Hi folks! I had my first ablation over four years ago, at Texas Cardiac Arrythmia with Dr. Andrea Natale. I wasn't able to come off my medication after, but the meds then worked to control my afib and numerous PVCs where it didn't pre-ablation. During these four years I had been taking 50 mg of Flecainide 2 x daily, 25 mg Metoprolol ER 1 x daily, and Eliquis 5 mg 2 x a day, plus my vitamins and other unrelated stuff. After four years, I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night with a crazy heartbeat, fast, slow, all over the place. It lasted several hours. A few nights later, it did it again. After three such occurrences and a trip to the ER where they captured the rhythm with an EKG, I spoke with Dr. Natale who said that I needed a "tune up" of the first ablation, which was a radio frequency type. He warned me of this when he did the first surgery, and told me that it was not uncommon for older women to have breakthroughs some years down the road. Three months ago when I started having Afib again, he increased my dose of Flecainide to 100 2x daily. That has controlled the problem by 99.9%. I did wake up a few times during the night to feel a small strange run of beats, but nothing longer than a few minutes. I was so tempted to just keep taking the double dose of Flecainide indefinitely, because it totally agrees with my body and makes me feel completely normal. On the other hand, I never have liked taking that drug, even in a smaller dose, because it sounds so dangerous when I read about it. My other worry is that what if the bad rhythms kick in big time and I am already at 100 twice a day? So, I think Dr. Natale is a brilliant EP, and I am going to trust this second ablation is the way to go. I am afraid, but really want to get back to normal since we travel a lot and I don't want this to happen when we are in another country. Is anybody else on Flecainide 100 or more for a prolonged period? Is that the highest dose? Thanks all for your insight.
Going in For Second Ablation - Atrial Fibrillati...
Going in For Second Ablation
The max dose of flecainide is 300mg per 24 hour period so 200mg is fine. After the first year of my AF journey back in 2005 I have never used this drug switching to propafanone. I had three ablations for AF up to 2008 since when no AF and only anticoagaulation since but I did develop a different arrhythmia in 2017 . If you go forwaed with the second ablation it may well give you another few years AF free so why not consider it carefully.
Thanks Bob. That is reassuring. That's great to have had such a long and successful run of heart health following those first ablations. That's what I will be hoping for!
Flecainide is a very powerful medication and therefore dosage is often unique to the patient, depending on the structural integrity of the heart and overall health.
For these reasons a stress test is often given prior to administration and ekg monitoring after.
Yes, 300mg (sometimes 400mg) is listed as a max dose for a 24-hour period, but that is just a guideline. In my case, for example, my maximum dosage was initially 150mg for a 24 hour period and is now 200mg.
Jim
go back seeing him. Afib is a progressive disease and we need to keep all the risk factors under control indefinitely. Keep them under control keeps us vigorous until the end too. Peope forgot all the time what we did to our heart before we got Afib. We treated our heart so badly and when it revolts, we got surprised.
A touch up will allow you to stop taking flecainide. I guess you a lightweight person, 200 mg is the max dose for you. He might use PFA on you if he still is doing it or your heart meets the criteria . For sure you will be on eliquis forever. For other medications it depends on the success of the second ablation. 4 years without Afib I considered it a success already.
Thanks for your reply! What is PFA? I keep thinking if I can wait a long time in between ablations, the technology and science might change to eventually make it safer and easier and maybe even unnecessary. I think to totally come off all my medications, it will require an additional ablation on the lower part of my heart at another date to control the pvcs.
it is Pulse Field ablation. I got it with Natale. I doubt you can get rid of eliquis. It is new technology using electric pulses. Look at my other post in the search box.
I assume you were in a trial for PFA? As far as I know, it's not be offered out of trial in the US.
Jim
yes I was in a trial done by Natale.
So curious, the "signature" Natale afib ablation goes beyond a basic PVI in that he ablates other areas as well. Since this was a trial, I assume that Natale only did a basic PVI, or did he do his signature ablation.
Jim
I would trust Dr. Natale regarding your Flecainide dose. He has your medical history and you seem to tolerate it well.
Were you on Flecainide prior to the first ablation? Curious why you continued with it after the first ablation? I assume it was because you went off it and afib returned? Did Natale offer you a second ablation at that point versus continuing with the 50mg Flecainide 2x/day.
Jim
My regular cardiologist put me on Flec 50 until I could get my first ablation three weeks later with Dr. Natale. I was still having breakthrough episodes. My issues were very high afib 220-240 and lots of PVCs which felt even worse, swinging into the 30s, then back up to 220, and on and on. I would feel like I would pass out if I didn't immediately sit down. I tried to go off the Flec after the ablation, but the pvcs came back full force, but not the afib. He suggested I have another ablation for the lower chambers, but that would have to be done while I was awake, while he does the afib upper chamber ablations while you are sedated. Since the pvcs were completely controlled while on Flec 50 2 x a day, post ablation, I decided to just go with that and see if I could avoid a second ablation. It worked perfectly for four years. So now, a tuneup on the upper heart because of breakthrough afib, and I assume Flec some dose will still be necessary since I am not addressing those pvcs at this point.
Thanks for the explanation. But as long as you are committed to the afib "tune up", why not let Natale take care of the PACs at the same time and maybe get off flecainide for good? I understand it's in a different part of the heart and one requires sedation, one doesn't, but my understanding is that these things are often done at the same time. For example, they often do afib and aflutter at the same time, one being on the right side of the heart and the other on the left.
Jim
When I had the first ablation, he told me that I would have to wait a month or so in between the two ablations. I asked whether he could just do it all at once so I could get it over with, but he said that since one procedure was sedated and the other not, they would be spaced. This is four years later, so I'll ask him if that is now a possibility. Actually, I wish that once I am unconscious I could get everything done at once that kind of needs doing -- colonoscopy, face lift, hah hah! As long as those Flec 50s were working, I wasn't going to rock the boat. It sounds like within the next year, the newer kind of pulse field ablation may be the new gold standard in the US? I don't see that it is currently in trial with Dr. Natale with my few and spaced incidents. I haven't been following any developments because I hoped with my head in the sand I wouldn't need to know about it.
I’ve been on Flecainide 100mg twice daily since last May - initially had a lot of horrible side effects, mainly dizziness and vision issues so I stopped it but AF returned worse than before. Decided the drug was better than AF and after a while side effects diminished. Had 3rd ablation 2 months ago but been ill with chest issues since which 9 weeks in AF returned again! Now is a waiting game😔. Good luck with your treatment
I hope you soon start feeling all the good results that third ablation should bring to you. I assume you have reduced your Flecainide post-ablation? Or, are the chest issues holding back that transition?
No the Flecainide was kept at same dose all along. It was found the Fibrillation had changed to an atypical flutter thought to be the drug and scarring from old ablations.
So the ablation this time was for flutter which is easier to treat but the thought is if they stop drug it would return to fibrillation again.
The chest issue is lungs at the moment, asthmatic & chest infection 2 days following the GA which caused throat swelling and complications of inhaling fluids and food/ meds not going down right. Arrhythmia has returned 8weeks post op.Need to sort lungs out now before they decide next steps
wow did you say 33 ablations?
I am so sorry to see you’ve had so many issues. I get pericarditis following any procedure for some reason. Sending extra prayers to you.
😂 shaky finger, just changed it so I don’t terrify others. Least I know it’s been read 😂
it wasn’t scary as much as wondering what kind of idiot Dr. could you have? Then again, I have a doctor friend who has had more than a dozen my doctor has a way of thinking that I like. Both my EP and Cardiologist are on the same page. They do not want to continue doing the same treatments that haven’t worked because there are other things that can be used. Like most of you, I’m sure, we are tired of feeling bad from a fib, medications, etc. It’s only been a few years for me. I cannot imagine those of you who have had a fib before anyone knew what it was. Prayers to my a fib, family out here.
I wonder what kind of Dr I had before when I found out what had happened to me with him some 15years ago. This EP so far has been on the ball and I just feel the post op illness I got this time is what ruined the surgery he did as it held fine for 8weeks but think my body just had enough - my current Dr has said he’s not sure another ablation is in order as where do we treat, I’ve had all areas done already, the veins, the top and walls of the atrium hence maybe once my lungs are sorted we look at maybe meds again to see if there’s a comfortable dose in conjunction with one more CV to see if we can restore it to initial post op beat or the pace and ablate
Keeping my fingers crossed for everyone on here that this is the year we all achieve normality x
I wish you the best. I was with my AP this morning and again he emphasized he does not believe in doing failures over again meaning procedures. He said the hospitals want the doctors to do all of these things because of the money. I am having a special pacemaker put in on the 13th of the month. He is of the mind when meds, etc. fail to move on so that the patient has quality of life. That’s what he believes I am going to have. My first CV only lasted 3 1/2 weeks. My second one failed with three shocks. I have been on numerous meds. The latest lasted two weeks with good results. He then had to double it. The side effects of these meds can be dangerous. He is not going to double it again or try some thing else. I have had the best of meds that are offered these days.
My doctor believes in going forward, knowing that a fib cannot be cured. He wants a solution for the patient so that we have quality of life again. I know I have felt like I could roll up in a ball and just die. Today I found out I’m at the beginning of heart failure, because of the extended time of a heart rate that was too high. by the way, the amount of time has only been since the end of April of last year for those who were not aware, it is possible to fix it. If you don’t have other heart problems as well. He believes getting me back into a normal heart rate is key. He told me he will still have flutter, because a typical flutter is my problem now or at the moment I actually have both a fib and a typical flutter. He said it won’t matter that you have them because the hearts natural pacemaker will not be controlling anything the pacemaker will. He said medically, there is no reason I will not feel a lot better. In fact, he gave me extra good news, which is once this is all done six weeks after it is all done. I could actually get my back surgery finally. When I moved to Texas over a year ago, that was why I was here, but then a fib etc. became ugly and twice now that has had to be canceled. If I could get rid of that pain as well life would be good. Right now he said no doctor would touch me with the heart rate I have, which is fine with me . If it scares them, it scares me too.
there are so many different thoughts on how to treat a fib and flutter and to hear what my doctor said about the attitude of hospitals, doesn’t surprise me, but it was still weird to hear from a doctor. I think this guy is going to end up well-known one of these days I have not met anyone at the hospital at the office etc. that does not know of him and does not speak highly of him. We need more like him. He is honest to a fault and you may not like what he says, but there is no ball about it. I told him today I trust him with my life and I really meant it.
I’m so sorry to see that A Fib has returned, as well as the chest issues. Hope you are feeling better soon. It seems the last straw for the arrhythmia to return, when at least that side of things had improved. Hope it’s just a blanking period glitch. (I’m still stuck in A Fib following first ablation, and beginning to wonder if it’s called blanking due to all the swear words to describe the way I feel 🤣)
Aww Gumbie _Cat I’m sorry you’re not seeing improvement either - ‘blanking period’ (maybe that actually means to blank as in, it takes no notice of what you do, it’ll still be there - like teenagers blanking (ignore) when you ask something! Think of ourselves as boomerangs (just keep coming back for more) we’ll get there x
Crossing fingers! At the moment, even an appointment date will help. Good luck with your treatments. We will indeed get there.
Call the Secretary for your consultant saying you haven’t heard anything and you’re not feeling great or ask to be put on the cancellation list so if someone drops out they call people from that list! It’s awful to have felt NSR and feel really well to then lose it again isn’t it, I really hope you get seen soon xx
I’ve tried, but there is a massive backlog in the discharge letters going to the appointments office. I’ve heard from someone that it’s 8 weeks. Really hoping that my 2/3 month check on my discharge slip doesn’t become 4/6 months.
I didn’t really appreciate the NSR - too nauseous from the sedative 😂 Anyway - seeing my GP this week. I really hate being stuck on dronedarone, when it’s not working on the rhythm and just keeping the rate down. Was on Flecainide in the Autumn - first dose with Bisoprolol took two days to get NSR. Then the next episode around a month later didn’t stop. Even 100mg Flec twice a day - nothing.
Heart rate not going too high, and resting rate still in the 50s usually - but shoots up when walking.
Can you tell I’m fed up? I keep wondering if I’m not that bad, but when my legs feel so weary on hills and stairs then something doesn’t feel right. I am so impatient to know what’s next, and too anxious to arrange holidays etc.
I’m not very good at ignoring my Apple Watch - really switch on the outdoor walk to log as exercise, since that’s my main exercise. There’s this algorithm that works out cardio fitness, though it’s probably rubbish. Still difficult to see an inexorable downward trend since November.
Don’t worry about venting you your feelings, get it out and then start over! I find stairs and inclines difficult, I’m told Bisoprolol is the best for the heart but I’m just beginning 10mg again as it’s over 100 most of the time even when resting in bed - I’m trying to reduce the rate but also keep the BP down too. My Apple Watch keeps flagging Atrial Fibrillation and the ECG says either inconclusive (which is usually Flutter or it says Fibrillation - I am at the point I just go, “oh another one!” I tend to monitor steps/distance which isn’t very far right now and the highlight of today was doing 2 flights of stairs in a building I entered - I usually have to wait at the top as my HR speeds and I go light headed (I was determined not to show myself up and use the lift today) stiff upper lip English kicked in 😂
I’m right behind you partner, team FlipperGumbie up and at em as they say 😊
Each slope and stair is an achievement!
Two of my children who live locally have third floor flats, and another is about to buy one. I’m determined to get up there to see it when she moves in. Long pause on each landing 😂. Edinburgh is a city of hills and steps - which have suddenly become an issue.
I think Bisoprolol was kinder on my liver too. I was only on 1.25mg, because of the low resting HR. Though I have been less light-headed on standing, since the ablation. Perhaps something is working even if my heart is bobbing about.
We are here for you. You always are here for us I know. To me the blanking period means now and then you’re still going to feel the usual. If you continue feeling as though you had nothing done I think you need to talk to your doctor ASAP. I will be having another procedure done and I’ve already been told the first two weeks I might even feel worse. I definitely will not feel better. that will be because my pacemaker will not be connected yet. After the AV node and connections are done, my doctor believes, except for the healing part that I must be careful with, my life is going to be much better. He leaves it out there that things can happen or not happen that should , but if all goes right, I will have my life back. They are not magicians and I know that but I also know I have a doctor now that is probably the most honest I have ever met. I have no doubt he drives the hospital Admin insane. He is very much an advocate for the patient to get on with giving them their lives back. I am so glad I made the choice to go with him and my cardiologist.
You have every right to want to feel better. I was told after the last ablation it could take up to nine months or so for it to be working well it’s nine months and all I have to show for it is the beginning of heart failure besides nine months of misery and pain, unable to do more than breathe, if I’m laying down if I try to move, forget it I am breathless and ready to hit the floor I am so sorry. It takes you so long to see your doctor. That’s one difference here. If I called tomorrow, they would have me in by Monday. It would be sooner except it’s the weekend. I actually missed my appointment this morning I overslept somehow through two alarms. I called to apologize. They told me get there by one which I did. That is the big difference here. Because I was not there they moved others up into the slot so I was able to still see him. He needed to see me because of what’s going on, and luckily they could fix my mistake of missing my appointment on the spot
I’m so glad that you’re all sorted for what is going to happen. Just getting the decision made is a big step. In lots of ways we are so lucky with the NHS, but sometimes the cogs turn slowly. (Often a sign that they’re not too worried about you, to be fair.)
In an emergency they can come into their own. I had an ectopic pregnancy way back before I had my family. From GP visit to operation within hours. Even with some tales of extreme waits in A&E, I’ve also heard some good stories recently.
Trouble is that there have been years of underfunding. Personally I would have paid/would pay more tax to keep services better, but of course that becomes a political football.
I just need to stop worrying about it so much at the moment - as I’m probably making myself worse.
Do you have a date for your pacemaker? Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
yes 13 February as long as my insurance doesn’t slow it down. Otherwise I may have to wait until next month because my doctor is going overseas to see his parents for almost a month. I will be the last one he gets done before he
You can’t help but worry if that’s how you are. I think I’m lucky that I am on an anti-depressant because I don’t have normal reaction. It may make me seem less human at times but it is necessary. I worked law enforcement and have PTSD and anxiety, etc. the meds make all the difference, in again, having a life worth living I never was a big worrier anyway, I am very calm which helped do my job well.
I have concerns because once I am ablated it it’s all about the pacemaker in charge I should’ve asked him what makes this one special lol I let it get away. I will still get an answer on it. I have course made a list of things to ask and then left the list home. It really is amazing. The things that they can do for us. My doctor was honest he’s not going to promise a miracle because we all know things happen he did, however, without claiming to do miracles, then told me medically he sees no reason why I don’t feel really good in a short time. Of course we all know things happen especially during a surgery just like it happens every day. I have thought about this, and it makes no sense to worry about dying from a fib or complications when I could walk out the door and something could fall from a tree and kill me lol I am a believer when it’s your time it’s your time even if it doesn’t seem like it yet. Take a deep breath. Please let me know how you are doing I did go to sleep in a panic last night because I could not find my digoxin and it’s very hard to replace medicine with my insurance without paying full price. Thankfully it appears that BB my kitty was on the table where my meds had been he managed to get them to the other side of the room. That being said, I have now crawled back into bed as usual. I am breathless and wiped out just from looking for my pills. Big hugs.🤗
I often dream that I’ve forgotten to take my pills, that must be to keep me on my toes 😂 Funny about trees - last year we walked through the park to the Botanic gardens, and found they were closed due to gusts of wind. Cafe was open, so of course we muttered under our breath about it not being that windy. Back through the park, and there was a massive tree lying across the grass - it wasn’t there on our way.
I was on 125mg twice a day but it did not do the job after 11.5 yrs I was taken off and have had 2 ablations, 1 conversion and am now scheduled for and convergent procedure the 9th of March as they cannot seem to get me out of afib.
That's exciting for you. Hope this is just what you need, finally.
I was 68 when I had my first event and blacked out. Here I am at 70 and most likely will be getting pace and ablate within a couple of weeks. You have been very lucky and as far as the meds everything out there have reasons not to take them, but we still need to. Unfortunately there’s no plant-based cures, and there is no cure for a fib. You made a great decision coming on this site because this is where I am still learning. The support here is incredible. Just remember we are all different so the only one that can really answer you is your doctor and if you don’t feel right with him find another.
I shoot from the hip FYI lol one of my friends will say no tell me how you really feel about it because I can be somewhat blunt about certain things. I don’t like anyone giving me the runaround so I won’t do it to anyone either.
The first thing you need to except is that there is no cure for a fib. There is only control. That control could be as little as an hour or a minute. I am not trying to be Eeyore or Debbie Downer. I am just being honest because I didn’t realize that either. You have to except your life is never going to be the same, but you also have to learn to go on in your life and not dwell on it all the time. There are people that will take their numbers 20 times an hour And ask questions that affect you personally and only your doctor knows why he does certain things or gives you amounts of meds. We all have brains, and we need to use them about a fib.
I took my first ablation, which was cryo- for granted. It only lasted six months, but I didn’t worry about it failing which by the way, it did not fail it is still there holding strong. Then I took my second one which was RF and lasted a year and a half for granted also. Life seemed pretty normal so I didn’t question it until it stopped December 2021. My meds did well for quite a while until they stopped. I had a very aggressive surgery at Houston Methodist Houston last April. It was done by the pioneer of the procedure along with hybrid ablations at the same time. I have never recovered since that. Then I’ll cut to the fact I found a new doctor in October from April until then I was unable to walk and had a heart rate in the 150s constant with permanent a fib and a typical flutter. I’ll be honest I wanted to curl up in a ball and die and I felt like that a few times even now. Most of the time I am still a fighter. There are times where I cannot even take laundry from the washer to the dryer beside it without feeling nauseous and unable to breathe and about to hit the floor. I had a cardioversion that worked but only for 3 1/2 weeks. It was the best 3 1/2 weeks. I have had an a very long time. I met with a new EP who immediately planned on another cardioversion. This time it failed completely. They shocked me three times with no results. This can be the reality of afib. Then again, you might have a cardioversion be put on medication and stay well for quite a while. I see why there is no cure because there is so much about a fib that they probably still do not know because it hits people differently. Every day they are working on new things.
it’s been a month and a half since the cardioversion failure and I meet with my EP on Wednesday. I had a two week follow up. We went over everything and I am thankful to have a doctor that does not like repeating failure. He will not do any more ablations because of all the scar tissue. I have been put on pretty much every successful medication, but for me, my body seems resistant and it seems that two weeks is all I get of a normal heart rate, then back up it goes. So pace and ablate is what we spoke about. I was not happy about it. In the beginning for one thing I was concerned that at the age of 70 I was being put in a box of old people, and all we get are pacemakers. That is not the case and before I could ask my questions, he answered my concerns. At this point, I am close to heart failure, he also feels that I have had enough as has my heart, and that the other things did not work. His attitude is forget about the afib because it cannot be cured. That is coming from my EP who has quite the background and résumé etc. the Hospital I am using now is Baylor St Lukes and he is heart institute of East Texas. They just won more awards as far as cardiac as they had done last year and previous. The way I try to explain to my friends who ask is that he will be closing off the brain of the heart, the AV node because it is talking nonsense and that is what is causing the Afib and tachycardia. There is a special pacemaker for what I have. It is fairly new and he said a few years ago I would just end up going into heart failure. Now he feels sure I am going to have quality of life and relatively quick following the procedure. The issue with my heart is that my two ventricles are not beating together. He told me it’s only about an hour procedure. I may have to stay over one night. He has not decided and cannot until he does it.
I hope I did not overwhelm you, but you need to know reality of this heart issue. That being said, there is no reason you can’t travel at Cetera unless you are having problems at the time. Again talk to your doctor he may give you an EKG it needs to be between the two of you, life does not stop with a fib. Just make sure you are getting what you feel is the best of care and that your doctor is listening to you. I made the mistake of not speaking up quick enough after the April procedure. You are your own best advocate. Sometimes we get curious taking our numbers etc. but don’t let it take over your life. Unless I feel some thing unusual, I only do mine twice a day.
There are no guarantees with a fib, but there’s always hope. Your positivity is great. Just keep reality handy if you need it when traveling. Yesterday my heart rate suddenly went from 120s to 69 then back again. This happened a few times. First time I’ve ever had this happen. I can tell when it’s better because my head feels clear. The only thing clear to me right now is that a fib does what it wants. Best of luck with everything. I hope you don’t have the ups and downs and that you are one of the lucky ones on here that has succeeded so far with it.
Apologies for the novel I dictate so I tend to go on more than if I was writing it. Lol sorry about that.
Thanks for taking time to reply, Dawn. Your journey so far sounds much more complicated than mine. It's hard to get a good feeling for what procedures and drugs sound most promising because there are so many, as well as so many different heart rhythms and conditions. I am still near the beginning of this journey and have very little knowledge compared to so many on this forum. I wish you well in your next steps, and I sincerely hope you soon get relief. It's very scary when one's heart is out of rhythm. Even knowing what it is, doesn't change how disruptive it can be, and sometimes its just impossible to function until it stops, isn't it. Wishing you well!
Anything about the heart is frightening in my opinion. I have pretty much have been constantly out of rhythm except for the reprieve from the ablation since last April I have had no a reprieve except for the 3 1/2 weeks following my cardioversion. It’s funny how you can tell when your heart rate has slowed. I call it my quiet time, when I am not aware of my heart pounding out of my chest. I swear when I looked down, I expected to look like a cartoon where the heart comes out of the chest on a spring because it’s that hard.
As I said, I don’t want to be a downer I just want you to be aware of possibilities. There are people on here who have been successful for years, but as others mention on here, there are so many different types of a fib not just the four that they discuss but the way that it progresses at Cetera the meds never surprised me, because just like other medication’s your body eventually Gets used to them and no longer works efficiently. Right now I am on digoxin, metropolol XL and my blood thinner. The first two were doubled this past month. They only last two weeks at a time and then stop working. I don’t know where I would be at right now if I had not moved from Florida in October of 2021. Sometimes changing your doctor could be good although I adored my EP and Cardiologist. Medically, I was in very good hands at Houston Methodist but they were problems. That’s why I found a new doctor. I had a second appointment scheduled for this week that I canceled yesterday because at this point, I feel I am in very good hands. I realize that I was looking for a miracle. Changing doctors won’t give you that, afib is what it is. I changed from the one in Houston because of a personal issue. The doctor was great. Unfortunately, if you can’t talk to him, there’s a problem. My EPand Cardiologist here are a plus in many ways, including the fact that they are 15 minutes from my house instead of three hours to Houston. Things happen for a reason they say. I do have a new question knowing that you can have heart failure after you get a pacemaker. I don’t know exactly what your afib issue is. As I mentioned, mine are my ventricles not beating together. This calls for a different pacemaker. My heart and head are going to be rattling until I can talk to him about this. I thought I was all set now I will have more questions for him.
Good luck tomorrow Dawn
thank you hon I want to get it over with 😵💫. first I have to deal with the fact that they seem to schedule everybody for the same timeslot yikes why do places do that?
When I went in for my ablation, I heard those magic words ‘we will do the checks quickly, you’re first on the list’ 🤣
Well tomorrow is just a consult about it. The doctor had wanted to see how well the digoxin would work unfortunately after the first two weeks of it he had to double it and again since then it has stopped working, although in the past two days, suddenly my heart rate is below 100 which is crazy. my EP is very good because he works out of the hospital about an hour away but he comes to the hospital in my town once a month. I’d much rather drive 15 minutes than an hour. The majority of the patients are being checked on about their pacemakers. It’s a crazy day in that office for sure.
Every procedure that I have needed. I have been the first one in the morning. As long as my doctor had his coffee and a good breakfast, I’m fine with that get in and get it done. 😊
it will be good to know what you’re doing. I also seem to be in the ‘medicines working for a short time’ club.
my metropolol is probably the only one that has continued responding, but that has been doubled and also changed from metropolol t to the S XL it was also doubled. Right now I am taking 100.Mg twice daily and 250 mg of digoxin once. Like everything else, my heart rate becomes normal, almost too low, and then it spikes and stays up between 120 and 150. With all of the medication‘s I have been through already my doctor feels it’s time to stop with that and get on with things. I’m tired of feeling tired and sick not knowing. Is it the meds or the afib.
One thing I am very happy about is my new EP and hospital seem to be right up on the newest of things
Sorry to be blunt but for me that would be a simple decision. I would take the ablation and get off the flecainide asap. It is known to have serious unpredictable side effects after long term use. Good luck.
Mike that is easy to say until you are facing it. It’s not just a lifestyle change there is more to it it’s not so much about being near magnets etc. it’s about having a foreign body that you must now rely on to live. There’s no going back because the natural pacemaker has been destroyed. I will continue being on Xarelto or similar for the rest of my life. I will be glad to be off the other things. I don’t think there’s a medication anywhere that doesn’t have side effects or worse. The major thing I will speak with him about tomorrow is to get the pacemaker that can tolerate going through an MRI. I was supposed to have back surgery a year ago not have all of this come out. When you think about how many different things you may need an MRI for it makes sense I don’t know why they wouldn’t just use that time for all of us because there’s no knowing when you will need an MRI of some type.
I thought I had been prepared for everything but when we spoke pacemaker, I realized I was not. It also takes about six months I was told for the leads to become embedded properly. I am not that active and yet I think of the things that I do all the time that I am going to have to not to. Simply being in the house picking up things or reaching for things. Swimming is my number one sport. So many things I took for granted I could do because I have arms.
I'm sorry but I was responding to the original poster who did not mention anything about a pacemaker.
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Go for second ablation or Sotalol?
Should I go for second ablation?
Second Successful Ablation with Dr. Natale
Does Return of Afib Make a Second Ablation Necessary?
Second Ablation confirmed !
second ablation tomorrow 
Second Ablation Completed
Second ablation update
Post first ablation and second needed 
Second Ablation in my four year journey with AFIB 
