My experience with propafenone is that there was always a "rebound" effect when stopping it. I stopped it twice during my AF saga. First was to switch from the quick-release kind to the extended release (3 pills/day vs 2/day). The second was just prior to the ablation. In both cases, about two days after stopping, I'd go completely out of rhythm and stay that way for 24-48 hours.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
The first rule of triggers is that you'll drive yourself nuts trying to figure them out! Answer is it depends on the person. The human body is not a machine and won't respond to the same stimuli the same way every time. The best I could do was rely on the law of averages. Observe what happens "most of the time". You may be able to determine if your AF is vagally-mediated orby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, Your AF sound like the vagally-mediated sort. Like mine. If that's the case, it responds very well to ablation.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn, That's unfortunate. Your EP is out of practice, it would seem. There is no requirement to fail rhythm control drugs prior to an ablation. That is 1990s-2000's thinking. I'd suggest finding another EP. I know it's a burden on us as patients but it is critical to find the right providers. I had to "fire" my general practioner and cardiologist both before proceby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
In my early days of AF I, of course, found Dr. John's website courtesy of Google as I'm sure many of us have. At first it was good reading and helped educate me about the condition. Over time, though, I've got a sense of "blame the patient first" from his postings. Take myself, for example. 41 years old, normal BMI, normal BP, no heart disease (stress echo), no diabetes,by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would highly recommend an EP consult. And don't hesitate to change providers if the relationship isn't working. My AF got me a new general practitioner and cardiologist. I wasted no time in leaving practices that I felt were doing more talking than listening.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Anxiety, impending feelings of doom, PACs, vertigo, lightheadness, dizzyness are all precursor symptoms to an AF episode. I don't know why but I do know that the heart and brain are probably the two most connected organs by the central nervous system. How else could you go from a sedentary state to running for your life if a situation depended on it (fight or flight response)? If the brain cby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
The over-the-counter potassium supplements are limited by law to about 2.5 mEq (milliequivalents, which is the dosing measure for K). The smallest prescription dosage is 10 mEq. Personally, I am on 10 mEq Kclor prescription for several years now. I do experiment with titrating upwards using the potassium gluconate OTC pills. You do want to be far more cautious with K as opposed to Mg. Hyperkalby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
alexe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When I asked my cardiologist some ago about fit > people with afib he said It was very rare in his > experience . I had to switch cardiologists after my initial diagnosis of AF. I was 41 yrs, 6'0", 185 lb, 4-5 mile/day jogger. He told me I should lose weight! He did not want to refer me to an electrby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wish there were a way to know! But I don't think that there is. Just keep on living your life as you want to. Be vigilant on the supplementation but other than that I'd recommend just putting it out of mind. If it comes back, it comes back. We all know it's not going to kill us, and that it can be dealt with when it needs to be dealt with. The victory, in my mind, over AF is nby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
What about prescription gabapentin? It gets used off-label so much. I got it from my sleep doc. It's pretty harmless as far as the heart is concerned.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stimulant herbs I have tried include ginkgo and that was a PAC disaster. I think ginseng and St. John's fall into the same category so I'd advise caution.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
You probably want to avoid your known triggers during the 3-month blanking period after an ablation. Then you really have to figure out what works for you. Try things a little at a time first. If the ablation is done well, I think you'll be surprised at what you can do. Just don't overdo!by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've seen some studies indicating an up to 5x increase in AF among the cardio folks (running, cycling, swimming) versus the general population. That is statistically significant! We're all kind of wired the same way I guess. No way I want to give up my daily 4-5 milers, because they keep me from ballooning back to my post-college weight of nearly 300 lbs. Lately I've been feelinby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Clay, I second the fatigue bit. I would still do my morning runs on propafenone (325mg 2x daily) but it felt like I was dragging a boat anchor. I think it's the beta-blocker effect that propafenone has. In retrospect I wish I'd tried flecainide, but I never pushed it with my cardiologist.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ken, That's my experience too. My HR was still very compliant in AF and I found that I could exercise. I've jogged several miles and biked even more in AF. Sometimes that would convert it, other times not. I simply refused to be on an AAR drug for one second longer than need be, so I scheduled the ablation ASAP.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had breakthroughs on propafenone all the time. Never tried anything else, though.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
I can attest to this. Clears out the pipes but crosses the wires. Ya just can't win, can ya?by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
The first question I'd ask is how many of the procedures has he or she done? You want an experienced operator. I'd say anyone with less than 500 under his/her belt isn't experienced enough. You can always check with your insurance beforehand. Mine did not object at all and I want to say my out-of-pocket wasn't too bad considering.by wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi George and Shannon! Thank you for the replies. George, I never tried the flec but my reading suggests exactly what you say. Propafenone is also a beta and I suspect that had a role to play in my "breakthroughs" on it. I never pushed it with my cardiologist as we were headed for ablation anyway. I hope to never have to try anti-arrythmics again but if I do I will insist on the fby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all, First time poster here. I thought I would share my a-fib story on what seems to be here a quite comprehensive AF forum (if not the most). I first experienced AF only 1 year ago, but it was very rapid-onset judging by the anecdotal evidence. I am a 41-year old male, 6'0", around 200 lbs (min 170, max 220 over the last few years). I have been a 4-6 mile/day runner for the laby wolfpack - AFIBBERS FORUM