Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 Fran, In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. Dwight Frances Ross wrote: > > Fran, > They are either originating from the ventricles or the atria. They would be PVC's, or PAC's respectively. If they are coming in runs, then you are talking about tachycardia. You want to make sure that these runs are not originating from the ventricles. Atrial tachycardia can be atrial flutter, SVT etc. > Dwight I would hope that all the testing in the past would have seen if they were from the ventricles. But as i have had periods when I have conked out and convulsed with near death experiences in the dead of night, it does remain a worry with me. I was waiting to see the cardio again who was going to look at recent holter recordings, but that was cancelled in June as I still have not had the monitor. Hmph. NHS. But it may also be due to the fact they are sending me to Glasgow to see a neurologist who has facilities to do tests on the ANS. I have had to postpone that as I got a letter yesterday saying to be there on the 29th July, which just can't be done due to school holidays, kids etc. So they are sending me one for later the next month. Thanks. Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Fri, 19 Jul 2002 at 23:54:47, Driscoll wrote : >I don't know enough about it to say after an ablation whether they still >happen and propagation is prevented because of the scar or whether the >rogue cells are also ablated? I think the situation is that the electrical impulses in the PVs still occur (they probably aren't actual e-beats at this point - " discharges " - see below) but fail to get through to the atrium because of the PV isolation. A paper back in Feb 2002 by Haissaguerre and co suggests they don't really know what the impulses are, or why they happen, just that in 94% of cases the discharges that set off AF are located in the PVs. [ " The exact mechanism of such activity is uncertain - hence the term 'discharges' " . " Current perspectives on curative catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. " D C Shah, M Haïssaguerre, P Jaïs, Heart 2002;87:6–8] I have been recently reading stuff that indicates (though some is old) that AF actually changes the cell structure and orientation - hence the PV ectopic sources change the tissues surrounding and this begets the AF. What I visualise is that when isolation occurs, the remodelling can go back in the opposite direction. Another point - the video on the Italian ablation site (www.af-ablation.org) suggests that the " isolations " are not complete electrical isolations - just a very significant change on electrical resistance and time to transmit across them - hence some impulses do carry but they are too weak to do anything - I think this is what I am feeling occasionally. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Fri, 19 Jul 2002 at 23:54:47, Driscoll wrote : >I don't know enough about it to say after an ablation whether they still >happen and propagation is prevented because of the scar or whether the >rogue cells are also ablated? I think the situation is that the electrical impulses in the PVs still occur (they probably aren't actual e-beats at this point - " discharges " - see below) but fail to get through to the atrium because of the PV isolation. A paper back in Feb 2002 by Haissaguerre and co suggests they don't really know what the impulses are, or why they happen, just that in 94% of cases the discharges that set off AF are located in the PVs. [ " The exact mechanism of such activity is uncertain - hence the term 'discharges' " . " Current perspectives on curative catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. " D C Shah, M Haïssaguerre, P Jaïs, Heart 2002;87:6–8] I have been recently reading stuff that indicates (though some is old) that AF actually changes the cell structure and orientation - hence the PV ectopic sources change the tissues surrounding and this begets the AF. What I visualise is that when isolation occurs, the remodelling can go back in the opposite direction. Another point - the video on the Italian ablation site (www.af-ablation.org) suggests that the " isolations " are not complete electrical isolations - just a very significant change on electrical resistance and time to transmit across them - hence some impulses do carry but they are too weak to do anything - I think this is what I am feeling occasionally. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Fri, 19 Jul 2002 at 23:54:47, Driscoll wrote : >I don't know enough about it to say after an ablation whether they still >happen and propagation is prevented because of the scar or whether the >rogue cells are also ablated? I think the situation is that the electrical impulses in the PVs still occur (they probably aren't actual e-beats at this point - " discharges " - see below) but fail to get through to the atrium because of the PV isolation. A paper back in Feb 2002 by Haissaguerre and co suggests they don't really know what the impulses are, or why they happen, just that in 94% of cases the discharges that set off AF are located in the PVs. [ " The exact mechanism of such activity is uncertain - hence the term 'discharges' " . " Current perspectives on curative catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. " D C Shah, M Haïssaguerre, P Jaïs, Heart 2002;87:6–8] I have been recently reading stuff that indicates (though some is old) that AF actually changes the cell structure and orientation - hence the PV ectopic sources change the tissues surrounding and this begets the AF. What I visualise is that when isolation occurs, the remodelling can go back in the opposite direction. Another point - the video on the Italian ablation site (www.af-ablation.org) suggests that the " isolations " are not complete electrical isolations - just a very significant change on electrical resistance and time to transmit across them - hence some impulses do carry but they are too weak to do anything - I think this is what I am feeling occasionally. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 10:50:04, Frances Ross wrote : >Yes the thought of pulmonary ablation is quite frightening. You just don't >know if it will work, will go wrong, will leave you with another problem or >just cure it. If only there was something solid to base the reason on why it >can work. It is not something I will ever do lightly. But I will keep >abreast of what is going on. Fran, I think as with any operation, who does it is crucial. There are some names who are quoting notably higher success rates than others, and other quite eminent names who just can't seem to get their success rates up. I was told by my cardiologist long before I was found to be suitable for an ablation that " the success rate is 50%, and the problem is we don't know the reason for the 50% failures. " Having now had a (hopefully fully successful) ablation (still in the " wait " period) I think that who does it, and what general sort of medical regime they adopt when having you in, is a significant part of the success rate. But of course Drs can never ascribe success or failure to individuals and need to couch things in impersonal terms like " techniques " . For me the ablation was a breeze. There's another point - even 1 year ago, ablations seemed to me to be aimed at finding ectopic foci in the atria and ablating them away. Now the Pulmonary Vein Isolation seems to be the primary technique and is much less prone to the chance appearance of ectopics. The paper by Haissaguerre I have mentioned elsewhere in this thread discusses this. It is this shift that appears to be behind higher success rates. Even so, some EP's don't feel confident enough to do PVI's, in particular one of the PVs which is less accessible than the other 3, but Haissaguerre's paper says that this vein is responsible for 35% of the foci. I was scheduled for an ablation with one of these and backed out when I found out that the full left-atrial work was not going to be done. I am now very pleased with my decision, though it was hard at the time. If anyone ever wants to get specific advice on names to consider and not, I am happy to do this (off the board) and I'm sure others like C would, too. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 10:50:04, Frances Ross wrote : >Yes the thought of pulmonary ablation is quite frightening. You just don't >know if it will work, will go wrong, will leave you with another problem or >just cure it. If only there was something solid to base the reason on why it >can work. It is not something I will ever do lightly. But I will keep >abreast of what is going on. Fran, I think as with any operation, who does it is crucial. There are some names who are quoting notably higher success rates than others, and other quite eminent names who just can't seem to get their success rates up. I was told by my cardiologist long before I was found to be suitable for an ablation that " the success rate is 50%, and the problem is we don't know the reason for the 50% failures. " Having now had a (hopefully fully successful) ablation (still in the " wait " period) I think that who does it, and what general sort of medical regime they adopt when having you in, is a significant part of the success rate. But of course Drs can never ascribe success or failure to individuals and need to couch things in impersonal terms like " techniques " . For me the ablation was a breeze. There's another point - even 1 year ago, ablations seemed to me to be aimed at finding ectopic foci in the atria and ablating them away. Now the Pulmonary Vein Isolation seems to be the primary technique and is much less prone to the chance appearance of ectopics. The paper by Haissaguerre I have mentioned elsewhere in this thread discusses this. It is this shift that appears to be behind higher success rates. Even so, some EP's don't feel confident enough to do PVI's, in particular one of the PVs which is less accessible than the other 3, but Haissaguerre's paper says that this vein is responsible for 35% of the foci. I was scheduled for an ablation with one of these and backed out when I found out that the full left-atrial work was not going to be done. I am now very pleased with my decision, though it was hard at the time. If anyone ever wants to get specific advice on names to consider and not, I am happy to do this (off the board) and I'm sure others like C would, too. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 10:50:04, Frances Ross wrote : >Yes the thought of pulmonary ablation is quite frightening. You just don't >know if it will work, will go wrong, will leave you with another problem or >just cure it. If only there was something solid to base the reason on why it >can work. It is not something I will ever do lightly. But I will keep >abreast of what is going on. Fran, I think as with any operation, who does it is crucial. There are some names who are quoting notably higher success rates than others, and other quite eminent names who just can't seem to get their success rates up. I was told by my cardiologist long before I was found to be suitable for an ablation that " the success rate is 50%, and the problem is we don't know the reason for the 50% failures. " Having now had a (hopefully fully successful) ablation (still in the " wait " period) I think that who does it, and what general sort of medical regime they adopt when having you in, is a significant part of the success rate. But of course Drs can never ascribe success or failure to individuals and need to couch things in impersonal terms like " techniques " . For me the ablation was a breeze. There's another point - even 1 year ago, ablations seemed to me to be aimed at finding ectopic foci in the atria and ablating them away. Now the Pulmonary Vein Isolation seems to be the primary technique and is much less prone to the chance appearance of ectopics. The paper by Haissaguerre I have mentioned elsewhere in this thread discusses this. It is this shift that appears to be behind higher success rates. Even so, some EP's don't feel confident enough to do PVI's, in particular one of the PVs which is less accessible than the other 3, but Haissaguerre's paper says that this vein is responsible for 35% of the foci. I was scheduled for an ablation with one of these and backed out when I found out that the full left-atrial work was not going to be done. I am now very pleased with my decision, though it was hard at the time. If anyone ever wants to get specific advice on names to consider and not, I am happy to do this (off the board) and I'm sure others like C would, too. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 Vicky, Regarding the imbalance in the ANS. There is a good book out there called " Confronting Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome " by Lynn Frederickson. MVPS is caused by an imbalance in the ANS. She goes into great detail regarding this. Note: it is possible to have MVPS without having Mitral Valve Prolapse....very interesting. It might be a good book to read. Dwight Vicky wrote:on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 Vicky, Regarding the imbalance in the ANS. There is a good book out there called " Confronting Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome " by Lynn Frederickson. MVPS is caused by an imbalance in the ANS. She goes into great detail regarding this. Note: it is possible to have MVPS without having Mitral Valve Prolapse....very interesting. It might be a good book to read. Dwight Vicky wrote:on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 Vicky, Regarding the imbalance in the ANS. There is a good book out there called " Confronting Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome " by Lynn Frederickson. MVPS is caused by an imbalance in the ANS. She goes into great detail regarding this. Note: it is possible to have MVPS without having Mitral Valve Prolapse....very interesting. It might be a good book to read. Dwight Vicky wrote:on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 07:32:26, Dwight Broeman wrote : > >Fran, >In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death >experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in >order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > >Dwight Fran and Dwight, I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. This is possibly the case with me. Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > > Fran, > In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > > Dwight Exactly. I have passed out on more than 5 occasions with seizures and near death experiences, but not like epileptic grand mal. Told that my whole body shudders and trembles, but although I am not aware of my body or whats going on around me I am aware in my head that I am fighting for my life. I go into a dark tunnel and the rest. When I asked my GP about being reffered to an EP she said whats one of those! I explained. She said there is not one. When I asked my cardio to refer me to one he dismissed them and said that they are the experts in arrhythmia's. So I am up against the powers that be. So I have been put down the road of sleep tests etc. They wanted my turns to be a form of hypnogogic hallucination. So I had the whole narcolepsy testing, but this has proved negative, despite the gene testing they did (which proved positive on two accounts). So next it is the neuro in Glasgow. He can do full ECG and EEG at the same time, as well as a variety of autonomic tests. I think the problem they are having is determining the cause between epilepsy or cardiac syncope (the problem is that I was misdiagnosed with E twenty years ago, but I never had the conciousness or near death experiences then, but did have AF). Of course it does not happen to order, just when it wants too. And I live in fear of them ever happening again. Of course my diet has helped tremendously and I have not had one since a year ago last march. I just don't want to go back to them, but I need to really know what causes them. They are few and far between and in away I want to eat all that I know I shouldn't before the testing to bring one on, but I am too scared. Sorry to go on, but ..... that is our NHS system for you. Thanks Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > > Fran, > In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > > Dwight Exactly. I have passed out on more than 5 occasions with seizures and near death experiences, but not like epileptic grand mal. Told that my whole body shudders and trembles, but although I am not aware of my body or whats going on around me I am aware in my head that I am fighting for my life. I go into a dark tunnel and the rest. When I asked my GP about being reffered to an EP she said whats one of those! I explained. She said there is not one. When I asked my cardio to refer me to one he dismissed them and said that they are the experts in arrhythmia's. So I am up against the powers that be. So I have been put down the road of sleep tests etc. They wanted my turns to be a form of hypnogogic hallucination. So I had the whole narcolepsy testing, but this has proved negative, despite the gene testing they did (which proved positive on two accounts). So next it is the neuro in Glasgow. He can do full ECG and EEG at the same time, as well as a variety of autonomic tests. I think the problem they are having is determining the cause between epilepsy or cardiac syncope (the problem is that I was misdiagnosed with E twenty years ago, but I never had the conciousness or near death experiences then, but did have AF). Of course it does not happen to order, just when it wants too. And I live in fear of them ever happening again. Of course my diet has helped tremendously and I have not had one since a year ago last march. I just don't want to go back to them, but I need to really know what causes them. They are few and far between and in away I want to eat all that I know I shouldn't before the testing to bring one on, but I am too scared. Sorry to go on, but ..... that is our NHS system for you. Thanks Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > > Fran, > In my opinion, if you are on the verge of passing out and having near death experiences, you should be treated more aggressively. An EP study may be in order depending on the origination of these arrhythmias. > > Dwight Exactly. I have passed out on more than 5 occasions with seizures and near death experiences, but not like epileptic grand mal. Told that my whole body shudders and trembles, but although I am not aware of my body or whats going on around me I am aware in my head that I am fighting for my life. I go into a dark tunnel and the rest. When I asked my GP about being reffered to an EP she said whats one of those! I explained. She said there is not one. When I asked my cardio to refer me to one he dismissed them and said that they are the experts in arrhythmia's. So I am up against the powers that be. So I have been put down the road of sleep tests etc. They wanted my turns to be a form of hypnogogic hallucination. So I had the whole narcolepsy testing, but this has proved negative, despite the gene testing they did (which proved positive on two accounts). So next it is the neuro in Glasgow. He can do full ECG and EEG at the same time, as well as a variety of autonomic tests. I think the problem they are having is determining the cause between epilepsy or cardiac syncope (the problem is that I was misdiagnosed with E twenty years ago, but I never had the conciousness or near death experiences then, but did have AF). Of course it does not happen to order, just when it wants too. And I live in fear of them ever happening again. Of course my diet has helped tremendously and I have not had one since a year ago last march. I just don't want to go back to them, but I need to really know what causes them. They are few and far between and in away I want to eat all that I know I shouldn't before the testing to bring one on, but I am too scared. Sorry to go on, but ..... that is our NHS system for you. Thanks Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > Fran and Dwight, > > I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can > actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. > Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. > There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the > autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. > > This is possibly the case with me. > > Best of health to all, > Vicky Vicky ITs great that you are going from strength to strength and if anyone, you would be the person I would base my hopes on when it comes (if it comes) to pulmonary vein ablation.I feel my AF had more in common with yours. What you wrote above strikes a cord with me. The strange co- existing conditions. I can almost pin point the day that Af appeared and caused a series of strange conditions. I have always told my GP and cardio that they are all tied up, but too no avail as they 'know better'. Can you point me in a direction to read more on this. I am beginning to think this is my total cure too, even though the AF has gone for the time being, my heart rhythm is not right and I want to feel normal again. I am sick of it. Cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > Fran and Dwight, > > I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can > actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. > Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. > There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the > autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. > > This is possibly the case with me. > > Best of health to all, > Vicky Vicky ITs great that you are going from strength to strength and if anyone, you would be the person I would base my hopes on when it comes (if it comes) to pulmonary vein ablation.I feel my AF had more in common with yours. What you wrote above strikes a cord with me. The strange co- existing conditions. I can almost pin point the day that Af appeared and caused a series of strange conditions. I have always told my GP and cardio that they are all tied up, but too no avail as they 'know better'. Can you point me in a direction to read more on this. I am beginning to think this is my total cure too, even though the AF has gone for the time being, my heart rhythm is not right and I want to feel normal again. I am sick of it. Cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > Fran and Dwight, > > I have had some indication that the PV discharges and their results can > actually *create* autonomic imbalances, such as vagal tendencies etc. > Some EPs have noticed strange co-conditions disappearing after a PVI. > There is some thought also that an ablation can influence some of the > autonomic system nerves directly and help with these aspects. > > This is possibly the case with me. > > Best of health to all, > Vicky Vicky ITs great that you are going from strength to strength and if anyone, you would be the person I would base my hopes on when it comes (if it comes) to pulmonary vein ablation.I feel my AF had more in common with yours. What you wrote above strikes a cord with me. The strange co- existing conditions. I can almost pin point the day that Af appeared and caused a series of strange conditions. I have always told my GP and cardio that they are all tied up, but too no avail as they 'know better'. Can you point me in a direction to read more on this. I am beginning to think this is my total cure too, even though the AF has gone for the time being, my heart rhythm is not right and I want to feel normal again. I am sick of it. Cheers Fran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 18:54:43, Frances Ross wrote : >Can you point me in >a direction to read more on this. I am beginning to think this is my total >cure too, even though the AF has gone for the time being, my heart rhythm is >not right and I want to feel normal again. I am sick of it. All I can remember offhand was I think a case where someone had an ablation and their sleep apnea was ended. Also there was something about a pacemaker installed to speed up the rate helping to stop sleep apnea. However, I can't find anything in the way of hard data. Medline http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi turns up a few interesting things if you put in <atrial fibrillation AND sleep apnea> and of course <atrial fibrillation AND autonomic> turns up hundreds of papers. (leave the < > out) The way I understand it is that the whole thing is not understood well at all, even by those at the forefront of ablations, but they have noticed " strange " things happening. I mentioned after my ablation that my stomach pains had just about stopped dead and he was very interested and said he would keep that in mind. The pulmonary veins seem to respond differently to different stimuli - some to vagal stimuli, some to postural, and I guess that from the oddities happening there may be some reciprocal action - i.e. the AF upsets the ANS as well as the ANS accentuating certain AF triggers. Hope this helps, some at least! Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 on Sat, 20 Jul 2002 at 18:54:43, Frances Ross wrote : >Can you point me in >a direction to read more on this. I am beginning to think this is my total >cure too, even though the AF has gone for the time being, my heart rhythm is >not right and I want to feel normal again. I am sick of it. All I can remember offhand was I think a case where someone had an ablation and their sleep apnea was ended. Also there was something about a pacemaker installed to speed up the rate helping to stop sleep apnea. However, I can't find anything in the way of hard data. Medline http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi turns up a few interesting things if you put in <atrial fibrillation AND sleep apnea> and of course <atrial fibrillation AND autonomic> turns up hundreds of papers. (leave the < > out) The way I understand it is that the whole thing is not understood well at all, even by those at the forefront of ablations, but they have noticed " strange " things happening. I mentioned after my ablation that my stomach pains had just about stopped dead and he was very interested and said he would keep that in mind. The pulmonary veins seem to respond differently to different stimuli - some to vagal stimuli, some to postural, and I guess that from the oddities happening there may be some reciprocal action - i.e. the AF upsets the ANS as well as the ANS accentuating certain AF triggers. Hope this helps, some at least! Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 20, 2002 Report Share Posted July 20, 2002 > Another point - the video on the Italian ablation site > (www.af-ablation.org) suggests that the " isolations " are not complete > electrical isolations - just a very significant change on electrical > resistance and time to transmit across them - hence some impulses do > carry but they are too weak to do anything - I think this is what I am > feeling occasionally. Vicky, By " what I am feeling occasionally " do you mean the ectopics you were mentioning awhile ago, or " something else " ? How long has it been since your ablation now? Are things settling down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2002 Report Share Posted July 21, 2002 on Sun, 21 Jul 2002 at 02:04:20, trudyjhagain wrote : > >>hence some impulses do carry but they are too weak to do anything - >>I think this is what I am feeling occasionally. > >By " what I am feeling occasionally " do you mean the ectopics you were >mentioning awhile ago, or " something else " ? Trudy, Sorry, I'm referring here to the benign ectopics that I have had since the day after the ablation. The run of ectopics I had at +1 month were quite different - much more aggressive and feeling like the " old " ones. >How long has it been since your ablation now? Are things settling >down? It's now 7 weeks, and I *think* it is settling down (stop tempting fate!!). I've certainly not had the continuous ectopics runs for a couple of weeks now. I'm still on the Flecainide and not desperate to get off it until I get, say, a run of a couple of months with nothing, but I shall be discussing this with my Cardio and EP this week, so hopefully they will agree. I'm still getting the odd hour or two of slightly-threatening ectopics and the odd very short feeling of AFL, but these stop very quickly. Fingers crossed :-) Best of health to all, Vicky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2002 Report Share Posted July 21, 2002 Vicky, the news of your apparently successful ablation is grand. I have all fingers crossed. And I'm very grateful for all the informative posts you have made on the PVA/PVI topic, going back to your 3 emails of June 21, which first made clear to me the difference between " locate-and-ablate " and complete isolation of the pulmonary veins. I have pretty much decided to go ahead with the a PVI, and I have a few questions about your current post. Vicky wrote: > There are some names who are quoting notably higher success rates than others, and > other quite eminent names who just can't seem to get their success rates > up. Are there sources for these success rates other than just asking each EP you're interested in? > . . . one of the PVs which is less accessible than the other 3, but Haissaguerre's > paper says that this vein is responsible for 35% of the foci. I was > scheduled for an ablation with one of these and backed out when I found > out that the full left-atrial work was not going to be done. You backed out of an ablation for the less accessible PV? And what do you mean by the " full left-atrial work " ? > If anyone ever wants to get specific advice on names to consider and not, I am happy to do this . . . Do you have information on names in the US? And last, if I should decide to go somewhere like Boston for a PVI, do you think the followup would be difficult or compromised? Thank you very much for all your help, Vicky. I'll be sending sinus thoughts your way. S. .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2002 Report Share Posted July 22, 2002 > > > There are some names who are quoting notably higher success rates than others, and > > other quite eminent names who just can't seem to get their success rates > > up. > > Are there sources for these success rates other than just asking each EP you're interested in? On our website, database -> ablations has some personal results for people. Fairly discouraging if you look at them, but the success rate has been increasing a lot recently, I think, for some docs. It would certainly be interesting to see a disinterested report of success rates with a common definition of success - totally getting rid of afib vs. substantial improvement, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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