HI Shannon - as you know, I started using the AliveCor at your recommendation, sometime last year, I believe. While I had AFib for 10 years and could feel it when I had it, I never used it then. However, after I got Flutter last Spring, it was a relief to have something I could send to you in this case, and get feedback to be sure it wasn't someting that warranted more attention. (I did haby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Researcher - I don't know the answer to your question....as far as I know, she just had a PVI ablation, but since she had Afib for quite a few years and seemed to have had a possible stroke, I would think she should have had a very experienced EP. I have never heard of any EP from StonyBrook University hospital mentioned when we talk about top NY EPs....and it IS a university hospital, soby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Alex - in answer to your question about food, I was told that it doens't matter if you take it with food or not. No difference. As for taking more natural blood thinners - the problem is that the actual amounts in supplements can vary widely, so doctors cannot comfortably embrace them. It's much easier to monitor the amount and efficacy of a drug, unfortunately. I am on Eliquisby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations Travis! I was there last summer and had the same kind of experience - they are all wonderful. I will be seeing Dr. Natale tomorrow (Sat) at an EP conference, and will let him know how great you thought it all went (if that's OK with you). Off to bed...up early for the conference.... Happy NSR - welcome to the club ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations John! I too had an ablation in Austin with Dr. Natale and found the whole team to be top notch. I was also surprised at how quiet the hospital was - you could actually sleep! I will be attending the Electrophysiology Conference where Dr. Natale and a number of other top EP's will be presenting various Afib related topics this Saturday. I believe Dennis and a few others fby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes George I heard about your friend getting his ablation from Dr. Natale this week. I'm sure you're happy he did listen to you! I will be seeing Dr. Natale and a number of other doctors in the electrophysiology field at a conference this weekend in my area. Any questions you would like me to relay? It can be hard to convince people who are basically 'clueless" about Afiby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, Adrian - it was good that you had another doctor there who was able to prevent a real problem. It's not easy to try to convince others that they need to go to a top doctor when there are some doctors who are excellent at self promoting and even some hospitals that do an excellent PR job who may not always deserve that reputation....or at least, not in ALL areas. Afib ablations requirby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am "friends" on Facebook with a woman named Rose, who I know from my high school days. I believe she may have already had a stroke of some kind, as her writing is a bit disjointed and simple..but I'm not sure of that. She recently had an ablation at a local hospital (known for it's research, really), and has been writing about her breathing problems and more, ever since.by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have posted similiar questions on and off for awhile now. I know Shannon had raised a good point in that you can't always trust the manufacturers of supplements to have what they say they have in them, so that creates a questionable situation. People could be taking Omega 3's for example, from any number of manufacturers, and some will have the correct amount listed on the label andby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
If it's determined that you're a vagal Afibber, I found a brisk walk worked every single time...and we're talking several hundred episodes, at least. I could always get it to stop...just couldn't keep it from coming back another time..... More info needed though, as Jackie said. ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations on your anniversary, Smackman! I have been in NSR since Sept. of 2013, so I know the good feeling I told Shannon yesterday how thankful I am also, for first finding this Board, and then having all of the support and amazing amount of helpful knowledge on here. I can't even imagine where I would be if it weren't for this Board...it can be very lonely going through epby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Happy to hear your good report, Jim. I also had Afib for 10 years and was on Flec for the last 5. I had paroxymal Afib, but it did come every single day, usually twice/day, before I finally started the Flec. I likely would have become persistent at the least. Then I had my LAA isolation ablation in Sept. of 2013. Still in NSR...yay! Dr. Pinski is one of the good ones, so you are likely wellby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my TEE at Montifiore hospital on Tuesday, after my LAA isolation last June. Dr. DiBiase called me yesterday to let me know that my velocity number was good (above 40)..not sure what the actual number is...and that the A-wave was pretty good, but not sure if it was just where they'd like it. He apparently had several other TEE experts read my report as I seem to be one of those borderby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Ken I'm hoping that too! ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So my daughter and I drove into the Bronx this morning to go to Montifiore hospital for my TEE. Not a smooth experience....almost impossible to find parking, I was not fully sedated so was gagging and coughing to get the tube/camera out of my throat, took awhile to get my gag reflex back, never got to meet Dr. DiBiase, etc. BUT..other than a sore throat, I'm OK now and back home safely...by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks all I will let you know how it all goes! Now to try to sleep.. ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I will be heading into see Dr. DiBiase at Montifiore hospital tomorrow, who is a protege of Dr. Natale's. for my second TEE. Last year, after my Afib ablation but before my Flutter ablation, I had my first TEE at St. Luke's hospital in NYC. My velocity was 40...but they did not get a good read (or maybe ANY read) on the A-wave that Dr. Natale's needs to see. I am hoping that thatby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
And should it be noted that a high dose of omega 3's may not be appropriate for those on blood thinners? If true, how high is too high? Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
OK - just wanted to be sure, after reading your post I did register to attend the conference and am looking forward to seeing the NY "ablatee gang"! Interesting to basically be an example of what expert doctors are discussing..and for those interested, to be able to share what is was/is like "in the trenches". Thanks again for looking out for all of us, Shannon ~by tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Shannon - at your earlier suggestions, I am scheduled for a follow up TEE at Montifiore hospital on Feb. 24th. I will be seeing Dr. Di Biase for a consult first, but I don't believe he does the actual TEE...that was my impression.He heads the area up, I believe, but doesn't actually do the procedure. Is it safe to assume that because Dr. Natale endorses Dr. Di Biase, that I can beby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't know the answer to that, Jackie. I just know they've gotten some tremendous results from this one, as well as a few others.(blood tests) I guess I'll have to hold off until you get to do more research, as you're our "guru" on this stuff Thanks for your response. ~ Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Does it matter if it's not a lot of Gingko? I see most supplements are 60-120 mgs., but this would have to be less than 30-40mgs..... Barbby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
So I am still trying to get a good feel for whether or not I can take a low dose of gingko, which is one of the ingredients in a heart supplement I used to take - and would like to take again. The "proprietary blend" = 60 mgs.of these 4 different things: Proteases (Bromelain, Fungal) Querceetin Powder Bilberry (berry) Extract Ginkgo Biloba (leaf) extract............. In adby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Happy to hear that all went well with your TEE, Shannon. It sounds like that was as good of an experience as it could have been. I will be getting my TEE with Dr. Di Biase on the 24th. Looking forward to your report from the LAA conference. You are a tremendous wealth of information that we all soak up here with great relief, knowing we have someone who both "gets it" and is thoroby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Travis - I'll ditto here what others are saying..I am also on Eliquis, and may be indefinitely due to a LAA isolation (although I am going for a TEE on the 24th of this month to see if I might be able to get off of it). Shannon had suggested the ID bracelet to me too, which I thought was a great idea and wear it all the time now. I have gotten some cuts, but nothing unusual happened aftby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Eric - first, I'd like to say I'm sorry to hear about your mom's health situation....never easy to have a close family member seriously ill. I agree with the comments about Afib typically being progressive. I wrestled with it for 5 years, before getting episodes of 4 hours or more twice/day, every day - and then going on Flecainde for another 5 years. I was doing pretty welby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good for you, John. I'm glad to hear that you are headed to Austin, which is where I had my most recent ablation (so far, so good!). They are wonderful there and they have this whole thing down to a well oiled machine. I couldn't believe how quiet the hospital was too - you could actually get a good night's sleep! You will be in good hands and likely, this will be your last ablby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is good to know - thanks, Jackie. As you know, I've also had concerns about a few supplements while on Eliquis. Most importantly is ginko biloba, and also Vitamin E. If you find any information on those and whether they are safe to take, I would love to see that. I would really like to get back on my supplement that has ginko in it, along with a number of other heart healthy supplemby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good for you, Murray. It can be a scary decison to make, but once you make it and follow through, you'll likely wonder why you didn't do it sooner. Good to know that the PVC's are not unusual to have afterwards, but can be managed wiht the right electroytes - not hard to do. When is the date? Of course, we will want to know how you are so we can stand on the side and chby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my annual cardiologist appt yesterday. My cardiologist, Dr. Cacci, said she had interviewed and then hired one of the doctors at St. Luke's, where I had my first ablation with Dr. Natale. That doctor had apparently either seen or heard of my LAA isolation ablation and had told Dr. Cacci about it (not knowing I was one of Dr. Cacci's patients), saying something about it being oneby tobherd - AFIBBERS FORUM