It seems to have been shown that the LAA is a source for @ 90% of clots formed from atrial fibrillation caused by non-valvular caused afib. Many of us who have had ablations that may have slowed blood flow in the LAA are now faced with deciding if LAA occlusion is the best choice for us going forward. I am wondering if anyone can shed some light on the following questions: (1) Is the currentby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Maybe they are more angry because they have afib.by gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erich, The first ablation required much more burning.by gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry you had and are having such a hard time. After my first ablation with Dr Natale I felt like i was hit by a bus. It took quite a few months to start feeling near normal. At the time was 46 and in good health, other than the afib. The ablation was my first medical procedure where I was put under. I think the shock of feeling so bad and all the burning to the heart caught me off guard. I nby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon, I hope your sprained ankle heals quickly. Good thing you were not on on Eliquis. Sorry this will add to your travel "fun". A few weeks ago I hit my shin on a cinder block. It cut it and it immediately swelled up. I quickly put ice on it. I thought I would have a huge bruise. Luckily the ice reduced the swelling to almost nothing. This was my first real injury sinceby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks everyone for your comments. After my LAA isolation with Dr. Natale a year and two days ago, my TEE shows I have to stay on Xeralto. Being 51 with no other health problems, I think getting off blood thinners would be a prudent move. The point that some of this is new and they are not sure about a few things long term makes me think maybe waiting another year might not be a bad idea. Iby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
That is great news Bill. Thanks for the update. It looks like I will be following in your foot steps the beginning of next year. I am a little confused by your statement: "I will soon get a monitor to wear for a week to determine if there is any silent arrhythmia. If there is some arrhythmia the decision to stop Eliquis will be reconsidered." I thought the ideas behind the AtriaClby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Interesting observations. Something is going on. I would not be surprised if the ablation procedure, anesthesia, and the NOAC(s) are all contributing to these memory problems. I also feel very tired all the time. Tiredness was a listed side effect of Xarelto. If I ever get off Xarelto I will note if my memory improves and report to FDA and on the forum. I was thinking of switching to Eliquiby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bill, Thanks for your report. Please keep us updated. It looks like I may be going this route as well. I think in the future many more will be needing this procedure. Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
No doubt our food is contributiong to illness. It is a crime. GMO, Round Up, Aspartame, High fructose Corn Syrup, the list goes on.. We try to avoid GMO and eat organic as much as possible, but these contaminations are almost everywhere. Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am 51. Generally in good health. CHADS2vasc of 0. I have been on Xarelto for almost two years (only drug I take). After my second Dr. Natale ablation last September I was able to get off of Sotalol. I thought the fatigue and brain fog would go away. It hasn't. Short term memory is shot unless I put a lot of effort into it. Still on Xarelto because of the LAA issue. I am now wondering ifby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
That is great news Peter! Good for Dr. Natale (and staff) for being so effective in caring for his patients. Most doctors would not have bothered. Shannon also helped save the day, again. I had a second ablation Sept 2014 for Left Flutter. I had my first TEE June 30, 2015 at Scripps. Dr Natale's nurse "unofficially" told my wife my TEE was 24 or 28, not sure. I haven't hby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie, your are very kind. Yes bone spur is what I meant. Since the bone spur is a new issue, I will look into what I can do about it. From what I read online, treatment is usually to treat symptoms. Removal can be rather risky. And they tend to grow back. It seems like an odd thing to have. I don't have any arthritis in general or injury to the area. I will try to get more detaby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon and Jackie for your comments. My understanding is after the Watchman device is implanted they want you to be on aspirin long term? If aspirin and NOACs have the same risk of bleeding, why not just stay on a NOAC. If this is the case why bother with the Watchman device? I was watching . This was the January 2015 meetings. I got the impression that these devices and procedures areby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon. Yes I knew going in my choices were anti-coagulation and afib/flutter, or take the chance and the outcome might be no afib/flutter no anti-coagulation, or no afib/flutter and anti-coagulation. I still feel I am better off than before. The big let down was I am a commercial pilot and it was looking like I may have had an opportunity to go back to flying. Now because of the FAA meby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yesterday I had my 3D echo and TEE to check the LAA velocity after my September 2014 ablation. Results were the 3D echo showed a normal healthy heart. The TEE showed low velocity, around 20. Being 51 years old with no other health issues, I am having a hard time this morning accepting that I will be on anticoagulant the rest of my life. I am now beginning to consider the Watchman. I don'tby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Sorry to hear you had to go back in! I am about a month behind you. I had my second Natale ablation Sept 2014 at Scripps. I am a month late doing the TEE because I stayed on Sotalol longer than Natale wanted me to. Next month if the second 7 day monitor is clear I will schedule the TEE to check the appendage. At this stage of the game I will be surprised if afib stays away more tby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks everyone for your replies. Jackie, I will purchase from the link you provided. Their description sounds like it is a quality product. Looking forward to using the product. Thanks for taking the time. Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie & Shannon, I will add B vitamins now. Any suggestions for a quality brand? Too bad we all have to look so hard for quality products. I don't mind paying for quality. I will look into magnesium bisglycinate. I ordered some Magnesium Infusion today. I tried two other topical magnesium products before. They seemed to work but were oily and burned my skin after a few miby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
I started taking magnesium (Natural Calm) about a year ago. It helped my heart to run much smoother. It also helped with restless legs at night. I had a second ablation with Dr. Natale in September 2014 for mostly Left atypical flutter. He did the first ablation for afib @ 4 years earlier. I just had a Zio Patch monitor for 10 days and it was confirmed just PAC's and Dr. Natale said he had nby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Peter, I dont have any information to add. I may be facing this same situation myself shortly. There will probably be many more of us in the same situation as time goes by. I think it is important for all to remember that getting off blood thinners should only occur when we meet the standard for it to happen. That means a positive test that for sure meets the criteria. Getting off bby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Shannon, I will be at the 6 month mark in a couple weeks. Wearing the monitor now. Will head back to Scripps for the TEE. Looking forward to the news letter! Anyone dealing with this please post your experience and I will do the same. Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Jackie, Thanks for the reply. Yes I am on Xalerto until I get the appendage test and the 7 day monitor all clear. My Chads-Vasc is 0 so I am hoping the appendage velocity is ok. I am on Sotalol 40mg x2 still. I was supposed to go off the Sotalol at three months but I elected to stay on it because I was doing well and didnt want to upset what was work. Linda really wanted me to go offby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been taking Natural Calm Magnesium for a few months. Seems to work great. I started also taking Doctor's Best Chelated Magnesium. The labels says it contains magnesium glycinate/lysinate chelate. It says it is 100% chelated. A few days after starting Doctor's Best magnesium, I strated noticeing I felt "arthritisy" My legs muscles felt stiff. So I stopped the Doctorby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon. I appreciate the encouragement. I am continuing with magnesium and potassium supplements. They do seem to help. Also doing the non GMO glutten free diet. I was feeling so well the last 5 weeks. NSR felt rock solid with a very occasional short flutter feeling. I was thinking, after a cardioversion I usually felt the same way. Them over the last week the rapid vibration feeliby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear PH, I am 6 weeks out from my second ablation with Dr. Natale. I have had a few days of what feels like flutter and some PACs. I am hoping it is still healing, but I suspect I may be back again in a few months. I hope not though. I am starting to think I am just going to have to live with this. Wishing you NSR forever! Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Jackie, I did just start Magnesium (Natural Calm powder) a few weeks before the ablation. It really calmed my heart down. Dr. Natale's nurse told me to take Magnesium that mine was always low. I will read the links you posted and make what I learn part of my future health care. Thanks! Donby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
I received my post ablation report. I thought it might be educational / interesting. I noted the report stated "moderate Left Atrial scaring". The longest period of time I was in flutter was @ 4 months leading up to this ablation. This first ablation @4 years ago, I had shortly after my afib diagnoses. I always knew when I was in afib / flutter. I am 50 now and other than afib, no hby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you very much Shannon! Very good explanation. Yes please ask if you remember. (Im not sure if LAA isolation achieved more distally from an anterior branch of the CS would be more or less likely to delay emptying velocity from the LAA at 6 months TEE? Will try to remember to ask Dr Natale) LAA velocity is my concern going forward. Along with if in three months I will need a touch-up.by gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had an afib ablation (2nd ablation with Dr. Natale, 1st was in 2010) with Dr. Natale last week. He stated he isolated the Coronary Sinus and then the LAA became isolated. He said this only happens with about 7% of patients. Can anyone comment on the mechanism involved and how it relates to isolating the LAA? Can anyone comment on how this will effect the likelyhood of LAA blood velocity beiby gmperf - AFIBBERS FORUM