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Re: TEE or CT scan for 2nd checkup after Watchman? - 1 year ago

Not long ago I got a call from my Clinic here. The Watchman people here are just as specific as those at St. David's. She said the doctor I wanted to do my TEE, who does them for the EPs who place Watchmans at my clinic only did them for the Watchman providers there. So we have to figure out how to do what. She and another doctor at another location do them all day all week, as I understa

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: TEE or CT scan for 2nd checkup after Watchman? - 1 year ago

Dr. Natale has been telling me since at least August or November of 2022 that I could get a CT scan if I did not want to come back to Austin for TEE (his preferred method) after getting only the initial TEE in Austin, mainly because of the problems getting the images he wants to see from the TEE providers. On the other hand when I had a Telemed visit with Shannon, his "assistant," she

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Eliquis 2.5 & some possible supps ok? - 2 years ago

QuoteCarey Don't overcomplicate it. You have a Watchman now. It's a simple, inert device that seals off your LAA. It doesn't care about any of the supplements you take. That's not to say your supplements might not be harmful in other ways, but I don't think any of them will have any interaction with your Watchman. Thanks, Carey, but what I meant was since I was still on

by Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM

Eliquis 2.5 & some possible supps ok? - 2 years ago

Hello, I got my Watchman 1/31/23. I am now on reduced Eliquis of 2.5 mg BID. I have been taking turmeric (a curcumin complex) of 650 mg a day. In the past my cardiologist okayed this. I am wondering about some other supps. I already take Nordic Naturals cod liver oil 1 tsp daily. I like to take some things for Alzheimer preventive such as Ginkgo biloba 120 mg a day - used to ta

by Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM

Re: Mild obstructive sleep apnea - 2 years ago

QuotePavanPharter Win Hof video if anyone wants to try it. 57 million others have Do you think it more worthwhile than Patrick McKeown's? It takes a lot of time to learn & do new things, much less having so many suggestions & choices. Thanks.

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Mild obstructive sleep apnea - 2 years ago

Thank you very much for all the info George. I guess I am more a hyperactive brain type than one in need of CPAP. I am energetic the next day, so am not suffering that way. Last night I tried the serial diverse imaging first with my seed word & then used their app to see what it offered. I like what they call the cognitive shuffle. Not sure after one try, but it seems more my need to tri

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Mild obstructive sleep apnea - 2 years ago

QuoteGeorgeN A possible simple approach is mouth taping during sleep. Resources on why learning to breathe slowly during the day can help at night also here. I can provide other resources, if interested. GeorgeN, I am interested in how one knows they need mouth taping. For years, I am a light sleeper. Sometimes I fall asleep for 2 hr & sometimes 4 hr, I have a lot of variability, but w

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

sleep - middle insomnia - 2 years ago

Hi, It has really been on the afibbers forum that I have seen over the yrs someone discussing sleep & taping the mouth, maybe George N or gloaming or Poppino. I can't remember why they need to do it. I have been a light sleeper for very long time. I tend to be able to fall asleep reading & stay asleep 2-4 hr, but then wake & usually take 5 mg zolpidem, which does the tric

by Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM

Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman - 2 years ago

QuoteCarey 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, o

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman - 2 years ago

QuoteCarey 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. I am expecting not to go back to Austin for the 6-mo one either, want to do it locally. You say to

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman - 2 years ago

Thanks Pixie, I have PM'd you. QuotePixie 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

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman - 2 years ago

Thanks Susan, I have PM'd you. Quotesusan.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.

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Recommendation of cardiologists to do TEEs/postWatchman - 2 years ago

Hi, I had my index ablation in 2019, got more flutter later & went back this year 2022 Aug & November. November they finished up an LAA that was started in August. I was supposed to have gotten a Watchman in November, but that did not happen then bec of too much inflammation after the completion of the LAA for accurate placement of the Watchman. Soon, I will go back for that Watchma

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

QuoteCarey Note that some hospitals will only give you a numbing agent to gargle. You'll be wide awake for the whole thing as they stick a garden hose halfway down your esophagus. I wouldn't agree to such a procedure. Ha! Me neither!!! Thanks, should be all questions fully answered by now, sure you hope so :-) heh heh

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

QuoteCarey You aren't intubated for a TEE but they do pass a scope down your esophagus so that's why the possible sore throat. I've had half a dozen TEEs and never a sore throat. If you do experience a sore throat, it will be a minor annoyance at most. It's no big deal. So what anesthesia is used for the TEE. Possibly having watchman with general anesthesia later in day.

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

I don’t even know if we’re intubated for the ablations. Is it general anesthesia and is there a tube passing down the throat or is it just do an IV? And for the watchman procedure - the anesthesia and style there? Thanks! QuoteCarey You aren't intubated for a TEE but they do pass a scope down your esophagus so that's why the possible sore throat. I've had half a dozen TEE

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

Thanks Carey, another question I just thought of is about anesthesia. Since I will have the TEE earlier in the day and then they told me if the results indicate, later the same day I would get the watchmen. I am told one can have a sore throat after the TEE. That has never happened to me after the anesthesia for the ablations, even the last time that I was in the hospital when I got pericardial

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

Since my 1st ablation was in 2019, I am well aware of reading here about elevated ht rate after ablation for possibly a yr or longer or none. Thing is, I never took my pulse before, so I had no idea if mine was elevated after the first ablation. I do know one thing - you & I are different with re to pulse - pulses in high 80s definitely make me feel bad, racy, can feel the rapid ht beat, an

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

high pulse rates after all ablations? - 2 years ago

Hi, I actually have a few questions. One, I usually tend to have a higher than comfortable for me pulse rate (80s to high 80s & even to 90+sometimes). Maybe partly due to having a total thyroidectomy 17 yrs ago & hard to regulate. I am also wondering if one will go through that long period again of higher than normal pulse rates after a 2nd ablation, which was 3 yr after first b

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Melatonin dosing for sleep issues - 2 years ago

Hi Jackie, I have thought about replying to you many times regarding the sleep products. I just keep getting caught up with other stuff and forgetting. I am not usually on this general forum and I just happened to look at it today and saw your message about melatonin. For many many years I have been well aware of 0.5 mg of melatonin as recommended by a doctor to me. It doesn’t matter what the dos

by Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM

Re: Do you wish you had never done an ablation? - 2 years ago

Great post Carey. So reassuring to hear complete stories like this. I got the pericardial effusion recently & had pericardiocentesis right away & have been experiencing more fatigue than I did on initial ablation. I also have had the stabbing chest tightness recur a few times since returning home & not being on the colchicine anymore, but the St. David's nurses are handling it

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dental procedure no EPI. But feeling jittery - 2 years ago

Hmm, years ago before I had any idea that I had A-Fib, while just having a filling or something simple at the dentist, I got jittery and light and teary scared feeling and the dentist realized that I should not have something in the anesthetic which I guess was epi & he told me that whatever the other med was that they used just might not last as long. That of course scared me thinking that a

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Magnesium Threonate and afib - 2 years ago

My experience was like George's. Expensive, noted no difference. But maybe it is the whole combo that works - like Jackie takes. Melatonin even 0.5 mg gives me a hangover in the morning (like Benadryl/diphenhydramine would do - does not agree with me. A senior dose sleeping pill, however, gives me no side effects that I can feel! I vary my magnesium types & now taking Jigsaw Ma

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Ins Coverage for Watchman? - 2 years ago

QuoteJayBros When I was in the process of being scheduled for my Watchman in Feb of this year, Dr. Natale's scheduler told me they would not schedule it until they had received approval from all insurance companies that they would cover the procedure. As part of completing the preliminaries I was even interviewed by a physician from St. David's, a doctor who does not do the procedure, a

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Ins Coverage for Watchman? - 2 years ago

Hi, Briefly I have to go back to TCAI in a few months & have a TEE & if my function of my left atrial appendage is not adequate, I will have to have a Watchman put in then too. I seem to remember Carey talking about specific issues only for coverage by ins so far with regard to Watchman, not like anyone can have one put in. Thanks. I will check in again soon.

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: "touchup" ablation I think - 2 years ago

thank you, to gloaming!

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

"touchup" ablation I think - 2 years ago

I am having my 2nd Natale ablation this Tuesday, 8/2, this time for flutter. My 1st ablation was for afib & in 2019. I have had 3 moderate flutter episodes since the blanking period. Would have gone for "touchup" sooner (after 2nd flutter episode), but the pandemic had started & people were much less secure about any sort of travel, so I put it off. I was able to get off bloo

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Air BNB suggestions near St. David's - going 8/1 - 2 years ago

Thanks George. I have done that but I just wondered if anyone had a place to recommend as well.

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Air BNB suggestions near St. David's - going 8/1 - 2 years ago

Hi, Last ablation in 2019, we found a super convenient AirBNB around the block from St. David's practically. It was comfy & convenient, but it stays booked up & I am looking for another. the problem is that by the time you find out you have dates to go get procedure, it is not far enough ahead to book easily. I don't really know what areas to look in - names of neighborhoo

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Heart rate real low 3 days?? - 2 years ago

QuoteThe Anti-Fib The Cardeviloil wiped me out, the most I could take was 6.25 BID. I didn't get low BP, but just extreme lethargy and fatigue. If it was me, I would just take the dose of Carvedilol at 6.25 dose I was comfortable at, and then if needed, add another type of rate control drug called a Calcium Channel Blocker (Diltiazem). The Diltiazem can also lower blood pressure, so you wo

by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM