QuoteMeganMN I had daily headaches and fatigue, which were manageable, but the unmanageable were the neuropsychiatric symptoms. I had brain fog, memory issues, and ultimately, had anxiety and agitation that disappeared when I stop taking it. So far, the Verapamil has been relatively side effect free. I'm nervous that it isn't going to work long though, because I have been having breakthby WhyMe - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thnaks for you input, WhyMe...by californiagal - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteDaisy By the way, Natale now asks for scans at both one and two years post-Watchman to check for clots as he has seen a few that late. Disappointed. I was told by Natalie’s NP to get the year post watchman but was out of the country. My “6 month TEE” was an 7.5 months because of lack of EP availability so I was as told it was optional to return for the year post TEE. They cancelled mby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotepixieIn a few months, it will be 2 years since my Watchman implant. I recently had a telehealth call with Dr. Natale and he told me the two year watchman scan applies to the folks who chose to take daily aspirin, not those who chose Eliquis. Since I am on the reduced Eliquis dose, it was not for me, That seems to vary from patient to patient as I am also taking Eliquis, as are two other Nby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
From Daisy: By the way, Natale now asks for scans at both one and two years post-Watchman to check for clots as he has seen a few that late. In a few months, it will be 2 years since my Watchman implant. I recently had a telehealth call with Dr. Natale and he told me the two year watchman scan applies to the folks who chose to take daily aspirin, not those who chose Eliquis. Since I am onby Pixie - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation for PACs with him "failed" (not his fault I am sure, I am a difficult case) after only 6 months. Back on Flec+Met cause otherwise I am on constant PACs. Had to increase the Flec from 50 (twice day) to 100 (twice day) this week, cause my PACs were breaking through. PACs gone (for now), but I definitely feel "weird"....like lightheadness almost, hard to describe it.by WhyMe - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d Normally EPs (except for Natale) don’t read CT images. I believe that is changing. My local hospital is doing CTs post-Watchman and Boston Scientific has technology now that will enhance post-Watchman CTs (they have an office at St. David's for this purpose and no doubt have similar offices elsewhere). By the way, Natale now asks for scans at both one and two years post-Waby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I canceled my PVC ablation because my local EP wanted to experience with Atenolol. So I postponed it. My PVCs stopped Turkey four days before my cancelled ablation date and my 33% burden didn’t return until my next ablation but once back in Atenolol it stopped it in its tracts. It’s your decision. However your EP guaranteed a spot for you and who knows if he can find someone who really needs aby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I’m scheduled tomorrow to get a neck and chest CT with contrast and chest and underarm ultrasounds and a mammo (that’s overkill since I had a double mastectomy and don’t know how this test is possible plus I’m getting a lot of radiation) to explore if I have any clots lurking around since I have had 2 DVTs . I already had my head CT and getting a endoscopy and colonoscopy in a week. Apparentlby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesusan.d 5 times? I thought you only had one N ablation? Once for an ablation, once for a Watchman, once for a TEE, and twice for other things (not procedures).by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great information, Carey. Thanks....by californiagal - AFIBBERS FORUM
5 times? I thought you only had one N ablation?by susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you spend the money to stay in one of the downtown hotels near the UT campus, you'll be surrounded by walkable restaurants, convenience stores, etc. It's a college town, so good eateries abound. St. David's will be a 3 minute Uber/Lyft ride away. It's actually walkable and a nice walk across campus, but forget that idea in the summer. I did that once. Big mistake. Austin isby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I stayed at the Midtown Holiday Inn in May, 2023 for my first ablation with Dr. Natale and it was fair, but think I'd like an alternative place when I go back in August. I don't need ultra fancy, but appreciate cleanliness and acessable restaurants, either at the hotel or nearby. Thnaks for any recomendations. Dr. Natale did a very good initial ablation, but this time around he planby californiagal - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been thinking more about this post, and realizing, that really, we all just have to have an EP that,we trust and that listens, as well as someone who is an expert in the field. It may be Natale, it may be someone else, but it has to be someone that listens, that knows their stuff, that we trust, and that gives us the best care within the confines of our situation.by MeganMN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I wish I could read the article but I am not a medical professional. Here’s my 2 cents anyway. I say 1/4 metoprolol 25 tablet is therapeutic: My cardiologist says “why don’t you just lick the tablet?” My previous EP says “take medication as prescribed” My previous EP NP says “at 1/4 tablet it doesn’t matter if you take or not it’s not doing anything” My new NP of my new EP (Dr Natale) saysby Evelyn - AFIBBERS FORUM
Maybe since you have seen him before that would be the best bet. I didn't have a good experience, but it may be harder at a telehealth appointment. He didn't seem to think that my PACs were a problem worth fixing,.but again, there was definitely a barrier with just being on the phone and not having the history of him knowing me and my heart. I think since you have seen him before, thatby MeganMN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCarey Don't rely on bios. He does all types of ablations -- atrial, ventricular, PVCs, SVT, pretty much everything. Thanks...so he's still my best bet I guess. Noted. Thanks.by WhyMe - AFIBBERS FORUM
Don't rely on bios. He does all types of ablations -- atrial, ventricular, PVCs, SVT, pretty much everything.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm a big believer in "shopping around" where feasible, especially when things are not straight forward. Just shop at the best stores, i.e. top ten cardiac centers with an ep who has a high-output of afib procedures. Different ep's approach things differently and talking to a few can sometimes be more helpful than just talking to one. Personally, I spoke to five ep's befoby mjamesone - AFIBBERS FORUM
As many of you know I had my PACs ablation with him in August and after 5 months of no PACs, they are now back 24/7 non-stop. Met+Flec providing some relief, but no doubts I am heading back to Austin sooner rather than later. My question is...is it smart to go back to him specifically? I ask cause I see on their teams bios other Drs that specifically mention other arrhythmias, while his bio ONLYby WhyMe - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMeganMN Is there a way for you to chat with an anesthesiologist prior to deciding? That might.be a way to look at statistics, or other options. Yes, that would be important though usually you only see the anesthesiologist as you are already being prepped for the ablation. I’ll share my experience in case it is helpful. I had an extensive RF ablation with Dr. Natale and because of his vastby Daisy - AFIBBERS FORUM
That's a good suggestion, George. The ISLAA presenters are all leading edge EPs who subscribe to at least some of Natale's approaches and many of them trained under him. They are the creme de la creme of the EP world.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
A source I'd use to look for people in Natale's universe are the presenters at the ISLAA (International Symposium on Left Atrial Appendage) conference. Here is a link to this list for 2024: It would be a place to start, then you could see where they did their training.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteIatrogenia Thanks, Carey. Who would you recommend at Cleveland Clinic? Pasquale Santangeli.by Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you.by Iatrogenia - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Carey. Who would you recommend at Cleveland Clinic?by Iatrogenia - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations you are symptom free for 11 years! I was considering him as my second choice but I picked geography and positive feedback on this site as my preference. I’ve heard so many success stories about him. There is always been a doubt, since 4 ablations later in permanent Afib, that I should had just had taken a short flight from Los Angeles to SF. But one cannot be a Monday morningby susan.d - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't think there is such a thing as the Natale ablation procedure, or at least not formally. It's not something you'll find anyone advertising that they do. The only way I know of to determine if an EP does as Natale trains is to find out if they trained under him, and that's not easy. You'd pretty much have to contact them and ask directly. I can recommend one EP butby Carey - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello -- I joined this forum in 2013 with severe lone afib and am happy to report that I had an radiofrequency ablation with Dr. Steven Hao at California Pacific Medical Center in June, 2013 with no sign of afib since. Dr. Hao went so far as to say that I was cured. I learned from this forum that Dr. Hao and Dr. Richard Hongo at the CPMC ablation center were trained by Andrea Natale, thatby Iatrogenia - AFIBBERS FORUM