Feedback on either Dr Noori or dr Michael Shehata @ cedar sinai.

I am told I need an ablation. Anyone heard of either Dr Noori at Cedar Sinai or Dr Shehata? I met them both, 1st is who I was impressed with because he didn’t rush me out during the 1st visit- 1 hour medical history and another 30 minutes chat answering my questions. He is private. The other cardiologists at the hospital clinic suggested dr Michael Shehata @ cedars who they work with.

If you're considering an ablation, the one criteria you should be looking at more than anything else is how many afib ablations the EP has done. Experience is absolutely everything when it comes to ablations. A good bedside manner is nice, but don't use that to judge when it comes to ablations.

Is your insurance an HMO type policy that only allows you to use doctors within their network? If not, then Dr. Natale practices in Thousand Oaks. You couldn't possibly do better than him, even if you had to switch insurance plans to do so.

I have Medicare and secondary insurance. I am covered. I thought Dr. Natale practices in Texas?

Dr Noori does 2/week ablation and said he considers himself having good hands and is very careful and freezes. Without recommendations from patients (not mds in his practice, I don’t know who is good for my situation with high risk. I have issues with burning. Each and every lumpectomy or skin biopsy they burned to stop the bleeding. Each and every 100% time I developed pus, inflammatory red swelling for up to a year with each time getting keloids.

I’m very sensitive thus my prior reluctance to getting burned with an ablation. Plus I am very sensitive to procedures and sadly get the risks with all 12 prior surgeries. I honestly with my history don’t think I can be lucky. I just know my body. Since my skin swells and gets inflamed, I am guessing the risk of inflammation and narrowing of my veins/arteries may be higher than an average patient. Stroke risk scares me. My father had 14 strokes, my brother maybe 6-8. I read the risk of a pacemaker. I have an auto immune issue where everything foreign my body rejects: inflammatory blisters from any tape, especially stitches and steri-strips, ekg sticky pads swell up fast, even keeping my blood pressure cup on my arm swelled red blisters up my skin on my arm, not to mention titanium. I had to get all my old broken leg screws and clips elsewhere removed. They were buried in scar tissue. I had to get steroids Tuesday for the C-T contrast because my body can’t take that and I get a rash. I can take MRI contrast tho...and 18k earrings. How can I possibly get an emergency pacemaker?

Two ablations a week is not a lot. I wouldn't use an EP with that kind of volume for an ablation. Natale primarily practices in Austin but he's in Thousand Oaks once per month and does ablations there. I guarantee you he would be a far better choice than Noori. That's not to criticize Noori. I'm sure he's a fine EP, but since you have the opportunity to use the best in the world, why see anyone else? If I were you I'd be on the phone today getting the ball rolling with Natale.

Question is will he do it or is his setting a teaching lab where non admitting fellows or interns train? Also will burning be worst with my sensitivity than freezing?

I always wanted to use him. That was always my plan but I’m told I need an ablation this upcoming week or the latest the following week so I may not have time unless I go on A different Rx until I wait if allowed, no upcoming stress I predict (I mean a sudden death of parent is stressful), stick to my anal diet, continue using my cpap and avoid my triggers, stay hydrated, take my supplements (is 1200mg too much mg a day??).

Thanks for telling me he has an office near me.

If he travels around, he won’t be available if I get complications? Obviously his skill out weighs everything but in a perfect world I would like to be able to reach him the first month post ablation if needed.

Natale does his own ablations and doesn't train fellows during procedures. There will be other EPs and NPs in the lab assisting with lesser tasks, but he doesn't allow anyone else's hands on the catheters. Not sure what you mean about your sensitivity.

Why do you need an ablation within two weeks and who told you that? That's really unusual. There's no way you're getting in for an ablation with Natale that soon so if you want to go that direction (and I recommend you do), you should expect a wait of at least a month or two.

If you mean 1200 mg of magnesium, hell yes that's too much. I can't believe your intestines can tolerate that much. I'd cut that at least in half.

You won't have direct access to Natale following an ablation, and that's probably true no matter what EP you use. That's not how specialists work these days. If you have any serious complications during or immediately after the ablation, Natale will handle it, but once you're released from the hospital you'll be assigned to a nurse practitioner who will handle all your questions, problems, meds, etc. Obviously, that NP has access to the EP and will consult with him as needed, but they can handle 90% of all your questions directly.

What Carey says.

If you are S. California, the Dodger pitcher, Kently Jansen had his ablation last year by a doctor who works out of White Memorial Hospital. Sorry I do not have the doctor's name right now, but search White Memorial and Kently Jansen.