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Re: 'Kay, now it's gettin' spooky... - 21 days ago

You got that right, gloaming!!🥺

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Just checking - 4 weeks ago

I found this unusual, too! I can always count on you for a good response, gloaming!!

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Telehealth - 3 months ago

There is nothing to stop anyone from paying for the visit out of pocket. If you are his patient, realistically in comparison, if you would drive or fly there to be seen or be treated an out of pocket expense for a telehealth visit is cheaper than what you are willing to pay for travel and hotel. You are right. I will be paying out of pocket for the telephone visit. My intent was to share t

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Telehealth - 3 months ago

You are absolutely right. I just edited my post to reflect that it is for Medicare recipients! Thanks for catching that.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Telehealth - 3 months ago

I am sharing this because I know there are many Dr. Natale patients on this forum. I am an out-of-area patient of his and I have always been aware of what the telehealth coverage is for people who are on Medicare. I thought I was “on top” of that until today when I called his office to schedule my yearly telehealth appointment. His scheduler told me that, as of now, the benefits will be changi

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: I feel anxious.... - 6 months ago

I wish you well with your next ablation, Megan.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

QuoteCarey That is the main reason, and you probably heard strokes sometimes being worse than death from me because I like to remind people of that. But keep in mind there are two types of strokes: Embolic strokes, which are usually caused by blood clots and are the type we with afib worry about, but there are also hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by bleeding in the brain. Brain bleeds

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

QuoteJakeL The question that needs to be answered is -- Which option below reduces the risk of stroke the most: 1. Full dose of Eliquis per day 2. Watchman procedure and 1/2 dose of Eliquis per day 3. Watchman procedure and full dose of Eliquis per day 4. Watchman procedure alone Given all of these considerations, I would opt to go with option #3, Watchman and full dose of Eliqu

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

QuoteG48 I just got off the phone with Shannon having a preop phone call regarding my 2nd ablation and watchman implant on 8-21 and I queried her about the watchman blood clot protocol. She advised me that the way Dr Natale handles the follow-ups is as follows: 2 months after the implant, the patient will be physically present at St. David's for a TEE. At 6 months, 1 year, and 2 year marks a

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

QuoteAB Page I had a recent Telemed and asked Shannon about this. I am one who has been on low dose aspirin almost exclusively after the 45 day period, back in ...'18? There was a several month time frame where I did the low dose Eliquis, then he had me switch to low dose aspirin. I've never received a clear to me answer as why. Shannon said the choice to be imaged is completely up to m

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

QuoteDaisy Yes, I was told that he was doing a final 2 year scan in a consult I had with him about 6 months ago, but I haven’t discussed it with him or Shannon since. I will ask about it on my next consult. If he has seen a few clots, it seems like a good precaution.[/quote Daisy, My 1 year CT was fine. I would not have known he recommended a 2 year CT until I saw your post about that a

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dilitiazem shortage? - 8 months ago

I just called Walgreens for my diltiazem XR refill and asked if they had heard anything about a shortage for this medication. The tech said he had not heard about that but would not be surprised because they have a low supply on their shelves. That response does not confirm much, but I just wanted to share it. Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

G48, thanks for the response. I look forward to hearing about what he tells you.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Dr. Natale’s Watchman Protocols - 8 months ago

I read on this forum that because a few people have developed blood clots a year after their watchman implant, Dr. Natale is recommending a CT scan at the 2 year mark. Since I am approaching 2 years post watchman, I reached out twice to his office to see what the protocol is and who it applies to. I am getting no response, so I am asking any Dr. Natale folks on this forum if they have been cont

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Bisphosphonates for osteoporosis and cardiac arrhythmias - 9 months ago

I should have worded my response that way, Carey. Thanks for doing that.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Bisphosphonates for osteoporosis and cardiac arrhythmias - 9 months ago

Megan, if you are referring to other articles than the ones you posted, could you send them to me also? Thank you.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: No Meds, Uncertain Future - 9 months ago

Megan, I have been following your journey from the beginning, commenting now and then, especially with one of your posts about your sleep deprivation. I, too, hope you find some relief.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: PRECARDIOVERSION ASSESSMENT WITH CT COMPARED WITH TEE IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OR FLUTTER - 10 months ago

From Daisy: By the way, Natale now asks for scans at both one and two years post-Watchman to check for clots as he has seen a few that late. In a few months, it will be 2 years since my Watchman implant. I recently had a telehealth call with Dr. Natale and he told me the two year watchman scan applies to the folks who chose to take daily aspirin, not those who chose Eliquis. Since I am on

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: How much post ablation support would be reasonable to expect from Dr.Natale's post ablation team - 10 months ago

Ok, I have to jump in, too. My post ablation care with Dr. Natale’s staff certainly had its ups and downs especially as I was getting to the end of the time I was assigned to a nurse navigator. I wish someone had told me who to ask for as a nurse navigator. I gave a name to someone who had her ablation there several months ago and she is experiencing wonderful follow-up care. I would guess

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Data on leakage rate - Watchman device. - 11 months ago

QuoteDaisy The protocol varies with different EP’s though Boston scientific does recommend scans at six weeks, six months and one year, as I remember. However, I am a patient of Dr. Natale and he wants another scan at two years as he has seen a few clots develop that late. He wants the first scan to be a TEE but after that you can choose a CT with contrast. .. I had a telehealth call on Monda

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Paxlovid with Diltiazem? - 11 months ago

I was told by my EP that they were ok to take together. I had no problems doing that. Good luck.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Yes, the forum is back up and running! - 11 months ago

I appreciate the diligence it took in getting this fixed, Carey. Thank you.

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Study Says Increased Serious Bleeding Risk... Using Diltiazem With Apixaban or Rivaroxaban - 1 year ago

I am so glad this information was posted. I have been on diltiazem and Eliquis for years! I have a telehealth visit with Dr. Natale in May and will certainly be asking him about this!!

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Insomnia solutions? - 1 year ago

QuoteCarey No, I wouldn't hesitate. Are you taking the diltiazem for rate control or hypertension? If it's for rate control then the interaction doesn't matter at all. If it's for hypertension, just watch your BP for a few days and if it goes up, talk to the doc who prescribed it about perhaps changing dosage. Carey, I should have mentioned it is for rate control. As usua

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Insomnia solutions? - 1 year ago

Carey, I just used drugs.com to see if melatonin interacts with diltiazem XR. It shows a moderate interaction. Would hesitate to take a low dose because of this interaction?

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Insomnia solutions? - 1 year ago

Carey and gloaming, thanks for responding. Carey, I usually use drugs.com, but for whatever reason, for this I used Medscape. Glad to hear you consider drugs,com a good site. I will stay with that from now on. Based on your response and gloaming’s experience, I will begin taking melatonin. My doc and I feel a small dose will be beneficial. If not, CBT appears to be the gold standard and I

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: Insomnia solutions? - 1 year ago

I know I am adding this question to an older post, but I am hoping it gets read. I just had a sleep clinic appointment for insomnia and the first recommendation is that I try a low dose of melatonin nightly . The doctor said that since melatonin is a hormone that is naturally created in the body it does not interact with any medications. I did a quick search on Medscape and saw there was an int

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: How long can I expect to wait to be called for the ablation schedule with Dr.Natale? - 1 year ago

QuoteFuzzyduck Oh, it turns out I was given the name /number of his old scheduler and not his very new scheduler (if I hadn't deleted the voicemail by accident I would have known!) Once it was figured out they were extremely helpful!! I am glad you got this resolved. I need to schedule an appointment to go over the results of a 7 day heart monitor in a few months. I was going to call t

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: P-Wave - 1 year ago

Thanks, gloaming, for this information. Sometimes all of this seems above my pay grade!!

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM

Re: P-Wave - 1 year ago

QuoteCarey A previous ablation would be the most common reason, and in my case that's exactly why. Your atria typically don't contract as forcefully after an ablation, and that produces smaller P waves. It can also simply be because you're using a Kardia or wearable device. Things that measure from your hand or arm have a hard time detecting P waves because they're naturally

by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM