Since October 2013 all saved to the Cloud-All just analyzed with their new algorithm to detect AFIB. Pleased to say 0 -ZERO- NADA AFIB! My Heartfelt Thanks to the Maestro and Shannon Natale Ablation May 28, 2013 McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Barb, I'm living Life or rather working my butt off between my day job in IT and my running my small business for 37 years now and taking care of my ailing MOM. For what reason I do this and stress myself out is a mystery to me as it's not like I need to put kids thru college or sustain an extravagant lifestyle. I'm just old school maybe a psychotic workaholic.....and squeeze iby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb, I had two silent strokes or TIA's I never knew about prior to my TIA Labor day weekend 2012 . I only found out about these after my brain MRI/MRA they did after they rushed to the ER that day and the subsequent scan the next day. Marvelous. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Neither antiarrhythmic drugs nor catheter ablation decrease the risk of stroke in afib β they are designed to control symptoms caused by the abnormal heart rhythm. Walid Saliba, MD, director of the atrial fibrillation center at the Cleveland Clinic, says, βThe aim of any treatment for atrial fibrillation is to reduce the burden of the arrhythmia β the frequency, impact and symptoms β and improveby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
A few light beers are fine, I enjoy a few every weekend! Natale told me all in moderation! Enjoy yourself, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
I just spoke to an ER nurse on Staten Island I've been sort of dating, many GI bleeds, surprisingly mostly all from NSAIDS just a few from the newer thinners. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Anti-AFIB, Are you insinuating that Dr Natale is a creepy EP that took me on the spot to make money? I diligently did the magnesium thing and everything else to try to stem the tide and I had a STROKE!!! Ever been on the other side of a stroke looking looking out, not being able to speak and looking at your computer screen at the gibberish you just typed........after spending 3 years foolingby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb, Silent GERD is very common, affects about 50 million Americans. I had erosive esophagitis years back probably due to my partying lifestyle.... last endoscopy was normal just maybe some very mild inflammation noted. Will be going in soon for both ends, as soon as I find another GI who took off to the Mid-West unexpectedly. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Atrial stretching and fibrosis from too much AFIB will increase your LA diameter. Mine went from 3.9,4.1,4.3 to eventually 4.5cm, then stroked out! As for ablation-Here's how's it done;get diagnosed, then wait to long while on FLEC, worry your mind silly every time your heart goes haywire, wondering when it'll stop, year after year, try every supplement, convince you're yoby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Tom, Good to hear all is well with your heart. Eventually no matter how many lifestyle and diet changes we make an ablation is needed to reset the heart. We all seemed to have gone the ablation route on here. Best, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
MaryRae, If you are in persistent afib you should not be on Multaq. The rules have changed since this drug was introduced. MULTAQ is contraindicated in patients in atrial fibrillation (AFib) who will not or cannot be cardioverted into normal sinus rhythm. In patients with permanent AFib, MULTAQ doubles the risk of death, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
tsco, I actually don't worry about it, maybe the stroke I had had something to do with it? There's some folks here who waited too long and now have extensive scarring/fibrosis and compromised flow velocity from the LAA so life long blood thinners unless you opt for a closure device. I spoke to Natale about the burns compromising atrial function and he assured me there is no evidenceby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
And, tell me, how is making 60 burns in the left atrium, done to isolate areas that may or may not be driving AF, a good therapy? Go tell that to the Marines........ Natale and his AFIB free patients. Gosh Dr Mandrola knows nothing on how to cure this beast....... McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good to hear as you had the utmost confidence in Dr Hao! I'm sure it's one and done from another great EP. Best, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Natale told me DIY is the best way to check for AFIB when in doubt; for me it's the wrist so simple to feel that steady pulse. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Someone spray painted Clapton is God in an underground railroad years ago in London Town and his Legend grew...............Need to go spray paint something near St Luke's in New York City on West 116th Street subway station.......Does Texas have a subway? McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, As you know I don't have time to do what Bears do in the woods......... But you make some good points but an overnight sleep study is not on my list of favorite things to do...... I need a stress test first, then a endoscopy/colonscopy which is a little overdue, now that's fun...the propofol at least! Oh yea.... a meniscus tear too I just remembered for 7 months now I needby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Gary, Good to hear and NSR forever. I met Natale May 28, 2013 for the first time at 12:30pm here in New York City St Luke's, consulted for 45 mins, he asked me if I had free time this afternoon, he then ran to grab the anesthesia team, came back out after a while and gave me the thumbs up while I was out by the elevators on my iPhone, I waived him to come over, told him you have a pby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
CPAP hasn't stopped or slowed my apnea even before my ablation. After Natale ablated me 14 months ago I've been trying to be compliant but this is what I've noticed: A) Higher heart rates and higher blood pressure with overnight treatment w CPAP. when waking for ex higher BP 137/86 93HR and BP 132/87 78HR a few nights ago using CPAP The last 2 mornings HR was 66 and blooby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, Great job especially under the circumstances with the fires and all. As discussed it's no fun being on the other side of a TIA but we both bounced back right away. Keep your spirits up and good luck with your upcoming procedure. Talk Soon, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Afib has been around forever, was considered just a nuisance not that long ago according to many I know who worked for cardiologists! McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
I waited 4 years and tried everything, wanted a FIRM ablation but had a stroke. Then Shannon sent Natale to NYC one May 28 last year and after meeting the Maestro for 45 mins he asked me if I had some free time this afternoon......??????....sure I said with a dumb smile, what's on your mind......and off I went to OZ and got ablated by The Man! No hesitation just elation as I walked past Natby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan, All sounds normal, just part of the healing process. My heart took a full 11 months to actually quiet down almost totally! So you ran in Natale in a NYC restaurant here in the city.......and what was the good doctor doing here again..... McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Oz Bob, Yep go get a overnight sleep study, if you snore and miss a breath you're gasping for air and you need to see how far below 90% your O2 levels fall and what your AHI (Apnea Hypopnea Index) is per hour; I'm sure your wife has noticed this. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow that is an amazing story and just puts an exclamation mark on why you should seek out the BEST! Everything reconnected just boggles my mind, Natale's reconnections are almost zero and he uses high isoproterenol to challenge his ablation lines. The good doctors at Bordeaux are also at the top, you picked the BEST. Those Shannon Sedona styled pep-talk pep talks is what I needed as I wasby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb, No fears as we all know Natale is the man. Enjoy your time in Texas, Dennis tells me its a great town minus all the chaos of New York City. Send him my greetings. Best to you, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
I just stopped my Xeralto about a week ago, just felt the last month my heart has really settled into a nice rhythm with no pacs /pvs. Dr Natale told me that I can come off after about a year after my ablation if I carefully monitor myself which I have been doing. It wasn't a conscious decision , just skipped a few doses at first then decided to stop altogether. I can always use it as a PIPby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
afarpr14, Pardon my grammar and typos I corrected; damn shouldn't post when the ambien is hitting my brain! I met Steinberg too for a consultation, very thorough in looking over my medical records and actually gave me a physical with a stethoscope.However too robotic and didn't care to interact with me while I was talking to him for the 20 mins he was looking over my records. Told meby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was getting a fair amount of extra beats and pacs/pvc's the first 11 months, on and off every 2 weeks or weekly; been under lots of stress. Don't want to jinx it but the last 6 weeks all is very calm. It actually might take the the heart a whole year to calm down after an extensive ablation. I'm still on 25 mg Tropol, my choice as my HR has been in the 80's and to help keepby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes Natale came to personally ablate me at St Luke's at the request of Shannon I was one of his first ablatees here at St Luke's and with my heavy Queens NY accent and his Italian accent it was some dialogue I recorded! Dennis and Barb who I've had the pleasure of meeting also followed my lead as did others. Yes he set up shop here in May of last year 2013 as the executive direby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM