The goal of many medical procedures is to make you more comfortable, and to extend your life. Doctors and nurses spend a lot of time asking their patients how they feel, what doesn't feel right, what hurts,...? They can often ameliorate those symptoms and reduce anxiety and make people calmer and sleep better...win/win/win. The stress response that comes as a result of injury, whether realby gloaming - AFIBBERS FORUM
Incidentially, found that Apple watch also has a utility to "Track one's AFb history and log triggers". @ cary, thanks for the well wishes. The Dear Wife is trying to get another cardioversion while we wait for Cleveland to schedule a catheter ablation (two to three months). We met with Dr. Wazni, who trained under Dr. Natale when he was at Cleveland.by Searching9 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I hope your consult with Natale yields a way forward for you. I'm sure it probably will because that's what he does.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, my 'average' daily burden is 20%. However, when looking at the monitor report, it is very nocturnal, and my nighttime burden is very high. If I actually look at daytime vs nightime, it is much higher than 20%. I have a telemedicine appt on 4/29 with Natale and have been trying medications to address it with little success.by MeganMN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a stroke before the NOACs,came out, I've been on Xarelto 20mg for about 11 years now, getting the Watchman by Natale next week. Why were you on only 15mg, I thought 20mg was the standard dose for AFIB.......by McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quoteswhanson Having finally recd an accounting of my Oct '23 ablation at St David's in Austin, I am curious about other's experience. The "unnegotiated" (cash) total hospital services price (not including doc's bills, which in comparison were minimal) was about $286K. Of course, the negotiated amount, $55K, actually paid by Ins (BCBS) was unrelated to the cash priby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotetvanslooten I have suffered from insomnia for years (almost two decades now). After sleep studies, medicines, etc. etc. I finally found something that gives me decent relief - CBD oil! I've been taking CBD nightly now for two years but now I'm on Eliquis in preparation of my second Natale ablation and I'm not sure if I can continue the CBD. I've done some initial reseaby hds - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey GeorgeN, I see your still here old friend........are you still doing the supplemental regimen keeping the BEAST at bay or did you finally get ablated....? Yes Sir Shannon is also one of a kind...priceless, and you provide great support yourself as does Carey. Part 2 of my AFIB journey was March 1 2016, Natale fit me in right before his EPLive 2016 Texas Arrhythmia presentations and hisby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, I do think I am lucky that I am his patient and maybe should proceed, I just hope I am not being too proactive too early on! I am glad yours was a success! And you are just down the road from me, Katy, Tx....by Fuzzyduck - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMcHale Shannon calls about a 6 months later right before Labor Day Weekend and tells me Natale is in New York, he's opening up three brand new state of the art EP labs at Saint Lukes in Manhattan. He knows all about you and is waiting to see you this coming week. Shocked he tells me you always said if only Natale was closer you'd get ablated. Yes, Natale is wonderful, but the qby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I experienced proximal atrial fibrillation for several months. For me an events could be dilatating but would self-correct. While my doctor diagnosed arrhythmia, had extreme difficulty documenting an event on a monitor or an EKG. Finally, had an event and went straight to my EP cardiologist and was able to capture the event on an EKG. Had an ablation with Natale in March 2011 and event freeby JAYHAWK - AFIBBERS FORUM
Daisy, Nice to hear! Natale is simply the Best I look forward to seeing him again! My story quick,12 years ago I had a (stroke) TIA micro-vascular last about 15 minutes where I couldn't speak at work. I was going in and out of AFIB pretty regularly by this time, flecainide was barely working anymore Multaq failed me so I knew I was screwed. Shannon calls about a 6 months later right beby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
That makes sense. Thank you!by Fuzzyduck - AFIBBERS FORUM
I can speak only for me, but if your burden, and its effects on you these days, is minimal and not objectionable, then you probably have the luxury of time....for now. I would wait for the least intrusive and debilitating procedure, but given by arguably the best EP this side of the North Pole.by gloaming - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMcHale Gotcha! Understood, his office called it a redo or touch-up ablation, my last ablation was 8 years ago. I did have that 4-5 day 110BPM flutter 3 years ago and my chest implant LINQ did catch a brief a few episodes. Yes it's good practice, I'm totally confidant with Natale My situation was similar and pre-procedure they termed it as a probable touchup plus Watchmen. I haby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gotcha! Understood, his office called it a redo or touch-up ablation, my last ablation was 8 years ago. I did have that 4-5 day 110BPM flutter 3 years ago and my chest implant LINQ did catch a brief a few episodes. Yes it's good practice, I'm totally confidant with Natale Thanks, McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, that is a helpful response!by Fuzzyduck - AFIBBERS FORUM
An episode lasting 44 hours pretty much removes all doubt that you have afib and it's not going to go away. If you postpone the ablation to wait for monitor results, the results might come back clear simply because no afib occurred during the week or two you had the monitor. But that doesn't mean you don't have afib and it almost certainly will return. You didn't say when in Aby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey, Actually it is a standard protocol with Natale to have a touch-up or redo ablation right before a Watchman is installed to check for any atrial arrhythmias that still might be lingering from prior ablations. McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'll try to be brief, but in November I ended up in ER with Afib which I had had for 44 hours. I was chemically converted. It is possible I have had it once or twice before following a migraine and vomiting. I have not had it since November although I have had some atrial flutters etc, which have calmed down mostly. I am 57, fit, active and don't have any other risk factors. I don&by Fuzzyduck - AFIBBERS FORUM
Because the Bisoprolol seemed quite effective at stopping the SVT and Inappropriate Sinus Tach, but caused some ugly side effects, the EP is wanting to try a low dose 40mg Sotolol next. Will see what happens. Follow up with current EP on April 11th, Natale on the 29th. Have not heard back yet about the genetic testing results. How did Sotolol treat all of you? Megby MeganMN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMcHale Greetings all, I've been absent from here for a while, life got in the way and after two successful Natale ablations I've lived my life. My first ablation was 11 years ago in New York- St Lukes Hospital with Dr Natale. Three years later followed up March 1 2016 in Austin with another ablation with LAA isolation after a flutter breakout with Shannon at my side in the OR.by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
No, that's not standard. With no documented afib, I seriously doubt that Natale would be willing to do an ablation. You could ask for another monitor if you have doubts, but a few unclassified readings from Kardia doesn't mean much.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Booked for April 11, someone just canceled! Nice to have connections! I'll see where I'll have the TEE, I can always fly back to Austin. Why am I even excited about this.....I fully Trust Natale with my heart! He's giving me 11 years of NSR bliss! Simply the Best! McHaleby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteYes they know its a priority, I spoke with Norma Natale's Nurse today and Shannon last week who was going to speak with Natale. I gave them my Prostate MRI report and they aware of my time restraints. Tip: if you go to Austin for your 6 week TEE after the Watchman, you usually get the results the same day. There were several of us scheduled for TEEs the day I was there and we had thby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Carey, Yes they know its a priority, I spoke with Norma Natale's Nurse today and Shannon last week who was going to speak with Natale. I gave them my Prostate MRI report and they aware of my time restraints. I also saw Dr DiBiasi Natale's Protege here in the Bronx who did my TEE last month who mentioned 45 days too. This place has always been a place of reassurance and comforby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMy understanding is after 45 days of device placement, I should be good to go..... I don't want to put off the biopsy longer than 3 months..... I got a Watchman last April from Natale after an LAA isolation 6 months earlier and immediately after placing the Watchman, he put me on a half dose of Eliquis. When I returned for a TEE 6 to 8 weeks later he said I could hold that half doseby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Greetings all, I've been absent from here for a while, life got in the way and after two successful Natale ablations I've lived my life. My first ablation was 11 years ago in New York- St Lukes Hospital with Dr Natale. Three years later followed up March 1 2016 in Austin with another ablation with LAA isolation after a flutter breakout with Shannon at my side in the OR. My LAA emptyby McHale - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteSearching9 Previously Cary had recommended asking for Dr Santangli at Cleveland for a second opinion before going an ablation route. Is that still the recommendation, and is there any recommendation at UPMC in Pittsburgh as an alternate. . Yes, my recommendation has changed. She has progressed to persistent afib, she's highly symptomatic, and now she's failed two drugs, with oneby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteNoTrigger Daisy - my LAA was taken care of during the open heart surgery. Less tricky then I would imagine. I am getting a better understanding of my situation and why my EP, skilled as he is, was somewhat reluctant to do another ablation. Since I have had 3 (not counting the Maze) they know exactly what is going on. Unfortunately, each time they induce flutter, it jumps around and doesnt sby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM