I have used a Tens unit for years for Chronic back pain. Never a issue.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
2. Doppler A-Wave into the Mitral Inflow - the doppler A-Wave of blood flow measured at the mitral valve inflow from the LAA outflow directly above and vertically perpendicular to the horizontal oriented mitral valve opening ... must show a Consistently Robust A-Wave amplitude beat by beat ... it is not okay to stop a blood thinner if the A-wave is largely absent or with an irregular A-wave ampliby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Once my AFIB started, It NEVER left without CARDIOVERSION. Now maybe I was bouncing in and out of AFIB and ignored it but the previous years before 2011 I had several RF burnings on my nerve endings due to a back injury and never once was I in AFIB.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I actually had to “depart ways” with my local Cardiologist over my LAA being isolated and other disagreements my Cardiologist had with Austin. I did not get into a big knock down with my Cardiologist but IMO he is way out of his league. I need to find me a EP in my area but that is difficult in this rural area. I am doing great but I need somebody locally who does not take it personally when Iby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am on 2.5 mg of Eliquis 2X a day. This decision was made after my Tee in Dec. 2016. My LAA was isolated in June of that same year. Everything on my TEE was good except no A waves on mistrial inflow. 2.5 mg of Eliquis is the same price as 5 mg tablet. I need to have injections for my back but I have to stop Eliquis for 3 days; No if ands or buts from this Pain Management Clinic. I also acquireby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bottom line: Closing the donut hole will simply reduce costs in the Coverage Gap. Those who end up in that payment stage will still have to pay 25% of the cost of medications. Last updated: 09-10-2019by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
To say Medicare covers the Watchman is “almost” a fallacy because the stringent requirements that must be met for approval is extreme. I worked with Austin to try and get Medicare to approve but it became such a cluster I gave up after around 3 month. Without writing a book I can promise you it is not simple to get Medicare approval. I was told if I had a previous stroke, That would be to my adby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteGeorgeN How did you find out about a Clinical Trial with Dr. Natale? I cannot have a watchman installed because of stringent Medicare requirements. I absolutely despise anticoagulants because of bruising, skin being easy to tear etc. IF a clinical trial comes up again I would love to know the inside lottery of knowing about it and being chosen. There is a list of all clinical trialsby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteAB Page I’m in a clinical trial along with a couple others here, having had the Watchman FLX implanted in the summer of ‘18. I believe we all had our LAA’s electrically isolated by Dr. Natale. It’s been a very safe procedure and apparently effective too. I believe the complication rates so far show an improvement over the current Watchman being used in the states, which itself is very safe aby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey And if you do take Miralax don't take it with Gatorade or any other sports drink containing food coloring. Water only. Food colorings will stain your gut and give the endoscopist a lot of false indications. It's only red/purple liquids that need to be avoided. The green version of Gatorade would be okay. However, I'd recommend against Gatorade anyway because it'by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d everyone is different. One advise may not cover the target audience. Where there is smoke there is fire.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lay off the Benzodiazepines. They are so addicting. I have been titrations for 2 years slowly off Klonopin. It is a Bastard but I will kick this. I wish Ihad never seen a Benzo. Worry and fear will cause ectopics. I had ectopics for a year after my second ablation where my LAA was isolated. NOW, I am doing great and realize that fear was causing a lot of my ectopics. Fear and checking my Heart eby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d I can’t get brand name of Prilosec anymore since November 2017 when they stopped making Rx brand. I don’t do well with generic so I fly overseas and buy a year at a time of Losec. Losec is being sold. I wonder if they are dumping because of zantac? I got 13 months stockpiled left. You are saying OTC brand name Prilosec does not work the same as prescription Prilosec? I undersby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Most individuals drink water that has a known carcinogen in it called TTHM. It is very expensive to filter out. TTHM,s are attached to H2O but release when the water is sanitzed with Chlorine. My point is so many things contain carcinogens we are not aware of to most normal laymen. Drinking Bottle water does not necessarily mean that these Halogens have been removed because it takes a special caby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Taken Gabapentin for years for nerve pain. Has no effect on AFIB and zero help with anxiety. Be very careful taking Benzodiazepines. They are highly addictive and Hell to kick. This unfortunately is from experience. ☹️by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My resting heart rate was approximately 85 bpm after 1st and 2nd Ablation. It went down to mid 60’s after 6 months. Last Natale Ablation was 2016. I have also learned that Fear and Anxiety are your enemies. Do not check your Heart rate every 30 minutes!by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bourbon on the Rocks does not induce AFIB in me. I have had 2 Ablations with last in summer 2016. Now I drink in moderation (2 fingers American style). Love my Maker Mark or Woodford Reserve in moderation.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Low T treatment is a Godsend to me. My anxiety level has dropped big time and I am enjoying life again. I am very close to retiring my anxiety drugs that have possessed my life since early 2012. Klonopin being the worse by far. NEVER start on any Benzos especially long term. They are HELL to kick. I am on the downside of the mountain.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteggheld Ask your Urologist about the 3 month Testosterone implants for steady levels. Medicare pays for it if you have Hypogonadism. Have you discussed the uptake and bleeddown of your TRT shots with your physicians? That curve could get scary. The implant would require being off blood thinner and aspirin which is a no no for me.Also, many men on a reputable Testosterone forum do not givby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch My dosage was 200mg/ml every 14 days. I looked back at my numbers from 2016 and they were very similar to what they are today. Free T was 6.4 ng/dl and my Total "T" was 211 ng/dl. Only difference was my doc thought that was low at the time. I'm going to seek out a new doc. My dosage is actually 80mg/ml every 10 days.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoterocketritch My dosage was 200mg/ml every 14 days. I looked back at my numbers from 2016 and they were very similar to what they are today. Free T was 6.4 ng/dl and my Total "T" was 211 ng/dl. Only difference was my doc thought that was low at the time. I'm going to seek out a new doc. That is very low. Low enough to make you feel miserable in many ways. My total T was 76by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
.4 cc is a LOW dosage every 10 days but it works for me and my RBC count is fine as my Physician checks it every 6 months. Also169 is extremely low. The best way to control low T is with a patch but it is very expensive so I do the shots myself or my wife administrates it. Everyone is different and I feel taking shots 3x a week is IMO excessive. No Physician where I live would approve this.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take s Testosterone shot every 10 days. I have been doing this over a year Doctor supervised. My dosage I take every 10 days is .4 cc/ml. I inject with a size 23 needle in my butt as directed to. Actually my Beautiful Wife does the injection. My last test showed my T was 769. It was below 200 before I started the injections. I am 61 and it has worked miracles in “MANY WAYS” for me. The shotby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I tried to get approved I was told that Watchman procedure is Very Expensive and this is why many insurance companies will struggle with approval of the Watchman. This was from Austin also. I am on Medicare....,by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
You had a successful Ablation in summer 2016 right? Why would you worry about pacs etc.? Anyway I took prednisone before my second Ablation with no issue. I know there is no guarantee of AFIB not returning but for now I have moved on with Life and stopped dwelling on AFIB negative thoughts. It’s not worth the Anxiety/Stress. Life is good and good luck with your Poison ivy. I have had it and sterby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was not approved for the Watchman procedure. Your Chads Score has to be 3 and above. They say mine is 2. Honestly, That is the first time anyone has given me a Chad’s score. Here is the explanation; Mr. Hayes: I left you a voice message earlier today on home number- I was unable to reach you on cell phone- line was constantly busy. I have reviewed your records again with my manager who doeby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I will definitely put it on hold because there are possibilities I could have test run to see if I qualify and Medicare could refuse to pay for these test. For instance, A Echo Cardiogram. I had a couple years ago but these might not be adequate due to the age of these test 6+ years ago. That is one example. Anyway, We are headed on a Alaskan Cruise so Life is good. Also, It was emphasized toby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been working with Austin to see if I can get approved for the Watchman. It really has been a nightmare so far. They cannot even find my 2013 visit/consultation with Dr. Natale or a lot of my records they should have from the past. I keep getting told it is a extremely expensive procedure and Medicare is very hard with the criteria that has to maybe be approved. This has been ongoing for 2by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have never found any actual triggers with the exception of stress, Anxiety. I do my best to not let my Anxiety ramp anymore. I have been detoxing off Klonopin for 18 months. I am down from 4 mg a day to .75 mg daily. Benzodiazepines are a BEAST to stop. It is 3x worse than sch 2 narcotics IMO. My goal is to have this Klonopin gone before Jan 2020. You have to make small cuts slowly. Never stby smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM
George How in the Hell did you sleep with your mouth shut with tape? LOL You must be a sound sleeper. I have to wear a full face mask for CPAP therapy because I am a mouth breather. It took me months to find a mask I could comfortably sleep with and now I cannot sleep without it.by smackman - AFIBBERS FORUM