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
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 usuaby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
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
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 Iby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
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 intby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
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 tby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, gloaming, for this information. Sometimes all of this seems above my pay grade!!by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
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 naturallyby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey My P waves are undetectable by a Kardia (or probably any consumer device) and on a 12-lead they're very small. But my pulse is regular as a rock, so I know with certainty I'm in NSR. Everyone who looks at my ECGs notes the diminutive P waves, but none of them have mistaken it for afib. Carey, when I do a Kardia reading and see my heart rate and normal sinus rhythm, I haveby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMeganMN Ugh. Just posting because after my last failed ablation I am having a terrible time. They failed to induce the rhythm, did the entire three hour procedure without sedation (4 catheters plus isoproteronol, and hours of pacing), it was terribly painful at times, then wicked post procedure pericarditis. I am now finding myself with really bad anxiety and maybe depression related to theby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is an interesting post. My EP does not recommend the COVID vaccine because of the adverse side affects he has seen. I asked him again about this when the new vaccine came out. He said no to the vaccine but has always said yes to Paxlovid. I had Covid a year ago and did take Paxlovid with no AFIP issues. I hope you get over your symptoms soon.by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN Here are a few places to start. Richard Johnson MD, nephrologist researcher at UC Health. His list of publications is on the website linked to his name. Three lecture series on the topic; one two three His most recent lay book. Peter Attia Podcasts. I think the first two in this list are full sessions. Johnson's 2023 presentation in Denver. One of Johnson's poby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN My understanding is fructose is not great for the kidney. Also if you have cardio metabolic issues, working on those may be helpful. I've read about folks who've stopped GFR decline (not reversed it), but didn't save the details in memory as it is not my issue. If interested, I could try to come up with more resources for details. Thank you for this informationby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Okay, thank you for clarifying. Your left atrium is dilated, not your LAA. A dilated left atrium is common among people with afib, but I've never heard of a dilated left atrial appendage (LAA). I changed the post title to reflect this accurately. Carey, do you have any suggestions as to what I should be asking my EP about this? This is “ new territory” for me and I need to beby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy I am not clear on your report—in one place you mentioned “ The report showed the left atrium size was severely dilated” and in another “ TTEs both should the severely enlarged LAA”—so I am not clear which is enlarged, the LAA or the left atrium? Good point, Daisy. Post watchman procedures: 45 day TTE states: The left atrium is severely dilated. 6 month TTE: Severely increased lefby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was diagnosed with AFIB in 2016. In 2021, I had a transthoracic resting echocardiogram. The report showed the left atrium size was severely dilated. I was on Eliquis then and will always be on 5 mgs daily. My EP at the time never made much of the LAA enlargement other to say it would make an ablation there more difficult. My LAA was ablated in March of 2022. A watchman was implanted 9//2by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was reviewing the 2024 benefits for the insurance plan I am on. I was most interested in the telehealth benefits because I wanted to have coverage for this with my Austin EP. I know that telehealth is what I need because I live out of area. I had no problem with this coverage last year. In reviewing the wording for virtual visits this year it states this can not be used for chronic conditionsby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKleinkp 3 years post ablation, Dr Natale has kept me as his patient. Matter of fact he's my only Dr at this time. I might be his only patent in South Dakota, there not many folks up here Thanks for responding. I want to stay with him also. Telehealth and remote monitoring makes this more possible. Enjoy South Dakota!by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy It is my understanding that we can continue with Dr. Natale indefinitely as long as we have an annual telemedicine consult. When I was there recently, I asked if, when my Pacemaker needs to be replaced in 4 years, whether Dr. Natale would be able to advise me, and I was told yes. I believe this would be true for any cardiac-related concern as it can all be related to arrhythmias.by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy As others have said, you are in good hands and the weekly follow-up with your nurse navigator and NP will be extremely helpful. If after a year and you are told you do not need to send weekly or monthly readings to the nurse navigator and you develop PACs and need to be advised of treatment options, does anyone know if Dr. Natale would continue to see a patient for treating theby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am almost one year out from a touch-up ablation and Watchman implant and just started having PACs, etc. that are very symptomatic and disturbing. Coincidentally, this started happening when I was scheduled to have my post procedure 7 day heart monitor. I am on the monitor now and will wait and see what is going on. Of course I feel every abnormal beat. I will now be dealing with a new set ofby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I thank you too, George. Needless to say, I which I had known then what I know now, thanks to all of the information I learned from folks on this forum!by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteKleinkp Remained a patient. Natale manages all my prescription etc. Had local cardiologist in Seattle but his ego got in the way of caring for me. Professional jealousy thing with Natale. I have since moved to the midwest (South Dakota), I don't have a local cardiologist or Doctor yet. Should add Natale's team has treated me great and has never tried passing me off. Klby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree with gloaming that any tests he needed could probably be done locally and the results would be sent to him. That would eliminate a trip to Austin prior to your ablation. Kleinkp, I am just curious. Since your 2020 ablation, did you remain an established patient with Dr. Natale for any arrhythmia issues you were having or are you just reaching out to him three years later?by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
When flecainide stopped working for me, my doctor ordered the following test for me to see if my flecainide dose could be raised. The lab was performed at Quest Diagnostics. FLECAINIDE (TAMBOCOR) Your Value 1.13 mcg/mL Standard Range 0.20 - 0.99 mcg/mL Since my value was higher than the range, she did not raise the dose.by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePixie . You might ask to be connected with Shannon on this topic as she is the NP who works with Dr. Natale on post-Watchman screenings. Thanks for responding, Daisy. I have been working with Kim H. on this. I sent her an email asking if someone there could call this Watchman coordinator and help me get this worked out. I will call Shannon if I don’t hear back. I have her email butby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy. You might ask to be connected with Shannon on this topic as she is the NP who works with Dr. Natale on post-Watchman screenings. Thanks for responding, Daisy. I have been working with Kim H. on this. I sent her an email asking if someone there could call this Watchman coordinator and help me get this worked out. I will call Shannon if I don’t hear back.by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George and Susan, thanks for responding. I just got off the phone with the Watchman Coordinator here. She”assured” me that the CT Heart Morphology gives the highest image quality for checking the watchman placement and the left atrial appendage. She said the image would be better than the CTA chest. Dr. Natale referred me to a closer out of area provider for my 6 month TEE. I thoughtby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I know there was a prior post several weeks ago about obtaining a CT scan locally rather than returning to Austin for it. I am starting a new post rather than adding this to the original one…so I apologize if I am breaking the rules. First of all I want to say neither my local EP or general cardiologist supported me when I told them I was going out of area for my third ablation. This is afterby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I remember some posts about dealing with skin rashes, in this forum, but I cannot find the info. My doctor recommended triamcinolone acetonide cream 0.1% for dermatitis. I am wondering if that medication would be an issue because I read heart palpitations could be a side affect . Of course, I do not have all if the details and just wondering if anyone here uses this cream.by Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM