The contact information for seeing Dr. Natale in California is - Cardiovascular Institute of Los Robles 227 W Janss Road, Suite 340 Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360 805-852-9100 The adjacent hospital is - Los Robles Regional Medical Center 215 W Janss Road Thousand Oaks, CA. 91360by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Geocappy - I had a similar path of Afib, persistent for almost three years until Natale ablation, which gave me a great six months of NSR. It was so "Nice While It Lasted" but then flutter and tachycardia came along and I was able to control it somewhat with flecainide. I wish I had scheduled a second ablation sooner, since it was another six months before I actually had the touch up.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Before my first ablation, when in persistent afib my HRV on the Apple Watch was 140-150. Then right after the ablation it dropped to an average of 10, where it stayed for about six months. I started to have some episodes of flutter and tachycardia and each time the HRV would go up again. It did level off again after second ablation in May, and has remained at an average between 10-15.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kleinkp, you should be able to do everything in one trip to Austin. I recently went there for a touch up ablation and Watchman and they make it pretty easy to do one trip. I had recent EKG's and an echo done locally that I sent to Austin ahead of time and then had a phone consult with Dr Natale a few weeks before. There was the option to consult with him the day before the procedure in Auby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my first TEE in Austin a few weeks weeks ago (same day as Daisy), and was told the same thing - to continue with half dose Eliquis until the next TEE in four months. My Watchman is showing to be in place without leaks, but I wouldn't want to get off Eliquis at this point. For me it's peace of mind having that extra layer of protection. In fact, I'll probably want to continby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’m the other patient in the Austin adventure that Daisy has described. After hearing good news from Dr Natale about our Watchman status, it was definitely icing on the cake to see him one more time, especially when it was so unexpected. With all the great places in Austin to eat, what were the chances of running into him! At first we thought we were hallucinating from the heat or the Propofolby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Although I didn’t have sick sinus syndrome, I had recurring episodes of flutter and/or atrial tachycardia. My recent Natale ablation got rid of both. Before the ablation my resting heart rate averaged around 90, now it's closer to 60.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
So sorry to hear about your brother, Lois. I also lost my older brother, due to an Afib related stroke. He was only 70 at the time and never had a chance to have an ablation. Since that was over eight years, I don't know if the newer anticoagulants were even widely used yet. It was before I developed Afib and I had very limited knowledge about Afib at the time. Looking back, if I only kby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for the good wishes. I decided to go to Austin because I could get on the schedule sooner than at Los Robles. I was so tired of going to the ER for episodes of flutter or SVT that were hard to get under control otherwise. Also I had read such good things on the forum about the excellent EP lab at TCAI, it made me want to go there. I hadn't flown anywhere since before the paby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Daisy for posting the link to the HRS conference. It is very interesting to watch. Now that I have a Watchman, I'm finding it helpful to learn more about it. Hope you are doing well since your Watchman procedure too!by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Last week I traveled to Austin for my second ablation with Dr Natale, a "touch up" ablation as they call it. My first one almost a year ago had been done at Los Robles in CA, so this was a different experience. I had been somewhat anxious about the travel aspects of the trip, but not the procedure itself. But the travel part went well, as the Austin Airport was nice and so was the Hoby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Best of luck to you, Daisy! I’ll be going there in a few weeks also, and will keep Jackie’s words in mind. Keep us posted.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. I also was recently dealing with a cold and cough. The first day I started using zinc lozenges but that evening went into tachycardia. I've had two prior episodes of tachycardia, so maybe it was coincidental, or maybe my body reacting to a cold virus. But after that, I'm very hesitant to use zinc lozenges. Since my main symptom was a cough, tby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, Carey. That is reassuring news. I hope I can keep the SVT from reoccurring in the meantime. Have tried to eliminate any possible triggers, although the last episode happened soon after I had caught a cold. Haven’t had one of those since way before the pandemic.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you for you posts and they sound familiar to my situation. Had my Natale ablation June 2022, rhythm was great for 4 1/2 months afterwards. Then came a flutter episode (regular HR 125-135), resolved with cardioversion. Next episode 6 weeks later, similar high heart rate for a week, resolved with another ecv. This time the EKG was showing Atrial Tachycardia, not flutter. Third episode aby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Shannon, Carey, and all for making this a comforting place to go for those with Afib. Happy Holidays and may you all have a peaceful heart!by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Before my AFib became persistent, I too was afraid of taking Eliquis. I was taking aspirin, fish oil, and Vitamin E then, and hoped that was good enough. But after a trip to the ER, I realized I would be better off not having to worry about it every day, and started taking Eliquis. It was actually kind of a relief to take it. That was three years ago and I've never had a problem with it siby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
George, thank you for describing your converting techniques. It's great that you have found what works that precisely! It makes me cold just reading about shoveling snow like that. I'm a wimp when it comes to cold weather, as I get cold just walking in 50 something degrees. But the next time I'm out in the cold, I'll try to think about it's beneficial effects!by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you everyone for your helpful input. Carey, your description of physical diagnosis of flutter was exactly what I was experiencing, steady but high heart rate. I didn't realize what it was at the time, since I hadn't had flutter before. George, I'm curious about your comment, converting from flutter to Afib and then to NSR. How does one do that? Thanks, Lindaby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
The other day I had a successful cardioversion to treat my atrial flutter. My anxiety about the procedure was not necessary, as it was completely painless and over before I knew it. Thanks to all of you who told me so! My Apple watch didn't detect the flutter, so I'm wondering if the Kardia Mobile 6L would be a better device to have for that? Sorry if this has been discussed here befby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your information and encouragements. Those are impressive numbers of cardioversions! My heart rate has been pretty consistent for a week, running around 125 at rest to 135 with activity.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Last week my heart rate was fast and I was searching for the cause, blaming it on MSG or whatever. It's still fast, and after having an EKG, I now know that it's atrial flutter and will be scheduled for cardioversion. After over four months of perfect NSR since my ablation, it is kind of a let down. But I guess flutter can often be an unexpected visitor after ablation. Now I'mby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you everyone for your responses, they were very helpful. If my heart rate goes back to normal (it’s still in the 120’s at rest), I’d be tempted to try the Chinese food test! The heart rate isn’t really uncomfortable, but it’s making me very anxious about what’s causing it. Thanks, Lindaby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been doing well heart-wise since my ablation 4 1/2 months ago. Wore a monitor for two weeks and everything looked great. But this morning I was startled to see my heart rate had gone up to around 160. When I finally got my watch to do an ECG, it said no sign of afib, just high heart rate. I drank a lot of low sodium V8 and took a diltiazem, which I hadn't had since before the ablatioby LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Best of luck, Madeline! I just had my ablation with Dr. Natale six weeks ago and everything went well. Normally I would have been very anxious going into a procedure, but thinking about the encouraging and positive comments on this forum, I felt much more at ease.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations Smackman! I’m hoping for a similar outcome even though it’s only been 6 weeks since my ablation with Dr Natale. Wondering if you have less side effects, such as bruising, since you went on the lower dose of Eliquis? Also if it’s safer to take any supplements such as fish oil, vitamin E, etc. while on 2.5 Eliquis?by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Daisy, that’s encouraging information! When open enrollment time comes, I’ll see if I can get approved on a MediGap plan. I should have chosen traditional Medicare when first eligible. At that time it would have been easier to get any MediGap plan without underwriting.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all your input. My mistake was going on a Medicare Advantage plan when I first started Medicare, before I had Afib. Then I switched to Original Medicare, since Dr. Natale was out of network for the Advantage plan. Being able to choose your providers comes with a cost, but it was definitely worth it to have him for my EP.by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’m wondering if Afib could be considered transitory from a health insurance standpoint? I’ve heard that Afib is a disqualifying condition if one is applying for a Medicare Supplement plan. So if one if not currently in Afib, but has a history of treatment for it, would they still not be accepted on a supplement plan?by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM
After reading the physician’s prescribing information list of Warnings and Precautions for the Lexicon, I probably would have asked to just do the treadmill instead! There was a treadmill in the room, so I assume it was an option. Wondering if they didn’t have me do the treadmill because I was on metoprolol and diltiazem at the time, and would take longer to get my heart rate up?by LLA - AFIBBERS FORUM