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A forum for sharing experiences regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias.
Re: Should I get an angiogram? - Today
Probably yes. It's possible they might have incidentally seen the clot on the fluoroscope while they were doing the angio, but I doubt it. They would be focused on ventricular blood vessels, not what's going on in the atria.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Blood clots on my watchman - Today
As I said, heparin doesn't dissolve clots so you wouldn't be treating anything. You'd just be increasing your bleed risk, especially if you combined Eliquis, ibuprofen, and heparin. That's a combination I wouldn't take without an absolutely compelling reason and a real expert advising it.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Should I get an angiogram? - Yesterday
An angio would not see anything in your atria. An angio only looks at blood vessels.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: New Pacemaker with 3 wires - Yesterday
Quoteacantha In '21 - my EF was 55-60% (visual estimate) '24 - 54 % by something called Simpson's method Dec '25 - it's 45-50% (visual estimate) Those numbers aren't really all that bad. 45-50% is only mildly reduced and I wouldn't expect it to cause significant fatigue. And keep in mind that there's a lot of subjectivity between ultrasound techniby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: A Few Questions - Yesterday
Stopping anticoagulation prior to an ablation is no longer standard practice. Many EPs, particularly the higher echelon ones, now continue anticoagulation through the entire procedure. As for sending you home in hours, that's another variable. Many (most?) EPs want an overnight stay.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Blood clots on my watchman - Yesterday
Anticoagulants like Eliquis, Xeralto, warfarin, heparin, etc. don't dissolve clots. They only stop them from enlarging and stop new ones from forming. It's up to your body to dissolve the clot, which it will, but it takes time. The drugs that will actually dissolve clots would probably be too dangerous for you given your history of GI bleeds and the pericardial effusion.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Should I get an angiogram? - 2 days ago
Quotesusan.d They decided on a CT with contrast. Is it as good? Yes.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Should I get an angiogram? - 2 days ago
I would want the know why the angina. An angiogram means dye and a small dose of radiation, which are pretty small prices to pay.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: List of EP’s - 3 days ago
QuotePixie Please ignore this post. I just found the list I was looking for. Actually, could you link to what you found?by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: To go for PF ablation or not - 6 days ago
Quotemjamesone Sometimes reversible. For me, the key takeaway is that this answers the question of whether rate control is just as good as rhythm control, and the answer is that it may not be in some cases. I haven't seen it mentioned that this study looked only at patients with AF and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (EF < 45%). That's a pretty significant comorbidity indicating there iby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Looking for an oblation Dr. - 6 days ago
As I said before, Natale flies all over the world regularly to train other EPs. That training usually involves doing an actual ablation. This time it was a soccer manager in Rome. But I'm 100% confident he has not moved back to Italy and will be back in Austin soon enough.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Had my pvc ablation! - 7 days ago
If it's that painful you've probably got a hematoma pressing against your femoral nerve. That happened to me way back when and it hurt like hell. The pressure thing can't do any harm and I suppose it may prevent a hematoma now and then, but I've just never heard that advice before so I suspect it is a Los Robles thing.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Had my pvc ablation! - 7 days ago
I've never had to use manual pressure for any reason, nor have I ever experienced pain from the insertion sites. Neither should be the norm.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: To go for PF ablation or not - 7 days ago
Yes, they would want you on anticoagulant for 3 weeks prior to a cardioversion. They could skip that requirement by doing a TEE prior to the cardioversion, but then they'd insist on you being on an anticoagulant the day of the procedure and a month afterward.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Looking for an oblation Dr. - 7 days ago
Natale travels the entire world all the time training other EPs. I don't know why he's in Italy, and it might be personal reasons, but I guarantee he's not leaving the US permanently.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: To go for PF ablation or not - 7 days ago
Quotesrecnivlad I know that even at that low heart rate of 60 BPM the heart is under stress when in an Afib mode and can only take so much and for some time. I don't know how you know that. You realize there are millions of people who live into their 80s and 90s who've been in afib for decades, right?by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: To go for PF ablation or not - 8 days ago
Quotegloaming But over time the ventricle and atrium can thicken, the ejection fraction will drop, the mitral valve can prolapse, and the last stage is that very unfortunate term, 'heart failure.' Not everyone gets there, but it's a serious consideration. What you're describing is the result of poorly controlled rate. People in persistent afib who consistently keep theirby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Looking for an oblation Dr. - 8 days ago
Quotegloaming My EP in Victoria, BC, is excellent, but his reviews, the few I could find, maybe 15 in all, were somewhat negative. He received the Canadian Cardiology Association's prize in 2002 as the top candidate. He is brusque, matter of fact, busy, and pretty darned good. I highlighted the explanation for his poor reviews. (But you knew that.) Doctor review sites are just popuby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: To go for PF ablation or not - 9 days ago
You're asking a very good question: If afib causes you no symptoms and your heart rate is normal, why should you undergo an ablation to fix it? The answer is there's no good reason to do anything, as long as your stroke risk is managed. There are millions of people who choose permanent afib, which simply means longstanding persistent afib that you choose to just live with. I know sevby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: How can 4 TEES show my watchman is perfectly sealed and today a new TEE shows it leaking? - 9 days ago
I'm skeptical of the new TEE results.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Ablation with Strep? - 9 days ago
Just relax and let the doctors make the decisions on this one. Strep throat is rarely a problem for adults like it is for kids.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Off of blood thinners - 10 days ago
Okay, so it was surgical, which means your LAA has been sewn shut and is sealed for life. I wouldn't think they would need a second TEE but if they do, it doesn't put any stress on your heart. It's just an ultrasound wand they put down your esophagus so they can get a much better look at your heart. It only takes about 20 minutes and nothing touches your heart.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Off of blood thinners - 10 days ago
QuoteDrummer Related question -- I had "oversewing" of the part of my atrium that could transmit blood clots (that's how it was explained to me), Was your procedure surgical? By that I mean did a surgeon have physical access to your heart from the exterior? I don't know any other way to interpret "oversewing" and if it was surgical, then I very much doubt any furtby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Potential 2025 Year End Eliquis Savings - 14 days ago
Hmm... now I don't know why you got it fully paid.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Potential 2025 Year End Eliquis Savings - 14 days ago
Sweet! I think you hit the $2K out-of-pocket maximum for drugs that was implemented during the Biden years.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Post Watchman TEE - 21 days ago
Good for you! Maybe consider donating them to somebody who's taking Xarelto and could use a little financial break. I've done that a couple of times with Eliquis. You can do that here as long as you keep it private and don't charge for anything more than shipping. So that means no posting about it, but if someone PMs you and asks, feel free.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Any thoughts on CBD and Delta 9 THC - 26 days ago
Quotebettylou4488 Do you use CBN and if so what /where do you get it? That's going to be very specific to where you live. If you live in a state that has legalized cannabis, most dispensaries will have it. If you don't, then it's hit or miss. Might be readily available or might not. And if you can get it locally, that may change late in 2026 since Congress, in its infinite wisdomby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Re: Endurance athletes have a four times higher risk of irregular heartbeat, and this may be why - 27 days ago
I don't recall where I read it, but that's much more detailed than the version I read.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM