It's been a while that I haven't logged into this forum, more than 7 years actually.

I had first afib episode in August 2017, and got 10 episodes total til September 2018, then for some reason, it all stopped for a good 4 years until I took the 2nd dose of the god damn COVID vaccine. Then the episode just got more frequent, from once a few months, everyday, and now I'm having random episodes multiple times a day. I have lost track of it.

Well, I was 36 years old then, and now almost 45. Kids were very young back then and I was so extremely frustrated, worrying I couldn't be active enough to play with the kids. Thank God for the 4 good peaceful years that I didn't even have skip beats, and I didn't take a single pill in those year. I've done all I wished to do with the kiddos. I feel so blessed. Now I am not as anxious and frustrated. I'm surprised of how much age changed me. Or maybe my standard is just much lower.

Now that the random, multiple times per day episodes really make me sick. I feel headache and weak when it was fibbing. Current regime is Eliquis + Metoprolol + Flecainide on a daily basis. Looks like an ablation is inevitable. I'm in Greater Los Angeles area. Anyone got ablation in this area recently?

Well any way, just to say hi and I'm still kicking and fibbing. And thanks to the people that gave me tons of advices back then. I hope you guys are all well.

Dr Natale has an office in Thousand Oaks which he visits 3 days a month. I had all my 4 ablations there. He mentioned to me he has better state of the art equipment in Texas and he mentioned he could reach a stubborn spot if I booked in Austin. I regret not taking a plane instead of picking location. Plus in CA he only has one NP while in Austin he has many on call. I found when I was hospitalized I needed someone there when the NP wasn’t on call. Austin would have that.

I would get a virtual appointment.

Thank you for the info! I attempted to get an appointment with Dr. Natale in CA back in 2017 but the wait was months long, and the pre-requisite paperwork they requested was too much to handle, so I didn't actually see Dr. Natale back then. Will definitely take the flight instead of going to local facility then.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/27/2025 02:55PM by kong2018.

The wait for any top tier EP is going to be months. And virtually all medical records these days are electronic, so Natale can request whatever he needs without you having to do anything other than sign the release to allow him to do so.

You can request to be in a cancellation list.

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kong2018
It's been a while that I haven't logged into this forum, more than 7 years actually.

I had first afib episode in August 2017, and got 10 episodes total til September 2018, then for some reason, it all stopped for a good 4 years until I took the 2nd dose of the god damn COVID vaccine. Then the episode just got more frequent, from once a few months, everyday, and now I'm having random episodes multiple times a day. I have lost track of it.

Well, I was 36 years old then, and now almost 45. Kids were very young back then and I was so extremely frustrated, worrying I couldn't be active enough to play with the kids. Thank God for the 4 good peaceful years that I didn't even have skip beats, and I didn't take a single pill in those year. I've done all I wished to do with the kiddos. I feel so blessed. Now I am not as anxious and frustrated. I'm surprised of how much age changed me. Or maybe my standard is just much lower.

Now that the random, multiple times per day episodes really make me sick. I feel headache and weak when it was fibbing. Current regime is Eliquis + Metoprolol + Flecainide on a daily basis. Looks like an ablation is inevitable. I'm in Greater Los Angeles area. Anyone got ablation in this area recently?

Well any way, just to say hi and I'm still kicking and fibbing. And thanks to the people that gave me tons of advices back then. I hope you guys are all well.

Sad and unnecessary
Perhaps this study gives you some understanding even though it is for younger people
While i listened/watched the presentation i was wondering if there is anything to be gained by using Gadolinium scanning for AF hearts?
[www.youtube.com]

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I had first afib episode in August 2017, and got 10 episodes total til September 2018, then for some reason, it all stopped for a good 4 years until I took the 2nd dose of the god damn COVID vaccine. Then the episode just got more frequent, from once a few months, everyday, and now I'm having random episodes multiple times a day. I have lost track of it.

I also had an association between CV 19 vaxes and materially increased afib. In my case, as time progressed the issue fortunately diminished.

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Perhaps this study gives you some understanding even though it is for younger people
While i listened/watched the presentation i was wondering if there is anything to be gained by using Gadolinium scanning for AF hearts?

I'm not a fan of gadolinium (a heavy metal) as an MRI contrast agent unless absolutely necessary. I'm aware of a lot of anecdotal data where people got symptoms that continued for a long time associated with gad. They then underwent extensive detox protocols to reduce gadolinium and their symptoms reduced. I have medical POA for a person with glioblastoma brain cancer. The docs wanted to do a gad MRI to "see how he is doing." He's previously had many gad MRI's. He's lived 7.5 years since diagnosis and his statistical life expectancy was 12-18 months, 2% living to 5 years (as told to me by his neurosurgeon after his craniotomy) . He can't have more brain surgery, he's failed multiple chemo treatments as well as radiation. I told the docs no way unless they could present a plan where the results of the scan could lead to a treatment with a high potential improvement in life expectancy and quality of life (he already experiences many of the symptoms reported by those to claim a symptom association with a gadolinium contrast agent)..

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Joe
i was wondering if there is anything to be gained by using Gadolinium scanning for AF hearts?

I underwent a late gadolinium enhancement MRI in 2014. It basically shows the amount and location of fibrosis in your heart. I think it's informative to doctors but it's not ground breaking. The results aren't likely to change treatment decisions in most cases.

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GeorgeN
He's lived 7.5 years since diagnosis

Wow, George. That's incredible. I hope he has a decent QoL and here's hoping he can keep beating that demon.

Thanks for the personal experiences and insights!

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Carey

i was wondering if there is anything to be gained by using Gadolinium scanning for AF hearts?


I underwent a late gadolinium enhancement MRI in 2014. It basically shows the amount and location of fibrosis in your heart. I think it's informative to doctors but it's not ground breaking. The results aren't likely to change treatment decisions in most cases.

I had it done last fall 2024 after getting PVCs. Two cardiologists said the results were left blank because I was in PVCs. The summary was 2-3 sentences, one being no measurements were taken. That was a waste of Gadolinium. The same thing happened to my echo results.

Kong,
I live in Los Angeles and made the decision to travel to Austin for my 2 ablations with Dr. Natale. The care is first rate there.