. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron Yes indeed, I am that Gill - pronounced 'Jill' and a female name in UK. I had my ablation, and touch up 3 days later, in Bordeaux in January 2003 at age 65. Before the ablation I had been in AF non stop for 18 months, drugs made me feel worse, and it felt as though my life was over - couldn't climb stairs without gasping for breath, couldn't walk for more than 5 minutby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rcece In the days before my ablation I used to do very long flights, eg Australia to London, and often had Afib while in the air. I second the advice to drink lots of water. I also used to do the following - Avoid alcohol Walk around A LOT to avoid the possibility of blood clots Flex and hold muscles in the lower half of the body frequently when I wasn't sleeping Did the foot andby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jugular venous pressure. Google it, lots of info. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy "may not be able to report from the other side" Glad you said "may". You are indomitable and I wouldn't be in any way surprised if you managed it! Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris Bear in mind that Dr Natale and the Bordeaux team get more than their fair share of very difficult cases, so their success rates may be even better than the statistics show. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather My groin wasn't sore or bruised at all, though other people have reported some discomfort. A couple of hours after the first ablation I felt completely back to normal, and exhilarated to be in sinus rhythm. Many people do need a second ablation, especially for persistent AF, though it's not usually done so soon. Forgive me if this is not kind, but 'hoping and prayinby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had persistent afib for a year and a half and had tried cardioversions but they didn't last longer than 48 hours. In January 2003 I had an ablation done by Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux, one of the two best EPs in the world in my opinion. Afib recurred after three days so he did another ablation immediately. He said the afib might well have stopped by itself but because I had travby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Did an advanced search and found this post from Erling: Making magnesium-bicarbonate drinking water called WW using magnesium hydroxide in Milk of Magnesia and carbon dioxide in carbonated water The chemical conversion in water is: Mg(OH)2 + (CO2)2 --> Mg++ and (HCO3-)2 Step 1. Chill to refrigerator temperature a 1 (or 2) liter bottle of carbonated water consisting of water and carbonby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather Good advice from Shannon. You need the best ablationist you can get to. BTW when I needed a trans-aesophogeal echocardiogram before my ablation it was cheaper to go to Bordeaux than have it done privately in UK, even including airfare and one night in a hotel. Compare the costs. You might be able to persuade your insurers that sending you to Bordeaux could save them money, andby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather 60-70% for paroxysmal AF seems low to me. When I had my ablation in Bordeaux in 2003 Professor Haissaguerre said their success rate was 78%, and that was for long term persistent AF which is more difficult to fix. 10 years on, I would expect better than 60-70% for paroxysmal AF. I would suggest you compare that with success rates for Sabine Ernst and Professor Schilling. Anotheby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Diane Remember that the 5 year data is based on ablations done when the procedure was much newer than it is now, and there were many EPs still learning how to do it. One of the Bordeaux EPs told BarryG that she cringed when she thought about what they were doing 5 years ago. I am definitely in the 'cringe' department having had my ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003 after 18 monby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I no longer have Afib since my ablation 10 years ago but I take fish oil with omega-3 to keep my blood from getting too viscous. At home in UK I take Seven Seas Extra High Strength Omega-3 fish oil. When I was last in the US a couple of months ago I bought some Nature's Bounty Triple Strength Fish Oil and I have been comparing the amounts in these two products. Seven Seas label says --by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
George I didn't find this forum until about 3 years after the ablation so you've been here longer than I have. I had done masses of research before I decided to go to Bordeaux, including reading the full version of Haissaguerre's landmark 1998 article. It was very hard work and I could have saved many hours if I had found the forum sooner. I hang around because of the qualiby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
10 years ago today, January 7th 2003, I had my first ablation done by Professor Haissaguerre himself in Bordeaux. I had been in persistent AF for 18 months after many years of paroxysmal AF. It recurred after 3 days and he did an immediate touch-up. He thought one of the lines would have a gap but that was not the case. He found a very toxic focus in the coronary sinus which he said was exby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Very happy to hear from you Aldona, and so pleased that you are doing well. Happy new year to you and your family. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric Others here will help you more than I can and will point you to what Hans has written about digoxin. But I wanted to tell you that 12 years ago, when I first consulted my GP about atrial fibrillation, she referred me to a cardiologist and told me that the standard treatment would be warfarin and digoxin. I discovered later that this was very out of date. This seems to be the treatmenby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I had my ablation in Bordeaux they routinely did a flutter ablation 'on the way out'. It puzzles me why this isn't done by all EPs in the US - could it be that a separate flutter ablation will make them more money or am I a cynic? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie. I think I will stick to 6000 until I have the next test and then decide whether to increase further. The brand I am using is Doctor's Best. I do take cod-liver oil with added omega3 every day. PS Not young at all, I'm 75 but I work very hard at staying fit and healthy, and I stick to a low fat, low calorie diet to keep off the 84 lbs I lost when I started to exerciby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
TomB - I really wouldn't want to be on warfarin when I haven't had any AF since my ablation almost 10 years ago. I am very fit and healthy and my risk factors for stroke are only age and gender. My thinking is that Nattokinase is better than nothing, since aspirin isn't good at preventing a first stroke. Thank you for your comments Jackie. I have upped the dose to 6000. Donby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am taking Nattokinase and have had 2 fibrinogen tests when I was visiting the US. My EP in UK has now found a way to have the test in UK but the range is presented in a different format. In the US the result was 297 mg/dL but in the UK my EP didn't send a full print out, just said in a letter "Your Clauss Fibrinogen is 3.8, with a normal range of 1.5 to 4.5". I googled Clausby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
You may know this already, but make sure you see an EP and not a cardiologist - the former is a plumber and the latter an electrician. Yours is an electrical fault and plumbers aren't good at fixing those. Gill (pronounced Jill and female)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's so good to have you back on the board, PC. I have learned a lot from you over the years. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
But Prof Haissaguerre told someone (Lou?) to enjoy a glass of wine after the ablation. If it's a success I would think you should be able to eat or drink anything you want. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom An EP in London once told me that ablation might not stop AF happening, but it should prevent it from sustaining itself. Maybe the ablation lines were just doing what they were supposed to do in this case? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I will be interested to hear what Prof. Haissaguerre says about long term outcomes for ablation for persistent AF. Gill (coming up for 10 years nsr in January)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve I had my second one in Bordeaux 3 days after the first, and have had almost 10 years of continuous nsr since then. I wish the same for you. Gill (currently scuba diving in the Maldives)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Colin I am not on any medication post ablation almost 10 years ago but am prone to constipation despite eating masses of fruit and veg. Waller water is as great laxative and gives you lots of magnesium bicarbonate.. I adjust the amount I drink each day to stay at bowel tolerance and no longer have any problems with constipation. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth I might be wrong, but from what I have read I thought it was just the doctors treating sprains in ski resorts that are going on strike. They get paid more for treating broken bones but argue that sprains are the same amount of work so should be paid the same. If this is correct i don't think it will affect heart surgery in Bordeaux. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM