QuoteCarey If your 6 week and 6 month TEEs are clear, there's really no reason to go back to Austin for another one. If they don't know of one, find them yourself. I would expect any large medical center will have cardiologists experienced with the Watchman, so just call and ask. I am expecting not to go back to Austin for the 6-mo one either, want to do it locally. You say toby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Pixie, I have PM'd you. QuotePixie Madeline, your post is so timely. I had my first ablation with Dr. Natale February 23, 2022…..Previously had 2 failed ablations with a local EP. September 29 I had a 12 minute touch-up ablation and a Watchman was implanted. He was very insistent that the first 2 TEEs needed to be done there. On November 29 I had my first TEE and the watchmanby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Susan, I have PM'd you. Quotesusan.d I’m told the 6 week TEE and the six month TEE after a watchman was required but the 12 month TEE is optional. I had a TEE during my ablation three days ago (at a few days shy of 10 months post watchman), my 6 week and 6 month TEE. IDK but all three shows it’s sealed. I don’t see the value of getting one the first week and a half in February.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I had my index ablation in 2019, got more flutter later & went back this year 2022 Aug & November. November they finished up an LAA that was started in August. I was supposed to have gotten a Watchman in November, but that did not happen then bec of too much inflammation after the completion of the LAA for accurate placement of the Watchman. Soon, I will go back for that Watchmaby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Note that some hospitals will only give you a numbing agent to gargle. You'll be wide awake for the whole thing as they stick a garden hose halfway down your esophagus. I wouldn't agree to such a procedure. Ha! Me neither!!! Thanks, should be all questions fully answered by now, sure you hope so :-) heh hehby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey You aren't intubated for a TEE but they do pass a scope down your esophagus so that's why the possible sore throat. I've had half a dozen TEEs and never a sore throat. If you do experience a sore throat, it will be a minor annoyance at most. It's no big deal. So what anesthesia is used for the TEE. Possibly having watchman with general anesthesia later in day.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don’t even know if we’re intubated for the ablations. Is it general anesthesia and is there a tube passing down the throat or is it just do an IV? And for the watchman procedure - the anesthesia and style there? Thanks! QuoteCarey You aren't intubated for a TEE but they do pass a scope down your esophagus so that's why the possible sore throat. I've had half a dozen TEEby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Carey, another question I just thought of is about anesthesia. Since I will have the TEE earlier in the day and then they told me if the results indicate, later the same day I would get the watchmen. I am told one can have a sore throat after the TEE. That has never happened to me after the anesthesia for the ablations, even the last time that I was in the hospital when I got pericardialby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since my 1st ablation was in 2019, I am well aware of reading here about elevated ht rate after ablation for possibly a yr or longer or none. Thing is, I never took my pulse before, so I had no idea if mine was elevated after the first ablation. I do know one thing - you & I are different with re to pulse - pulses in high 80s definitely make me feel bad, racy, can feel the rapid ht beat, anby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, I actually have a few questions. One, I usually tend to have a higher than comfortable for me pulse rate (80s to high 80s & even to 90+sometimes). Maybe partly due to having a total thyroidectomy 17 yrs ago & hard to regulate. I am also wondering if one will go through that long period again of higher than normal pulse rates after a 2nd ablation, which was 3 yr after first bby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jackie, I have thought about replying to you many times regarding the sleep products. I just keep getting caught up with other stuff and forgetting. I am not usually on this general forum and I just happened to look at it today and saw your message about melatonin. For many many years I have been well aware of 0.5 mg of melatonin as recommended by a doctor to me. It doesn’t matter what the dosby Madeline - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Great post Carey. So reassuring to hear complete stories like this. I got the pericardial effusion recently & had pericardiocentesis right away & have been experiencing more fatigue than I did on initial ablation. I also have had the stabbing chest tightness recur a few times since returning home & not being on the colchicine anymore, but the St. David's nurses are handling itby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hmm, years ago before I had any idea that I had A-Fib, while just having a filling or something simple at the dentist, I got jittery and light and teary scared feeling and the dentist realized that I should not have something in the anesthetic which I guess was epi & he told me that whatever the other med was that they used just might not last as long. That of course scared me thinking that aby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
My experience was like George's. Expensive, noted no difference. But maybe it is the whole combo that works - like Jackie takes. Melatonin even 0.5 mg gives me a hangover in the morning (like Benadryl/diphenhydramine would do - does not agree with me. A senior dose sleeping pill, however, gives me no side effects that I can feel! I vary my magnesium types & now taking Jigsaw Maby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJayBros When I was in the process of being scheduled for my Watchman in Feb of this year, Dr. Natale's scheduler told me they would not schedule it until they had received approval from all insurance companies that they would cover the procedure. As part of completing the preliminaries I was even interviewed by a physician from St. David's, a doctor who does not do the procedure, aby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, Briefly I have to go back to TCAI in a few months & have a TEE & if my function of my left atrial appendage is not adequate, I will have to have a Watchman put in then too. I seem to remember Carey talking about specific issues only for coverage by ins so far with regard to Watchman, not like anyone can have one put in. Thanks. I will check in again soon.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am having my 2nd Natale ablation this Tuesday, 8/2, this time for flutter. My 1st ablation was for afib & in 2019. I have had 3 moderate flutter episodes since the blanking period. Would have gone for "touchup" sooner (after 2nd flutter episode), but the pandemic had started & people were much less secure about any sort of travel, so I put it off. I was able to get off blooby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George. I have done that but I just wondered if anyone had a place to recommend as well.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, Last ablation in 2019, we found a super convenient AirBNB around the block from St. David's practically. It was comfy & convenient, but it stays booked up & I am looking for another. the problem is that by the time you find out you have dates to go get procedure, it is not far enough ahead to book easily. I don't really know what areas to look in - names of neighborhooby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib The Cardeviloil wiped me out, the most I could take was 6.25 BID. I didn't get low BP, but just extreme lethargy and fatigue. If it was me, I would just take the dose of Carvedilol at 6.25 dose I was comfortable at, and then if needed, add another type of rate control drug called a Calcium Channel Blocker (Diltiazem). The Diltiazem can also lower blood pressure, so you woby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, Not sure what is gping on with me. About 3 weeks ago my carvedilol was raised from 6.25 mg BID TO 12.5 BID. I think kind of for insurance til I get flutter ablation. I had flutter May15th. This was the third time of flutter since my afib ablation 8/2/19 so finally decided to go ahead and schedule “touch up “ablation with Natale. My cardiologist said to keep it at this double doby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have had atrial flutter 3 times in the 3 years since my A-Fib ablation. The first episode was so close to the end of the blanking period, just 27 days past it, that I did not know if we had to count it. The next episode was 8 months after ablation & I would have gone then for the "Touchup ablation" by Natale, but COVID stopped me. The last episode was May 15, 2022, 3 months shoby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey This varies from place to place. My Eliquis comes from Walgreens in the manufacturer's sealed bottles. Although the pharmacy puts their prescription label over the manufacturer's label and it always shows a 1-year expiration date, I can still see the manufacturer's expiration date, which is what I follow plus a year or two. But I'm pretty careful about keeping drugsby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wonder how on earth you get the pharmacy to give you the mfg's bottle, i.e., unless you are getting the whole amount in the bottle instead of a 1-mo supply or such. I can't imagine the flack I would get if I asked for that. I have enough trouble getting the mfg I want for certain scripts & also having the scripts transferred to another store if the dr called it in & I wantedby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Was just remembering I need to know certain things pre-ablations: isn't it one month minimum of being on a blood thinner before ablation? Also here is a bit more info on that Xarelto: the script was for 8/5/20 & on the bottle it said use before 8/5/21 (the latter of which I was counting as the expiration date). I only have 11 pills. Should I toss or take? I don't want to mby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey I would leave at least the normal dosing time between the two. So 12 hours for Eliquis and 24 hours for Xarelto. For example, if you take your last Eliquis on a Monday morning, I wouldn't start the Xarelto until Monday evening. And if you take your last Xarelto on a Monday morning, I wouldn't start the Eliquis until Tuesday morning. Thank you.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, but I wasn't too worried about expiration. So it is no problem also to finish out the Xarelto in the middle of my Eliquis? What I mean is I started older Eliquis samples when I got flutter & I have a script for new Eliquis I am filling. But I also have 2 wk worth of Xarelto I took a few years ago to finish as well. I thought I might finish the Eliquis sample thru June, then fby Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have a quick question please: I recently started some old Eliquis samples (recently expired) & I also have about 14 Xarelto pills (also expired). Before I start my newly filled Eliquis, may I finish off the Xarelto pills 20 mg once a day, then go back to Eliquis 5 mg b.i.d.? Thank you.by Madeline - AFIBBERS FORUM