![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Hi Susan, My point above was not to minimize the discomfort you feel when shallowing at the moment, but only to reassure you that in all likelihood it is the typical post ablation esophageal irritation that is often part and parcel or a thorough ablation. Many here have experienced that to one degree or another and as noted it can have several etiologies or combinations of factors contributby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Susan, As I noted in my text last night, you were given Carafate and PPI upon report of the minor pain on swallowing which is standard operating procedure. This report is fairly common in the few days post-op and can be from either the intubation tube irritation as McHale suggests and possibly very mild esophageal irritation from a thorough posterior wall isolation, a passing bit or pericarby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Duke, Scripps is a perfectly fine institution for your index ablation with Dr Natale. The only limitation there is that he is only there a couple days at a time and less frequently than in Austin his large home base and San Fran where he ablates for 5 days out of every 4 or so weeks. So it can be easier to get a quicker slot in SF or Austin. But there is no question Scripps is the physicallby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erich, Marg is correct about the BBs, for specifically Vagal AFIB they are generally not the preferred rate control drug, instead when you do have a high HR associated with an AFIB episode and you have Vagal triggering or are known to be Vagal from heart rate variability testing you should try a calcium channel blocker such as Diltiazem or Verapamil. Both will lower GR pretty reliably without theby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Its relative Liz, the a Chinese epidemic may still be proportionally less than in the US, but they have no shortage of cases lining up for ablation all over the country. Stress of living conditions, heavy water and air pollution, exposure to poorly regulated and controlled toxic chemicals in Chinas unbridled race toward economic prosperity, all while decimating its natural resources and water andby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
You are absolutely right Smackman, while its great that Dr John and others are starting to recognize what we have promoted here for the last 14 years, like with a number of his other stances, in my view, Dr John goes a bit overboard in making proclamations of grand breakthroughs at times. Maybe its just the growing journalist in him, and he is a good communicator with some very good points at timby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smackman, Before increasing BP meds why not look at some other modifications that can help reduction the relatively small gains you gave seen without a potential bigger increase in BP dose with likely increase is side effects as well. Give a thorough dietary review also make sure your sodium to potassium intake is optimized. Have you found someone to do the Exatest. If not call Exatest and askby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would definitely go for the ablation with the symptomatic frequency. Plus, you are an excellent candidate from all that I've read from you here Duke. At your stage and having done what you have more procrastination is most likely to only beget a more difficult scenario over time. Your increased frequency and symptomatic nature is your biggest clue that you are more than ready. Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Smackman, I've been out of pocket since last week, George covered it well, your sent plus hypertension would technically qualify you as not a Lone Afibber. In fact if Cardios search hard enough for CVD evidence the roll call for true lone AFIB would get considerably smaller considering how cardiac fibrosis to any appreciable degree would qualify as structural heart disease. But AFIby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is a not uncommon finding Michael, many ablations require a touch up after a year or two or three, Its not unusual. Continued structural remodeling is one reason, latent triggers sources not entirely transmurally ablated the first time but perhaps stunned for a long period of time only to come alive or reconnect is also a possibility. I know its disappointing but with the right choice foby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
That is totally bogus McHale of your insurance company and completely indefensible, I would fight that tooth and nail. Ive never heard of an AFIB ablation as a same day surgery release. If they claim 'most ablations' are done that way, have them prove it statistically. They will not be able to do so and will fail miserably. It would not be hard at all to call the top 30 AFIB centersby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
DUke, is Scripps really to far for you to travel for a two days and one night maximum? Sure you might be able to get a solid ablation elsewhere in the region, butte question you have to ask yourself is are you really willing to forgo using one of the worlds very best ablationist who comes periodically very close to your backyard? That is a question you want to feel a very positive yes about wby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Duke, TomB's post is right on the money and you are not too 'early' to take that advice to heart. One thing an expert successful ablation process will also bring is that the diet and supplements will at least feel more 'optional' and you wont feel the irritation of be so adherent and yet still having breakthroughs. Like Tom B said its makes perfect sense to continueby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, what is your comment above in reference too almost two months after the last post? I'm trying to get the context here for your post and the relevance to the topic of the thread above? Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree that Medicare with a good Medicare supplement plan filling in the gaps has been great for me as well paying almost everything for both ablations with Dr N plus the Lariat procedure as well as 14 separate Electro-cardioversions before my LAA isolation eliminate the need for any more sudden zaps at the ER at roughly $7,500 a pop for actual billing charges by a given hospital ER for a walk iby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the update PhilS that is one more good report regarding Dr Ernst I have heard and recently she has moved to number one with a bullet in my UK ablationist list. I also had a very enjoyable lunch on Sunday here in Sedona with Dr Peter Weiss who is an experienced and smart EP ablationist from Utah's Intermountain Group and his lovely wife Karen who were visiting Sedona for a shortby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sounds like a familiar story George. But I don't think its necessarily as often the case that many patients are not bright enough too grasp this, as many people are, or at least can certainly be taught what to do. But its the lack of motivation and willingness to change their lifestyle or belief system enough to give the whole approach a ver dedicated effort and n to just throw in the towelby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Smackman. It was good that you shared your experience and its understandable why that was your initial feeling about the timing of Peter.s colonoscopy,. This thread offered a good reminder to folks that colon cancer is a serious issue and periodic screening is a good idea for most folks At this point though, Peter seems to be well looked after by his GI doc and if I was in his shoes itby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi George, your experience is a great example of why so many EPs or other MDs overlook or discount too much the role religious electrolyte repletion can have on at least helping to manage AFIB. Even when it works well, the supplemental route almost invariably requires a real dedication to consistency and a willing spirit of curiosity and will to preservere through set backs in order to find aby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peter and Smackman. Will all due respect and fully understanding Smackman's wanting to reverse the priority and do the colonoscopy immediately and drop the ablation with Natale to whenever that might happen I have to disagree in your case Peter. First consideration, you are set to get the ablation in right at two weeks with Dr Natale, and from your comments above it seems apparent youby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad you liked it Jackie and Randy, some very good information there for sure.. Follow some of the other links as well. Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Peter, Yes no worries there is a protocol for both stopping Eliquis in fairly short order when and if that is in the cards, and for temporarily stopping it for a scheduled operation as well so not worries, you can deal with those when and if they arise. You've got plenty now on your plate as it is so no need to worry much about those issues now. Best wishes on your ablation in a couplby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Peter, Yep your IC Magnesium is borderline low at 35.3 and definitely too low for an active afibber. You preferably wan to be around 39 to 41 as an optimal IC mag range on the Exatest in order to minimize that critical electrolyte deficiency from contributing to some degree to a twitchy ectopic and arrhythmia prone heart. It's often hard to get IC mag levels up toward a sustainable oby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Morpheus, No problem, I realize you are still a relative newbie here as they say. Just wanted to make sure you, and other readers who may have been unaware, were clear and up to speed on the score for welcomed posting here. Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jean, No worries at all, I realize that was not your intent at all and that your comment and concern expressed is perfectly fine, no need for deletion. I just wanted to clarify the issue for others and for readers as well who may new here and perhaps are not as aware of the ground rules regarding political and religious debate while this topic was active and provided a good example of why wby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Morpheus, As a fairly new poster, please be aware that politic debate is not supported on this forum. There are thousands of fire-breathing political wrangling sites for those who wish to turn topics into whipping boys for a given polarized position, which ever side of the coin that might represent, but here we wish to keep the focus on AFIB and issues more closely related to dealing with aspeby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Chuck. Its obviously the Sotalol pushing your HR so low into bradycardia which, is itself a big trigger for AFIB or even Tachy-Brady syndrome. Most people with your response to Sotalol in the past were given a pacemaker to keep the HR at 60 or above, But not hat ablation has taken the forefront the usual step is getting that done and eliminate the AFIB altogether. Might as well get teh aby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peter, If you stopped Eliquis in the couple weeks before an ablation and then started it back and they found a clot on TEE just before the ablation they will cancel the ablation until you've has full month on blood thinner but the is no guarantee you would get the very favorable quick slot again for the next ablation schedule. They would try tobworknti fit you in after a forced cancellatiby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy, The distribution of fibrosis varies and the description I gave is a general rule of thumb and not exclusive. Also, when reading ablation reports the report on the presence or lack of scar or fibrosis is also rather general and not so specific as you might think. You can have patches and small clumps of scar or fibrosis or a narrow ridge-shaped line of scar along a part or area of the ovby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Peter, If this is more or less a routine colonoscopy I imagine you could postpone it and do it in six months after your TEE to see if you even need to stay with the blood thinners or not? Send me your number again as I can't seem to find it and will ring you over the weekend to discuss options if you'd like.. Take care, Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM