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Shannon, Our thoughts are with you. George Tana, I have also had LAF for 10 years and have been hanging around here for 99% of that time. My thoughts. "Dr Doshi is now suggesting I have an ablation and makes it sound like a really easy non invasive procedure. I have read all about it and it doesnt sound very harmless." While it is a much less invasive procedure than sby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan, As a non ablatee, I can't advise on when to start doing more exercise. I would suggest you look hard at defining yourself as a runner and a spinner. Many of us lone afibbers got here via chronic fitness. I know, that was/is me. It took a while for me to understand that traing for and competing in endurance events was not heart healthy afib wise. Today, I'm certainly no coby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smack, I'm subject to white coat issues and have been for decades. I learned 30 years ago that my BP would be high in a doctors office & fine (108/70) when measured before giving blood. I think it has something to do with me feeling I'm being judged. I found that if I talked to whoever was measuring and joke about it, it made it better. Also, in theory, the point of BP measureby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
My take is that inflammation is the common element. In my case, I was chronically fit, trained and participated in endurance competitions. It was inflammation due to chronic fitness that precipitated the afib. In some cases, it can be inflammation from surgery. In others, the inflammation due to CVD, high BP or insulinemia. Reversing the causes of the inflammation may be helpful, but may nby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, Here are monitoring apps I use: I have an iPhone app, HRV Logger, that communicates with a blue tooth Polar H7 chest strap transmitter (and other blue tooth transmitters, too). You monitor long time series of HR vs time, r to r or beat to beat. The app will output an RR file to Dropbox in CSV format. You can sum the RR beat length times in ms to get the x or time axis. You canby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Duke, In your shoes, I'd go for the ablation. Your episodes are relatively frequent, and the lesson is that earlier in your afib career equals higher probability of success in the ablation world. Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, I'd guess 180-220 ventricular rate. Most folks with this kind of rate feel pretty bad - and the high rate is usually where the symptoms come from. Not everybody with a high rate knows they are in afib. I know a man who didn't know he was in afib and remained at a high rate for quite a while. This caused cardiomyopathy. Even after they got it controlled, his ejectioby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, I'm assuming Sandra's afib rate is high, because her afib is so symptomatic. She has not said. It is a reasonable assumption. My meter is from these guys < I've had it for a long time & would have to fire up old, DOS-based computers to use it, or see if I could make a USB to serial conversion work. I have very infrequent need of it and have not used it inby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
This would apply specifically to those who are not lone afibbers. Dr. John < says, "Here is my report of the most important presentation at HRS2014: Is Atrial Fibrillation Necessary? The Most Important Study Presented at the Heart Rhythm Society 2014 Scientific Sessions (You'll need a free login for this < Here is a snipit: "QuoteBackground: Previous work from the Adelaby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric, Congratulations on your daughter! The 3-8AM time as well as the going to standing says vagal trigger to me. Some vagal afibbers have been able to ward off their episodes by raising their heart rates, which standing will do. Some would even run or climb stairs, whatever. I was able to convert episodes this way early in my afib career. There was a point several years ago, when Iby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, It is standard practice from Natale and others to prescribe a modest dose of metoprolol in advance (30 minutes) of PIP flecainide. Others, including Jackie, have reported satisfactory results from this protocol. When I chatted with a cardio requesting a metoprolol prescription for PIP use in case of a high rate, he suggested that it would not take a large dose for the rate controby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Duke, In the PIP flec studies, most converted in 2-8 hours. In my use, I typically convert in 1-4 hours with 1 being the norm. 9 1/2 years ago, I had a 2 1/2 month episode, so don't want to risk that again, so I take the flec every time. In your situation, typically converting in an hour on your own, with some going to 3 hours, I probably would not take the flec. If you are not sympby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, The half life of metoprolol is 3-7 hours. I would not get the XL version. While you are theoretically correct, that the BB could have an impact at bedtime, I've never seen any report of this for on-demand use. Also, many paroxysmal afibbers seem to have a "safe" period after an episode where one is unlikely to occur again. I'm sure this "safe" perioby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Denver, My own approach is what is the "minimum required dosage" to maintain fitness, health and be able to do what I enjoy doing. I listened to a podcast the other day where they were discussing whether it is harder to get an exercise addict to cut back or to get a couch potato off the couch. The consensus among the 4 participants (3 who are trainers, 1 who is a primary care MD)by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sandra, "GeorgeN, I like your idea of an "on-demand" Beta Blocker. Is there such a thing? The Drs had discussed putting me on a regular Beta Blocker during my hospital stay, but decided against it because my mean heartbeat during sleep was 50. It was feared the Beta Blocker would slow it down even more." Yes, that is true, however there is a difference between rate contrby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smackman, Afib is not CAD, however CAD can be an underlying cause of afib. Or I should say, inflammation related to CAD can be an underlying cause of afib. Your stent indicates CAD. Here is the alternative view. - LDL is not the issue for CAD, it is inflammation - statins, to the extent they work, work because they lower inflammation (which can be done at much lower doses than those uby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, I don't think so. The doc he recommended is top notch in all respects, as was the alternate. I've been close friends with the hand surgeon and his wife for many years. I've vacationed at the beach, skied and backpacked with them. My friend is considered tops in his field and is nothing but professional when anything medical comes up. Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, My partner is having issues after foot surgery 9 moths ago. My hand surgeon friend referred her to the same doc he is sending his wife to. That is a pretty good recommendation. Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sandra, It sounds like your afib is very symptomatic. This is likely due to a very high ventricular heart rate. In afib, the atria beat very fast ~300 BPM. The atrial "signal" goes to the ventricles through the AV (avo ventricular) node, which puts a slight delay in and transmits to the ventricles. In afib, the AV node lets through a random % of atrial signals. This results in aby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gill, Very funny! Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Duke, I think Natale spends a week or so a month in San Francisco, if that is an option for you to see him. See: < Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, Of the nigari, I generally consume 0.2 liters/day of a solution I make up. I put 1/2 cup nigari in 2 liters water. 1/2 cup is about 61.7 g of MgCl2. The molar mass of MgCl2 is 95.2 and of Mg++ is 25.5. So Mg represents 26.8% of the compound. 0.2 liters x 61.7/2 x 0.268 = 1.65 grams Mg/day and 6.2 grams of the nigari. This is about a 17.7 year supply. I probably have 15+ yearsby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Peggy, Yes, I remember her. I have a local afibber friend who has had the same experience. Cheers, Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, There seems to be a lot of individuality in how people react to serum potassium levels. For example, while 3.5 is the low end of "normal," many afibbers know they're in trouble with numbers less than 4 or even 4.5 for some. Conversely some have issues as they approach 5 or greater. A serum sample taken in the ER during my first afib episode was 3.2. Five days laterby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, 1500 converts to ~ 5.4. 1500 x 0.026 = 39 & 39 ~5.42 serum. See: < < < Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, If I were in the situation, I'd probably just cut the dose and see what happens. Some might attribute that approach to my being deficient in the frontal lobe category, hence I restrain from suggesting it to others. In this case, tsco has recently had an ablation and is seeing something different. An EP's advice might be useful. Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Shannon, A few years ago, I was backpacking with an orthopedic hand surgeon friend and his wife. I described my afib remission protocol (K+, taurine, Mg++ to bowel tolerance). His response - he thought it was great - however he said the FDA'd never approve without a "standard dose" (that is the mag to bowel tolerance was too vague) and his patients were not bright and dediby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why wouldn't you send a note to your EP describing this and asking the best course of action. She/he knows a lot more than we do.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ralph, I don't have time to dig out the detailed research, however, I can say it is known that insulin has an effect on the cellular sodium/potassium pumps as well as kidney excretion and retention of sodium. You can dig out more of the science in Moore's book referenced above. From an emergency medicine post: < "When treating significant hypokalemia with IV potassiby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM