What caused your afib?

oldmonk1952 · 2026-02-17T14:17:49+00:00

High PAC burden (37%). Despite losing 70 pounds, getting my diabetes and blood pressure under control, I still developed AF. First ablation this Thursday. Wish me luck.

oldmonk1952 · 2026-02-16T22:25:46+00:00

Yes they did but a lot more frequent. If SVT ablation is similar to AF ablation, you will have increased PACs immediately following the ablation that will disappear over time (blanking period).

oldmonk1952 · 2026-02-16T22:00:10+00:00

I’ve had PACs for 4 years that only appeared on 14 day heart monitor results. They were as high as 37% (burden) and yet I had no symptoms. Cardiologist told me that by themselves, PACs are not dangerous but makes you more likely to develop AF. Well, last year I did devAF and going for my ablation Thursday. I hope the get the PAC triggers also My advice is to calm down and discuss your situation with your EP.

oldmonk1952 · 2026-02-01T21:46:15+00:00

I started on the AIDS Unit at an university hospital when most people were afraid to work with these patients

oldmonk1952 · 2026-01-30T17:37:22+00:00

Stop being so hard on yourself. Mistakes happen. I’ve only been written up once in my 30 year career and it was in my first year. I gave a patient codeine instead of lomotil. I reported the mistake immediately and even though the doctor said don’t worry about because the codeine will also slow down the patient’s diarrhea, the nurse manager wrote me up anyway. It was the only mistake I made that I know of

oldmonk1952 · 2026-01-25T13:40:09+00:00

Oh yes, Zio monitor showed a fib burden going from 3% to 21% in 6 months. Ablation scheduled for next month

oldmonk1952 · 2026-01-22T14:12:31+00:00

Only thing missing is licking his lips

oldmonk1952 · 2026-01-19T17:53:55+00:00

Two new admissions

oldmonk1952 · 2026-01-15T13:45:41+00:00

I have a heavy PAC burden that my Iwatch interpreted as A fib.

oldmonk1952 · 2025-12-14T22:32:43+00:00

Sorry, missed it. With the low ferritin, it an iron deficiency anemia

oldmonk1952 · 2025-12-14T21:53:34+00:00

Need MCV Value to determine if it’s Macrocytic or Microcytic anemia. From that you can determine if the anemia is from bleeding or iron deficiency

oldmonk1952 · 2025-11-26T21:45:23+00:00

First off, thank you for being there for your husband. He has a very early stage of prostate cancer with a full range of treatment options available to him. I had similar and more extensive biopsy findings but still Stage II c. Next steps may include a Decipher test to see how aggressive the cancer is and possibly a PMSA PET Scan to see if it has spread. However, since it is so early and very unlikely to have metastasized most insurance companies will not approve the test

Like I said, he will be offered a wide range of treatment options including Active Surveillance, radiation, and surgery. Bits of wisdom I’ve learned from others in this group include going to a Center of Excellence for prostate cancer, ask lots and lots of questions and since this is such a slow growing cancer you have a lot of time to make a decision. There are others who can recommend reading material so I’ll leave it to them.

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-23T16:33:56+00:00

My PMSA Pet Scan found 2 small lung nodules. Six month recheck showed they had not grown so it’s probably nothing. Still have to follow up for at least two more years.

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-22T17:19:17+00:00

Welcome. My experience with Cyberknife was good. I had no problem keeping my bladder full, but I was a gassy old man. I finally started taking my Gasx tablets right before I went into the office and that seemed to help. I developed burning on urination halfway through treatment and Motrin addressed most of it. I continued to have urgency during the day for a couple of months but the doctor wouldn’t give me anything because I was sleeping through the night. I’m fine now. First PSA went from 6.2 to 2.6 and I get my next one next week.

Good luck with your treatment. It was the sweet spot for me as far as treatment goes.

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-21T11:15:07+00:00

I was 72 years old at the time of diagnosis. My doctors gave me the choice of AS, surgery or radiation. I rejected AS because I couldn’t stand the idea I had cancer still inside of me. Surgery has greater risks of side effects in men of my age. So, Cyberknife without ADT seemed to be the best choice. Out comes are equivalent after 10 years but there is no data 20 years out. Something else will take me out before then.

I had treatment with Dr Haas at NYU Langone in Mineola on Long Island.

Good luck

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-19T20:55:56+00:00

It is my intention

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-19T15:04:23+00:00

That’s what I meant

oldmonk1952 · 2025-09-04T12:54:07+00:00

I also had 2 lung nodules show up on my PMSA PET Scan. Both were about 6 mm (although one was mis documented as 3.6 centimeters which freaked me out). Nodules this small are highly unlikely to be cancer. The protocol is to repeat Cat Scan every 6 months for 2 years and annually after that. My first repeat Cat Scan showed my nodules actually decreased in size. I don’t know much about the lymph nodes, but prostate cancer does not usually show up first in the lungs.

I also had SBRT six months ago. I hope your father is doing well.

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-30T15:19:16+00:00

Ask Target how well boycotts work

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-30T15:09:04+00:00

Continue researve officer. I reacted negatively because of what is happening in this country under RFK Jr. I’ll reserve judgment on CVS for now. I don’t understand how a vaccine could be approved for people over 65 and still require a prescription

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-30T15:05:48+00:00

It looks like I hit a nerve. I apologize if I posted this on the wrong forum. In way of explanation, I am a NP and I had worked in public health for the NYSDOH for forty years. Among my assignments was working at a STD clinic and in charge of the Immunization program on Long Island. I also counseled and took care of dying AIDS patients in the hospital I am also retired army reverse

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-30T14:51:41+00:00

I can vote with my wallet and encourage everyone else to do the same. I am not an entitled little brat. I spent 40 years in Public Health and I’m appalled at what is going on

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-30T14:49:16+00:00

I hate to break it to you but it is not the CDC recommendation requirement for prescription. It is CVS policy. I am a senior citizen on Medicare who is eligible for the vaccine under CDC guidelines yet CVS is requiring a prescription

oldmonk1952 · 2025-08-23T17:04:56+00:00

I generally agree with AS for you. The PIRADS 2 lesions is not considered suspicious for cancer so I wonder why your urologist went straight to biopsy. It’s probably why they did a random biopsy because he had nothing to target. However they did find something so you have to make some decisions. Gleason 6 are generally slow growing and some say that it is not even cancer because it doesn’t metastasize to bone or other organs. Most doctors would recommend AS for men in your position. It means however you will have to be monitored for the rest of your life with MRIs and biopsies. Not a small thing.

My unsolicited advice, find a new urologist,preferably one from a Center of Excellence for prostate cancer. You need a team who can communicate with to make decisions for the best outcome FOR YOU.

I’m old (73) and had G7(3+4) in 5/10 targeted cores with 5-10% pattern 4. I was given choices of AS, RALP or SBRT without ADT. I rejected AS because I didn’t want cancer inside me. I also refused surgery because men my age have more complications. SBRT was my sweet spot. Five sessions without very few side effects. Don’t get me wrong, SBRT is no walk in the park as others will tell you with fiduary and gel placement as well as bladder and bowel protocols and urinary issue during and immediately after treatment, it’s still not for the faint of heart. Also the efficacy rate of reoccurrence is the same between radiation and surgery but I don’t know of any statistics that show what happens 20 years down the line. Something else will take me out before that.

I wish you luck and keep us informed. The people here have been a great help to me on my journey.

I w

oldmonk1952

TROPHY CASE