Guest guest Posted February 15, 2004 Report Share Posted February 15, 2004 Thor, I was so interested in reading about your PVA. I am new to AFIB. (6months) I worry all the time. I am learning how to just accept it and go on. I am on Coumadin and Cardizem LA. I am so happy for you. Good luck and keep up that great attitude. Michele NY 52 Re: Coumadin / Surgery Hi Thor, getting your pt checked the week of the surgery is probably a good idea. I will discuss it with my doc. You discontinued coumadin for 3 days, if I understand you correctly. I wonder whether 1.2 is low enough for my surgery. I can see where 3 days might be cutting it a little too close for me. Hope your PVA went well. / > Probably everyone is different, but I discontinued coumadin on the 9th of Feb for a PVA (PT 2.3 then) & on thursday the 12 th it was 1.2 > Thor Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Thor - Congrats. Hope it goes just as you want it to. Question: Are ablations normally done on an out-patient basis? I presume from your post that you spent one day in the hospital and were released. Just curious. Ed in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Ed According to the schedule I received from the C.C., the " day before " tests are always on an out patient basis. You are admitted to the hospital on the day of the procedure with an overnight stay. No complications, released as soon as your E.P. sees you the next day. In my case, it was about 10:30 AM Thor Re: Re: Coumadin / Surgery Thor - Congrats. Hope it goes just as you want it to. Question: Are ablations normally done on an out-patient basis? I presume from your post that you spent one day in the hospital and were released. Just curious. Ed in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Great news Thor. As I'm considering an ablation your info is very much appreciated. Please keep us informed of your progress and anything else that could be useful use trying to make the decision for a PVA. Continued good health. P <Michigan> ............................................... <<I know there are many " long of tooth " in this group & all this is old news, but I thought some newer members or those considering a PVA would be interested. I certainly won't hesitate to have the " touch up " if necessary. > > > Thor, FORMALLY 24/7 AF (so far !)>> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 : That depends on who you talk to. I have read the same thing, better results with paroxysmal AF. However, Cleveland did not differenuate between the two - same success rate for either condition. I suspect the most important factor is the overall condition of the heart, how long the condition has existed, ect., but that's just my guess - not anything a Card. has told me. There is one thing I'm certain of after following this board for several months & my own personal experience is that the treatments can vary quite a bit depending on where you live ! In my case, when I told my local Card. I was considering a PVA in Cleveland (She studied there, BTW) & they had suggested a rhythm control med. because they wanted me in NSR when the procedure was performed, she corrected me & advised that the PVA was done in AF (which was my understanding, too, till I talked to the people @ Cleveland) I politely replied that I had not misunderstood them & she let it go. I then met with one of the two E.P.'s in their group(over 50 Cardiologists total) that do PVA's. His reaction was the same as my Cards - that wasn't the way they did it. My point is, and this can't be repeated to many times in my opinion, is that the treatment of AF, especially PVA's, is a constantly changing thing. What is being done today will be refined next month, 6 months from now, ect. I would bet in 6/12 months my local group will doing it the same way Cleveland or some other successful EP group does it after they all get their heads together & compare notes at some association meeting or whatever. I think anyone considering a PVA would be wise to get several opinions. I want to thank all you for your support ! I'll do the same, which is what this board is about. It has been tremendously helpful to me these many months. PVA update: Feel better than yesterday - 90 - 95%. So far, so good ! Thor Re: Coumadin / Surgery Hi Thor, it proves I no longer read all the messages. But I am glad you read mine. You stated 24/7 Afib - reflecting permanent afib before the procedure? To my knowledge the outcome of a PVA tends to be less successful for permanent afibbers?? I will be following your 'success' with interest as another member in permanent afib. The best of luck and keeping my finger crossed, it will work for you. / > : > 1.2 is normal - as if you weren't taking coumadin (to the best of my knowledge) > > As I posted last week, had the PVA on Friday @ the Cleveland Clinic by Dr. Natale after tests on Thursday. ( Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Hi Thor, Thanks so much for this very uplifting and encouraging info. I agree with you, that more and more attention will be directed to 'curing' afib by whatever method becomes the most successful. Continued good health to you. / Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 16, 2004 Report Share Posted February 16, 2004 Thor - You've been answering a lot of questions and providing good, detailed answers. Just want you to know -- and I'm sure I speak for many others -- your efforts are very much appreciated. One thing I like about this board is that people who have successful treatment hang around to share their good experiences. Thanks. Ed in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2004 Report Share Posted February 17, 2004 Ed: I plan on " hanging around " this board regardless of the outcome of the PVA. (unless I post something bad & get banned !) As most of the board members know, It will be a couple of months before I'll know for sure if the PVA is considered successful. I have an exercise regimen I follow that I plan on resuming in a few days. It will be interesting to see if I can tell a meaningful difference in NSR, although my EF was 55% in Cleveland in AF, up from 40% the last time. It was my understanding that 60% is considered " normal " . Can any board members shed some light on what " normal ranges " for EF's are ? Thor, 24/7 AF, but not right now ! Re: Re: Coumadin / Surgery Thor - You've been answering a lot of questions and providing good, detailed answers. Just want you to know -- and I'm sure I speak for many others -- your efforts are very much appreciated. One thing I like about this board is that people who have successful treatment hang around to share their good experiences. Thanks. Ed in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 : I asked my physician friend about coumadin last evening. (taking in morning or evening) He doesn't advise his patients one way ot the other. He said Hospitals usually give C. in the afternoon, because blood is usually drawn in the morning, that way The C. has time " work " so they can get a more accurate test. It seems to me that as " long term " C. addicts, it shouldn't make any difference as long as you are consistent - always in the morning or always in the evening. Dr. Dale is a big advocate of taking any cholesterol drug in the evening (Lipitor, Zocor, ect.) because he said the cholesterol is made in the evening & reabsorbed by the liver in the daytime, for whatever that's worth. Thor Re: Coumadin / Surgery Hi Thor, again, I always like to hear from professionals, even though experience taught me they don't agree all too often. Timing Coumadin, in my case, applies twofold. Just as our heart meds, so does Coumadin reach its peak at a certain time, to my knowledge that peak is reached by Coumadin in 3 to 4 hours after intake, and will start leveling off. Affecting your INR reading depending on when the test is performed. If I took the C in the morning my surgeon would actually have allowed for 3 days without, as in your case. I could go into more details, but how technical do I want to get? Would like to hear what your dr. friend has to say. Again best of healing and good luck. / > , I take mine in the morning. I'll ask my Dr. friend if it makes difference. (I wasn't aware that it might) > Thor Backup web page - http://afibsupport.proboards23.com List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2004 Report Share Posted February 19, 2004 Thanks Thor, they sound like good reasons, I remember too that I received all my pills during day time as well as the blood test, however, forgot the sequence. My basic reasons for taking all meds at night; they reach their highest point of effectiveness within a couple of hours. I.e. Coumadin level would be at its highest (think my chances to injure myself are reduced at night) including side effects of my other heart meds, such as drowsiness which bother me less at bed time. I also followed your example, after not quite 3 days without Coumadin had my p/t taken, down to 1.2, so my body eliminates rather quickly. What my cardio anticipated, but kind of surprised me. Good luck to you, continue in sinus, this will give hope to the rest of us. / > I asked my physician friend about coumadin last evening. (taking in morning or evening) He doesn't advise his patients one way ot the other. He said Hospitals usually give C. in the afternoon, because blood is usually drawn in the morning, that way The C. has time " work " so they can get a more accurate test. It seems to me that as " long term " C. addicts, it shouldn't make any difference as long as you are consistent - always in the morning or always in the evening. Dr. Dale is a big advocate of taking any cholesterol drug in the evening (Lipitor, Zocor, ect.) because he said the cholesterol is made in the evening & reabsorbed by the liver in the daytime, for whatever that's worth. > Thor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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