HI Chuck - I had my first ablation with Dr. Natale on Sept. 5th, 2013 - a little more than a year ago. It appeared to be successful. In April, I went into Flutter when I was having acupuncture done, triggered by a needle sharply tapped into my left shoulder/neck area. I ended up having to have my very first Carioversion two days later, which stopped the Flutter for about 3 weeks. When it cameby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's time for you to seriously consider an ablation. I wrestled with Afib for 10 years, and by waiting so long, ended up needing a Left Atrial Appendage isolation - meaning that there is a high liklihood that I will need to be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I did take Flecainide for the last 5 of those 10 years, and it did help a great deal. However, I realized that I couldnby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stef - the reason Jackie and I are on blood thinners after an ablation is because we both had work done in the Left Atrial Appendage. As that is apparently a key area for blood clots, we need to be on a blood thinner for the time being (maybe indefinitely). Jackie will surely have more information to share on this topic...but yes, it is disappointing to be on one now when neither one of us wasby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry you've been experiencing some gastro problems yourself, Jackie....hmmm...wonder how common that is? I was fine on Xarelto for the first 8+ months, but then started having issues - which may or may not be related to it's use. I definitely have been belching much more than usual too.. What next? Well...if I had a choice, I'd be doing a supplement I really like that has reby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm not sure how to make this into a clickable link, but this articlebelow gave me pause.... Tennessee Family sues Pharmaceutical Giant for Patriarch’s Xarelto-Induced Demise I actually started having stomach issues about 8 months after starting Xarelto...will be getting an endoscopy and colonoscopy in a few weeks, and am now on Eliquis. But is it really safer? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi John - Not sure why you went on Coumadin, as it seems many of the doctors are now recommending with Xarelto or Eliquis. I was on Xarelto for almost a year with no problems, but am now on Eliquis for the past month or so - also w/o any noticeable problems. Maybe you can ask your doctor to switch? I know Coumadin has a lot more restrictions on what you can and can't eat, getting your blooby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your post, Shannon. As it will be just a few weeks that I am no longer in the 3 month "blanking period", I might as well wait to be safe. I have to go for a colonoscopy and endoscopy in a few weeks, AND I'm having laser gum surgery this week, so that may be more than enough for this body to take on right now.... I hope YOU are doing well yourself...yes? And how is yby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
My brother is going through a tough time with a bad case of shingles, and is imploring all of us to get the Shingles vaccine. I hadn't given it much thought, but since I did have the Chicken Pox when I was younger, and have had a few flare ups of herpes years ago, AND am now in the ...ahem..over 55 crowd...I thought I really should get it. But I am still in the "blanking period"by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jackie - good to see you back here and giving a good report, overall. It sounds like you had a similiar ablation to my first one - having to do a LAA isolation and work in the right coronary sinus. I am also on Eliquis, which seems fine, although I do wish I could get off of this one day too. My sixth month won't be until December, and as it's right around the holidays, I'llby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Shannon - was thinking about you earlier today and wondering how you are doing....Hopefully all is still good and you are back to feeling great again. Yes? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Jackie - glad to her your procedure went well and you are safely back home. Having to have that cardioversion right afterwards had to be disappointing, but hopefully that was it and you are now on the mend! We are all rooting for you Please keep us posted. Best to you ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ahh - that's good news to hear she is now on the side of recovery and all went well. Please let her know we have all been praying for her and will look forward to more good news in the next few days. thanks for letting us know, Shannon ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - I will look for that..never heard of it before - thanks. Shannon - funny you should mention a hornet's nest - just had one wiped out by an exterminator this weekend, as I was stung by a hornet last week! How do I know for sure what areas might be a trigger? I know where the one needle went that did it in April...definitely not going to have him put one there... George - yes, Iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
After 7 months post ablation of a mostly quiet heart, I went into Flutter during an acupuncture appt last April. When the acupuncturist tapped one of his needles into my right should/neck area, my heart rate jacked up to 120 bpm. Had to have my first ever cardioversion, whichkept me in NST for 3 weeks only...so back down to Austin I went, to get a "touch up" ablation with Dr. Natale. Tby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I actually have a phone call into Dr. Natale's office for a similiar reason. I need a colonoscopy and endoscopy as I've been having stomach/colon issues since a few days before my June 30th ablation with Dr. Natale. When I first called Dr. Natale's office, the nurse said I could go off of Eliquis (or Xarelto) for 2 days, but not until the 3 month "blanking period" is oveby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So sorry you have had to wrestle with your own challenges with this all the while always there to help the rest of us. You are an amazing woman and we are all so grateful for all of your advice, support and encouragement over the years. This "touch up" with Dr. Natale should do the trick for you, and then give you the relief of blissful NSR - for the rest of your life! I will beby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi John - glad to hear that you are apparently back in NSR. That sounds quite unsettling! I was on Flecainide for 5 years, and for me, it was a God send. I was at the point after 5 years of wrestling with Afib on my own, to getting Afib twice/day, every day. I started Flecainide and after they ramped it up to 300 mg/day, I finally got relief. I only had 1-3 minor/short episodes most months,by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't know...I take a product with phytosterols and fish oil and it lowered my triglycerides quite a bit. The combination seems to work well together. I don't know how much fish oil to take, but everything I read says that it has many heart and brain health benefits in general. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Gary - it sounds like you were leaving St. David's just as I was coming in! I had my "touch up" ablation on June 20th, and agree with all you had to say about the staff and Dr. Natale. I was also impressed with how quiet the hospital was. I've never had that experience before - it's always been loud and difficult to sleep. Having gone through a "touch up&by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I concur with Shannon on this, and some of the other comments made above. I would highly recommend the book called, "Overdosed America" by Dr. John Abramson, which says "How the Pharmaceutical companies are corrupting science, misleading doctors and threatening your health". - very interesting read and an eye opener for those who may be unaware of the tremendous influence thby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks again for your encouragement, Shannon. I am making a point of staying off the internet as it's too easy to get myself worried with all the possible things that could be wrong - geez! And yes, if they still feel I need more testing, it wouldn't be that much longer that I should be able to. I haven't heard of a virtual colonoscopy either.....? The thing I am most excitedby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Craig - I'm surprised to hear that your dentist won't touch you on Xarelto. I had root planing twice while on it and they just wanted to be aware of it... I bled more but that was it..not a big problem. It looks like I might be on a blood thinner for life, so this is going to have to be figured out somehow. I am hoping they can find another way to check things out in the meantimeby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI everyone - I had my ablation exactly 3 weeks from today, and seem to be doing well in that regard. The heart has been quiet and the last time my pulse was checked at the Dr., it was around 68. After my first ablation last Fall, I think it was running in the 80's most of the time. I have however, been plagued with on and off nausea and some stomach issues since a few days prior to myby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, great job, Shannon! Very interesting read on the witnessing your friend's ablation too. Would love to see a video clip of one of these! Glad you are getting things "buttoned up" again very soon. Keep us posted, please. Take care ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
That used to happen to me alot too, Nancy. I started sleeping on my right side more often...but am now back to sleeping on either side again - thanks to my ablation. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Happy to hear your good news, Ken! Many, many blessed years of NSR and a joyous life to live! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
OK thanks againby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Hans How is retirement treating you? Hoping all is going very well for you and your wife. Best to you ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George - I will look at that link from Patrick. I was always under the impression that atrial things were of less concern than things happening in the ventricles...pardon my very basic description....but is that true? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie- I did pass some of that info along but will be more specific when I get back to them. Can you also clarify the difference between PVC's and PAC's? I believe I mostly had PAC's before being diagnosed with Afib. But my sister and my friend seem to be having alot of PVC's. Not sure how they differ or if it matters. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM