New here: anyone from MI ?

AF.. what a pain. Looking for others involved with home testing? Did your doctor write a script or did you join a service like (ALERE) or (ACS)?

[CDreamer]

Hi & welcome - you will have to explain please because I didn't understand anything of your post. MI? ALERE? ACS?

[CaroleF]

Hi

I think MI = Michigan doesn't it? Whilst there are people in the USA who post here, the majority of us are in the UK so whilst we are always happy to offer support to fellow AF sufferers the two services you mention are 'foreign' to us.

Let's hope someone in Michigan sees your message.

[Hidden]

Ok, sorry. MI = Michigan. It wasn't clear AFA was U.K. Only. ALERE is a company that supplies PTINR home testing Equipment, expertise and provider notification services. US Medicare will then pay for this.

[CaroleF in reply to Hidden]

Well the AF Association is a UK charitable organisation, but this Forum is not just for people in the UK. There are people living in various parts of the world including the USA who post here, but the majority of us are in the UK and therefore don't have experience of what happens in the US with the sort of thing you are asking about. With luck someone in MI will see your post.

[Hidden]

Just to be clear AF is Atrial Fibrulation correct?

[CaroleF in reply to Hidden]

Yes. AF is Atrial Fibrillation.

[Rellim296 in reply to CaroleF]

And you are right, Hidden - it may not be painful but, yes, it's a pain.

[Hidden]

Response to cdreamer: Advanced Cardio Services (advancedcardioservices.com)

[MarkS]

I'm in the UK and I do home testing. If you're on warfarin, it's the way to go. I bought the coaguchek monitor myself and then arranged testing strips through the GP.

Mark

[Hidden in reply to MarkS]

Thanks, I'm looking at that option, however if use a service Medicare will pay for it. If I buy my own no.

[OldSarge]

I am from Michigan. Have had Afib about two and a half years. It is presently controlled by Flecaniade, 200mg a day. I seem to have all the usual: flutters, palpatations, occasional chest pain. But have learned to live with it for the most part. After I got over the panic mode everytime I had an event, I was able to more or less deal with it. The longest episode I had was about 24 hours, heart at about 120BPM. Welcome.

[Hidden in reply to OldSarge]

Your lucky, I had a clot go to my spleen in 2009. Been on Warafrin ever since. Heart rate Tached up to 220 Bpm. I go to the gym everyday it teachs you to control heart rate. Mine is constant. Had 2 cardio versions. First worked for a couple months. Second time they killed me four times (stopped my heart) didn't work.

[JuliaJa]

I'm from Michigan and have AFib. I've had AFib for 5years. I do home testing with Alere. I like knowing what my INR is weekly, then I know how many greens to eat. I hypnotized myself for stress around a year ago and my AFib has really decreased.....crossing my fingers this lasts. If I have a AFib event, I take 25mg of Toprol Tartrate. It usually lasts 2 - 4 hours.

[Hidden in reply to JuliaJa]

Never heard of toprol Tartrate? Controlling stress helps. Does Medicare cover ALERE? I have had some coag events lately, always different symptoms hard to pin down. Running to the doctors every time doesn't work for me. Looking for options. They keep pushing ablasion, I keep resisting.

[JuliaJa]

Yes, Medicare covers home testing. Are you seeing an EP? Have you had a second opinion? There are people here that can help you. Lots of good information.

[Hidden]

EP? Been to Ann Arbor three times (Med School for Cardiology) my doc a professor there. They pioneered Ablation.

[CaroleF in reply to Hidden]

An EP is an ElectroPhysiologist ie. a cardiologist who has specialised in heart arrhythmias. In the UK, at any rate, they are seen as being better qualified to help AF sufferers than cardiologists who are generalists in heart problems.

On this site people often compare the two like this:

Cardiologist = heart 'plumber'

EP = heart 'electrician'

[Hidden]

I am from Pa in the USA and use Alere for home testing,,more than a year now,,,,easiest way I found to check the INR every two weeks at minimal cost to me,,,insurance/Medicare covers all but about $2-3 monthly,,,,have issues with using a vein due to lymphedema in one arm so a finger stick saves a lot on abusing a vein over and over,,,never had any issues staying in range on warfarin either,,just works for me so I am quite pleased,,,,for me,,,Xarelto and Eloquis actually caused Side effects,,,,,also take metropolol for rate control and have done well so far,,,,just taking it all day by day !!