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The drug companies of course benefit from the sale of their drugs. However, there are millions of people who also benefit greatly from their products. The Versed that Dr. Natale uses on ablation patients is one drug that I was personally thankful for recently. Also the Toprol XL which has done a marvelous job of controlling my heart rate. Also the novacaine that numbs my nerves when the dentiby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie, I understand that Natale would try to avoid a pacemaker. Sometimes people get pacemakers to help alleviate their afib. This is intentional. The question I am asking is did Natale ever make an erroneous RF burn damaging the AV or SA node which resulted in the need for a pacemaker. Personally I think it is very rare and I have never heard of it but I guess it could happen. Descriptionby fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I was talking to Minerva in Dr. Natale's office last week about sending them my medical records to be evaluated for an ablation procedure I specifically asked about the possibility of needing a pacemaker after the procedure. She indicated to me that they try never to get involved with a pacemaker unless it is absolutely necessary.by Howie - AFIBBERS FORUM
They mention the danger of requiring a pacemaker with RF ablation in this articel about cryo vs RF ablation. I have never heard of anyone that I can recall saying they needed a pacemaker because of an erroneous RF burn. I would like to know the percentage of patients that this happens to. Does anyone know if this has happened? Could someone who is seeing Dr. Natale in the near future ask himby fib - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gary, Are you considering an ablation? Why or why not? What do you think of ablations? Are you familiar with the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center? What do you think of it? Do you know of Dr. Natale? Any comments on him (I am aware doctors are reluctant to give public opinions about other doctors). Do you have an opinion about which medical centers in the world are the best places to have a sby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
My instruction for Coumadin after ablation is to take it for 3 months. The most critical time is one week post ablation. You are at high risk of dislodging clots from the burn or ablated area. Also, the immediate risk is from the perforation site at the intraatrial septum. After that, ideally, one will remain at least for 6 weeks if they have no afib. The docs won't give you permissioby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo, Thank you so much for sharing your story. I, too, wish you NSR forever. Good to hear that the possible stroke was minor. Richardby Richard - AFIBBERS FORUM
I recently came across a video of Dr. Frank Marchlinski performing a PVA. Dr. Marchlinski is the director of cardiac electrophysiology at U. of PA, and is one of the pioneers, in this country, of catheter ablation procedures for treatment of Afib. He performed the "live" PVA at the recent Afib symposium hosted by Dr. Natale at the Cleveland Clinic. The PVA was filmed as partby Susan R - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo - welcome to the CCF ablation connection! You were 5 days after mine. I'm terribly sorry to learn of the stroke, of course, but as I understand it, when caught as yours was and with the ability to dissolve the clot immediately, you should soon be good as new. They know it's a risk and they watch closely. I was impressed at the diligence with which they checked me for cognitby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo- I am so glad to hear you are in NSR! njbby njb - AFIBBERS FORUM
I recently came across a video of Dr. Frank Marchlinski performing a PVA. Dr. Marchlinski is the director of cardiac electrophysiology at U. of PA, and is one of the pioneers, in this country, of catheter ablation procedures for treatment of Afib. He performed the "live" PVA at the recent Afib symposium hosted by Dr. Natale at the Cleveland Clinic.by Susan R - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo, Thanks for the post mate, and best wishes for a full and permanent recovery (-: Mike F.by Mike F. V42 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo: Congratulations, and I hope that things continue to go so well for you. I'm surprised that they didn't do a CT brain scan or MRI if there was any possibility that you had had a stroke. I hope that continues to improve also. Wishing you NSR, Pamby Pam - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo, It is nice to welcome still another new member to the club. Please keep us informed how you are doing. Best of luck. Think positive. The odds are very much in favor of success. Newmanby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam, I am an MT(ASCP) and don't have anywhere near the direct patient-care clinical knowledge and experience that you do, considering all of your years of CCU. I basically understand the articles and your questions and find it very interesting. Thank you. I certainly hope it is something that will be of benefit in your case. I don't have SSS (that I know of), although I had threeby Char - AFIBBERS FORUM
keep up your spirits. Sounds like you are on the right track. I look forward to hearing reports of your progress toward cure. Judyby Judy - AFIBBERS FORUM
clarification - after reading my post I discovered that i wrote "right arm" first, nd then "left arm." For the record, I meant "left arm" both times.by Billo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Billo, Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us! It means much to those of us who are considering an ablation or scheduled for one soon. Please keep us posted. I am heartened to hear your stroke was not dibilatating, and you are doing well. Godspeed! Please be well! Joeby J. Pisano - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good for you Billo and thanks for posting!!! We all know that the stroke is possible, I pray that you have no continuous problems, it sounds like they are behind you!!!! Sherylby afib wife - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm writing to give a brief report on my recent PVI/PVA at Cleveland Clinic this past Monday - it's Thursday night. My wife and I are in the Intercontinental Conference Hotel adjacent to the CC Heart Center. Although I'm not a regular contributor on this bulletin board, I'm a regular reader...like many others, I suspect. This group has provided much encouragement and informby Billo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn, Even if one is "cured" by an ablation, afib and other heartbeat irregularities often occur in many patients during the three months after the ablation. I believe that is the reason Dr. Natale recommends coumadin during that period. I eat tons of leafy greens. I eat four or five very large salads a week, both Greek and caesar salads, and many other food items containing vitamby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi, LWD, The CCF referred to is the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. It has a wonderful reputation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (as well as many other heart issues). If you read back through other peoples' posts you will find many references to the clinic and Dr. Natale (the big name there). My research led me to them because of the number of ablations they had performed and the suby Judy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Judy - As you know by reading, I go to the CCF and was recently ablated there by Dr. Natale. When I was placed on Flecanide, I was indeed, hospitalized for three days and I even had to learn how to give myself injections in the stomach with heparin until coumadin levels could be reached. In the hospital, I was on heparin and but the transition to coumadin required the injections. It was not baby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The title is misleading and as pointed out the subject addresses VT only. Having both LAF and runs of VT, it's of greater interest to me. (OK, Pam?) PC, it's interesting you remind us that the ventricles are not connected by the vagus nerve. My VT during Holter Monitor test only occurred during a bout of AF and when I was pushing exercise on purpose to record what happens. (self imposed mini-strby Anton - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Judy, I am not sure that this is relevant for you, but last November I was diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation as well as with moderate regurgitation of the pulmonary and tricuspid valves. After several months on atenolol and cozaar (an Ace inhibitor) most of the valves stopped regurgitating entirely and there is only a trace of mitral valve regurgitation. My understanding isby Lynn - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, Sorry to hear things arent going as well as you hoped. But it still does seem like things are better than they were before. And its early yet. Im still perplexed you were not put on an anti-arrhythmic after the procedure. The way it has been explained to me is that the pulmonary veins initiate the AFIB, but if you are out of NSR as much as you were prior to the procedure, the problem caby Bill B - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stephen - I'm only relating this because I was able to get over the fear factor a long time ago. Maybe not smart; maybe I should have worried, but for 8 long years, I was on drugs that did not totally control the afib and I rode out many a long, long event.... many around the 22 -24 time range and a few going 36 - 39.... At the beginning of afib, I always took a vitamin E and one 325 mby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim W., For those of us that are contemplating ablation, I wish you quick and complete healing. Thank you for your updates, it will make my desicion easier in the future. Jeanneby Jeanne - AFIBBERS FORUM
To all who are interested: Background: 15 years of AF, the last few years in AF approx. 80% of the time. 500mg/day of Norpace decreased the percentage of time in AF to 30-40%. It has been one month since my ablation on Oct 17th. I wish my report was as good as Newmans. The first 10 days after the ablation I had many ectopics along with three episodes of AF. Two episodes lasting 12 hours apby Jim w. - AFIBBERS FORUM
This morning, upon getting ready to depart for ER after fearing my latest AF episode would become permanent it self converted after 16 2 hours. So am now again in the second fear phase of waiting for highest chance for stroke 72 hours period to pass. This incident I believe was triggered by alcohol on empty stomach while awaiting table in restaurant and thus I was stressed over delay gettingby Stephen - AFIBBERS FORUM