Roll call - lurkers and silent majority? Please respond

Quote
rhexis
57, M, 1, 4.5 weeks

I had my index ablation done by Dr. Natale 9 weeks ago. I have been in NSR for 4.5 weeks as of today. During the first 4.5 weeks post-ablation I was in NSR most of the time, but had a few occasional episodes of afib lasting a few hours, however one episode was about 2 days long. Then those episodes stopped at the 4.5 week point and I have enjoyed continuous NSR ever since.

The amazing part is that former afib triggers have no power over me anymore. I can drink regular coffee again, exert myself physically, go with too little sleep, experience emotional stress, and yet I stay in NSR now. Once, recently, I even accidentally fell asleep without using my cpap, and yet no afib resulted. Before my ablation making that mistake would have lead to a guaranteed 2 or 3 days of afib.

I am still taking Tikosyn. Before the ablation it kept me in NSR about half the time, i.e., A few days in NSR alternating with a few days in afib. So that is why I had the ablation. I tried one AAD, failed it, and went for the definitive solution.

I used to take Tikosyn twice a day, and I am still supposed to be, but for the last 2 or 3 weeks I have been slacking off, taking Tilosyn only once a day, and about once a week I don’t take it at all. Yet I am in steady NSR. I am hoping this augurs well my chances of staying in NSR after I eventually stop the Tikosyn.

I am very grateful to Dr. Natale for giving me my life back. The Covid-19 shutdown has greatly affected me and my family, and at this difficult time they need me to be strong so that I can do what it takes to get us through this time. Well in the past 9 weeks since my ablation I have accomplished many difficult tasks, and our problems are almost solved. One more hurdle. I couldn’t have succeeded this well if I were still battling afib half the days of the month, or more. So I hope that Dr. Natale knows that his great gift and his efforts don’t just correct his patients’ malfunctioning physiologies, but he touches their very lives, and in my case, he has improved the lives of my wife and children by giving them back their big strong problem solver and breadwinner. I am so thankful to Dr. Natale for that.

I also thank Shannon for his generosity, talking to me on the phone before and immediately after my ablation. His comprehensive understanding of the field/procedure and his interest in helping patients through their ablations is very admirable. Plus, his intellect is impressive so it is fun for me to have a phone conversation with someone who is genius level. How often does one get to do that? I felt honored to have his attention.