Hi Shannon - are my numbers borderline? When I spoke with Salwa today, she indicated that the doctor who read my TEE report determined that I could get off of Eliquis...or at least that's what I think she said. And is there an effective reversal agent for Eliquis or not? If so, it sure didn't do a good job for my brother in law...who was brought to the hospital he's in because iby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Update...I spoke with Salwa in Dr. Natale's office today, about this topic we've been discussing. She said that they no longer use the CHAD score to determine whether or not to stay on or get off of the blood thinner -but now rely on the TEE. She was going to talk with Dr. Natale, who will be coming to the NY area soon, to see if I can either make an appt or talk with him further. I beby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been taking fish oil along with Eliquis for at least 5 years w/o incident. I don't bleed a lot when I've had a cut or anything, so I assume it's OK. Hoping to get off the Eliquis, but we'll see....Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey - I've had 4 TEE's since my LAA isolation. (one after my first ablation, on after my "touch up" ablation, then another one as I seemed to be pretty close to the "line", I believe....My most recent one was done last August, and it showed the peak emptying LA appendage velocity was 41.4 cm/sec. Normal left atrial size. Peak filling LA appendage velocity is 67.4by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do you even have a CHAD score if you no longer have Afib? I am a 66 year old female who has not had Afib for over 4.5 years, since my 'touch up" ablation with Dr. Natale. I did have a LAA ablation initially, but have been fine since the touch up. What else matters in terms of calculating your (my) risk? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
According to my brother in law's doctor, it takes 48 hours to clear the body....I"m not sure that they had an effective reversal agent, and am not even sure what the status of that is.... Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Do you know the name of the reversal agent, Carey? I believe they used one, but said it wasn't all that effective. I'm back to the hospital now to see what his status is. I do think this whole thing warrants more discussion - at least for me it does. I have NO interest in warfarin, but I do have an interest in getting off blood thinners all together, since I no longer have Afibby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't think this impacts what happened, but my 83 year brother in law, Craig, has a form of Parkinson's disease, where he moves VERY slowly and has shaky hands, etc. Yesterday afternoon, he must've tripped on his own feet and fell down hard on his side, in his kitchen. Tonight, he is in ICU on a ventilator, has had his kidney and spleen removed, and has still not woken from theby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all - I started a threat about whether or not I could drink alcohol after having a successful ablation, which generated a lot of discussion. I have tried to post information about my latest TEE results, but when I check back to see if anyone has responded to that, my post is gone! I've written it twice. Any ideas on what's happening? Thanks ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hmm...don't know what happened to my last post..so here it is again... Carrie - my question on blood pressure had to do with it being normal now that I'm on meds for it, so why would it be a factor, whether I still had Afib or not? Regarding flow in the LA and LAA, I was told my latest TEE was good. Peak Filling LA appendage velocity is 67.4 cm/sec Peak Emptying LA appendageby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So Carrie...you say that high BP will kill you with or without Afib, but that wasn't the question. If you no longer have high BP because it is well controlled with meds...and you no longer have Afib (because you've had a Natale ablation), then why does BP still register on the CHADS score? And again, isn't this score for people who currently have Afib?? Just as an FYI - I recenby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So that doesn't make sense to me on the CHAD score. What's the point of lowering your BP if they still consider that you have high BP on any measurements done? So I'd have a point if I had uncontrolled OR controlled BP? Also...if I don't have Afib anymore, why do I even need to have a CHAD score? When Dr. Natale had me on 2.5 mg. of Eliquis twice/day, my cardiologistby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for all of your replies, everyone! I wasn't a big drinker before getting Afib (except in college...but ahem..that was awhile ago... - so not drinking isn't very hard to do. But once in awhile when out with friends, I wouldn't mind having 1 "hard" drink, like a White Russian, or a wine spritzer, without feeling like I'm tempting Afib to come back..... Itby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Haha - definitely not the whole bottle!by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello all - I have had 2 ablations, both with Dr. Natale, and knock on wood, have been Afib free for over 4 years now. I am not much of a drinker, but would like to occasionally have a cocktail. I always liked White Russians and am wondering if there's any reason why I couldn't have one from time to time? I did try one last night and told the bartender to go easy on the vodka, and alby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your replies. I know that Dr. DiBiase is Dr. Natale's "protege", so he probably should be highest on the list. Does anyone know if Dr. Larry Chinitz is still considered excellent too? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's what I thought, but according to my friend, her husband's heart rate was very fast... We really do need to educate ourselves and be our own advocates...some of these doctors don't seem to know what they are doing.... Thanks for your reply ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI everyone - my friend's husband recently had a stent put in for a blockage, but also has had on and off Afib for awhile now (over a year?) It seems that the doctors are just giving him meds to control his heart rate, but his wife would like to know who are the better EP's in our area if he needs an ablation. He's 74, I believe, and in good health overall. I am aware of Dr. Lby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been on Eliquis for the past 5 years and also take a Multi-vitamin, ginkgo biloba, fish oil, and more, with no problems. I have had some cuts and nothing bled unusually. I would not take large doses for any of these things, as that might be a problem, but am not concerned with normal doses - and feel better knowing I am taking good things for my health as well. By the way, I did justby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been trying to get her to go to Dr. Natale but I think she thinks any very good EP could do this...(even though apparently at least 1 has tried 4 times or she's had 4 different ones...not sure).... I will see what else I can say or do, if anything. It's her choice. I did take a quick look at the video on YouTube, vanlith, but it talks about pulmonary vein isolation ablation,by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
They told her that he specializes in LAA.....not sure what that means. I asked her to ask them how MANY ablations has he done, and how many LAA isolations as well? I think she's afraid to ask as her husband thinks this is good enough and she doesn't want to ask more questions.....(she doesn't like to ask anything that might challenge someone)...ahhh... I'm hoping someone hby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Who did your ablation (s)?by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had written a post about cardiomyopathy and ablations recently, and now have to ask about the doctor mentioned above. My good friend is in Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston, MA, with a rapid heart rate. She's had 4 ablations, and has been wrestling with a lot of Afib over the past few months..maybe more. I have been trying to encourage her to go see Dr. Natale in Austin, but shby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wolfpack - why do you write "when" my Afib returns? Why do you think it will? So she is now seeing a Dr. Paul Zei who is a Director of BWH Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation program, with a faculty appt at Harvard medical school. Supposedly he focuses on complex arrhythmias and catheter ablations. I'm going to write a separate post about him to see if anyone has heard of himby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks so much for that link, Carey. I'm not sure how to save it...can I? I am very frustrated that this happened to her before I could get her down to see Dr. Natale...she got caught up in the system of doctors in Women and Brighams hospital in Boston, and they convinced her they could handle it...BUT she should expect that she will need another one in 8 years...due to her cardiomyopathy.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes...it's hard to convince someone that going to see Dr. Natale in Texas (she's in Mass now but living in NY), when her Cardiologist is saying they can take care of it there and her husband is very close minded and thinks I'm being an alarmist or exaggerating..... Why would they tell her 8 years? I've never heard of anyone being told how long their ablation should last...by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey - I didn't see a link or anything to read, when you said to have her read this....? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wolfpack...I got in to see Dr. Natale in about 2-3 months, but I agree, they shouldn't be free the next day.....unfortunately, I have nothing to say about this. I'm frustrated, as I am concerned for her - 4 unsuccessful ablations and now another one from some EP...name unknown? It can be hard to convince someone how important it is to see a top doctor in difficult and/or long standinby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello - I have a friend that has had 4 Afib ablations over the years, and has been in an out of Afib for awhile....which became persistent right before she headed out on vacation. I kept encouraging her to get down to Austin to get an ablation with Dr. Natale, and I would go with her (her husband doesn't understand any of this and is quite frankly, not helpful). She kept saying she wouldby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your always very informative reply, Shannon. As I write this, I am wearing a heart monitor as the first step to getting feedback on how things are ticking, and to be sure there is no arrythmias going on. Sent to me by the people at St. David's, as I agree...in spite of my Cardiolgist encouraging me to use one of the EP's on staff, I won't trust anyone with this aspect oby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM