Dennis - now that I've been in to see Dr. Natale, I have to ask how you could get an appt. that quickly while only being on a blood thinner for a few days? They want me to be on one for a month - so I dont' get it. Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So after 10 years of Afib and almost as many years of vacillating back and forth on whether to get an ablation or not, I finally met with Dr. Natale today. As many have said here, he is warm, attentive and clearly highly knowledgeable and skilled. I liked him alot. He did answer a number of my questions, but I realized after leaving that I still have a few more, as well as some concerns... Iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ralph - Flec was a God send for me. I've been on it for over 5 years now and while it's starting not to work as well, it gave me my life back. I wouldn't write it off so easily. I don't have any obvious side effects from it and it helped me a LOT. Everyone is different ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks McHale - appt. had to be rescheduled for Wed. as Dr. Natale had flight delays. Will report back here after my consult with him. I'm in Afib right now.....making this decision much clearer. Ahhh... Glad you are doing so well! Wahoo! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow Dennis that was quick! I got a phone call around 7am this morning telling me about his flight delay, so I rescheduled to meet Natale on Wednesday. I have found the woman who handles his appts over the phone (Antonia?) to be very friendly, warm and efficient. A good sign. What is xeralto? Are you on any anti-arrythmics now? I'm on Flecainide and dread the period when I'll havby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dennis - sorry I'll miss you tomorrow, as my appt isn't until 12. Good luck. Will be interested in 'comparing notes" - McHale - almost didn't know who you were writing to: "Barbara" - I almost never use the "formal" name - I'm a BARB! Shannon has also been great with me and i am feeling better having had a good talk today too. He was nicby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am holding back tears right now reading your replies, Shannon, McHale and Ken. I cannot tell you how many times I have vacillated back and forth with the decision to go for an ablation or not. I've had this dreaded problem for quite awhile now, and almost don't remember what not having to wait for another "kickup" feels like! As I have never gone more than 14 hours with aby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So glad you are doing so well, McHale. I assume you are back home now, yes? I'm not sure what you mean in your last paragraph. Are you saying that an ablation should stop the problem or that you think you need something more...? I have an appt. with him on Monday for a consult. A bit nervous as I can't believe I am finally doing this.... Have a great, quiet, blissful nightby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well Ok then - that's good to hear. I'm not a tiny - or very big person, but was wondering if I had heard that correctly. I'm going to assume Dr. Natale has worked on quite a few women so far, so it won't affect the outcome even if this were true... Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
It seems to me that I read here awhile back that women are harder to ablate due to smaller hearts. Is there any truth to that? It does seem that there are a lot more males with this condition...but not sure if a female's success rate is a bit lower based on having smaller hearts.. Anyone? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Ken - it seems like a lot of us who have been holding off are now deciding it's time. Good for you! I don't know how soon he'll be available here in NY, but I'm hopeful it won't be a real long time. I'm fortunate in that my Afib is tolerable still...and hopefully will remain so until I can get this done. Did he spend much time with you? What was your impresby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Dennis - wow, maybe we should have Afib Board gathering at Dr. Natale's office! Seems like a number of us are taking the leap now. I am also concerned about the radiation, but am trusting it will be OK. I am also trusting that Dr. Natale DOES do the procedure, otherwise why would we all be lining up for him?? Maybe someone else on here can comment on that. Good luck with your consuby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - I wasn't sure if I needed to, but I just renewed my subsciption to your Afib Report, but now can't seem to get into it. I can read the Editorial, but how do I read the report itself? Thanks ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear your report, Ron! It must feel wonderful to know you DID IT and you are now on the road to NSR for life. Thanks for sharing with us. Murray - you have a great message there and I think it's why Jackie, Hans and all come to the Board so frequently to help the rest of us. Hearts of gold and so appreciated as there experiences, information and support has been incredible.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ater wrestling with Afib for 10 years, and being on Flecainide for 5 years, I decided it was TIME. Having Dr. Natale now working just an hour away, and a little more Afib "kickups" lately, I finally did what I've been so afraid to do...make an appt. to talk about getting this taken care of. We meet this Monday at noon. Are there any questions that might not seem so obvious thaby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ah, Dennis - I can SO relate to your comments about getting depressed and then you feel good again and hold off thinking it's not so bad, only to get hit with another episode, and so on...round and round. Like you, I am going to call Dr. Natale this week, as I do feel that it IS time. And McHale's bravey and move to finally DO this has also motivated me too. McHale - So very happyby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Shannon. I know I'm a big chicken about this - I hate hospitals and shake like a leaf whenever I've had any procedure done in one. Can't imagine what I'll do in this case! Do you happen to know Dr. Natale's phone number in NYC? I think it's TIME to talk to him...can't believe I'm saying this after 10 years of this, but...I think his practice noby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Dirk - I have had Afib for 10.5 years, and have a similiar story to yours. I have been able to tolerate the episodes, and have never had one lasting longer than 14 hours - also never had to be cardio-converted. They did get to the point that I had an episode daily however about 5 years into it, so I finally decided to take Flecainide. I have had "breakthrough" episodes on andby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's comforting to hear, McHale. I have been waking up in Afib a little more often lately, and have been thinking it's TIME. Did it hurt? What did he say about what to expect? (probably 2nd ablation? pain? PAC'd?). How soon can you get back to your usual activities? I think the biggest fear I have is that it could possibly make matter worse. I read a few posts that said thby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yay McHale!! So happy to hear of your good news and the speed at which you were able to get this done, once you decided to do it. I know you've been wrestling with this decision for awhile - as I have. How do you feel today? I'm hoping it all went smoothly and you barely felt a thing! I'm expecting you to say "why didn't I do this sooner?" Keep us posted on yoby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow - thanks all for your replies. I have one big toe heading in that direction, McHale! I am anxiously waiting to hear from you after you have your ablation - did you say it's THIS Wednesday? If so, that was quick! Please get back to us before and after so we can cheer you on and be there to support you in your recovery. Thanks for the link, Sam - I will look at that tomorrow (startingby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie - I've known your story, but not the more recent events you've just described. Thank you for sharing all of that. I plan to keep this for my "files", so I can follow your guidelines if I end up in a similiar situation. As you know, I've been on again, off again, on the ablation decision. But I have had more breakthroughs lately - all tolerable - the longest oneby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
H- Nancy - I've had Afib for 10 years now, and started with sporadic episodes, ending with daily episodes and sometimes twice/day! Before I went on Flecainide, I could make my episodes stop with a brisk walk - literally 99% of the time (so we're talking about getting it hundreds of times, and stopping it hundreds of times). I had episodes as short as an hour, and as long as 14 hours.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - please keep us posted on your consult wiht Dr. Natale. I am reading with great interest, as I might be right behind you (or at least, on that line) Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
thanks for the suggestions, all. Saw the doctor today and he also prescribed an antihistamine. I didn't think I really needed that, but I have to say that between that and the Netti Pot I started using, I'm a little better tonight. If not better still tomorrow, I'll add some of the suggestions here too. ~ Thanks McHale - I am in a similiar boat. I'm in NSR probably 90%by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all - I haven't been sick since I first got Afib over 10 years ago, but ended up with a lot of sinus congestion and a cold recently. I was told by my Cardiologist not to take any nasal decongestants, making this a lot harder to deal with. I AM using "tent" over a hot pot of water with some Melaleuca oil in it, but feel I could use more - especially since I'll be flyingby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is terrific news! Jackie was kind enough to reach out to me on this as she knows I've been considering an ablation but really didn't want to travel to Texas. I live on Long Island, so St. Luke's is only about an hour away. Is Dr. Natale now moving to NY or is this going to be another place he practices? Austin, San Francisco and NYC? That would be quite a lot for anyone tby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you for this, Diane! Like many others, I would imagine, I am particularly excited about the non-invasive mapping that is being tried now. I didn't get a good idea on how long we might have this available for those of us who don't/can't go to France to have an ablation. Did you get the idea that this might be a few years down the road or more like, within a year? I am sittby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gill - just curious about this...why are you still posting and coming to the board if you've been Afib free for so long? I would think you would find no need to come here after awhile...(not that we don't appreciate you being here, of course btw...congratulations on such a lengthy NSR! Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sure wish Dr. Natale operated out of the NY area at least some of the time....then the decision would be easier! Also scary to read some people's posts that had ablations and are still tip toeing around triggers and having PACS and PVC's....why couldn't we have something easier to "fix"? Just feeling sorry for myself...time to go to bed and wake up to a new day toby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM