You are right Pompom, our human bodies are amazingly adaptable machines. We would never have survived as a species so long had we not possessed such wide ranging overall adaptability from the micro to the macro level of both our physical and psychological forms. A good example of our adaptable nature in action that is common to most all of us Afibbers, is the process of electrical and structurby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear Gmperf! Don’t worry so about the rare clot forming on the Watchman device, the odds are very low, and at worse case they might put you back on a half dose of Eliquis longer term after confirming the initial clot is gone once you completed an initial course of full dose Eliquis with confirmed clot dissipation. In such a rare scenario, you would then, at the worse case, be backby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow Jackie, I’m so sorry you have been through the ringer since we last talked!! Our last chat was right when your son was recovering and I was hoping all would settle down in your household, but alas Richard too now with a very scary event! Thanks for letting us all know you have weathered all this stressful drama with a sable heart ... a real blessing indeed. Best wishes to your husband,by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes it does Colindo, Testosterone, Growth Hormone and Melatonin are all anabolic hormones (meaning tissue repair/restoration hormones) that help extend restorative sleep when used in normal physiological doses. Balanced hormone repletion is all about fine tuning one’s bio-physical symphony as one’s natural hormone balance begins to decline and often becoming decidedly imbalanced, not infreqby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would get a Watchman in your shows for sure McHale with LAA Isolation and with your documented TIA you shouldn’t have any issue getting approved. Be well! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi TSCO, Make sure you are under the care of an MD who is fellowship trained and certified in bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). That MD will know how to test you properly and titrate dosing for your body type to give you an optimal amount without excessive levels and without too low of a dosage to have the broad range of positive effects we’ll balanced replacement program canby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome Hwkmn05 When did you start AMIO and how old are you now? What was the reason your cardio or EP gave you for starting you on such a powerful AAR drug. AMIO should typically be used only in rare cases when there is no other way to control an intractable arrhythmia and even then typically for as short a time as possible. An exception some cardios and some clinical EPs will use AMIO forby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. John Day is a very straight shooter and a very fine man and an excellent clinical EP as well and a past president of the large EP-centric Heart Rhythm Society. He is also Director of Intermountain Medical Centers EP group in Utah that is a fine EP grioup that does a good deal of high quality Cardio/EP related research. And Dr. Day had his own real epiphany a bit less than a decade ago in howby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Very sorry to hear about your Mom McHale! You certainly insured she had a long and rewarding life! In your situation McHale, you can either go ahead and continue with a new three year term with a new LINQ, if you prefer it’s reporting and because it will catch all brief runs including at night during sleep, or since you are symptomatic and can tell when you have any runs of anything and you’vby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George, I recall now Barry is in Hong Kong. He should do well with Dr. Hocini if he needs a touch up. And PS, I’ve just finished a rough edit on my post above. Due to my ongoing problems with both hands/thumbs, these days I’m not able to type out messages very well and thus now resort often to using dictation, most often done in my car (otherwise known as my rolling office). And obviouby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barry, the Stereotaxis robotic system has made real advances over the last ten years, mostly it has found a home in VT ablation where it is even more suited than AFIB ablation. But some EPs like using it in AFIB ablation too. One advantage for the EP is less fluoroscopy exposure than even with wearing lead vests and skirts. However it is not as suited for tracking down and ablation of non-PV tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good to hear from you Barry. Where are you these days? There has been a consistent stream of improvements in the field over the last 5 to 10 years, both in terms of technology and, most importantly, with advances in the procedural steps and design via various refinements in technique. The issue still remains that not all operators are equally up to speed nor equally skilled and experiencedby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great to hear IDBill, I just returned from St Davids too! Wish I had known you were there this past week What day was your ablation? I was in the EP-Lab with Dr Natale most of each day this past Monday and Tuesday, donning the smock scrubs plus lead vest & apron watching close up as Dr Natale performed his usual magic with a handful of several challenging cases two of which were from our fby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gmperf and Brian_og, it’s likely because the general surgeons she consulted with to ask their opinion are going by the same very conservative rule of thumb on Eliquis, erring on the side of what they feel is iron clad assurance there won’t ever be a drop of extra blood from the procedure, when it’s quite likely they are not as familiar with using this bridging protocol from Scripps were they likeby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Smackman, best to roll with the punches a bit here. Watchman FLX will become easier in due time and when results from the latest several RCTs on Watchman coming out in next 6 to 12 months. You should then be able to get it before too much longer. You’ll be fine in the meantime, and it will all happen before too awfully long. Gmperf, sorry to hear of your specific issue at Scripps. I am not suby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
You are right Rich, once Madeline has an assigned date it’s hers. Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Madeline, You can get flights and hotels in Austin much faster than that currently. I’m going to Austin and St Davids this coming Saturday, June 1 for a meeting and a couple days there at St Davids and just bought my ticket and booked a near by hotel last Thursday less than a week ago. Hang in there, it’s not a big rush for you and it is absolutely worth whatever the wait is to put yourby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Louise, Propofol has less hang over effect than does midazolam (also known as Versed) which is a hypnotic with pronounced short-term amnesiac effects ... “So hey ... even if the patient is hurting or feel anxious during the procedure, if don’t recall anything, who is going to complain?? Or so the logic goes :-) If you need any more such procedures I suggest making a strong request for Propofolby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
True katesshadow, and as Carey noted that, in essence, elemental magnesium refers to the actual magnesium you get from a compounded magnesium supplement. The elemental magnesium portion of a given magnesium supplement is the actual magnesium percentage relative to a typically larger component of either mineral salts added or amino-acid chelate added (i.e. in your example "Glycinate"by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
So sorry to hear that Zoeysky2004, Welcome to Afibber’s Forum, and no one will blast you for sharing your experience. Can you give us more info about your AFIB history and how you came to select a mini-maze ablation procedure to begin with? Best wishes, Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
While there is ample evidence coffee can be good for you in relative moderation, and the preponderance of well-structured long term observational studies and meta-analysis I’ve read strongly suggests even a possible beneficial impact to coffee, at least in moderation, that is not associated with AFIB triggering. In my own long ago past experience, as well as what seems to be for legions of otherby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Gordon, I recall those days too, as I was just the 11th patient on which Dr Natale used the original irrigated Thermocool catheter when it was not yet fully FDA approved, but was ok’ed for human use by FDA under their investigative clinical trial protocol around 12 yrs ago now. And I haven’t had a single blip of actual AFIB since that index procedure as confirmed on my dual chamber pacer tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman I had a LAA isolation in July 2016. I am still on 2.5mg Eliquis twice a day. My velocity was fine. (LAA emptying velocity (Shannon) Here is part of my report from TEE in Austin. Left atrial appendage velocities of 59-60cm/sec Here is the kicker; Tall E Waves are noted. NO A WAVES are seen. Conclusions: 1. Normal left ventricular systolic function. 2. Normal left atrial aby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Madeline, Im sure the new wing will have the same overall address as St Davids Medical Center. I suspect that the discounted hotels key on either the St Davids Med Centers main address and likely also accept TCAI address as well when offering discounts for people having procedures there at St Davids. Just check in the St Davids a d TCAI websites and see what address they suggest for settingby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Lance, Had not heard of that long term complication possible with these mandibular repositioning devices. Do you know if there is any thing along the lines of a periodic switching to a different positioned brace that might help prevent a permanent resetting of the jaw to an undesirable position? Or any other maintenance protocol to lessen or eliminate this risk to address on-going withby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ha! Wolfpack ... We now know your blackmail trigger :-).. And I can imagine that septoplasty was no fun at all! Best wishes! Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
PS I believe this is your first ablation is that right Whitehaven? If so, the pre-ablation CT scan at St David’s that Carey mentioned above is typically reserved only for folks who have had a prior ablation and is used, in that case, to rule in or out any possible pulmonary vein stenosis that may have occurred during any prior ablations. There can be other reasons why they may want a CT done pre-by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Very good description Carey! And you really only have two key responsibilities once you arrive in Austin, Whitehaven. 1. Don’t be late! That includes for either your initial consult, which is typically the day before the ablation if you are on a single trip ablation schedule traveling from out of state. And especially don’t be late for your set arrival time at St David’s Cardiovascular Servby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes Whitehaven, It is a very good idea to treat OSA (obstructive sleep apnea), especially if you have AFIB. And some folks with mild to moderate OSA can do well by seeing a good biological dentist who specializes in making custom mouth peices designed for treating sleep apnea. And keep in mind, that these special OSA mouth pieces are not the same as the anti-teeth grinding mouth guards one can oby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Indeed Joe, and thanks for the link reminder George! Dr. Jonathan Kalman is a very good EP in Melbourne and you may well have have heard of him. He is very well respected and is a very nice man too boot! Dr. Kalman was part of some of the early FIRM investigations, like so many honest and thoughtful EPs interested in exploring the potential new technology, but he was quick to back away froby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM