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Hi NBJ, How have you been? Have you had any success is getting answers/help from CCF? Or are you still "in the ring" like many of us fighting for information and answers? I see Dr. Natale next Wednesday. 2 weeks ago I had my follow up visit with my EP. In reviewing all of the information from the 30 day event monitor and the holter monitor, along with the problems I'm currently eby Kathy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Natale is a co-author of a relatively recent article (I can't supply the link) comparing the efficacy of the ICA technique with older proven techniques. The article showed that ICE yielded a higher success rate with lower stenosis. Those data showed a 90% success rate for the ICE cohort.by Yypo - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim W., Jackie, and Others, After my CCF Dr. Natale ablation, I had no AFIB for 15 days. I did have a few "pauses" (skipped beats) the day after the ablation and two other days also, but didn't notice many. Today I woke up with many pauses and soon went into AFIB for a couple of minutes. This evening I had a five minute AFIB episode also. I managed to get my monitor on and wrisby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi NBJ, How have you been? Have you had any success is getting answers/help from CCF? Or are you still "in the ring" like many of us fighting for information and answers? I see Dr. Natale next Wednesday. 2 weeks ago I had my follow up visit with my EP. In reviewing all of the information from the 30 day event monitor and the holter monitor, along with the problems I'm currentby Kathy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Char, Just wanted you to know that I mentioned your case to Michelle. She referred to you as "Charlene". I also talked to Dr. Natale about the possibility of flutter in my case because I had a flutter ablation in 1999, and wanted to make sure it was sufficient. He said(and did) he would check it for me. He told me that usually when someone has flutter after an ablation for AF tby Jim w. - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Thanks for the information. I took it on full faith that CCF had the very latest equipment and methods, and still believe so. I'm going back for a repeat Monday....finally, after almost seven weeks of A. flutter (with some brief interval relief from cardioversion and flecainide (which quit working early on.) My original PVI for fib. was Aug. 12. The follow-up appointment didnby Char - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all Im cleaning up some research I had begun a while ago, and now that Im getting ready for ablation, Im clearing the computer slate bit by bit. I have often mused over the possible connection between inflammation as measured by C-reactive Protein (CRP) and afib; I have often wondered which came first inflammation or afib. The measurement of CRP (serum levels) should be as close to zby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ablation at CCF to Jim W. and others A couple of things came to mind when I was reviewing your reports. You mentioned during the procedure, you heard Dr. Natale talking about bubbling. I remember the attending MD telling me ( when I was in CCF this spring on one of my emergency visits) that the ICE monitoring device allows them to see when the tissue is overheating by the appearance of microby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gillian - thanks for weighing in. I'm really pleased that you are satisfied with your CCF treatment. That gives me great support. Thanks. I am comfortable with what I know of the CCF, Dr. Natale and the procedure. I've been very impressed so far with the EP nurses. Perhaps because I'm a resident of the area, and have been seeing doctors at the CCF for years, it isn'by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The experience I had at CCF was exactly as I had been told. The Cleveland Clinic is massive and scary. I was given a blow by blow description of what to expect before, during and after. Michelle, Charlene, and Minerva, the atrial fib nurses working in Cleveland support the docs so they can do what is important. ..the actual ablation procedure. The nurses in the procedure room were great. The offby Gillian Short - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi JRB I was asking where Dr. Sites did his training. Thanks for the info. Would that of been Western Canada,or the University of Western Ontario in London,Ontario, Canada. Sorry to be a pain in the butt,as my Dr. trained in London,Ontario which is known as Western University. Did he mean Western University in London,Ontario. Just want to know that I'm in good hands with my EP who has studieby Frank - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dear Jim - thanks for your report and observations. I can hardly wait until I am discharge by "Dr. Personality." As outspoken as I am, I will probably have a comment or two for him. As I mentioned previously, we all know that they tell us it is not uncommon to experience afib after ablation. My neighbor had it very two or three months. It was noticeable but not anything she worby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Bill, The answer to your first questions are in my reply to Newmans last post on this thread. My heart feels the same- no difference. The AF is the same. My HR is the same. The first couple of days after the procedure is was definitely faster. It is now in the 68-72 range. Jimby Jim w. - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Newman, Thanks for your encouraging remarks, and I must say I do agree with you. Frankly, I chose the CCF because I believe they are a step ahead of everyone else. I would bet in a few years no one else will be doing any mapping either. The procedure time is much shorter(1hr 40min) and a total time on the table of under 4 hours. Many other places-maybe most-are double that timewise. My caby Jim w. - AFIBBERS FORUM
It looks like Jim, NJB and I all were discharged by the same " Mr. Personality" EP at the CCF hospital. I'll call him Dr. Lipitor, since it appears that giving each of us a prescription for Lipitor was the only useful thing that he did for us. Jim, what meds are you on and for how long? Dr. Natale put me on Coumadin, Toprol XL, and Lipitor. I had been on Coumadin, Toprol XLby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, It is good to hear from you. Let me make a few comments: (1) I concur completely with your comment about the doctor who discharged you from the hospital. I'm sure I had the same guy. He was young and cocky (and I will add arrogant). He gave me the same instructions that Dr. Natale had previously given me. He did not state why he was there or why he was even talking to me. He wby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol- I wish I had known that before my ablation at CCF! That is really frightening. At least I do remember seeing the doctor I thought was doing the procedure right before I was wheeled out of the operating room. He gave me 2 baby aspirin. I hope to God he did more than just that. Because I was totally out before I saw or heard any doctors. Jim - I think I know how you feel about not beinby njb - AFIBBERS FORUM
Am very surprised that you were discharged with a fever. Yes, doctors in training do take over while the senior doctor instructs. That is how they learn. So, yes, unless you specifiy in writing that you want the entire procedure to be done by the doctor of your choosing, you may have someone else practice on you. That is a fact. A friend of mine had a vein punctured during an ablation pby Carol - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim, Thanks for the update on your procedure. I am still wondering about your current meds. No Norpace, right? Did they say why? Other EPs seem to keep you on it for a time - even if there is no AFIB. Also, I assume you are on coumadin? Or how about a betablocker? Also, does the AFIB feel different to you? In fact, does your heart feel different to you - like it's not the one you grewby Bill B - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have to put Michelles name down right along with Dr. Natale because she is hisconciliator. It seems to be hard to see or talk to Dr. Natale without first going through Michelle. It seems everytime I try to talk with Natale himself, Michelle is always there. Maybe Dr. Natale doesnt have time for small talk. He just does what he does best-ablations-and leaves everything else to Michelleby Jim w. - AFIBBERS FORUM
In response to your question about the possibility of stopping chronic Afib with ablation, I did talk to Michelle Williams at the Cleveland Clinic. She is an assistant to Dr. Natale. She told me at that time (more than a year ago) that about half of the people they have in for PVI ablations are in permanent Afib. So that is encouraging to all of us in this situation. Also, it does amaze me thby Doug - AFIBBERS FORUM
My husband is going on ablation #3. He has a consult on November 13 with Dr. Natale at Marin General Hospital in California. It does seem very rare for a person to have more than 2 ablations. Do you think some of you are just incurable???? You made a comment that your condition worsened on one post was that before or after the 4th ablation? I've been off here a while, I apologize if you'by afib wife - AFIBBERS FORUM
JP - I'm very sorry about your CCF experience. With all the discussion about Dr. Natale on this forum, I'm surprised you didn't request a consult with him. But since that's not an issue at this point, where do you go from here? Still considering CCF? Since I live here in Cleveland, we all know the pitfalls of a big operation like the CCF. I agree that being left to waitby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, I just wanted to tell you that I also had several 10-12 hour afib events in the first 10 days after my ablation. I was so depressed about it, but after those 10 days I have not had a single event (almost 8 months now). I do get the skipped beats (which used to preceed going into afib) and for an instant I think, oh no, I'm going into afib, but then I remember that I am "cured&quoby LarryK - AFIBBERS FORUM
NSR thoughts beaming your way Jim Franby Fran - AFIBBERS FORUM
My very best wishes to you, Jim! I'm holding very positive thoughts for you to soon be in permanent NSR. Erling.by Erling - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim, I was eager to hear from you as our situations are similar. I am also out of NSR more than half the time, though it is mostly flutter. And I have been using Norpace with minimal success (It used to do decently well for me until I experimented with flec this summer). I am looking at a mid-to late November ablation - perhaps for flutter and possibly for both flutter and fib. I found itby Bill B - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim, I've got my fingers crossed for you that things continue to improve from hereon in. Stay cool, Mike F.by Mike F. V42 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim - glad to learn your Sunday afib resolved. I guess some ablation patients will fall into that category of some random afib events while the heart is in that recovery phase. Hang in there. At least you have some definitive improvement which is a very good sign. I'm pleased for you and look forward to reading your report. Relax and enjoy life. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim, I am happy to hear from you. Michelle knows a lot about post ablation symptoms. I think it is very encouraging what she told you. It sounds like you have been in AF about 10% of the time since your ablation without Norpace, as opposed to 80% before the ablation. This also seems to be very encouraging. For 19 years AF has messed with my mind and mental state. It is normal for iby Newman - AFIBBERS FORUM