Guest guest Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 The decision to have or not to have is obviously a personal one, and I'm glad to know that so many people are having successful procedures these days, since I realize that one is likely in my own future.... but as with the drug side effects, there are also people who have had bad results with ablation, and for those it's difficult to go backward. I don't have any bad reactions to the drugs I'm on currently, so I'm completely biased in my view point. If I did, or had uncontrollable afib, I would definitely seek an ablation post haste. Bob Coyle wrote: My sense is that the ablation procedure has gotten to the point where the higher success rate and lower risk factors justify the operation vs. debilitating drugs that usually don't work, need to be constantly adjusted, may cause arrhythmia or worse. This board and many like it are filled with horror stories about the side effects of these drugs. I tried them briefly and I felt like dog doo physically, and mentally. I'd rather deal with afib than the potential danger of the drugs. I am 2 weeks post-ablation and looking forward to the day when I am completely drug free. Cleveland Rocks! [bob Coyle] Re: Latest Cardio visit Barbara - no offense to this dr. but if he's willing to send you for an ablation after only trying sotolol, then I'd find someone else out there.. there are other drugs, and just about all of them have the potential for side effects, but there ARE other drugs to try, and be successful on... I'm personally on dofetilide and atenelol, and I have ZERO side effects from either of these (except for NSR). I was on Sotolol for a while when I was first medicated and hated every single second on it.. I barely had the energy to brush my teeth.. it was horrible... with my current combo I have all the energy in the world.. and my active heart rate is about 48, and I too cannot get mine above 110 when exersicing... I don't notice any problems with being more fit and/or loosing weight either.. I certainly have not gained weight with a low heart rate! I also had good luck on Cardizem for about 2 years... I was switched to dofetilide, perhaps prematurely, when I was hospitalized for a 6 week run of afib, that was complicated by a lack of rate control (on the drs part) and an intestinal bug I got that left me so ill and dehydrated (which is why I was hospitalized) for days and days... But seriously.. lots of people have horrible tolerance to Sotolol and it is certainly not the only drug out there to control afib. Stef Barbara Kersten wrote: Well, I had my latest visit with my cardiologist the other day and I went armed with a list of questions. He is very tolerant of all my questions and patient with me (or I would find someone else), he is also the head of cardio intervention and the cath lab at Albany Med Ctr so I figure he is a pretty decent doctor. I explained to him that I have had a substantial increase in the number of Afib episodes I have been having & that now it is affecting my life as I am nervous about traveling and scuba diving, etc. It used to be about once a year, now I was in afib in September, in February and again in April. He upped my Sotolol to 80mg bid, was on 40mg bid. Now, I know 40mg is a really low does but I hate taking anything. I don't like it that my resting heart rate is around 50 and now I cannot get my heart rate up beyond about 110 with exercise. My target rate has been 115-120 on 40mg for aerobic workouts. I now wonder if I am going to get the same overall effect from the workouts if my heart rate is lower, will this slow my weight loss and my overall increase in strength, stamina, etc? I have been unable to complete my full workout since the med increase, I just don't seem to have the energy but I am hoping that will change shortly as my body adjusts to the increased dosage? I asked him about other meds but he said Sotolol was the safest with the fewest side effects and I mentioned that Sotolol can have the same bad effects but he said the incidences were very low especially with someone with no heart disease. So, I guess Sotolol it is for now. We discussed triggers and he basically told me that sometimes they just don't know what the heck is going on with people with lone afib, at least he admits it, I knew that already ;-) He also said that if that does not work he will send me to an EP for a ablation consult. He mentioned a Dr at the Albany Med Ctr but I mentioned Dr Natale, will cross that bridge if and when we come to it. BTW, for you divers, I talked to him about nitrogen, etc and he said that since I do not get lightheaded or even feel like passing out in afib that I would probably have no real problem with diving, just come up slower, longer safety stops, etc. Also, since (so far) I have only gone into afib at night he does not feel that it is a real risk, of course as he said, scuba diving has its own inherent risks. Barbara Kersten NY 55 Sotolol NSR Lothlorien Goldens Lorien@... http://www2.bccom.com/lorien/index.htm Cassie, Jewel & Harry Lori, Beren, Gilly, Junior & Arrie waiting at The Bridge Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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 May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 A few things make me hesitate to consider ablation right now: widely disparate " succes " rates among different practitioners and, more importantly, a lack of long-term studies. My meds are currently keeping me in nsr with practically no side-effect and I'm hoping it will continue to do so for a number of years. > Well, I had my latest visit with my cardiologist the other day and I went > armed with a list of questions. He is very tolerant of all my questions > and > patient with me (or I would find someone else), he is also the head of > cardio intervention and the cath lab at Albany Med Ctr so I figure he is a > pretty decent doctor. I explained to him that I have had a substantial > increase in the number of Afib episodes I have been having & that now it > is > affecting my life as I am nervous about traveling and scuba diving, etc. > It > used to be about once a year, now I was in afib in September, in February > and again in April. He upped my Sotolol to 80mg bid, was on 40mg bid. > Now, > I know 40mg is a really low does but I hate taking anything. I don't like > it that my resting heart rate is around 50 and now I cannot get my heart > rate up beyond about 110 with exercise. My target rate has been 115-120 > on > 40mg for aerobic workouts. I now wonder if I am going to get the same > overall effect from the workouts if my heart rate is lower, will this slow > my weight loss and my overall increase in strength, stamina, etc? I have > been unable to complete my full workout since the med increase, I just > don't > seem to have the energy but I am hoping that will change shortly as my > body > adjusts to the increased dosage? I asked him about other meds but he said > Sotolol was the safest with the fewest side effects and I mentioned that > Sotolol can have the same bad effects but he said the incidences were very > low especially with someone with no heart disease. So, I guess Sotolol it > is for now. We discussed triggers and he basically told me that sometimes > they just don't know what the heck is going on with people with lone afib, > at least he admits it, I knew that already ;-) He also said that if that > does not work he will send me to an EP for a ablation consult. He > mentioned > a Dr at the Albany Med Ctr but I mentioned Dr Natale, will cross that > bridge > if and when we come to it. > BTW, for you divers, I talked to him about nitrogen, etc and he said that > since I do not get lightheaded or even feel like passing out in afib that > I > would probably have no real problem with diving, just come up slower, > longer > safety stops, etc. Also, since (so far) I have only gone into afib at > night > he does not feel that it is a real risk, of course as he said, scuba > diving > has its own inherent risks. > > Barbara Kersten > NY 55 Sotolol NSR > Lothlorien Goldens > Lorien@s... > http://www2.bccom.com/lorien/index.htm > Cassie, Jewel & Harry > Lori, Beren, Gilly, Junior & Arrie waiting at The Bridge > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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 May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I thought I would chime in and provide my personal perspective as a Dr. Natale-Cleveland Clinic ablation veteran. I am now almost 2 years post ablation and aside from a few highly predictable 1 - 3 month post ablation episodes, I am afib and medication free. I was struggling with the same issues/decisions as you folks, and decided that the procedure was worth the risk. Sure, one can wait for medical science to make afib ablations a slam dunk, but timing is not known, and the gentlemen who implied that timing is based on $$$, is right on the money (no pun intended). I decided to roll the dice while I was still young enough to enjoy life, and thankfully my gamble payed off. I'll close by wishing you all equally successful decisions and outcomes. AFIBsupport , " playzthe88s " <playzthe88s@y...> wrote: > A few things make me hesitate to consider ablation right now: widely > disparate " succes " rates among different practitioners and, more > importantly, a lack of long-term studies. My meds are currently > keeping me in nsr with practically no side-effect and I'm hoping it > will continue to do so for a number of years. > > > > > > Well, I had my latest visit with my cardiologist the other day > and I went > > armed with a list of questions. He is very tolerant of all my > questions > > and > > patient with me (or I would find someone else), he is also the > head of > > cardio intervention and the cath lab at Albany Med Ctr so I > figure he is a > > pretty decent doctor. I explained to him that I have had a > substantial > > increase in the number of Afib episodes I have been having & > that now it > > is > > affecting my life as I am nervous about traveling and scuba > diving, etc. > > It > > used to be about once a year, now I was in afib in September, > in February > > and again in April. He upped my Sotolol to 80mg bid, was on > 40mg bid. > > Now, > > I know 40mg is a really low does but I hate taking anything. I > don't like > > it that my resting heart rate is around 50 and now I cannot get > my heart > > rate up beyond about 110 with exercise. My target rate has been > 115-120 > > on > > 40mg for aerobic workouts. I now wonder if I am going to get > the same > > overall effect from the workouts if my heart rate is lower, will > this slow > > my weight loss and my overall increase in strength, stamina, > etc? I have > > been unable to complete my full workout since the med increase, > I just > > don't > > seem to have the energy but I am hoping that will change shortly > as my > > body > > adjusts to the increased dosage? I asked him about other meds > but he said > > Sotolol was the safest with the fewest side effects and I > mentioned that > > Sotolol can have the same bad effects but he said the incidences > were very > > low especially with someone with no heart disease. So, I guess > Sotolol it > > is for now. We discussed triggers and he basically told me that > sometimes > > they just don't know what the heck is going on with people with > lone afib, > > at least he admits it, I knew that already ;-) He also said > that if that > > does not work he will send me to an EP for a ablation consult. > He > > mentioned > > a Dr at the Albany Med Ctr but I mentioned Dr Natale, will cross > that > > bridge > > if and when we come to it. > > BTW, for you divers, I talked to him about nitrogen, etc and he > said that > > since I do not get lightheaded or even feel like passing out in > afib that > > I > > would probably have no real problem with diving, just come up > slower, > > longer > > safety stops, etc. Also, since (so far) I have only gone into > afib at > > night > > he does not feel that it is a real risk, of course as he said, > scuba > > diving > > has its own inherent risks. > > > > Barbara Kersten > > NY 55 Sotolol NSR > > Lothlorien Goldens > > Lorien@s... > > http://www2.bccom.com/lorien/index.htm > > Cassie, Jewel & Harry > > Lori, Beren, Gilly, Junior & Arrie waiting at The Bridge > > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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 May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I thought I would chime in and provide my personal perspective as a Dr. Natale-Cleveland Clinic ablation veteran. I am now almost 2 years post ablation and aside from a few highly predictable 1 - 3 month post ablation episodes, I am afib and medication free. I was struggling with the same issues/decisions as you folks, and decided that the procedure was worth the risk. Sure, one can wait for medical science to make afib ablations a slam dunk, but timing is not known, and the gentlemen who implied that timing is based on $$$, is right on the money (no pun intended). I decided to roll the dice while I was still young enough to enjoy life, and thankfully my gamble payed off. I'll close by wishing you all equally successful decisions and outcomes. AFIBsupport , " playzthe88s " <playzthe88s@y...> wrote: > A few things make me hesitate to consider ablation right now: widely > disparate " succes " rates among different practitioners and, more > importantly, a lack of long-term studies. My meds are currently > keeping me in nsr with practically no side-effect and I'm hoping it > will continue to do so for a number of years. > > > > > > Well, I had my latest visit with my cardiologist the other day > and I went > > armed with a list of questions. He is very tolerant of all my > questions > > and > > patient with me (or I would find someone else), he is also the > head of > > cardio intervention and the cath lab at Albany Med Ctr so I > figure he is a > > pretty decent doctor. I explained to him that I have had a > substantial > > increase in the number of Afib episodes I have been having & > that now it > > is > > affecting my life as I am nervous about traveling and scuba > diving, etc. > > It > > used to be about once a year, now I was in afib in September, > in February > > and again in April. He upped my Sotolol to 80mg bid, was on > 40mg bid. > > Now, > > I know 40mg is a really low does but I hate taking anything. I > don't like > > it that my resting heart rate is around 50 and now I cannot get > my heart > > rate up beyond about 110 with exercise. My target rate has been > 115-120 > > on > > 40mg for aerobic workouts. I now wonder if I am going to get > the same > > overall effect from the workouts if my heart rate is lower, will > this slow > > my weight loss and my overall increase in strength, stamina, > etc? I have > > been unable to complete my full workout since the med increase, > I just > > don't > > seem to have the energy but I am hoping that will change shortly > as my > > body > > adjusts to the increased dosage? I asked him about other meds > but he said > > Sotolol was the safest with the fewest side effects and I > mentioned that > > Sotolol can have the same bad effects but he said the incidences > were very > > low especially with someone with no heart disease. So, I guess > Sotolol it > > is for now. We discussed triggers and he basically told me that > sometimes > > they just don't know what the heck is going on with people with > lone afib, > > at least he admits it, I knew that already ;-) He also said > that if that > > does not work he will send me to an EP for a ablation consult. > He > > mentioned > > a Dr at the Albany Med Ctr but I mentioned Dr Natale, will cross > that > > bridge > > if and when we come to it. > > BTW, for you divers, I talked to him about nitrogen, etc and he > said that > > since I do not get lightheaded or even feel like passing out in > afib that > > I > > would probably have no real problem with diving, just come up > slower, > > longer > > safety stops, etc. Also, since (so far) I have only gone into > afib at > > night > > he does not feel that it is a real risk, of course as he said, > scuba > > diving > > has its own inherent risks. > > > > Barbara Kersten > > NY 55 Sotolol NSR > > Lothlorien Goldens > > Lorien@s... > > http://www2.bccom.com/lorien/index.htm > > Cassie, Jewel & Harry > > Lori, Beren, Gilly, Junior & Arrie waiting at The Bridge > > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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 May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I thought I would chime in and provide my personal perspective as a Dr. Natale-Cleveland Clinic ablation veteran. I am now almost 2 years post ablation and aside from a few highly predictable 1 - 3 month post ablation episodes, I am afib and medication free. I was struggling with the same issues/decisions as you folks, and decided that the procedure was worth the risk. Sure, one can wait for medical science to make afib ablations a slam dunk, but timing is not known, and the gentlemen who implied that timing is based on $$$, is right on the money (no pun intended). I decided to roll the dice while I was still young enough to enjoy life, and thankfully my gamble payed off. I'll close by wishing you all equally successful decisions and outcomes. AFIBsupport , " playzthe88s " <playzthe88s@y...> wrote: > A few things make me hesitate to consider ablation right now: widely > disparate " succes " rates among different practitioners and, more > importantly, a lack of long-term studies. My meds are currently > keeping me in nsr with practically no side-effect and I'm hoping it > will continue to do so for a number of years. > > > > > > Well, I had my latest visit with my cardiologist the other day > and I went > > armed with a list of questions. He is very tolerant of all my > questions > > and > > patient with me (or I would find someone else), he is also the > head of > > cardio intervention and the cath lab at Albany Med Ctr so I > figure he is a > > pretty decent doctor. I explained to him that I have had a > substantial > > increase in the number of Afib episodes I have been having & > that now it > > is > > affecting my life as I am nervous about traveling and scuba > diving, etc. > > It > > used to be about once a year, now I was in afib in September, > in February > > and again in April. He upped my Sotolol to 80mg bid, was on > 40mg bid. > > Now, > > I know 40mg is a really low does but I hate taking anything. I > don't like > > it that my resting heart rate is around 50 and now I cannot get > my heart > > rate up beyond about 110 with exercise. My target rate has been > 115-120 > > on > > 40mg for aerobic workouts. I now wonder if I am going to get > the same > > overall effect from the workouts if my heart rate is lower, will > this slow > > my weight loss and my overall increase in strength, stamina, > etc? I have > > been unable to complete my full workout since the med increase, > I just > > don't > > seem to have the energy but I am hoping that will change shortly > as my > > body > > adjusts to the increased dosage? I asked him about other meds > but he said > > Sotolol was the safest with the fewest side effects and I > mentioned that > > Sotolol can have the same bad effects but he said the incidences > were very > > low especially with someone with no heart disease. So, I guess > Sotolol it > > is for now. We discussed triggers and he basically told me that > sometimes > > they just don't know what the heck is going on with people with > lone afib, > > at least he admits it, I knew that already ;-) He also said > that if that > > does not work he will send me to an EP for a ablation consult. > He > > mentioned > > a Dr at the Albany Med Ctr but I mentioned Dr Natale, will cross > that > > bridge > > if and when we come to it. > > BTW, for you divers, I talked to him about nitrogen, etc and he > said that > > since I do not get lightheaded or even feel like passing out in > afib that > > I > > would probably have no real problem with diving, just come up > slower, > > longer > > safety stops, etc. Also, since (so far) I have only gone into > afib at > > night > > he does not feel that it is a real risk, of course as he said, > scuba > > diving > > has its own inherent risks. > > > > Barbara Kersten > > NY 55 Sotolol NSR > > Lothlorien Goldens > > Lorien@s... > > http://www2.bccom.com/lorien/index.htm > > Cassie, Jewel & Harry > > Lori, Beren, Gilly, Junior & Arrie waiting at The Bridge > > > > > > > > Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.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...
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