Today is a very special day for StopAfib.org founder Mellanie True Hills as she celebrates five years of being afib-free as a result of her minimally-invasive (mini maze) procedure. It is also National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, so today is the perfect day to make a big announcement.
StopAfib.org is very pleased to announce our inaugural Medical Advisory Board. This board is made up of 19 of the world’s foremost electrophysiologists, surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists, epidemiologists, and researchers, all of whom are on the forefront of afib treatment. You will likely recognize many of them:
- Lishan Aklog, MD
- Emelia J. Benjamin, MD
- Prof. John Camm
- Riccardo Cappato, MD
- Ralph J. Damiano Jr., MD
- James R. Edgerton, MD
- Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, MD
- Steven C. Hao, MD
- Peter R. Kowey, MD
- Gregory YH Lip, MD
- Nassir F. Marrouche, MD
- Andrea Natale, MD
- Prof. Bo Norrving
- Douglas L. Packer, MD
- Eric N. Prystowsky, MD
- Vivek Y. Reddy, MD
- Andrea M. Russo, MD
- John H. Sirak, MD
- David J. Wilber, MD
The Medical Advisory Board will provide a sounding board to help us continue to provide those living with atrial fibrillation with crucial information about afib and will help us address current and future atrial fibrillation treatments.
To learn more, see:
I HAD MY FIRST AFIB ATTACK 2/2006. i HAVE BEEN ON COUMDEN AND SOTALOL OFF AND ON SINCE THEN. MY DR. WHO IS JOHN HARVEY OF OKLAHOMA CITY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE FOR MY BENEFIT IF I STAYED ON IT FOR THE REST. OF MY LIFE. I AM 78 AND LIKE TO BE ACTIVE BUT LOTS OF THE TIME I CAN,T. HE SAID THAT I AM SHORT OF OXYGEN IN MY BLOOD. I DO NOT CARE TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE FOR THE REST OG MY LIFE AS I PLAN A FEW MORE YEARS. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE A BETTER TREATMENT FOR ME? I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE. THANK YOU, SINCERELY,WANDA L. PENGELLY (4053793323) E-MAIL ABOVE 9/27/2010 10;30 A.M.
My AFIB started about 5 years ago. My Cardiologist put me on 100mg Toporol. For 5 years I went through Stress Tests and Echcardiograms to make sure my heart and arteries were in good shape. The doctor is fairly conservative taking my risk factors down. The doctor has me on one baby asprin and 40mg Pravastatin per day. In the past five years the attacks have worsened. The frequency of occurence has noticeably increased and the duration of each attack has increased. Since I am now 53 years old and anticipate many more good years in front of me, I’ve considered Ablation Surgery and University of Pennsylvania hospital. I don’t know to be more afraid of the long term affects of staying in AFIB (stroke risk) or the risk of the lengthy (6-8 hour) Ablation surgery. At least there is a procedure to help this horrible disease. Since January 2011 my Cardiologist put me on Sotalol (80 mg/day). This drug has not improved the situation. Quite honestly I was hopeful it would control things, but alas no such luck. I am worn out from the attacks both physically and mentally! Can you enlighten me on the short and long term risks of staying in AFIB vice the Ablation surgery. I am concerned that the surgery may help for just a few short years. I don’t like the idea of someone scarring my heart tissue. Please help!!!
Did you ever get a response?
Hello, not sure if anyone can help but thought it was worth a try. My mother currently has a pacemaker, and has has experienced 2 ablation surgeries to date and still is experiencing afib and now ventricular fib as well. We are looking for a great doctor that can help as we can’t seem to find a cure or treatment that works to date. Any suggestions?
Jesse
Jesse,
Where are you located?
Mellanie
Hi
I have had 4 ablations 1 to fix the flutter and 3 to fix A-Fib, last one was on Sept 29, 2011 and looks like a fib is back. Is there any new proceedures out there? Help I want this fixed.
Regards
Diana
Diana,
With afib coming back after three afib ablations, you may want to consider surgery as an option. Please look over our surgery info, starting at
How Can Afib Be Cured.
Also consider reading Mini Maze Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation More Effective, But With More Complications, Than Catheter Ablation.
Mellanie
I am a 66 year old male with AFIB. In my small Alaska town I had no access to a cardiologist. Now, I am spending part of year in NW & SW US. Can you recommend a top AFIB specialist doctor and/or clinic in Washington, Oregon, Arizona and/or New Mexico? Thank you.
Hi Keith,
You may be interested in seeing an Electrophysiologist, an even more specialized cardiologist. You can search for providers in the areas of your interest on our website via our services locator (http://www.stopafib.org/find.cfm). Searching by zip code or by state may be of most interest to you. Good luck!
Melissa
In 2009 I was at work and was shocked plugging in a shoreline to a ambulance. I was thrown to the ground and was stupor for some time. After gathering my thoughts I reported to the Medic and my supervisor about what happened. I was told to rest and if any symptoms happen to seek treatment. within the next week I started pain in my back, side and respiratory distress. I again talked to my supervisor and medic was told to see a Dr. I mad an appointment to see my Dr. and she was out of the office so I say her co-worker. She found I had a enlarged heart (witch I didn’t have in previous x-ray 4 months prior) and set me up with a echo the fallowing week. by the time I went to the echo I was out of breath just walking from the car to the front door. During my echo the tech put me on o2 and left. Shortly after a Dr. showed up and told me I was in heat failure and my squeeze function was less then 15%. He admitted me to ICU and I was in the cath lab the next day. After the procedure he came in my room and said they found no problems in the cath lab and said he didn’t know why I was in A-fib. In talking I mentioned the shocking 3 weeks prior and he said that he felt that the symptoms and the time line fits that he fills the shocking was the cause of the A-fib. After 5 attempts of cardio conversion, a implant with AED, pacer & regulator and an ablation things are better and I’m doing better. my squeeze function is back to 40% and I filed for workers comp. My Dr. stated that they feel the time line and everything fits the shocking as being the fault but couldn’t be 100% so workers comp wont accept that the shocking was the cause of A-fib. They do recognize the shocking accident happened just not that the A-fib is the cause due to the shocking. I’m having troubles because I lost my 2nd job due to the heat problems I cant hold a CDL due to having a implant I cant pass my physical I get every year. My job as an EMT is in jeopardy because I’m having problems doing the work and I have no other trade. I contacted an Attorney and He has helped me to the point of needing another Dr. to look things over and give a 2nd option on justifying that the shocking was the cause. Problem is I don’t know where or how to find such a Dr. any suggestions?
Hi Robert,
You may be able to find suggestions on our StopAfib.org Discussion Forum. To post or ask questions, you’ll need to register. Instructions for registering and getting started are here. I’m sorry to hear that you’re having these job difficulties due to your afib. I hope you can get things worked out quickly.
Melissa
I am looking for a AFIB specialist in the Washington, DC or Baltimore area. Does anyone have a recommendation
Hi James,
You may be able to ask this question on our forum and get some good suggestions for the area. I know we have several active members in that area. Here is the StopAfib.org Discussion Forum. To post or ask questions, you’ll need to register. Instructions for registering and getting started are here.
I tried to become a member probably 6 times and yes the information was correct and I kept getting failure messages for one error or another?? I have had ablation and take metoprolol Eliquis and montaag and yet when I had the monitor implanted in my chest after surgery I was in afib and according to the people who supply and the Dr. I am in afib 3-6% of the time. I am thinking about a mini maze procedure as I want the afib to be zero and the meds exhaust me. Any ideas?
Hi, Where did you try to become a member? Which website? If you’d like to get ideas about procedures, you may enjoy the discussion over on our afib patient discussion forum. And here’s info on where you can go to get started on the forum.
Melissa
I had tried to sign up for your afib conference and tried several times but although my information was correct I could not. Since I had heart ablation in El Paso in Jan 2015 I am more then a little interested I extending my life.
John, I’m so sorry you had trouble signing up for the conference. We wrapped up March 29th, and next time you have trouble registering let us know immediately so we can help you move forward. We will have video in the near future for your reference.
Melissa
Looking for a solid afib specialist in Orange County, CA. My wife’s kicked in again last month, and she can’t shake it.
Hi Bucky,
Take a look at our site where you can find afib services and search for doctors and hospitals in your area: http://www.stopafib.org/find.cfm. You also might find it helpful to visit our forum where you can ask other patients: http://forum.stopafib.org/index.php. Also check out HRS’ Find a Specialist (http://hrsonline.org). Best of luck to you!
I have been dealing with Afib for about 4 years not happy about all the treaments and medications that aren’t working and I am 32, Im looking for another specialist in my area Cleveland Ohio, but will travel.
Hi Janae,
I’m so sorry that all of the treatments and medications that you have tried have not been working. That must be very frustrating for you. You might consider joining our patient forum so that you can connect with others. It is located at http://forum.stopafib.org/. There you can talk with other patients who have a great amount of knowledge and experience. You may want to post your story and questions there, and you may also learn a lot from others who have already shared their experience. Please email us at [email protected] if you need any help or have more questions.
As for finding specialists, please visit our website to look for some near you: https://www.stopafib.org/find.cfm
Since you are in Cleveland, please join us for our next live chat with the Cleveland Clinic afib experts on Friday, December 14 to get answers to your most pressing questions. To learn more and to register, as well as to access the transcripts of previous chats with the Cleveland Clinic afib experts, see: https://www.stopafib.org/newsitem.cfm/NEWSID/634/
Wishing you sinus rhythm!
This website is stale. I StopAfib.org still in existence. Is Dr Reddy still the top pick for ablation surgury?
Hi Alan,
That is an older blog post; you might go to our home page and start there for the latest info.
And, keep a watch on our conference line up – the faculty and full agenda will be posted soon. Check out http://www.getinrhythm.com.