5 Responses to “Welcome to the Atrial Fibrillation Blog!”

1. Bill // Apr 3, 2008 at 9:56 am

   Given the importance of being well informed, I thought this link might be useful, since good medical information concerning atrial fibrillation can be found there.

2. Judy Porter // Aug 17, 2009 at 5:47 pm

   Has anyone out there had a myxoma tumor which caused afib? I had one, had open heart surgery to remove it. It was diagnosed when I started having afib and subsequently had an echocardiogram. My cardiac surgeon said that I was extremely fortunate because these tumors are usually found in an autopsy. Comments, please. Thanks jp

3. Kathy // Oct 14, 2009 at 7:18 pm

   I began having A-fib last November. I was sent by a cardiologist to a very well known medical center where a heart ablation was performed 5 1/2 months ago. The electrophysiologist thought everything was fine at my two month check-up. At my five month check-up a CT scan was done. It revealed that during the ablation procedure, two of my pulmonary veins had been damaged. One is mildly damaged, the other moderately. Yesterday I had a perfusion scan done which, depending on the results of that, will tell if I need to have a stent in one of my pulmonary veins. Does anyone know the success rate and life expectancy after having a stent placed in a pulmonary vein? Any information will be greatly appreciated

4. Stephanie // Apr 2, 2010 at 3:38 pm

   Recent evidence indicates that ACE inhibitors can prevent electrical re-modeling of the heart which causes permanent A-fibs. There is some indication they can prevent A-fibs as well. Certain beta-blockers can actually cause the heart to start electrical re-modeling in some individuals except Coreg which actually helps the heart. I have had two A-fib episodes..one in 2005 and another in 2007…took up intensive interval training with my elliptical (now over two years)..so far so good. Increased Vit D to over 1000 I.U. a day, take magnesium/calcium but not supplementing with potassium due to ACE inhibitor and diuretic. Last A.fib came on from drinking cold milk..always converted to normal sinus myself. Eat a low glycemic meditarranean diet. I have lots of PACs and VACs and suspect that under certain circumstances..like a large meal or cold drink…convert into A-fibs…and think the ACE inhibitor helps…had a run of several premature beats last year and thought I’d go into A-fib but didn’t. I hear there’s a new drug coming out to prevent strokes with very little side effects and no bad ones at all….

5. Stephanie // Apr 2, 2010 at 3:53 pm

   Kathy: probably a long time. Your results, by what I read, are common enough after ablation procedures so if ablation caused people to die prematurely at the rate of getting said pulmonary damage, I’d think they’d stop it. New stuff keeps coming in, so don’t worry…new procedures to stop stenosis etc. I’m not an expert but just do a search on it….my Dad has a stent, put in when he was 80 and he’s in his 92 year doing great!