Thank you, Dr. Natale! I am so grateful for finding Dr. Natale, this website, and all of Shannon’s guidance, support, and suggestions. I have now had 2 ablations with Dr. Natale. Not completely unexpected, Shannon had told me before I had even had the first ablation, that it would probably take 2 procedures. It was approximately 2 1/2 years between the first and second ablations.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Going to someone that has a lot of experience is important. I am glad I chose Natale.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks everyone! I appreciate all of the feedback!by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Okay, thanks. I wasn’t sure because I heard they ablate first, then do the isoproteronol challenge. But that is probably for the first procedure. So I was thinking, isolate LAA first too? Or the LAA is activated by isoproteronol attempt later??by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Assuming Natale, Can someone give me the statistical odds of him isolating the LAA during the second procedure? It seems that it’s almost 100% to have the isolation done, if Natale is the EP. Anyone have a second procedure with him that it wasn’t isolated? How do they determine if isolation is truly required, or is that the standard for #2 Ablation? Concerned, Thanks.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hybrid AF Ablation Anyone know about this hybrid ablation? Any comments? It ablates both inside and outside the heart.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
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I have heard of this as well. I wonder if being in a faraday cage would make a difference?by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
I liked this hotel… Hyatt Place 7522 north IH35 855-516-1090by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow. I hope you’re right. That would be huge!by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Promising work on development of a gene therapy for AF… Gene therapy for AFby allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
If the source of your arrhythmia is found to be located in the LAA, Dr. Natale would want to isolate that area to block the errant signals originating from that source. If he does isolate the LAA, I believe the statistics are 60% that your TEE results would show requiring either a watchman or long term use of blood thinners, possibly for life. The other 40% of LAA isolated folks pass theiby allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you both for your responses. This would be for Natale. I had also thought if he saw any activity in the LAA that it would then be isolated., regardless of being lone paroxysmal or persistent.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Considering a second ablation for a newly surfaced flutter after AF ablation a few years ago. I am concerned it would involve a LAA isolation ( is this true?). I have had very heavy periods in the past that can be scary when on blood thinners. Don’t like the idea of LAA requiring blood thinners with no options. Is it a requirement to always isolate the LAA on the 2nd ablation?by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
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50 - F - 1 - months Natale procedure in Austin early this year. Just had Zio Patch done recently. (6 mos) Due to Zio Patch results, am now off all meds, including off anticoagulants. So glad to be off the drugs. Grateful and thankful for Natale, TCAI, and this whole community. Talking to Shannon also helped a lot. Thank you, everyone!by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
I think it also increases the risk of dementia.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erin, Have you had an ablation? Did they ever prescribe any anti-arrhythmics? Or have you already tried all those avenues?by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Gill! It’s stories like yours that give the rest of us hope. Shannon, also, has had a lot of success with his procedures. I hope there will continue to be medical breakthroughs in this field, to help everyone that struggles with this condition. Bordeaux is very famous and I hope my previous comment was not misinterpreted. I like how they did your ablation, Gill, where if they mby allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
That could well be. I guess I get frustrated with this disease as it seems to be a never-ending battle.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
You probably have to just plan on going back to Bordeaux at least once every year or two. At least for the next few years. (Until you’ve achieved at least 6 ablations!)by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
OPTIMA Trial John Hopkins University Interesting article above... Thoughts? Preprocedure mapping of arrhythmia using MRI. Using computer algorithms to determine which areas to ablate before the procedure. Testing with the computer that selected areas will achieve desired outcome. Finally, having the ablation using the computer generated targets.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan, If you don’t mind me asking, how high was your dose of Flecainide during that time and did you take it in combination with dilitiazem or a beta blocker? Thanks.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do they prescribe Flecainide alone? I thought it was always prescribed with either dilitiazem or a beta blocker??by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Susan and Pompon. Susan: 15 years sounds like a long time.by allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello everyone... Thanks for being such a great and supportive group! Here’s my question... I’ve heard that overtime that both anti-arrhythmic and beta/calcium blocker drugs lose their effectiveness. Upon losing effectiveness, either the dose is increased or a new drug tried. I suppose it’s different for everyone, but how long is a drug combination/dosage good for that is taken reby allofus - AFIBBERS FORUM