Great to hear it all went fine Barb as we discussed prior to the Watchman FLX install. And a low dose of Eliquis is quite benign so nothing really to worry about. In my book, it is a smart decision to go for a half dose of Eliqius plus the Watchman, especially for us somewhat older folks, mainly to help minimize any risks for a systemic stroke or TIA not related to LAA/AFIB-only embolic events wby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
(Continued ....) For those of you who might wish to further explore the incredible adventure of Immunology, beyond this introductory 40minute and 30 second interview with Dr. Crotty, you can also find even more in-depth videos with him on YouTube. These kinds of videos usually include 3 or 4 additional immunologist or virologists with Dr Crotty often as the key speaker for the entire sessiby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Afibbers! It is our pleasure to share with you all a new video that can be found in our video links area within the 'LEARN' section of our redesigned website. Interview with Professor Shane Crotty Ph.D. from La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Shannon Dickson All things 'AFIB' and related topics have been, and remain, our prime focus of course. And yet, over theby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tom, A bit more nuanced question a patient might ask the EP prior to the procedure is: 1. "If you are at a teaching hospital, consider confirming if your primary ablation EP will be the only operator inside your heart (inside the right and left atria) during the procedure" Actually, whether it is a teaching hospital or a front-line elite-level ablation center, for peace of minby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm just picturing my pal George out shoveling mounds of snow at <10 degrees in his short shorts :-)))! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many thanks George, it is very much appreciated! And our heartfelt thanks to those of you who have continued to support our efforts here to keep Afibbers.org going as a Non-Profit 501(c)3 entity. Best wishes to all of our Afibbers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi NLAMA Long time no hear! And yes, using the co-enzymated form of B6 is paramount (and really using the co-enzymatic form, (when available is usually best for most B vitamins) ... even though most prior older references imply that only about 30% of folks have an innate enzymatic deficiency that negatively impacts and prevents said ~30% of folks from properly processing and thus convertinby Shannon - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Hi Tom, I believe you've got the numbers backward on the likelihood of one's LAA emptying velocity at the 6th month mark after LAA Isolation being more likely to not need life-long anticoagulation or not needing a Watchman or other LAA occlusion/ligation device installed ... thus the correct answer is that the ~60% odds number reflects those who did NOT pass the 3-step testing procesby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome Roger to our Afibbers Forum! And thanks for posting your interesting long journey with AFIB, to-date. It sounds like you have a strong physical constitution, and I noted your report of 10 full years being on Amiodarone during one long stretch from late 1989 through 1999. I'm just curious, did you ever experience any related side-effects or physical signs from AMIO during that 10yrby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Tony for posting Mellanie's message from StopAFIB.org. on this important CMS Ablation reimbursement issue. We are submitting directly to CMS a similar statement and appeal this weekend from 'The AFIB Report, A Non-Profit Corporation' on behalf of all of us Afibbers.org folks as well. And if you wish, please feel free to send your own personal appeal as a private indivby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
For those looking for a few of Dr. Natale's protege's, below are a handful of names to choose from, off the cuff. Dr. Pasquale Santangeli - University of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Dr. Luigi DiBiase - Director of Complex Arrhythmia - Montefiore Medical Center - the Bronx NYC Dr. D.J. Lakkreddy - Director of Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute Dr. Amin al-Ahmad - TCAI - St. Davidsby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
For those wanting a list of Dr. Natale's EP proteges who are very experienced in cardiac ablation in their own right ... Below is an off-the-cuff few names. Dr. Pasquale Santangeli ... Univ. of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia Dr. Luigi DiBiase ... Director Complex Arrythimia - Montefiore Medical Center NYC Dr. D.J. Lakkireddy ... Director - Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Mid-Wesby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's right Tom, The reason some folks who have had an initial prior ablation with another EP, and are now getting a follow-up Natale ablation and are thus required to also get a CT scan prior to their Natale ablation, is solely to rule out any possible pulmonary-vein stenosis from the prior ablation, before Natale has started any work on a given new patient. Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
You'll do just fine Tom ... and the sooner the better! Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sounds good Tom, Though sorry for the second round trip ... however as you noted, with Dr. N, you can count on him always giving you his best advice. At least now, going forward if you do need a follow up procedure for Atypical left flutter as is certainly still possible, you can be dang sure you really need it!! Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dear Afibbers, It is that time of year again to remind you all of the excellent annual 'Get in Rhythm. Stay in Rhythm.' Atrial Fibrillation Patient Conference ... hosted by Mellanie True Hills, and staff at Stop-Afib.org. Once again, due to the pandemic, this year's conference will be held virtually from August 6 - 8 from the comfort and ease of your own homes and computer scby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear KleinKp!! Not surprising at all, but it's always super to hear . Thanks for the recent call as well and nice to catch up with you good news!! 👍👍 Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glad to hear it's quieting down some now Tom! And that July 7th date with 'Da Man' in Austin will be here before you can say 'Booo'. Over these next 4 weeks or so just remember my favorite mantra 'This Too Shall Pass' ... it really will fly by. Be well, Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great Report Ralph! And thanks for being the first Afibber that I know of from our forum and website that has volunteered as a pioneer for recent your index ABL using PAF ablation!. The great news so far from a growing list of very robust trials on Microburst Electroporation (Pulse Field Ablation) across the EU, US, Canada, and other countries now, has been super promising indeed! And yeby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ralph, Thanks for the inquires and you'll be in the best possible hands with your PFA -based ablation in Austin as apart of the Medtronic trial on Pulse Field Ablation (the technology is also called 'Electroporation') and there are quite a few past posts from me and a good number of other posters as well over the last few years on this very exciting and very promising new tecby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
That Medtronic unit sounds like a viable option Susan. Definitely do the research, and obviously that includes confirming that the model# of this custom gold-plated Medtronic pacer is set up for the precise functions your heart might need, in addition to being gold-plated, and let us know what you find out. Sending best wishes to you Susan, Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Agree Susan, tegaderm bandage is a good idea with a ZIO patch if a connection problem preventing it from good adherence on the skin arises. Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear from you Getz!! And super to hear your outstanding progress report :-) I'm just now at my 14th year without a single beat of AFiB from my index ablation with the very same maestro hands as you have enjoyed and benefited from so well! Best wishes and do visit again from time to time! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Super Steve! That ten year mark of post ABL sustained NSR always feels great! ... nothing beats steady durable NSR!! Enjoy my friend! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
This post is mostly for those of you who might well benefit greatly from LAA Occlusion/Ligation, keep in mind that the Atriclip spring also is based on nitinol, and as Carey noted above, nitinol is 'nearly' ideal for the vast majority of folks who could potentially benefit from LAA Occlusion/Ligation. And in fact, I had a direct experience with what to me seemed to be a possible alleby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good Friday morning all, Circling back to our discussion above on LAA occluder/ligation devices from above, The Wavecrest LAA Occluder is now on hold and at a recent review board meeting it seems that the consensus is that the design is so similar to a Watchman design and due to the excellent results over the last couple of years with the new Watchman-FLX that there now simply may not be anyby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear Tom! I've missed hearing from you, and most often that's often a good sign that things are going well! Best wishes with you being done with it all now going forward! Cheers! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Carey, The other similar device to the Watchman series I believe you are thinking of is the Amplatzer Amulet LAA Occluder. It has been around as long as the original Watchman, perhaps even a bit longer, and it has gone through a number of improved iterations as well over the years. The Amulet has been more commonly used and approved outside of the US in past years ... and I'm noby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Folks The forum should be working pretty smoothly now... as the fundamental conflict between having a lot of much older instances of original 'HTTP' still floating around our forum servers, that wasn't playing nice with the new secure version of HTTPS, has largely been resolved. And yes, it would have been infinitely easier to have blown up the original website and startby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is a test post ... Shannon ...................................................... Yippee!! It seems to be working again!!!by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM