Fw: I'm Back!!!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/7/2002 10:21:56 AM Pacific Standard Time,

james@... writes:

<< I hope you all understand why I wasn't popping by

over the last months, just as I hope you all understand why I could

use a little encouragement right now!!

>>

Welcome back, Dave! I am so sorry to hear about the return of your afib, but

I don't think this means that the return is permanent. Coincidentally, I had

a similar experience this past Sunday. After being in straight sinus for

nearly seven months, I had a fifteen minute afib episode concurrent with the

beginning of a virus. It seems to me from your description that the trigger

of your afib could also have been a virus. Viruses have always triggered

afib for me. My fifteen minute episode was also, like yours, extremely mild

although I had some of the sensations that my heart was trying to get out of

my chest for about five minutes. I am now quite sick with possibly two

viruses because I have both stomach and respiratory symptoms, but the afib

has not returned. I've had only the fifteen minute episode in 199 days.

Since we both have a familial background of afib (your father and virtually

everyone in my family), I think that our ability to stay out of permanent

afib and stay in sinus for our respectively long periods is quite remarkable.

I have continued to visit here because I feel a sense of obligation to repay

the help that I have received here. It was from a member of this group,

Angus, that I received the information that helped me to stay out of afib so

long. When Angus told me that he had stopped his afib by eliminating all

dairy products, I decided to try the dairy elimination. It took seven months

during which my afib and other symptoms actually worsened before I saw

improvement. During the ninth month after giving up dairy, my afib stopped

and did not return until last Sunday night. I currently believe that the

fifteen minute afib episode is not significant, considering the long time I

have stayed in sinus.

Perhaps it is impossible for either of us to completely avoid afib because of

genetics, but I can certainly live with fifteen minutes every seven months.

I think you should have hope that when the virus departs and your stomach

returns to normal, your afib will also disappear. Do let us know how you are

doing.

in sinus in Seattle (15 afib minutes in 199 days of sinus)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/7/2002 10:21:56 AM Pacific Standard Time,

james@... writes:

<< I hope you all understand why I wasn't popping by

over the last months, just as I hope you all understand why I could

use a little encouragement right now!!

>>

Welcome back, Dave! I am so sorry to hear about the return of your afib, but

I don't think this means that the return is permanent. Coincidentally, I had

a similar experience this past Sunday. After being in straight sinus for

nearly seven months, I had a fifteen minute afib episode concurrent with the

beginning of a virus. It seems to me from your description that the trigger

of your afib could also have been a virus. Viruses have always triggered

afib for me. My fifteen minute episode was also, like yours, extremely mild

although I had some of the sensations that my heart was trying to get out of

my chest for about five minutes. I am now quite sick with possibly two

viruses because I have both stomach and respiratory symptoms, but the afib

has not returned. I've had only the fifteen minute episode in 199 days.

Since we both have a familial background of afib (your father and virtually

everyone in my family), I think that our ability to stay out of permanent

afib and stay in sinus for our respectively long periods is quite remarkable.

I have continued to visit here because I feel a sense of obligation to repay

the help that I have received here. It was from a member of this group,

Angus, that I received the information that helped me to stay out of afib so

long. When Angus told me that he had stopped his afib by eliminating all

dairy products, I decided to try the dairy elimination. It took seven months

during which my afib and other symptoms actually worsened before I saw

improvement. During the ninth month after giving up dairy, my afib stopped

and did not return until last Sunday night. I currently believe that the

fifteen minute afib episode is not significant, considering the long time I

have stayed in sinus.

Perhaps it is impossible for either of us to completely avoid afib because of

genetics, but I can certainly live with fifteen minutes every seven months.

I think you should have hope that when the virus departs and your stomach

returns to normal, your afib will also disappear. Do let us know how you are

doing.

in sinus in Seattle (15 afib minutes in 199 days of sinus)

[Guest guest]

Dear (and all),

Well, it was perhaps too good to last.For those of you who don't

remember me, I last wrote almost a year ago to tell you that I was

celebrating 12 months of sinus rhythm. I was looking forward to a

similar post next February, but, last week broke a 20-month stretch.

Like they always say, A-Fib begets A-Fib, and this morning I went in

and out of Sinus for a couple of hours.

I'm back in sinus now, but no doubt I'm facing more episodes, and I

wanted to: a) up-date you guys; check on any new developments I

might have missed when I was ajusting to sinus life!

Two things are very different this time around. One, my episode this

morning is the first one that I've ever had after a night's rest. I

did wake with an upset tummy, but was still surprised it came on.

Second, both episodes have been remarkably less dramatic than how it

used to be. In fact this morning, I couldn't always say when I was in

A-Fib or not - it used to be that the heart trying to get out of the

chest, well, you know what it's like.

I've been trying to think of anything I might have changed, but I'm

stumped. I started taking the anti-cholestrol pills a couple of

months ago, but I can't imagine they have any bearing. Other than

that I'm still the same 3 x 50 mg Flecainide, 10 mg Omeprazole for

the Hiatus Hernia and low-dose asprin. I'm still taking th ginger for

the stomach, and still doing the deep relaxation. My life as a

freelancer is as near to stress-free as it can be, so it can't be

that.

It's weird, but funnily enough I'm not as down to-day as I was last

week when it re-appeared. I still get tired after episodes, but not

as badly, and I half wished this morning that I could be permanent,

so that I'm not in this is/out anxiety, and the syptoms were so mild.

ONLY half-wished, mind you! But my father has been permanent for 3- 4

years now and doesn't even think about it now.

And one good thing is, I get to talk with you guys again! A year ago

you might remember me writing about I pal I have who nearly lost his

life with Myasthenia Gravis, and it put my own ailments into

perspective. I told him then, that it's not what you get, it's how

you deal with it - easy for me to say then, so now I'd better act on

my own advice! (He's made a miraculous and almost full recovery,

incidentally).

So, how have you all been? Please write to me (by all means use the e-

mail address - daveprice@... - and let me know how you

all are. I'd be particularly interested in hearing about any

encouraging news on ablations, etc. My cardiologist said I might be a

suitable candidate a few years ago, so if I put my name down now, I

might get the op on our National Health Service in a couple of years

time.

I missed you guys. I hope you all understand why I wasn't popping by

over the last months, just as I hope you all understand why I could

use a little encouragement right now!!

UK (two hours A-Fib free!!!)

[Guest guest]

>

>

>I'd be particularly interested in hearing about any

>encouraging news on ablations, etc.

>

Here is some recent news on ablations:IMPROVED A-FIB PROCEDURE---NASPE

CONVENTION, San Diego, CA. May 8, 2002

In perhaps the most important research development in A-Fib this

year, Dr. Pierre Jaïs of the French Bordeaux group announced a major

improvement in Focal Ablation of A-Fib. At the North American Society

of Pacing and Electrophysiology Convention in San Diego, CA May, 2002,

Dr. Jaïs announced that the Doctors in the Bordeaux group are currently

performing Focal Point Ablation of the Pulmonary Veins using Pulmonary

Vein potentials (segmental ablation) combined with linear ablation of

the " Left Atrial Isthmus. " After first ablating any areas of the

Pulmonary Vein openings with Pulmonary Vein Potentials, they then make a

linear ablation line between the ostium of the Left Inferior Vein and

the Lateral Mitral Annulus using a cooled tip catheter. This

significantly improves their success rate in curing A-Fib.

The Bordeaux group also seems to have raised the bar for measuring

success in treating A-Fib. They now measure success not simply in

eliminating Pulmonary Vein Potentials, but rather in restoring patients

to normal sinus rhythm without dependence on any medications. Dr. Jaïs

reported success rates of 85% in curing patients with Paroxysmal A-Fib.

This is a remarkable success rate. What this means for patients with

A-Fib is that soon one or two visits to an A-Fib facility for what will

become a routine procedure will eliminate A-Fib in nearly all cases.

SEGMENTAL VS. CIRCUMFERENTIAL ABLATION---NASPE CONVENTION, San Diego,

CA. May 9, 2002

In an unusual format for a medical convention, NASPE sponsored a

debate on Segmental versus Circumferential ablation of the Pulmonary

Vein Openings to eliminate A-Fib. The participants were Dr.

Natale of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation arguing on the side of

Circumferential Ablation, and Dr. Pierre Jaïs from the Hôpital du

Haut-Lévèque, Bordeaux (Pessac), France arguing in support of Segmental

Ablation.

( " Segmental Ablation " refers to a technique of Focal Ablation in

which Pulmonary Vein Potentials in the heart are individually identified

and ablated, thereby eliminating the sources of A-Fib signals in the

heart. " Circumferential Ablation, " rather than pinpointing Pulmonary

Vein Potentials in the heart, uses a circular catheter to ablate each

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) in the heart. This procedure " isolates "

the Pulmonary Vein Openings so that A-Fib signals from the Pulmonary

Vein Openings can not get into the rest of the heart. See Focal Ablation.)

Though the jury is still out on the merits of each of these

procedures, in this author's opinion patients with A-Fib are probably

better served by medical facilities that use Segmental rather than

Circumferential Ablation. To quote Dr. Jaïs, " Why use a cannon to shoot

an ant? " Circumferential Ablation applies RF energy to the entire

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) rather than just to individual areas of

the Pulmonary Vein Openings that have potentials. This increases the

risk of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis---a swelling and narrowing of the

Pulmonary Vein Openings which restricts blood flow into the heart. PV

Stenosis can lead to fatigue, flu-like symptoms and pneumonia.

An additional problem with Circumferential Ablation is that the

Pulmonary Vein Openings are not always smooth and oval. With current

techniques it is not always easy to make continuous circular ablation

lines. Because the actual focal points or sources of A-Fib signals are

not destroyed as in Segmental ablation, any break in the Circumferential

ablation line can lead to more A-Fib. Dr. Natale illustrated how in some

veins, in order to better achieve a continuous circular ablation line,

he inserted the circular catheter inside a Pulmonary Vein Opening. But

the further you move a circular catheter into a Pulmonary Vein Opening

and ablate, the greater is the risk of PV Stenosis.

Segmental Ablation takes more time and effort, but currently seems

to be better for patients than Circumferential Ablation.

[Guest guest]

>

>

>I'd be particularly interested in hearing about any

>encouraging news on ablations, etc.

>

Here is some recent news on ablations:IMPROVED A-FIB PROCEDURE---NASPE

CONVENTION, San Diego, CA. May 8, 2002

In perhaps the most important research development in A-Fib this

year, Dr. Pierre Jaïs of the French Bordeaux group announced a major

improvement in Focal Ablation of A-Fib. At the North American Society

of Pacing and Electrophysiology Convention in San Diego, CA May, 2002,

Dr. Jaïs announced that the Doctors in the Bordeaux group are currently

performing Focal Point Ablation of the Pulmonary Veins using Pulmonary

Vein potentials (segmental ablation) combined with linear ablation of

the " Left Atrial Isthmus. " After first ablating any areas of the

Pulmonary Vein openings with Pulmonary Vein Potentials, they then make a

linear ablation line between the ostium of the Left Inferior Vein and

the Lateral Mitral Annulus using a cooled tip catheter. This

significantly improves their success rate in curing A-Fib.

The Bordeaux group also seems to have raised the bar for measuring

success in treating A-Fib. They now measure success not simply in

eliminating Pulmonary Vein Potentials, but rather in restoring patients

to normal sinus rhythm without dependence on any medications. Dr. Jaïs

reported success rates of 85% in curing patients with Paroxysmal A-Fib.

This is a remarkable success rate. What this means for patients with

A-Fib is that soon one or two visits to an A-Fib facility for what will

become a routine procedure will eliminate A-Fib in nearly all cases.

SEGMENTAL VS. CIRCUMFERENTIAL ABLATION---NASPE CONVENTION, San Diego,

CA. May 9, 2002

In an unusual format for a medical convention, NASPE sponsored a

debate on Segmental versus Circumferential ablation of the Pulmonary

Vein Openings to eliminate A-Fib. The participants were Dr.

Natale of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation arguing on the side of

Circumferential Ablation, and Dr. Pierre Jaïs from the Hôpital du

Haut-Lévèque, Bordeaux (Pessac), France arguing in support of Segmental

Ablation.

( " Segmental Ablation " refers to a technique of Focal Ablation in

which Pulmonary Vein Potentials in the heart are individually identified

and ablated, thereby eliminating the sources of A-Fib signals in the

heart. " Circumferential Ablation, " rather than pinpointing Pulmonary

Vein Potentials in the heart, uses a circular catheter to ablate each

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) in the heart. This procedure " isolates "

the Pulmonary Vein Openings so that A-Fib signals from the Pulmonary

Vein Openings can not get into the rest of the heart. See Focal Ablation.)

Though the jury is still out on the merits of each of these

procedures, in this author's opinion patients with A-Fib are probably

better served by medical facilities that use Segmental rather than

Circumferential Ablation. To quote Dr. Jaïs, " Why use a cannon to shoot

an ant? " Circumferential Ablation applies RF energy to the entire

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) rather than just to individual areas of

the Pulmonary Vein Openings that have potentials. This increases the

risk of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis---a swelling and narrowing of the

Pulmonary Vein Openings which restricts blood flow into the heart. PV

Stenosis can lead to fatigue, flu-like symptoms and pneumonia.

An additional problem with Circumferential Ablation is that the

Pulmonary Vein Openings are not always smooth and oval. With current

techniques it is not always easy to make continuous circular ablation

lines. Because the actual focal points or sources of A-Fib signals are

not destroyed as in Segmental ablation, any break in the Circumferential

ablation line can lead to more A-Fib. Dr. Natale illustrated how in some

veins, in order to better achieve a continuous circular ablation line,

he inserted the circular catheter inside a Pulmonary Vein Opening. But

the further you move a circular catheter into a Pulmonary Vein Opening

and ablate, the greater is the risk of PV Stenosis.

Segmental Ablation takes more time and effort, but currently seems

to be better for patients than Circumferential Ablation.

[Guest guest]

>

>

>I'd be particularly interested in hearing about any

>encouraging news on ablations, etc.

>

Here is some recent news on ablations:IMPROVED A-FIB PROCEDURE---NASPE

CONVENTION, San Diego, CA. May 8, 2002

In perhaps the most important research development in A-Fib this

year, Dr. Pierre Jaïs of the French Bordeaux group announced a major

improvement in Focal Ablation of A-Fib. At the North American Society

of Pacing and Electrophysiology Convention in San Diego, CA May, 2002,

Dr. Jaïs announced that the Doctors in the Bordeaux group are currently

performing Focal Point Ablation of the Pulmonary Veins using Pulmonary

Vein potentials (segmental ablation) combined with linear ablation of

the " Left Atrial Isthmus. " After first ablating any areas of the

Pulmonary Vein openings with Pulmonary Vein Potentials, they then make a

linear ablation line between the ostium of the Left Inferior Vein and

the Lateral Mitral Annulus using a cooled tip catheter. This

significantly improves their success rate in curing A-Fib.

The Bordeaux group also seems to have raised the bar for measuring

success in treating A-Fib. They now measure success not simply in

eliminating Pulmonary Vein Potentials, but rather in restoring patients

to normal sinus rhythm without dependence on any medications. Dr. Jaïs

reported success rates of 85% in curing patients with Paroxysmal A-Fib.

This is a remarkable success rate. What this means for patients with

A-Fib is that soon one or two visits to an A-Fib facility for what will

become a routine procedure will eliminate A-Fib in nearly all cases.

SEGMENTAL VS. CIRCUMFERENTIAL ABLATION---NASPE CONVENTION, San Diego,

CA. May 9, 2002

In an unusual format for a medical convention, NASPE sponsored a

debate on Segmental versus Circumferential ablation of the Pulmonary

Vein Openings to eliminate A-Fib. The participants were Dr.

Natale of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation arguing on the side of

Circumferential Ablation, and Dr. Pierre Jaïs from the Hôpital du

Haut-Lévèque, Bordeaux (Pessac), France arguing in support of Segmental

Ablation.

( " Segmental Ablation " refers to a technique of Focal Ablation in

which Pulmonary Vein Potentials in the heart are individually identified

and ablated, thereby eliminating the sources of A-Fib signals in the

heart. " Circumferential Ablation, " rather than pinpointing Pulmonary

Vein Potentials in the heart, uses a circular catheter to ablate each

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) in the heart. This procedure " isolates "

the Pulmonary Vein Openings so that A-Fib signals from the Pulmonary

Vein Openings can not get into the rest of the heart. See Focal Ablation.)

Though the jury is still out on the merits of each of these

procedures, in this author's opinion patients with A-Fib are probably

better served by medical facilities that use Segmental rather than

Circumferential Ablation. To quote Dr. Jaïs, " Why use a cannon to shoot

an ant? " Circumferential Ablation applies RF energy to the entire

Pulmonary Vein Opening (Ostium) rather than just to individual areas of

the Pulmonary Vein Openings that have potentials. This increases the

risk of Pulmonary Vein Stenosis---a swelling and narrowing of the

Pulmonary Vein Openings which restricts blood flow into the heart. PV

Stenosis can lead to fatigue, flu-like symptoms and pneumonia.

An additional problem with Circumferential Ablation is that the

Pulmonary Vein Openings are not always smooth and oval. With current

techniques it is not always easy to make continuous circular ablation

lines. Because the actual focal points or sources of A-Fib signals are

not destroyed as in Segmental ablation, any break in the Circumferential

ablation line can lead to more A-Fib. Dr. Natale illustrated how in some

veins, in order to better achieve a continuous circular ablation line,

he inserted the circular catheter inside a Pulmonary Vein Opening. But

the further you move a circular catheter into a Pulmonary Vein Opening

and ablate, the greater is the risk of PV Stenosis.

Segmental Ablation takes more time and effort, but currently seems

to be better for patients than Circumferential Ablation.

[Guest guest]

> Dave: Good wishes go your way, straight to the UK from the

USA......do not denigrate yourself because afib happened, remaining

positive is so difficult when we have a set back....and you are

right it is how we deal with these moments that make the

difference. I am glad that your friend with MG is doing so

well........... I am curious why are you taking Ginger? Why do you

take it for your stomach. Isabelle born in Belgium 65 new

member, afibless 20 days. land USA

>

>

>

> Dear (and all),

>

> Well, it was perhaps too good to last.For those of you who don't

> remember me, I last wrote almost a year ago to tell you that I was

> celebrating 12 months of sinus rhythm. I was looking forward to a

> similar post next February, but, last week broke a 20-month

stretch.

> Like they always say, A-Fib begets A-Fib, and this morning I went

in

> and out of Sinus for a couple of hours.

>

> I'm back in sinus now, but no doubt I'm facing more episodes, and

I

> wanted to:snip...............................

[Guest guest]

Dear Isabelle:

Thanks for your kind thoughts. It's been very heartening to have had so many

good wishes. I'm in a bit of a low right now but I bounce back.

I've had a hiatus hernia for about 10 years, and my episodes are more likely

to happen if I get a build up of gas or acid. The ginger really helps keep

both down. I take it liquidised, pure, but I know that's a bit much for some

people (the first time you try it you think your head will come off, but you

soon get used to it!) A teaspoon after meals is enough.

Good luck with your afib, and thanks again.

Re: Fw: I'm Back!!!

> Dave: Good wishes go your way, straight to the UK from the

USA......do not denigrate yourself because afib happened, remaining

positive is so difficult when we have a set back....and you are

right it is how we deal with these moments that make the

difference. I am glad that your friend with MG is doing so

well........... I am curious why are you taking Ginger? Why do you

take it for your stomach. Isabelle born in Belgium 65 new

member, afibless 20 days. land USA

>

>

>

> Dear (and all),

>

> Well, it was perhaps too good to last.For those of you who don't

> remember me, I last wrote almost a year ago to tell you that I was

> celebrating 12 months of sinus rhythm. I was looking forward to a

> similar post next February, but, last week broke a 20-month

stretch.

> Like they always say, A-Fib begets A-Fib, and this morning I went

in

> and out of Sinus for a couple of hours.

>

> I'm back in sinus now, but no doubt I'm facing more episodes, and

I

> wanted to:snip...............................

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