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First off, you need a new EP. You do not want, repeat do NOT want, an AV node ablation and pacemaker. That is an irreversible process and every second of your life will depend on a machine in your chest. It certainly sounds like you could benefit from a more experienced EP such as Dr Natale. Health insurance will be an issue. You can always go “fee for service” but it won’t be cheap. Others caby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCatherine Jackie, i’ll get mild pain lower part of my stomach, almost mimicking pelvic pain, then followed by diarrhea which lasts several says. Presently, the diarrhea has sibsided, but the stools are still not formed well and they float. Otherwise, I haven’t changed my diet, feel really good and full of energy. The only change is giving up regular tea and now only drink decaf. It hasby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just take it easy and recall that there is a 3-month "blanking period" post ablation where any funny business with heart rhythm is considered normal and to be expected. In reality, things should calm down after the first month if the ablation was done well.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Unlikely as a first order effect. Probiotic bacteria live in your intestines, not in the stomach where the acid environment would kill them. Palpitations are probably caused by the gastric pressure of a full stomach against the heart, deforming it and perhaps causing some back pressure and atrial stretch triggering ectopic beats. That’s my theory, anyway. Probiotics are by all means a goodby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I noticed the Life Extensions D-Ribose tablet formulation includes Calcium (84 mg I believe). Should that be a concern?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't know if I'd call AF ablation a cure or just a VERY effective treatment. It has certainly been my experience that, although the ablation terminated the arrythmmia, I was still plagued by PACs and short bursts of tachycardia in the year afterwards until I finally (and too slowly) adopted the strategy espoused here (mag, K, taurine) using high-quality supplements in the most bio-avby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I second JoyWin's comments. Most GPs can identify AF on a rhythm strip and that's about it. Many - albeit fewer - cardiologists don't have extensive AF knowledge and will mis-treat it. There are many stories here of cardiologists recommending digoxin for AF (wrong) or prescribing amiodarone to younger patients (unconscionable). In my opinion, here's the hierarchy for medicallyby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I can show you a Kardia rhythm strip of mine that is AF with a rate of 55 bpm. So, yes, it can happen. My rates were usually about 85 bpm or so when in AF and only on propafenone (no beta blocker). I never saw north of 100 bpm even when completely unmedicated. But I was always on the "low" side. I never experienced a 150 or 180 bpm event (thankfully). It's a bit odd to experiencby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotetobherd ..(which does beg the question....why that name?) lol NC State University grad. School spirit, that’s all. My other idea for a username, death2tarheels, failed the “nice” test.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
As with everything, just try it and see how it affects you in a controlled environment (i.e. - don't have an Irish coffee while using the stim machine!). If you are careful with hydration (important for both caffeine and alcohol), it's probably going to be OK. I'd follow either one of those beverages with a water.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I,don't think we can really answer that question, as we don't have access to all of his patient data (nor should we). As I understand it, his caseload numbers near the tens of thousands, so among those there are certain to be "one-and-dones". We just don't know.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
What is your rate during an episode? Over 100 bpm and I’d say, yes, a PIP beta blocker would be good. Calcium channel blocker is an anti-arrythmic (AAR) medication, and does not do rate control but rather attempts rhythm control. PIP is an option for that as well, but you must discuss with your cardiologist first.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
An ablation by an experienced EP certainly won't make anything worse. For comparison's sake, my AF started around January of 2015. At first it was simply an odd "fish-flopping" feeling in my chest that would ruin my sleep at night. Every time I'd get up, it stopped. This went on about once a week (typically on a Sunday night after a large family dinner), then it puncheby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
It was 3 years ago for me, but Rhythmol XR was still covered by patent so it cost me something like $100 out of pocket. Fortunately I only had to fill it twice. That should be changing soon if it hasn't already. Certainly check with your insurance or pharmacy if you find yourself paying high out of pocket costs.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
SInus bradycardia is just NSR with a rate < 60. Heck, mine drops to 44 bpm in the afternoon at times. It's no concern at all until it gets into the 30s or you have problems with blacking/graying out. 1st degree AV block is another relatively common one. For that you might consider a stress test to see what the P-R interval does. If it shortens under load, then it's probably nothinby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Propafenone can come in an extended release tablet, in which case breaking it is a BAD idea. You can usually tell which one you are on by the daily dosing. 2x/day is the extended release (Rythmol XR I believe) and 3x/day is the "normal" release formulation. I was on propafenone for about 3 months prior to my ablation (first the "normal", then switched to the XR). I did notiby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Those rates are too high. I see from your original post that you did not tolerate metoprolol (beta blocker). I would seek an EP consult. 6 months is nowhere near the “point of no return” from AF. I’m sure your cardio means well, but you need another team member.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why do you say it’s permanent? Have you tried and failed antiarrythmic medication? What about electric cardioversion? A bit more history might help us here.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
It sounds like your cardio could use better bedside manner, but his advice isn’t necessarily wrong. ERs are a terrible place to treat AF. The only thing they will do is rate control via IV and then a cardioversion - both “sledgehammer” approaches to AF management. In their defense, AF is rarely a life threatening condition, and ERs exist to treat and stabilize life threatening conditions. I’m guiby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you can afford it, pay. There’s not a dollar (or Euro) better spent than on a loved one or one’s own quality of life. I may not envy you the bureaucracies of state-run health care, but I do admire the relatively lower cost of out-of-pocket procedures across the pond. To have that done here in the States, it may well run north of $50k. We are not a model of efficiency!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey 5. First off, I would suggest taking Dr. Mandrola with a grain of salt. He's prone to minimize the effects of afib, blame patients for their lifestyles, and intentionally stir controversy with his WebMD articles. The more I read of what he writes, the less I respect him. That said, what he's saying there is sure, you can live with permanent afib as long as the rate is contrby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
It helps to remember that outcomes matter more than risks. If you have a stroke, you may very well suffer permanent and irreversible brain damage. If you have a bleed, you’ll be treated and leave the hospital the very same person you came in as.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I want to second the point that Afib or any atrial arrhythmia does not lead to cardiac death. Only in an EXTREMELY rare case of something called Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome could that be a possibility. WPW is kind of a “short-circuit” around the heart’s atrio-ventricular (AV) node, which gates the electrical activity in the atria from the ventricles. In a normal patient, the AV node willby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Vagal AF is characterized by episodes occurring at rest, often at night and after a meal. Vagal AFers almost never experience AF during exercise or the period thereafter. Often times, exercise may terminate an episode. I know this well, because this was me.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
750 ablations over 10 years is a pretty low number. I’d find another EP if possible. And trying to decipher insurance billing may have side-effects including depression, loss of appetite, and psychosis!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ok, probably won't. If rate control works, you should be able to function unless a specific rule prohibits it.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
No. Unless your job is wind-sprints and 40-yard dashes, AF will not sideline you.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJoyWin I would advise anyone to be very aggressive in the pursuit of a cure for their condition and if it seems a reasonable way to go with the best medical advice, don't play the waiting game. I second this. I only suffered AF for about 6 months, but I couldn’t wait for an ablation. It may be the “nuclear option”, but I pushed that button the second it was laid in front of me.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth Roundup kills Palmera Amaranth, a super weed, it grows rapidly and can take over fields, Roundup seems to be the only herbicide that works on it. I have to hand weed my strawberries, veggies, I can do that but on fields and fields it isn't possible, the price of that produce would be very costly. $1000 bucks and a cup of coffee says that technology is readily scalby wolfpack - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
I think the big issue here is the process of "desiccation", by which wheat farmers "kill" their crops with RoundUp so they will turn brown more quickly and can be harvested sooner (and fields replanted sooner). That practice needs to be stopped.by wolfpack - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM