My sincerest condolences, and heartfelt sympathies to you and your family. Very glad you and Walt got to see her. Thanks for sharing her with us. Hugs, Clayby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was given the option for the Foley at TCAI and opted out, and it wasn't a problem. Like most I was on my back for the 6 hour period but that was 18 months ago - I believe with the new collagen plugs the wait is only two hours now.by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
You will be in amazing hands - take a deep breath and know that if anyone can fix it, it will be the man you are seeing on Friday. I had my one year anniversary a few weeks ago, they're an incredible group. And you may get the added benefit of the new collagen plugs where you only have to be still for 2 hours instead of 6! Pretty sure they're using them in Texas, not sure about his Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike, Sounds like you need a crystal ball! My understanding (such as it is) is that if the activity is confined to your pulmonary veins, an EP who can do a good PVI will be able to take care of you, whether RF or Cryo. In that case, your option #1 sounds viable. BUT - if the activity extends beyond the PVs, most EPs are not trained in finding and isolating those areas. This is where theby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow, great story Pete, and very glad things are going well!by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dgolden, I took a similar approach, tried diet, supplements, yoga, acupuncture, tracked my "triggers" and if nothing else it made me feel like I was doing something and bought me time to do research. All that and Rythmol kept me in NSR for two years while I looked for the EP to do the ablation that I thought might be coming. Please find a very experienced EP (ask on this board), unby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bill, I used the chemical warfare as a holding action while I did research behind the lines. Please take your time and be sure you are going to a very experienced EP. If you're still paroxysmal it should be pretty straightforward, but still nice to know that you have more experience and expertise on the catheter than you need. All the best, Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ghost, I had an afib attack in CO while hiking with my family and we had to drive across the continental divide to the ER in Boulder. and it was pretty miserable for all of us. I've played ice hockey in afib at sea level, but at altitude it kicked my butt. So my advice would be to be sure you have your meds and you know where you can get cardioverted if need be. Have fun! Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
llona, Anecdotal evidence seems to indicate that the quality of the EP and ablation are much more important than any other factors. That said, following good general lifestyle guidelines and being sure you maintain electrolyte levels are always good practice. Best, Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many thanks for this post Carey - really an invaluable perspective on the decisions we all face. For me it was hard to grasp the range of expertise among EPs and the level of art still involved in the procedure.by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, thank you Shannon for everything! His insights are invaluable - we are all extremely fortunate to have him as a resource.by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Fibrillator, Glad you found the site and talked to Shannon. He is an amazing person and as Andy said, has helped many of us. Keep us posted on your progress. Best, Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
It seems to me that there are a few pieces to this puzzle. One is that there is very little comparative data that is available to patients. Another is that the work required and level of complexity/difficulty vary by patient, and no one really knows what they're going to find until they get in there. If you knew ahead of time that you were paroxysmal and that all of your activity wasby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Cindy, Welcome and hope you are feeling better by the time you read this! Sounds like the ablation was for afib but conscious sedation for an afib ablation is (I think) a bit unusual at this point, for the reasons you mention. My flutter ablation was under conscious sedation but my afib ablation was under general - they said they wanted me out and not moving, which was fine with meby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ralph, Great to ask and to try to poke holes in the conventional wisdom - we can't learn if we don't challenge our understanding. I asked about Dr. Natale's methods and what I had "heard" was a more aggressive approach than other EPs. I was told that he does what needs to be done, no more and no less. However, between the lines is the idea that he is able to fiby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ken, Great to hear and congrats! Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
That makes more sense - my flutter ablation was under conscious sedation, typically a much simpler procedure with a very high success rate. FWIW mine was a non-event, wishing you all the best on yours! Cby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Cindy, A few things/thoughts: 1) I think , typically at this point, patients are not awake during ablations. Can others please comment/verify? I know that they have been done under "conscious sedation" - I was on general for mine and that seems to be more the norm but as I said I'm not sure. 2) Please be sure whomever does your ablation, that they are the best you caby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi David, Sorry you're here but welcome! Being so young and with just two episodes I would suggest looking to diet, hydration, supplements, and other lifestyle factors (weight, alcohol, etc.) if you are so inclined. Electrolytes play a large supporting role in all of this and if you are not getting what you need or are getting dehydrated on a regular basis it can give afib a placeby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mac, Welcome! Sorry you're here but its a great group and Shannon is an amazing resource. From the little I know, if you're in persistent afib you'll need to see an EP who is very good at going beyond the pulmonary veins. Those folks are few and far between; Dr. Natale is one and there are others, but typically as a patient you have to figure out who they are and seek tby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe difference in Austin was night and day That says it all - here's to a very uneventful blanking period!by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike, I had a Natale ablation on 3/24 and had flutter in the 3rd week, had to get cardioverted on day 6. Have been quiet since then. Its not uncommon to have some activity during the blanking period and it does not mean the ablation has failed, but my understanding is it should settle down as time goes on. Are you sending your transmissions in to TCAI? I would talk to them about the Multaby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, it must have been Roy Walford. I remember him collaborating with his daughter, who was also a yoga instructor, and that fits Lisa Walford. Fascinating research - please keep us posted!by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, Please keep posting on this subject. I am fascinated by your dedication but also your scientific approach and of course, your results. I remember reading about research on restricted calorie diets years back, being done by professor and his daughter at a California school, forget where, but fascinating stuff. How do your calories end up averaging out on a per day basis - do you trby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great news - enjoy NSR!!by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would guess that genetics and history play a pretty big role in our general health, which is why its great that he does the testing he does. The challenge I have with supplements and/or diet, is that I'm not running tests and therefore don't really know what's going on - I'm painting with some pretty broad brushes and hoping my observations on whether things are better or wby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Its really exciting to see work like this being done, and also exciting to see him having success. I'm hopping on the Gundry train!by ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I didn't mean it that way! My spidey sense goes off when docs start pushing their "special" supplements and formulas, especially when their calling card is "eat your way to health" - smacks of direct marketing instead of science. But I've done a little more research on him and it seems that he is well respected and that when he recommends supplements he recommby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I didn't mean it that way! My spidey sense goes off when docs start pushing their "special" supplements and formulas, especially when their calling card is "eat your way to health" - smacks of direct marketing instead of science. But I've done a little more research on him and it seems that he is well respected and that when he recommends supplements he recommby ClayS - AFIBBERS FORUM