Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
I hope this message provided encouragement to those struggling with post ablation issues, and those you may be contemplating this procedure.
As of today I have reached the three month post ablation deadline (and six months post stroke). I must say I feel excellent. I had one short AFIB episode the first week, and none after that. I still have occasional PAC's but these have reduced markedly. I'm walking 3 miles 4x / week and I'm in the gym for 3 hours 3x / week. My workout is now very close to what it was prior to the stroke and ablation. I hope this ablation lasts a long time. Im not on any rate or rhythm control, drugs. I take Coumadin and want to move to Eliquis, but that probably will not happen for another 4-6 months given the remaining dental work required.
The tooth that gave me (and my heart) such problems two weeks after the ablation was repaired (osseous surgery - $1100.00) 2 1/2 weeks ago and has healed up nicely.
However, another tooth which had been getting inflamed one day every two weeks for about a year was a much more serious problem and had to be removed (I bled a whole lot). Since this second tooth had had a root canal years ago, I never felt the problem. I guess root canals have a dangerous side effect. Since my AFIB started getting much worse in early 2013, it would not surprise me if the worsening AFIB was encouraged by this second infected tooth. This second tooth will eventually cost about $7000.00 (extraction, osseous surgery, bone graft, titanium socket, and replacement tooth). Ouch, all dental for me is out of pocket. If I was older I would probably let it go (no graft, socket or replacement), but given that Im only 65, I figure the new tooth could last another 50 years, now that my heart works right (g).
On the bright side, I got the final hospital bill for the ablation (without the surgeon, anesthesiologist, pre-op testing, pre and post op office visits, and all those EKG's) about $70,000.00 my insurance discount brought it to $50,000.00, my copay was $60.00 (outpatient surgery). Yes, I have good medical insurance. The rest of the copays for, tests, drugs, lab work, doctors, and office visits came to less than $1000. BTW, the EP (surgeon) billed about $5000.00 and received about $3000.00 from the insurance, she not getting rich, that was a lot of work. Most of the costs are the cost of the catheters (about $25,000).
As of today I have reached the three month post ablation deadline (and six months post stroke). I must say I feel excellent. I had one short AFIB episode the first week, and none after that. I still have occasional PAC's but these have reduced markedly. I'm walking 3 miles 4x / week and I'm in the gym for 3 hours 3x / week. My workout is now very close to what it was prior to the stroke and ablation. I hope this ablation lasts a long time. Im not on any rate or rhythm control, drugs. I take Coumadin and want to move to Eliquis, but that probably will not happen for another 4-6 months given the remaining dental work required.
The tooth that gave me (and my heart) such problems two weeks after the ablation was repaired (osseous surgery - $1100.00) 2 1/2 weeks ago and has healed up nicely.
However, another tooth which had been getting inflamed one day every two weeks for about a year was a much more serious problem and had to be removed (I bled a whole lot). Since this second tooth had had a root canal years ago, I never felt the problem. I guess root canals have a dangerous side effect. Since my AFIB started getting much worse in early 2013, it would not surprise me if the worsening AFIB was encouraged by this second infected tooth. This second tooth will eventually cost about $7000.00 (extraction, osseous surgery, bone graft, titanium socket, and replacement tooth). Ouch, all dental for me is out of pocket. If I was older I would probably let it go (no graft, socket or replacement), but given that Im only 65, I figure the new tooth could last another 50 years, now that my heart works right (g).
On the bright side, I got the final hospital bill for the ablation (without the surgeon, anesthesiologist, pre-op testing, pre and post op office visits, and all those EKG's) about $70,000.00 my insurance discount brought it to $50,000.00, my copay was $60.00 (outpatient surgery). Yes, I have good medical insurance. The rest of the copays for, tests, drugs, lab work, doctors, and office visits came to less than $1000. BTW, the EP (surgeon) billed about $5000.00 and received about $3000.00 from the insurance, she not getting rich, that was a lot of work. Most of the costs are the cost of the catheters (about $25,000).
Congratulations! All who read this site are thrilled with your success! And congrats on the insurance! My ablation ran $117,000, and insurance covered $112K, so I had 5K out of pocket, but am more than ok with that....if I had done it the "right" way, and cleared it through the military, they may have picked up the other $5K, but as many can understand, I was freaked out with the afib and wanted to get the procedure done as quickly as possible, and so when I was lucky enough to get on Dr. Calkin's list, I jumped at the chance! I think he charged like $17K, but not sure...I remember thinking that $17K was not enough! These wonderful EPs have our live's in their hands. $5K? I have paid more than that to get my car fixed! Not too much to pay to get your life back!
Again, glad to hear about the success, and see you in about 2 weeks!
Bill
Great to hear you're doing so well. I love it when people share their successes. We need to hear more of them! Keep us posted as time goes by. Hopefully you won't have much to say except maybe a once a year update that things continue to go well!
Travis
I think I can, I think I can
Only thing is I have no idea how high that mountain is or where I am on it.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can
Very much looking forward to the time when I can throw both my hands up in the air, wind in my face, enjoy the ride and scream I knew I could, I knew I could!! I have faith that it can and will happen thanks to successes like yours! I hope you totally forget what a-fib ever felt like and are never reminded. May your nsr stick!
"are only 65" love it!
Guess you will have some heavy expenses now with the dentist.
I, too am going through heavy dental expense out of pocket.
I have lots of trouble with the anesthetic (carbocaine) makes my
heart go crazy. AND it is supposed to be non adrenalin... did
you have any problem like that?
Be well and happy youngester ... I am a little bit ahead of
you at 68 this month.
Marilyn
I don't know what the dentist used to numb me. I didn't have any reaction problems, but I brought a metoprolol pill with me just in case. I had stopped the Coumadin nearly three days before, guess that wasn't enough, I just kept bleeding for about 8 hours.
And I agree, the EPs deserve every penny they get.
My EP suggested that I stay on Coumadin through the extraction (although we though it was going to be a different tooth). My periodontist was not comfortable with Eliquis, its just that its newer. When he puts the titanium socket in (in October), I will still be on Coumadin (although I will stay off the Coumadin for more than with the extraction, since I bled so much). I also have some Vitamin K pills just in case.
At this point I don't know when I'll switch over to Eliquis for the session when the new tooth is added. I'll discuss it with my dentist when the time comes.
I'd say discuss all this with your doctor and your dentist. I don't think its a good idea to keep switching back and forth. For me, I'm just delaying switching over for the first time. The recommendation for Eliquis is stopping 24 hours before for minor surgery, and 48 hours for major surgery. What went on in my mouth turned out to be rather extensive.
Congratulations on a wonderful success story and thanks for all your updates through the process.
My 3 months ends in less than 2 weeks and I have not experienced any afib. I have been running about 2 miles 5 times a week and hiking or walking the other 2 days.
At the end of the 3 months I will have a 7 day holter to check for silent afib and then decisions can be made on anticoagulant strategies.
opsyn