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Hi Betty , The last I checked in February they had done around 50 Lariats in Austin but there have been a good deal more since then , but I don't have an accurate number at the moment. Both Dr N and his highly respected EP colleague Dr David Burkhardt there do the procedure together. There have been zero deaths associated with the Larist out of the 1,200+ done so far world wide. It isby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
The best and most direct single test we have to measure true Blood Viscosity can be found right here: Blood Viscosity test It is very revealing and comes with excellent recommendations for reducing blood viscosity geared to your level of BV as tested. They recommend using only well known natural means in combination with periodic phelbotomy blood donations when such a step is also recommendedby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
You're welcome Louise, Here are a few links on Curaderm, it is sold overseas and also via the Tahoma Clinic in Washington state. The reason it isnt more widely known in the US, as yet, is because to make direct claims at curing basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, the FDA requires a huge amount of money spent in clinical trials, which of course would drive the price really sky high.by Shannon - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Louise, Also check out 'Curaderm BEC5' which is an eggplant extract cream that is truly amazing with actinic keratosis, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas (but not for melanoma). My wife had a Huge narly looking black, red and yellow Mount Vesuvious of a Basal Cell on the back of her neck and the Dermo said to expect at least two Procedures to get rid of it. After two monthsby Shannon - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
You're welcome researcher, Yes the early work with the watchman had me concerned too, fortunately they seem to have improved things a good deal and the reported complications are a good deal less, with no deaths that I've heard of directly attributable to the device in the more recent trials. You are so right too that adding a wider array of sizes and improving implantation techniqueby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lariat: Part -II After my choices became clear between a lifetime of anti-coagulant drugs or a still very new minimally invasive heart procedure to essentially remove a part of my heart that came as part of the original equipment, I've tried to learn and digest all that I could about the various pros and cons to be able to make the best informed choice. While conceptually I do prefer tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi All, A few here have asked for more information on the new Lariat procedure for ligating ... or tying off ... the left atrial appendage which most of you are aware is 'stroke central' as far as AFIB related strokes are concerned. It is within this side pouch hanging off the upper anterior left side of the left atrium in which the vast majority (around 95% or more) of AFIB relatedby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Nancy, A lot of us Afibbers not only have Magnesium assimilation issues, but as a result need far greater amounts of Mag to make a dent in the IC demands for this heart calming mineral. IVs can help, but if you are truly low in IC Mag ( see doing an Exatest to confirm) then you may well need at least one Magnesium IV a week for 4 to 8 weeks in order to get close to even in this game. Afterby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Some are one and done Tom meaning a few years with not much action at all, but realistically to go for longer term success I think a substantial majority might require that skillful touch up. It all depends on the level of fibrosis to start with and the duration of AFIB. Those that have very sporadic paroxysmal AFIB that always converts within a few hours, they are very likely to get a long tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi TomB, I thoroughly agree with your assessment of your experience and similar to what many of us have had. From what you have described, and the continued sensitivity to exercise which may well be just as you said, a latent hot spot or two that was either not addressed fully in the first ablation or possible didn't even rear its head during the first ablation mapping and challenge periby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Christy, Really good news to hear things are going so well with you after number two with Dr. Delurgio, I'd heard of him twice before but not as much detail as now. It sounds like he is a solid ablationist capable and willing to go after non-PV sources when required which is what you want. Especially on a second ablation and beyond. About the duration differences for each of the fouby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tom, Glad to hear 11months has gone by mostly without incident save for the couple short blips in the beginning and now these. You already know what Im going to say about indulging in known triggers ... We've had that conversation before. Chocolate at least good quality high cacao content dark Chocolate with minimal sugar seems less of an issue than alcohol and very spicy foods.by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ron , A lot of things to address in this post ... Firstly the Nexium should be considered only for short term use in any event... Something apparently Prof Jais implied as well. Don't worry about it short term. Just ease off once you are home and on a regular good eating habit. As far as the heart supps like Magnesium, potassium, DiRibose CoQ10 etc. you simply cannot expect an EPby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Jackie, And its another example of why a continuous on-going life style modification to include a well selected array of high quality supplements intended to restore these essential nutrients we are so often in short supply of. Particularly when we get both older and are consuming one or more powerful pharmaceuticals every day, many of what that the hammer to certain vitamin and/or minby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
MarianM they are working on an android based device and app as well at Alivecor, I believe but don't think it is out yet. It isnt only the app but the case-like device with the electronics inside as well as the two electrode sensors on the back side of the ECG monitoring case.by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tom in Hawaii, Good to see you posting after the ablation in Austin Tom. Was very glad to hear in your email two weeks ago how well things went for you there. Especially after that awful experience you had to endure in the first ablation attempt in Hawaii in late 2011 after which you woke up days later with having had your chest cracked and a new mitral valve replaced in the cardiac ICU tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi McHale, That is an interesting quote by Sonny Jackman discussing Dr N.s ablation approach in which he pays particular attention to the SVC circumferential isolation in some people. When you see Dr N on the 26th you might ask him if, in his collective experience with doing this step over the years, if he feels it is mainly the 3rd fat pad effect that is responsible for the sleep apnea relateby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why am I not surprised ? They do a bang up job interfering with magnesium absorption as well. Short term post ablation for possible esophageal ulceration they 'might' help a little. But these should be verboten for chronic use. Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
KenH Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tom / Shannon, > > I did bring up the sleep apnea during the consult > and Dr. Natale said it was important that he knew > that for the ablation. > > Ken Good to hear Ken, In that case, Dr N would have surely examined extra carefully those areas known to be associated with sleep apnea and lby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tom, Yes, the doctor always will, or should, inquire into any past or present medical issues that might be important, and I suspect that was done by Natale's nurses when doing the intake questionare. Dr. N may well have also asked about Ken's health history some himself? The point being that its always a good idea as a proactive patient to make sure any thing going on with you isby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Cindy, I would give them a call and see if they know yet when Dr. Natale, and whom every else might be working with you on the Lariat, might be in Austin and able to do the Watchman procedure in August? At least then you could start making preliminary plans pending on you getting final approval and a set date and then know what your options would likely be. Assuming you will get the go aheaby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
I know its easy to postpone Mike, when you feel it is relatively well controlled, but something made you go to the effort of getting set up for ablation with Dr. Natale already, right? Have you made a serious effort at applying all of The Strategy supplements and improving your diet and such. If not starting now would be a highly recommended step and is particularly beneficial as well even witby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ken. I'm not sure its the delay in getting the CPAP back on, but Im not a sleep apnea expert. I do know that sleep apnea is a significant contributor toward AFIB and the possibility of needing more extensive ablation. Dr Natale was informed of your sleep apnea, I trust prior to your ablation? If so he would have explored and likely ablated other areas including perhaps in or around thby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Ken, Good to be home no doubt, in spite of the unwelcome stomach bug. The kind of pain on breathing deep in center of chest you describe is very common in the days and even weeks post ablation. It varies with eac person the degree the feel as well as pattern of onset and duration but it most certainly will fade away soon.. Remember you did have a branding iron tattooing the inside of your hby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Those are solid believable numbers out of CPMC Iatrogenia and consistent with the elite center that they are. You need not worry at all as you chose well. just relax in thatcknowledge as time goes by, even if at some point a little more work is on the menu to finish tieing up any loose ends . Dr Hao is plenty capable of addressing anything that comes up, if anything at all ever does in the futureby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Iatrogenia, I've heard good things about Dr Hao, and know he has trained with the best in Dr Natale. But I dont have a running list of all those who by consensus are deemed to have got 'the touch', so to speak. The only one's that I have heard about consistently in that light are, foremost, Dr Natale, who several EPs who have worked with him have told me personally how aby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron, I hear you on the one limitation of Bordeaux... besides the long travel ... that being the facilities. As a state run entity, I'm afraid a lot of cutbacks like that have been happening all over France and Europe for that matter. While the EPs are great and the support staff are courteous and well trained as well, I can imagine they don't get all the goodies they might wish for.by Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good news Ron, and thanks for all the good detail and insights from your experience, now things can settle in and you'll be feeling good before you know it.. Reconnected PVs can do it for sure, and it is true as Prof Jais said that its nearly impossible to predict who will have reconnected PVs during the initial ablation as all the PVs are confirmed to be disconnected before they finish tby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dennis. Hang in there and if you'd like PM me with your number and a good time to call.. With your low BP we can discuss some possible things that might help a bit. Take it easy, Shannonby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Barb, oops sorry, 'Larry' is the husband of another Barb who is friend of ours... dyslexia of the brain I guess . I agree you should shake the tree at St Lukes, its not uncommon for the front office to be a little disorganized during a wholesale change of administrations as is going on now there, but hopefully it will settle down before long and start working like all of Dr N'sby Shannon - AFIBBERS FORUM