mrk4445
@mklapperich

I had a slightly different experience. I had PVCs that would NOT stop even after having a quad bypass. ( I believe the blockages were caused by the PVCs, but have no confirmation from my doctors.)

The ablation I had was for the PVCs that now even the Mayo Clinic indicates are far more damaging than Afibs. I had a single place generating those PVCs. My Cardiologist put me on an aspirin right after I had the bypass. He had me on Metropolol for a short while and switched to Carvedilol from which he took me off within 6 months, but due to frequent migraines that abated with the Carvedilol it was difficult to wean off. It took me 14 weeks of decreasing a single dose weekly to finally be off the Carvedilol, but it's been a year and no migraines.

I never took Warfarrin, only aspirin, a regular one, not a baby one.

I also donate blood every 8 weeks. When my cardiologist asked me why I'd want to donate blood I told him it is the ONLY natural blood thinner and causes your body to generate new blood cells after you donate. Of course there are age restrictions for donating blood and the blood bank did request I talk to my cardiologist about it.

I occasionally see a single PVC when I take an ECG reading at home. I use a little device attached to an iPod, but a different model can be placed on an iPhone or there is the iWatch band. This is from AliveCore and can be obtained from their company. It has helped me monitor my condition and I'd recommend you and almost everyone else in the world get one to help them and to help their doctors to see what is happening away from the clinics.

The ECGs we get in the clinic situation are only a snapshot and do not always help the over-all health picture the cardiologist needs to help guide your health. So, an effective method is to have the technology available at your home.

Sorry, did not mean to get preachy, but did want to share.

Hi Mary @mklapperich. So glad you could share this information with us on your adventure with A-fib. It adds another layer of confidence that you and your medical team are on the path to long-term stabilization, and still another layer is likely to show up in your 6-month checkup. In my case, A-fib has not been so threatening. My symptoms are modest and relatively easy to deal with -- no racing heart rate and no ventricular reaction to the irregular atrial contractions. Two friends had ablations about two years ago, and they say they're glad they did and they are doing well.

My medication regimen may be instrumental in my case -- Carvedilol and Warfarin instead of Flecainide and Eliquis. I'm content with Warfarin to prevent blood clots, even though it failed me four months ago when I had two glasses of wine with dinner that spurred anticoagulation, and in adjusting that over the next two days, a clot got free and caused a "small stroke" and minor attenuation in the limbs on my right side. My doctors asked about switching to Xeralto, pointing out that (like Warfarin) there is an antidote to its blood-thinning power. I asked about Eliquis, but they advised there is no antidote on the market for that yet, so I opted to stay on Warfarin and immediately call 911 if I get ANY symptoms of stroke. They also advised against relying on Aspirin for clot-prevention in A-fib, mainly because doses that are large enough carry a risk of stomach and intestinal bleeding that occurs too readily in people over 70.