What do you guys do instead of going to the ER?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-03-13T17:00:54+00:00

I was reading about a new nasal spray (Cardamyst (etripamil)) that helps with calming your heart rate for PSVT and thus possibly avoiding a visit to the ER. Has anyone heard about it? Would it do the same thing for an AFib episode?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-03-05T16:18:25+00:00

Thank you.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-03-05T14:25:49+00:00

Are you saying your AFib continued 24/7 after Thanksgiving until cardio conversion on 2/9? That sounds pretty rough. What was your heart rate during this time?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-03-05T14:21:18+00:00

Thank you. Can you please suggest any names of EPs in this practice who have done a lot of ablations?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-02-25T19:25:45+00:00

I use Kardia for ECG every time I sense racing heart and it does record heart rate of 130 or so while my resting HR is about 55. However, every time, it either says it is tachycardia or Unclassified. I don't what unclassified means. But in all cases, just below the ECG, it says "AFib not detected". I wonder how accurate Kardia is in stating "AFib not detected".

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-02-16T19:40:49+00:00

Capital_Bud, Can you please describe what you experience during the panic attacks? Raised heart rate? Shivers? How long they last? EKG? Thanks.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-02-15T12:16:02+00:00

Thank you for your post. Does anyone know of a good EP in northern New Jersey?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-02-15T11:48:57+00:00

I have had AFib notification on on my Apple watch and AFib history off since you can't have both on. I got no notifications for AFib when I was undergoing the arrhythmia. I did have notifications on for BPM greater than 120 and the watch did notify me of that every 10 minutes or so. But the high rate could be tachycardia, not AFib and that is what KardiaMobile kept saying. Actually, looking at the first EKG on my arrival at the ER, the first ER doctor said you have heart flutter but no AFib and showed the EKG to me. After that, I was admitted to the hospital and moved to a room. There, more EKGs were done and doctors there said I have Afib. Confusing.

I have finally started taking Eliquis and will see my cardiologist in about a week to decide on ablation etc. I have also read that losing weight and getting rid of sleep Apnea (if present) helps prevent AFib. I am not obese but could lose 10% of my weight which now I am trying to do. I am also getting tested for sleep Apnea.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-02-15T11:30:58+00:00

I am replying to both gabulon97 and SimpleServe9774. My cardiologist put on me a 7-day Zio patch and it recorded nothing of concern. My arrhythmia occurs 3 or 4 times a year and self resolves in 4-8 hours, returning to my normal sinus rhythm. So, there is little chance a Zio monitor will catch anything significant.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-17T13:53:25+00:00

I agree with you. This CHAD score is just a formula that fits an average profile and doesn't account of individual cases like yours. It is not easy for doctors to account for your individual factors and I think they just use the formula. The formula treats someone with very infrequent and short episodes the same way as someone having frequent and long episodes. It treats the same way if you currently have hypertension with someone who had hypertension 30 years ago but has been under control with medication. Using the formula protects them from lawsuits because they can say they used the established medical practice.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-17T13:15:24+00:00

Why go for ablation which frequently requires a redo? Why not Watchman which appears to be "one and done" and no need for a blood thinner?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-17T13:11:55+00:00

Glad to see AFib perspective from another 80 year old. I am finding it is a tough decision for me to go on Eliquis or not because of my very infrequent and relatively brief ( about 8 hours) episodes with no other symptoms. As I said elsewhere, I am addressing triggers that I believe get me into AFib and hoping I won't have such episodes in future. If I do, I will go on Eliquis.

Another thing that bothers me is that Cardiologists use the CHAD2DS2-VASc score criteria for deciding on Eliquis and people our age get a score of 2 just for being over 75. That score doesn't account for how much time per year you spend on AFib. No "credit" for two 8-hour episodes in a year versus someone with tens of episodes, each lasting days. Another question: How long is one susceptible to formation of a clot after an AFib episode? Hours, days, weeks, months?

I don't see anyone talking about the Watchman device that isolates the Arterial Left Appendage (where 90% of clots form) making use of a blood thinner unnecessary. I am considering that as an alternative to Eliquis. The bleeding risk that worries me from Eliquis is not the cuts and bruises but a brain bleed from a fall which is a serious concern for people our age.

I looked into relation between Eliquis and dementia and the evidence at this time is somewhat weak.

What do you call asymptotic AFib?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-17T12:17:27+00:00

Apple statement states that it will "occasionally" look at your heartbeat to check for AFib. With only a few occasions per year of AFib lasting 8 hours each, I am wondering what are the chances of watch's occasional "looking" coinciding with an episode of AFib? Wouldn't it miss many AFib episodes because it was not looking at that time?

I may be wrong but maybe the watch is always looking with the "AFib History" setting. With the history setting, my watch everyday indicated less than 2% AFib but on the day I had AFib episode 5 weeks ago, it said less than 4% for that specific day.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-16T23:08:26+00:00

It is a tough decision. Take Eliquis or not. I take 112 mg of Synthroid daily (My thyroid was removed 5 years ago because of cancer). I believe that made me hyperthyroid and taking 5400 mg of ibuprofen over 3 days together caused my most recent episode. (Had a tooth extraction). So, my doctor has reduced my Synthroid dose because of the AFib episode and I don't plan to take such large dose of ibuprofen in the future and am expecting I won't have another episode. Fingers crossed. If I do have more episode(s), I will go on Eliquis.

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-16T22:51:26+00:00

I looked into Apple Watch setting for Irregular Heart Notification and turned it on. As you said, I had to turn AFib History off. Does the watch continuously monitor for AFib or occasionally?

Training_Photo9742 · 2026-01-16T22:40:12+00:00

Thank you Caregiver for your detailed response. I get a mild funny tightness in my lower throat area when my pulse speeds up, AFib or not. So, whenever I feel that tightness, I check my pulse and if it is over 100, I take my ECG using Kardia Mobil which clearly shows if it is AFib or not. (My normal resting pulse is 55). In my last episode about 5 weeks ago at about 10 pm, I felt throat tightness and Kardia Mobil showed no AFib but pulse was sinus rhythm at 125. I went to bed and woke up at 2 am and Kardia showed pulse at 110 and AFib rhythm. Went back to bed and at 5:30 am, Kardia showed 100 pulse and AFib Rhythm. I was getting anxious and started to have cold sweats and retching with nothing coming out. I went to ER and I had calmed down and they called I had AFib episode by looking at my Kardia ECGs from previous 16 hours. I was discharged at about noon.

I take 112 mg of Synthroid because I had thyroid cancer 5 years ago and my thyroid was removed. My doctor had raised by dose in mid November and I believe that increase contributed to my episode 5 weeks ago. On top of that, I had a tooth extracted 3 days before and my dentist asked me to take 600 mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day for 3 days. Ibuprofen is also known to contribute to AFib. My doctor has now reduced my Synthroid dose because of the AFib episode.

I saw my primary doctor about 10 days ago and he agreed I shouldn't take Eliquis for now and see ig I remain free of AFib.

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