James, don’t settle for how many his group has done. You need some direct answers. How many has he done in the past year as well as total numbers? What have his patients had for complications? Has he had anyone die during the procedure or within a month afterward? Listen carefully to his answers. Remember you only have one heart. It’s not three strikes before you’re out. Best wishes.by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’ve had three ablations by Dr Natale. First ablation for afib was in 2013. In 2016 I had Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. I was doing so well in 2020 that TCA said I could stop Eliquis. A few days later there was a small stroke to my cerebellum affecting my balance. Dr. Natale immediately put me back on Eliquis 5 mg twice a day. This was followed by a Watchman Flex and ablation #2 in Novemberby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Takotsubo syndrome happened to me a couple years after my afib ablation. I was told at the time that it happened more to older women with anxiety although I never considered myself an anxious person. Granted, the chest pain accompanying Takotsubo syndrome can produce some anxiety. Since the advent of Covid and the suggestion that men have more severe cases, there is renewed interest in researchinby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan, I got the full dose of Moderna for all three doses. The several days of tachycardia occurred after the third booster dose only. Apparently aarhythmia or heart inflammation can follow the disease or vaccine. There is risk in every thing we do. The risk is much greater with the disease than the vaccine. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Three days after my third Moderna vaccine I developed a resting heart rate of 120-160 which resolved on its own on day 7 after the Moderna booster. It was unusual for me. Dr. Natale’s NP told me that they had found increased Aarhythmia after both Covid disease and after the Covid vaccine. I’m still glad I got the vaccine but may switch to another brand if another booster becomes necessary in theby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank Shannon! I appreciate your support and guidance over the years. Hope this finds you and your family doing well. Will keep you posted. Be safe and well, Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barbcat, I agree with Carey and the others here. Once you get under Natale’s care, it’s time to relax and let him do his job. You don’t need to steer the ship. He will do all needed labs which include more than what is done by the average EP. He has a variety of pre op and post op nurse practitioners who are well informed and prepared to spend all the time you need answering remaining questionby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth, Afib is an abnormal heart rhythm. That means It is not normal. If untreated it can lead to serious complications. Untreated Afib is associated with blood clots, cognitive impairment, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest. Otherwise it is harmless. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth, I had a stroke taking Eliquis 2.5 mg twice a day. Dr. Natale increased the Eliquis to 5 mg twice a day and put in a Watchman. The purpose of the Watchman is to prevent strokes. Now that the Watchman is seated, the Eliquis has been decreased to low dose again. I would rather have both the Watchman and Eliquis than to have strokes. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I’m on Eliquis 2.5 and life is good. Glad to hear things went so well for you. No aspirin or clopidogrel? No aspirin or clopidogrel. He said he may leave me on Eliquis cause I’ve had thrombus to cerebellum x2 recently. Thanks, Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr Natale did my touch-up ablation and Watchman three days ago. They said he seats Watchmans on Tuesdays and I was the 4th one that day. The touch-up ablation wasn’t much cause he had already ablated most everything 7 yrs ago. No need for a TEE cause he decides about the LAA and Watchman using ICE. The first FLX Watchman he tried leaked so he went for a bigger size to close the LAA which he saidby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the good information. It is reassuring to hear from others who have had the same. How long did you take off from work? How long after getting the Watchman did you remain on Eliquis or blood thinner? Do the Watchmans come in different sizes and is it more difficult to put one in a woman than a man? Is the complication rate different? Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Carey. That was very reassuring to hear. After lurking on this site I learned to go to a high volume EP center. Dr. Natale did my original ablation 7 years ago. Except for Takosubo cardiomyopathy 4 yrs ago, I’ve been in NSR. A ZIO patch last month allowed TCA to tell me I could stop low dose Eliquis and take baby ASA. I didn’t tell them I had been having some benign vertigo. Four days laby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
After having two strokes involving the cerebellum, I may be getting a Watchman. What questions should I be asking? For those with a Watchman, what is your experience? What is recovery like? Thanks.by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. Natale did my one and only ablation seven years ago and I continue to be free from a fib. Each day free from a fib is a win. Many years more of sinus rhythm to you! Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smackman, Have you tried the Bristol-Myers Squibb Patient Assistance Foundation advertised at the Eliquis website? Www.bmspaf.org The number is 1-800-736-0003. Don't know if it would help but worth a try. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jake, I have not had my LAA ablated. So far I've had one ablation three years ago and have had normal sinus rhythm since. Six months after the ablation I was able to discontinue the warfarin due to acceptable LAA function. However with the cardiomyopathy, Dr. Natale put me on Eliquis and I've got to stay on it for now. The local cardiologist gave me Nitro for chest pain but I&by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jake, I'm sorry to hear of the death of your son followed by your heart attack. Broken heart syndrome is also known as stress induced cardiomyopathy or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It was first described about 1991 by a Japanese physician who said the hearts of these patients looked like a Takotsubo octopus trap in Japan. It happens to people with normal coronary arteries. The pain andby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Greetings! After my successful Natale ablation three years ago and ticking along in sinus rhythm, I experienced chest pain and stress induced cardiomyopathy from reeling in a King Salmon on an Alaskan fishing adventure June 19, 2016. My ejection fraction dropped to 35% but my coronary arteries were clear. Another name for it is Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and it happens to otherwise healthy peby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
LindaE, I knew Maine had great lobster but didn't know about the EP. So glad you are doing well. Let's hope ablation #3 for you is the charm. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon for your help. You are a valuable resource for us. Bettyby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Travis, Just a suggestion to keep it simple for those of us who are not overly computer literate. I don't want to get lost in the software! Thanks.by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
For those who are subscribed to the newsletter and have paid, it would be helpful if you could let one know that the year was up as a way of knowing that the $29 donation is due. Or maybe an annual fund drive. Just a suggestion.by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Travis, Yes, I've been fine, I thought, since my ablation 6/2013. Saw Dr. Natale a year ago for a recheck appointment and he thought I was doing great and so did I. The only difference I noticed between myself and others who post here is that I never was able to run after the ablation without getting short of breath. I never complained about it as it seemed a small price to pay to get riby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation in June, 2013 was for long standing paroxysmal a-fib, vagal type. Episodes were highly symptomatic with rate of over 200. However episodes resolved within 18 hours. My resting rate was around 40 when not in a-fib. At the time of the ablation by Dr. Natale, my echo was normal. Dr. Natale said he did not find any fibrosis. The ablation stopped the A-fib and reset my heart rate toby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation for long standing Lone Afib was done 3 years ago. It was successful although I was never able to return to my preablation moderate exercise.. A month ago I was pulling in a King Salmon off the Alaska coast and developed chest pain. It wasn't that bad and I was able to continue fishing. Stupid maybe but that is what I did. Pain was behind my sternum and between shoulder bladeby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ted, The delayed inflammatory response involved chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, GI upset and low grade fever. The Internist thought she could hear something abnormal in my chest. The problem got better with three days of Motrin, Lasix, and Potassium plus rest. The problem returned again and resolved after another three days of Motrin, Lasix, Potassium plus rest. Then that was the eby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
John, I'm sorry to learn of your ongoing problems with inflammation resulting in pericardial effusion and pulmonary effusion. You have certainly had a rough time of it. Three weeks after my index ablation I experienced a 'delayed inflammatory response' when returning to work. Kay, Natalie's experienced Nurse Practitioner in Austin was familiar with this problem and a biby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation was over two years ago.by bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM
John, After my ablation with Dr. Natale, for a few weeks I felt like I had been run over by a truck. His very capable nurse practitioner, Kay Zedlitz, seemed familiar with it all and helped me through rough days with advice and Motrin. Potassium and Lasix helped too. An extensive ablation knocks out the atrial pacing cells awhile but that gets better over time. I was on Multaq before anby bstevens - AFIBBERS FORUM