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I've had two ablations while I was on flecainide and both times they had me stop it 5 days in advance. That makes sense because the usual rule is 5 half-lives, and flecainide's half-life is about 20 hours, so that works out to just under 5 days. I think 48 hours would definitely be inadequate. In any case, you want to err on the side of stopping sooner rather than later.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
One small ray of hope for you -- Tikosyn becomes more effective over time. I was told this by others who'd been on it when I first started and I found they were right. It took several months for it to reach full effectiveness. You really should see a doctor about the sciatica. Bilateral sciatica is rare and can be a sign of more serious problems.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There isn't really a "normal" for somebody post ablation. Everyone is different and experiences vary widely. I've had multiple ablations, the most recent and most successful being 9 months ago with Dr. Natale. I have experienced zero ectopics since then, but that sure wasn't the case with previous ablations. I spent years on a roller coaster of ectopics and abnormal rhythby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewhitehaven How do I continue to eat healthy and not have to increase my medication? What do you mean by healthy? If you mean large amounts of green vegetables then that's going to lower your INR and you're going to have to increase the Coumadin to compensate. Alternatively you could switch to a NOAC such as Eliquis or Pradaxa and then just eat whatever you want.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotejpeters Doesn't sound like they're proposing ablation as a first line treatment option. I don't think they're proposing or opposing anything. StopAfib.org is a widely respected patient advocacy organization.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf Interesting. So maybe after 10 years on Flecainide I can stop worrying about 1:1 flutter (on the basis that if it was going to happen it would have by now - I've only taken 60mg diltiazem as a preventative this last 3 years) ?? I wouldn't recommend it. With prolonged use flecainide can do one of two things: It can simply stop working or it can turn pro-arrhythmic. If it doesby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
No, it's not "too" low unless you're experiencing dizziness or fainting. Are you on a beta blocker? If so that likely explains it.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, that's a very important warning. I used potassium heavily for two years, but when I explain what I did I always add cautionary warnings about kidney function. I would add three more: -If you have diabetes -If you're taking a potassium-sparing drug (certain diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs) -If you don't know if the drugs you're taking fall under those categoriesby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
This forum has some of the most aggressive lifestyle modifiers you'll encounter anywhere, and I've seen almost no one claim they've achieved freedom from afib via such means, and that includes me. Symptom reduction, yes. Some degree of prevention/termination of episodes, yes. But actual elimination? That, in my opinion, is a unicorn.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
As helpful as marijuana and its derivatives have been for a wide range of illnesses, I have never heard anyone say it helped their afib. And there's not a lick of research on the question to my knowledge (thank you, War on Drugs). It is known to increase heart rate in novice users, so that's not a plus in its favor. But then again, so is caffeine and it's not known to trigger aby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
What George and Wolfpack said,by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
1) Supplements known to have anticoagulant properties. 2) Nothing. 3) That's a question you should already have discussed with whoever prescribed that Pradaxa. It's not usually advisable to take both at the same time but there are exceptions. You need to call the doc and ask.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJustMeToo The Kardia device for detecting a-fib is not recommended for those of us who have a pacemaker. I don't know who said that but there's no problem with it as long as you realize that you do have a pacemaker and it's going to produce "pacer spikes" that you shouldn't confuse with actual heartbeats. They're easy to recognize even for a layman. Foby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great! Now that we're in agreement! :-)by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Seems to be the week for Flomax. I've seen a couple of other people on another forum complaining that Flomax has caused/increased their afib.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotetraceyf45 I’m taking Eliquis 5 mg 2x day. And Diltiazem 120mg ER. Anyone just feel fatigued...no energy, from either of these 2 meds? Hard time taking a full breath.. finding it hard to navigate my day. Been out of work since diagnosis almonds a month ago. I’m hoping to get off the Diltiazem and go back to a beta blocker since I was on one for 17 years. Eliquis isn't the cuby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
You need to find a good EP and get some proper advice. Although it sounds like your CHADS-Vasc score is low, that doesn't mean you're not at risk of stroke until your afib is definitively under control.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There's no danger in stopping them. Worst case is you end up in afib. It's unlikely that you've completely conquered afib so if a PIP approach works for you then that's an option instead of taking the drugs daily. The usual procedure for using flecainide as a PIP is 300 mg, chewed, and taken with warm water as soon as possible after an episode begins. For safety reasons, yby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
The bigger issue is going to be the anticoagulant. I would assume you're on one, yes? The GI doc is almost certainly going to ask you to stop it a couple of days prior to the procedure and maybe another couple of days afterwards if he removes any polyps. That isn't a big risk for most people with afib but it's something you definitely want to make the GI doc aware of in advance andby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There might be some flutter mixed in there at first, but the rest is afib. I'd agree with Anti-Fib's suggestion in view of this.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
A rate of 150-ish that doesn't respond to beta blockers is most likely atrial flutter. Flutter is notorious for not responding to rate control drugs (nothing could slow mine). I absolutely wouldn't take digoxin. It comes with a toxicity problem and in people without heart failure it increases mortality. Is your cardiologist an EP? My guess is he's not since an EP would have told yby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
What I should have added was more than two without achieving normal rhythm. Your 11-year span is clearly a case of your afib progressing rather than the ablation being a failure.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
You'll soon be glad you went down this path. :-)by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would add that Eliquis simply isn't known to not work correctly.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth I also spoke with my doctor and asked him about the Watchman, he said that it can come loose and float in your body, didn't sound too encouraging about it. Not when placed by someone with adequate training and experience. He's doing you no favors telling you stuff like that. I doubt he has much actual knowledge of the Watchman.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Beta blockers can cause shortness of breath in some people. Basically, for susceptible people they can block signals from your brain to the muscles in your lungs that allow the airway passages to relax, which tightens your airways and causes shortness of breath. Talk to the doctor who prescribed the Toprol and see about trying another drug. He could possibly substitute a calcium channel blockeby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf I guess that after enough ablations the atria can't even sustain AF! But one will lose some if not all of the 'atrial kick' that contributes some 20% of the pumping of a normal heart beat. But no AF IS no AF: 80% normal heartbeat is arguably way better - and definitely less symptomatic - than a heartbeat in AF. Well, it matters a whole lot how competent the EP is whoby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotetraceyf45 These medication adjustements are tough. Does everyone go through the medication changes? Yeah, pretty much. Welcome to the club, but glad to hear your cardiologist saw the light and is working with you.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN This may be helpful for the guys who are less skilled (not that it wouldn't help the top tier guys), however my take is that it isn't helpful beyond a standard PVI. I think that's probably right. It's basically a standard PVI done very quickly. Great for less skilled EPs and great for the bottom line of centers that employ them since it cuts down on procedure tby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon For me, it's the truth. I've still afib, with lighter symptoms. And, no, ablation does not cure afib. But I reckon relieving the symptoms is great work and the best that can be done as long as afib can't be cured. You're assuming your partially successful ablation is what everyone experiences and that's just not true. Complete elimination of all atrial arrhby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM