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Those stats aren't good. You don't want an ablation there. I don't think Medicare is going to be a problem for any future ablation. But I'll let others chime in. I'm just a 44-year old kid with no experience there!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
For me a PAC is a “misfire”, like an engine that’s out of tune. A PVC (of which I’ve had very few) is a nuclear depth charge going off beneath the waves! It’s not the same for everyone, though. The only was to tell for sure is an EKG. The PAC will look like a normal QRS complex without a P-wave preceding it. A PVC will look like a very distorted QRS, often with a large negative deflection. Almby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa Thus one of the reasons I want this to work and to get off the blood thinner... scampering on rocks! Did your afib end up going away? Was that triggered episode one of those that happens during the blanking period that they don't seem to count? That episode during the blanking period, 8 days after my ablation, doesn't count. I just didn't have a real good underby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Your EP is correct. A right-sided CTI flutter ablation is low risk and carries a high probably of success. However, if a left-sided AF ablation is in the cards you might consider combining the procedures rather than doing it twice. An experienced EP should be able to do this.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterobh Thanks for all the info Jackie. Is it easy/possible to measure intra-cellular magnesium? The last measurement I had with a company called FDX in the UK was from my blood so presumably reflects serum levels? Rob EXATest. Easy, but maybe not cheap.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome to the club nobody wants to join, Mike! From what you describe, you’re in fine shape. The proverbial hole in the sky has opened up and disseminated its blessings upon you, as it has many of us. Don’t beat yourself up. Glad to hear you’ve got an EP. Take advantage of youth and think about ablation options. The key questions to ask are 1) How many complex, left-atrial ablation have you doneby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Go with what your body tells you. I hopped on the treadmill 8 days after my ablation and triggered an afib episode. Wasn’t bad, but I probably wouldn’t do it again. Just “go with the flow”. You might want to stay under 10k feet, though. If you do trigger an episode then the altitude won’t help, and you don’t want to fall considering you’ll be anticoagulated at the time.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heart failure, no. That is exactly what rate control prevents. As for stroke and dementia, that is anticoagulation. Are you taking an anticoagulant? If so, which one and what dosing?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Completely understand the frustration. Bear in mind, though, that we are all biologics and not machines. The same set of inputs does not always have to produce the same set of outputs. AF is a progressive disease. It will change over time. As things are today, there are really 3 choices for AF: don’t treat, medicate, ablate. Eliquis has a reversal agent that was recently approved. It is calledby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
The caveat being to insist on heavy sedation for the TEE as opposed to the “spray”. From what I’ve heard, it’s like swallowing a telephone receiver.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebeardman The plan was for a TEE and then a ECV, since my chads vasc score is zero it seemed than my stroke chances were actually higher while taking the meds the EP and other cardiologist wanted me on. The stroke chances also appeared to be higher having an ECV done as aposed to just waiting for me to naturally convert. The EP said that my stroke chances where the same no matter how the coby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa Thanks for the info. And thanks for the new to me word - "prandially" I'd never heard that one before, and always enjoy an opportunity to learn a new word. Your description makes me wonder if I am 'mixed'. Certainly my medical test indicated Afib under exertion, Kinda makes me wonder if this relates to me being a "bad uphill girl" something Iby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
A healthy, adult male between the ages of 18 and 60 could probably exist just fine on 0mg of dietary calcium per day. You really don't need it. In terms of electrolyte gradients across cardiac cells, Ca2+ concentration is something like 4 orders of magnitude less on the inside vs outside.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ditto what Carey said. That site is pretty "sketchy" and the guy there seems to be pitching a book. I'm not leveling any accusations, but I'd keep the salt shaker handy if you know what I mean. You need in excess of 20,000 PVCs in a day before doctors will get concerned. I certainly agree they would be annoying as heck. I'd try supplementation and lifestyle adjustmentsby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa Curious I'm trying to get a handle on "vagally-mediated" Is there a reason the chronically fit people would have vagally mediated afib? (reference?) Was there something in his description of his symptoms that would indicate it is vagal? I guess I don't really how people tell vagal from non. Which gets around to another question I've been having... theby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Beardman, Your EP is really just following standard procedure for paroxysmal AF patients. It's cardioversion within 48 hours of onset, followed by anticoagulation and AAR/rate control meds. He isn't using you as a "guinea pig" by any means. I can certainly understand not wanting to do that on your part, but do bear in mind that you really want to minimize the time in AF orby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Interesting article. I love the part about avoiding alcoholic beverages while exercising. Never would have occurred to me! Seriously, though. Reduction in intensity is good advice. I’ve gone down from running a 7-mile course in an hour to more like a 5-mile. I still keep it up 5-6 days/week. I’m up 20 lbs from my previous low, but maybe 6’0” and 175 lbs wasn’t right for me to begin with. CDCby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do you have an EP? That’s an electrophysiologist. Like a cardiologist but specializing in the heart’s electrical system. I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself because I think you’ve posted before, but an EP is definitely where you want to go. It sounds like vagally-mediated AF due to chronic fitness (something I know something about). That generally makes one an excellent ablation candidate, barringby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would have to agree. The human body rarely does well with extra holes! I'm always taking the minimum invasion route unless there's no other choice.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa The emotional side of this I so hard.... I'm pissed, bitter and depressed about suddenly having this problem. I'm trying pretty hard to make informed decisions, and my research seems to say ablation is the thing to do, I've set the date, yet it seems like such a crapshoot.... I wish I truly felt confident I'm doing the right thing... Well, having said allby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I ran this afternoon, probably a bit dehydrated given the swampy nature of our Southeastern climate in August. I had plenty of PACs during the first half of my five mile course. I simply refused to acknowledge them and put them out of my mind. Nothing bad happened, and I finished feeling much better than I started. So, yes, mind over matter. It’s true.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Fact is they have to permanently destroy tissue for ablations to work, but it's hard to explain that to the average patient without freaking them out. Yes. They have to walk the fine line between not doing enough and burning a hole through the thin atrial tissue. This is why... EXPERIENCE MATTERS!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotejpeters Think about it. They basically shoved a soldering iron up into your heart and branded it from the inside. It’s going to be swollen and irritated for some time.. That's the fear, anyway. As explained to me, it's nothing like cauterizing...far more gentle with pressure sensors and water spray to make sure the catheter isn't too hot. It’s 40W of RF power. That equby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, there will likely be a lot of ectopic activity immediately following an ablation. Think about it. They basically shoved a soldering iron up into your heart and branded it from the inside. It’s going to be swollen and irritated for some time. The good news is it heals and everything gets better. Hence the 3-month blanking period. In reality, I wouldn’t get excited about ectopics even 6 monthsby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do they occur more when laying on one side versus the other?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotetsco I know they say 3 months a."blanking" period but seriously I have ectopics and fleeting tachy runs up to a beyond a year after ablations, so don't panic. Try and stay calm. If episodes are fleeting that's a good thing. Yeah, mine went on for a good year. I think I finally got the mix right with the mag glycinate and taurine which put them to bed. I’ll still get a Pby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had several runs of that both in and outside the blanking period. Just like the Heart went on “afterburner” all of a sudden. Fortunately they never lasted more than probably 30 seconds or so, but they sure did scare the pants off of me the first few times. They finally went away and never came back. I wouldn’t panic about it, but certainly report it to your EP.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you do proceed with the ablation, please do us a favor and report back on your experiences with Dr. Marrouche. I’ll be “shopping around” my 2nd ablation when the time comes. Knowledge is power!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why are you still on an antiarrythimc after an ablation? That sounds like an unsuccessful one, if you require AAR meds. Your Toprol dose is at the minimum. Flecainide invariably goes with the beta blocker due to the flutter risk associated with it. You could ask about propafenone instead, but the better question might be why are you still on an AAR at all? Betas can worsen vagal AF. They did fby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebolimasa My doc, Marrouche, is very pro ablation. Your doctor is very highly regarded in the EP community. If he is indeed local to you then you've stepped into a gold mine. Your AF journey is likely to be a short one.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM