Go get'em Rich! Safe travels. TCAI/St. David's and Dr. Natale - the best care anywhere! It was 100 Sunday when I was there. If only my airline experience was half as positive as yours! But it doesn't matter when you get there and home safe in NSR. Andyby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've worn my mask every single night for 2+ years. I'm using a ResMed machine my insurance partially paid for. I believe that more important than the machine, is the fit and comfort of the mask itself. There are quite a few options available, and I think it's important to work with your sleep therapist to find the one that you are most comfortable with. Don't be shy about askiby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations. I know you’ve been fighting for approval for a long time. Nice little bonus is how easy the procedure is on you. I awoke, and other than the groin insertion site, I couldn’t tell anything had been done. Thank you Shannon for the reassuring words as I sit in Austin on the eve of my one year TEE!by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’m sorry to hear of these events happening to your family Jackie, but it sounds like things are much better now, and that’s great news. I hope their respective recoveries are full and rapid. And for your heart, what a test! Dr. Natale’s work and your taking such good care of it are a combination for continued remission, and such great news. I have had 2 of those stress triggering life events popby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth So you are saying that a 90 day supply of Eliquis costs $80 usually? I don't think that is bad Liz Yep, I am. And I agree with you, but $80 for 6 months is a lot better, and no pill cutting. And CVS appears to know what's going on and fills it as written, which is great.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
My new prescription benefits this year are provided by CVS Caremark (I grade them an A- thus far). I made the personal decision, with my well known EP's blessing, to take low dose (2.5 mg BID) Eliquis, despite no arrhythmias and a Watchman FLX. Insurance charges the same no matter the dosage. What my EP did for me was write the prescription in a way that reads, and I'm paraphrasby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've taken a course of it post ablation & Watchman with no issues.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey No, it's not required pre-ablation. A TEE is a pretty simple procedure with no discomfort whatsoever when done under general anesthesia, which is common practice in the US. They start an IV, knock you out with propofol, and you wake up 20 minutes later. That's it. Done. However, some places don't use anesthesia and just have you gargle a liquid that numbers the throat. Tby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey The TEE they did following my Watchman procedure found evidence of a PFO. As did mine. QuoteCarey I had several TEEs prior to that, none of which detected a PFO. Ditto. I did have quite infrequent ocular migraines with aura before I ever had an ablation, but not like I do now. My very first migraine with aura left me so visually impaired for about 90 minutes I had difficultby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had middle-aged ocular migraine onset in my 40s, before ablation and arrhythmia diagnoses, but likely had AFIB events at the time. After a couple of years they essentially disappeared. They returned with a vengeance after 2 ablations, and then again (months) after the Watchman implant. IIRC Natale believes they could be related to the transeptal puncture. I believe I've also seen that theby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good luck Louise, I know that must be anxiety inducing, but I've read that in time and as long as you religiously follow your regimen, all should resolve in your favor. I agree with a daily alarm on a phone every 12 hours. I also purchased and carry a small, watertight container for my key ring that holds a dose of every med I take. It's saved me on more than one occasion.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewhitehaven I was recently diagnosed with mild sleep apnea ……(AHI..10.6) Anyone out there with similar diagnosis and how were you treated ? Do you think it is relevant to be treated with a mild case if one is considering an ablation? I was diagnosed in an overnight sleep study after my first ablation failed, and literally days before my Natale ablation. My numbers were very similar asby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
All I can say is I found this site, through forum member ClayS, and that was the turning point in my afib journey. I endured a marathon almost 12 hour ablation in Indianapolis at IU Baptist. I had complications, and then not only did my afib reappear 6 weeks later, it brought along it's nasty little cousin tachycardia. 2 and a half months later I walked out of the best experience I havby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry to hear this. Hoping it stays away again and you won't need that visit. It feels good though knowing you have the ace in the hole.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Whether it works for you is another story. AIn't this the truth. If Forest Gump had afib, it's a certainty he would have been quoted saying something to the effect of QuoteLife is like a bottle of anti-arrhythmics - you never know what they're going to do to you. I was only on sotalol for 5 weeks, and it had no effect on episode frequency or length, but it didby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome to the club Teddy. 10,000 plus strong. Here's to your NSA lasting a lifetime.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I can certainly relate to the anxiety brought upon by afib. Benzodiazepines excel at hushing anxiety, but can cause their own problems, and they can be addictive. That said, I'll still take it if anxiety is an issue, and I'm thankful to have it available. I work out 6 days a week, but not at endurance levels, and I find exercise, diet and proper rest are the best tools to battle anxietyby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
One unsuccessful followed by one that was successful. The latter by Dr. Natale.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take 200mg 3x a day usually. My system is very tolerant of it, and I believe it, with taurine and potassium via my diet keeps my heart really quiet. That and all the great work done by Dr. Natale and the good folks in Austin.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had many many 8+ hour episodes for about 10 years prior to ever being diagnosed and on Eliquis, and had no events I am aware of. I suspect your LAA morphology and EF has a lot to do with whether or not there are clots that form.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Easy to say, but try and relax and never lose sight you are in the most capable hands at a phenomenal facility in a great city. The staff are just incredible people. Remember to get help lifting your carry-on luggage on the way home, and take it easy for the first week. Good luck to you.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack An Apple Watch, maybe? It’d be expensive and so don’t have any experience with it, though. It actually isn’t easy to get a rhythm strip while exercising. A heart rate, yes. You can just stop and take a quick radial pulse if nothing else. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, the AW might do the trick. An iPhone is a pre-requisite for an AW. There are several developers thby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCatherine LS V8 is growing old. Double check your LSV8 for magnesium. I believe most of us drink it for the potassium. I don’t see mag listed on the nutrition label. Also, many are intolerant of Stevia.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
This was my experience, specific to TCAI. Two other forum members here had theirs done the same morning as mine.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman Benzodiazepines are a BEAST. Getting off the Fentanyl Patch for chronic pain was a small adventure compared to Benzodiazepines. Be Careful. I've posted this before I think, but it's worth posting the link again: BENZODIAZEPINES: HOW THEY WORK AND HOW TO WITHDRAW I have a little history with this myself. If I had to choose again, I'd still take a benzby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Follow your cardiologist's advice, and also find and start a relationship with an electrophysiologist. Watch your alcohol intake, consider the supplements of magnesium and taurine and be sure you get plenty of potassium in your diet. Stay hydrated. And no matter what, get tested for sleep apnea, whether you think you have it or not. There is a direct relationship between obstructive sleep apby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've stayed at the Crowne Plaza every visit. Friendly, helpful staff, decent food and room service. Pappasitos and Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen both right next door with excellent Tex-Mex and seafood. Short Uber from the airport and to St David's. Solid, consistent wi-fi (use a VPN).by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Shannon for all you do for everyone. I’m grateful to the forum members, especially ClayS and Carey and all who contribute and educate and encourage. And of course also to all the great health care professionals and medical researchers, especially the awesome folks at TCAI and St. David’s in Austin.by AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
I eat as much of the fresh usual suspects as I can, and I supplement with low-sodium V8. Among these, bananas and about 4lbs of broccoli a week. While I'm somewhat consistent, no way I could do the warfarin thing, and when I was taking AC, I was extremely thankful for eliquis. I think we all have to make trade-offs and find trust when we can't completely verify the veracity of our supplby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome Walt. You'll find some friendly folks here as well as divergent opinions and sometimes passionately disparate beliefs. There are also some extremely intelligent and knowledgeable folks when it comes to afib and the heart and related issues. Keep reading and asking questions and you'll find yourself informed but you won't always find a concensus. Often times the path taken iby AB Page - AFIBBERS FORUM