Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 04, 2022 05:37PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 229 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 04, 2022 06:54PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,520 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 04, 2022 07:52PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 04, 2022 09:55PM |
Registered: 10 years ago Posts: 2,520 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 10:48AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 229 |
Quote
susan.d
I’m told the 6 week TEE and the six month TEE after a watchman was required but the 12 month TEE is optional.
I had a TEE during my ablation three days ago (at a few days shy of 10 months post watchman), my 6 week and 6 month TEE. IDK but all three shows it’s sealed. I don’t see the value of getting one the first week and a half in February. Am I incorrect?
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 10:49AM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 229 |
Quote
Pixie
Madeline, your post is so timely. I had my first ablation with Dr. Natale February 23, 2022…..Previously had 2 failed ablations with a local EP. September 29 I had a 12 minute touch-up ablation and a Watchman was implanted. He was very insistent that the first 2 TEEs needed to be done there. On November 29 I had my first TEE and the watchman was sealed with no leakage. He said to come back there for the second TEE, that will be in 4 months because the first was delayed because of scheduling and for the third he would refer me to someone in Wisconsin. I really want the next 2 done closer to where I live, but am not sure how much to push it. We do not fly and the trips are getting difficult, especially for a 2 hour hour visit….prep and TEE.. I do not want to jeopardize the integrity of the TEE and would sure like a referral from him for the next 2. I would like to know how much I should “push” for this.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 11:41AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 02:13PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 03:40PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 229 |
Quote
Carey
If your 6 week and 6 month TEEs are clear, there's really no reason to go back to Austin for another one.
If they don't know of one, find them yourself. I would expect any large medical center will have cardiologists experienced with the Watchman, so just call and ask.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 09:03PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Quote
Madeline
You say to just call a large medical center & ask for a cardiologist experienced with the Watchman. How exactly do I do that?
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 09:55PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Quote
Carey
You say to just call a large medical center & ask for a cardiologist experienced with the Watchman. How exactly do I do that?
Just click this link and enter your location. This will give you a list of centers in your area that do Watchman implants. Centers that do Watchman implants will have cardiologists who do Watchman TEEs. Visit their web site and choose one yourself, or just call them and ask.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 10:59PM |
Registered: 7 years ago Posts: 117 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 11:34PM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Quote
JayBros
I had my six month post Watchman TEE in August and Dr. Natale said I could have the 12 month on done by my local cardiologist. Originally, back in 2017, my local cardiologist, has done many TEEs declined to do the one six months after my second ablation. His verbal reasoning was that even if Dr. Natale sent him explicit instructions on what he would be looking for in the TEE results, he could not be certain the results would be EXACTLY what Dr. Natale wanted and there was no need to risk me having to have two procedures.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 05, 2022 11:38PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Quote
Pixie
Carey, I want my second and third TEE done close to home and the films sent to Austin. How would we know that a doc on the list would be acceptable for Dr. Natale?
If the technical part is flawed he would not use it. Or, are you saying just have it taken and read by one of the docs on the list and leave Dr. Natale out of the loop?
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 06, 2022 12:00AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Quote
Carey
Carey, I want my second and third TEE done close to home and the films sent to Austin. How would we know that a doc on the list would be acceptable for Dr. Natale?
If the technical part is flawed he would not use it. Or, are you saying just have it taken and read by one of the docs on the list and leave Dr. Natale out of the loop?
I'm definitely not saying leave Natale out of the loop. Don't do that.
The most important TEE is the 6-week one. That one should definitely be done in Austin. It would be optimal if the 6-month one was also done in Austin, but that's negotiable. Try to use a cardiologist Natale recommends if you don't go to Austin. After that, I think any cardiologist with experience doing Watchman TEEs is acceptable. It's unlikely the results will be any different than the first two TEEs, so it's just not as critical.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 06, 2022 12:19AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 06, 2022 01:22PM |
Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 229 |
Quote
Carey
You say to just call a large medical center & ask for a cardiologist experienced with the Watchman. How exactly do I do that?
Just click this link and enter your location. This will give you a list of centers in your area that do Watchman implants. Centers that do Watchman implants will have cardiologists who do Watchman TEEs. Visit their web site and choose one yourself, or just call them and ask.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 06, 2022 03:17PM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 17, 2022 11:19AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Quote
Carey
Just click this link and enter your location. This will give you a list of centers in your area that do Watchman implants. Centers that do Watchman implants will have cardiologists who do Watchman TEEs. Visit their web site and choose one yourself, or just call them and ask.
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 18, 2022 12:14AM |
Admin Registered: 6 years ago Posts: 5,359 |
Quote
if Dr. Natale referred me to a doc he has confidence in, he must know that doctor does not do his own TEE but has a cardiologist do them, just like in Austin,
Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman December 18, 2022 08:43AM |
Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 196 |
Quote
Carey
I'm not sure I understand your question and I think you're probably overthinking it.
No, there's no reason that doctor doesn't do his own TEEs. Like I said before, remember that all EPs are cardiologists first. The specialty of the doctor doing your TEE isn't particularly relevant.
Bottom line is if Natale recommended someone I would trust that recommendation, and whether they're a general cardiologist, an interventional cardiologist, or an EP isn't really important.