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Interesting, but a quick review of the literature doesn't show what I'd call a strong body of literature. The results seem to be all over the map from multiple studies, with some finding no relationship and others finding modest relationships. Strangely, at least one study found a relationship between short-term benzo use but not long-term. That sounds to me like artifact or a poorly deby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib Do you care to post a source? or do you know so much of the top of your head? The term "Persistent" is not just a time reference, but whether or not a patient reverts back to NSR on their own, or needs intervention (Cardioversion). "You can't call afib that comes and goes persistent no matter how often it comes and goes" Who called it persistent? Iby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
You can save money by staying at one of the hotels out on the outer beltway around Austin, but there will be nothing walkable from your hotel. Texas is NOT pedestrian friendly. Whatever you save on hotel bills very likely will be canceled out by Uber bills every time you want a meal or whatever. Do NOT stay at the Days Inn just a block from St. David's. It's cheap and very convenientby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There are accepted definitions for these terms and they're not ambiguous: Paroxysmal afib = afib that lasts less than a week Persistent afib = afib that lasts more than a week Longstanding persistent afib = afib that lasts longer than a year Permanent afib = afib that the patient decides to live with and not try to stop No EP would call afib lasting 3 years permanent afib unless thby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib When you say "Persistent Afib for 3 years", can you be more descriptive? How many episodes? If Geo is using the term correctly, and I assume they are, then there aren't episodes. It was non-stop afib for three years.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeocappy If I knew 100% that caffeine has no bearing as a trigger for afib then I would be 100% sure that ablation is my only option. Whether it does or not is irrelevant. You have to have the atrial substrate for afib for anything to trigger afib. You spent 3 years in longstanding persistent afib. There is absolutely no way that coffee caused that, not even a lot of coffee. You have withoby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, Natale would stop your meds a few days prior to an ablation. No, he would not cancel if you remained in NSR. I think you overrate caffeine's role here. I know everyone is convinced caffeine triggers afib but there's actually very little evidence that's true, and there's actually more evidence it's modestly helpful. Afib does what it wants. It starts and stops whenby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Moving is always healthier than not moving. You don't need to push it, but go ahead and do what you would normally do without the PACs. I know they're annoying, but PACs are harmless and nothing (reasonable) you do will cause afib because your afib monkey is in a cage now. See this post.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy Thanks—that is all helpful information. Question: don’t they want to do a CAT scan the day before? I read that somewhere here. They do for people who've had previous ablations because they want to rule out preexisting stenosis of the pulmonary veins. So they did for me but most people I know who've gone to Natale didn't get a chest CT.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Not in Kansas, can you please cite the source of your quote? Studies have shown a mild association between depression and calcium channel blockers (CCBs), beta blockers (BBs), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). And actually, BBs have the strongest relationship, not CCBs. Those three classes of drugs are the mainstays of treatment for hypertension, heart failure, MI, and tachy-arrhythmiby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy Any input as far a whether it is better to fly in day early meet with Dr Natale in person in office day before procedure or do telemed with him several days early and just fly in day before procedure From the perspective of another patient waiting for an ablation, I think I would prefer to meet with him in person as everyone says that he is so very reassuring and also in case there wby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeocappy I did email Amy and ask for a ball park estimate If you don't hear by the end of the week I would email her again. And if you don't get a reply within days, I would call.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Schedules are such fluid things that I don't think others' experiences are going to be helpful, but I would expect less than 3 months.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yep, multiple ablations here and an increased resting heart rate is to be expected following an ablation. If you've only gone up to 81 that's quite modest because 90 and higher isn't unusual. And it can last a surprisingly long time -- upwards of a year for some people -- but it does come back to normal eventually. It's nothing to be concerned about as long as it stays under 1by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
No, they're sure when it's afib. Afib is absolutely unmistakable and you don't even need a Kardia to diagnose it. Just feel a pulse for 15 seconds. If it's irregularly irregular, it's afib. Same with an EKG or Kardia. In afib the spacing between R waves will be random and irregular. However, flutter, atrial tach, and SVT can be difficult or impossible to diagnose withby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, this is extremely common and nothing to worry about. The Kardia tends to err on the side of labeling PACs as possible afib. Watch your hydration carefully. Most people tend to underestimate how much water they need during exertion and dehydration tends to throw your electrolytes out of balance, and that can definitely promote PACs and afib. However much water you drank on that hike, drinby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear you had such a positive experience with Dr. Natale, and glad you found the site helpful. Thanks for posting and telling us!by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I do think gene therapy will ultimately be the cure for afib and I think it's likely we're within 10 years of seeing it.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSailorGuy1 PFA does not cause scar or char; it’s a non thermal modality. Yes, you're right. I shouldn't have said scar but rather a lesion. In any case, the end result is the same: non-conductive tissue.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
The general concept of burning as little tissue as needed to do the job is of course valid, but I don't think choosing tissue to burn based on MRI results is. If after a PVI is complete and afib can't be provoked with isoproterenol and electrical stimulation then I'd say the ablation is complete. However, failing to seek out non-PVI sources is an extremely common mistake and costby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
They based their decision on which additional areas to ablate on the results of an MRI, not on the electrophysiology of actually finding sources of afib in those areas. That's a theoretical strategy and not one I've ever heard of an EP using. I think it's a badly flawed study and its sweeping conclusions are unwarranted.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why do you think the muscle weakness is related to your heart issues?by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's not going to get better. If it changes at all, it will just get worse. And those near-syncope episodes are dangerous. Do the touch-up. The advantage of PFA is primarily that it's safer. It It has some efficacy advantages but improved safety is its main claim to fame. Just keep in mind that with a highly experienced EP the differences are going to be minimized. If you wait for Pby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
The EKG saying "abnormal" is a bunch of noise you can safely ignore. Nobody -- and I mean nobody -- pays attention to the diagnostics EKG machines spew out. But their measurement of things like QRS duration and QTc are 100% accurate. A human cannot possibly be more accurate, so all I can imagine is that your docs are applying some sort of unique formula to you due to your other conditioby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would absolutely, positively not seek an ablation at this time. You need a consistent history of recurring episodes to justify ablation. Keep up with the alcohol abstinence and see what happens over the next few months. If you do have episodes despite not drinking, take your PIP and see how that goes. If you can avoid afib with abstinence and stop it on the rare occasions it does occur with a Pby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebettylou4488 that is what is written on the EKG. I don't know if they hand calculate like they do with the QT. But in sinus.. so that's super. I don't know why anyone would hand calculate either number when the EKG machine does it for you with perfect accuracy. The numbers you see on the EKG are the numbers you have.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan, Tenormin is a brand name for atenolol, which is a beta blocker. Sotalol is also a beta blocker.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotebettylou4488 But that has a beta blocker in it yes? not sure how I would tolerate it.. No, it does not. It will lower your heart rate some, as most antiarrhythmics do, but that's not because of any beta blockers. Multaq contains nothing but dronedarone, which is in the same class of antiarrhythmics as dofetilide and amiodarone. But it's "milder" than those and has feweby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
The next obvious choice for you to try is Multaq (dronedarone).by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
There are other antiarrhythmic drugs. Talk to your EP (or more likely their PA or NP) and tell them about your side effects. They can switch you to something else.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM