In answer to Petey's questions:
!. No A Fib for 2yrs. 3mo.
2.Don't take any rhythm drugs.
3.N/A
4. One ablation
5. My EP is one of the busiest in Bay Area but not a rock star.
6.paroxymal
7. cyro
D.

No

Yes..Im in blanking period but will do it again if I have to

YES!!!!!!!
As a matter of fact I'm at 7 months postop with Dr Natale who will be speaking at a conference sponsored by Montefiore University Hospital in the Bronx at The Ritz-Carlton in Westchester NY. tomorrow. There will by his protege Luigi De Biasi, Dr Barrett who cardioverted me at St Lukes, Francis Marchilinski from UPenn and a few others.
Got registered and will be going to surprise him and personally thank him for a job well done! Hopefully he'll land back here in New York as rumor has it.

McHale

YES!!!!!!!!


1) My 6 year anniversary of being in NSR will be next week
2) no
3) N/A
4) 1
5) Dr. Marchlinski @ Univ of Penn
6) RF

@DMR11, can I ask who did your ablation. One of my favorite EP's that I met at Univ of Penn is now working in San Francisco for the past few years.

Hi McHale,

Hope your weekend is going just fine so far. I have a question for you regarding your ablation with Dr. Natale. I hope I do NOT offend you by asking you this question. I am just very curious.

I am under impression that you have had several episodes after your ablation with doctor Natale and your recovery has NOT been that smooth for you after the ablation. Therefore, it seems to me your results has NOT been any better or worse than the people who got their ablation with EPs who are NOT rock Stars. So, I have the following questions:

- Why Dr. Natale is a Rock Star? Is it because he goes around and lectures? Or is it because his results are fantastic and all his patients have been afib free after he did the procedure on them?

- What method did he use for your ablation? Cryo? Catheter? Or both?

Again, sorry for asking this question but I like to know what miracle Dr. Natale does that other EPs can NOT perform. I realize that he must be very good in identifying and ablating the problem areas. But, it seems to me other EPs can do the same based on the results of other members on this site.

I like to know why people like petey and others always try to send ablation candidates on this site to Dr. Natale :-) Just curious. To be clear, I am NOT implying anything, I am just looking for reason(s) because I do NOT know. So, I just ask what is in my mind. That is the only I learn.

By the way, I am very happy for you that you are doing well and you are happy with your results.

Thanks for your answer in advance.

Have a great weekend,
Scott

-

Here's my, "I'm really on the fence", comment about ablation:

It seems to me that most of those who have had an ablation have had multiples. And, many of those are on rhythm control drugs anyway after the ablation. Soooo, why not skip the surgery and go straight for the drugs.

Of course we all experience the impact of AFIB differently. It is certainly impossible to compare my AFIBS impact on my quality of life, with someone else. But then again, when I saw the area EP about 4 years ago, I said "when I can't stand up any more I'll come back and see you" Maybe the syncope episode on 11/25 and the stroke on 12/31 qualify.

My reply to Petey questions:
1) How long have you been in normal sinus rhythm after ablation?
1 and 1/2 years
2) Do you take a rhythm drug?
No
3) If you have had any afib runs, was it less symptomatic?
N.A.
4) How many ablations did you have?
1
5) Did you go to Natale, Lakireddty, or any other rockstar EP?
No
6) Were you paroxysmal or persistent?
Persistent, only cardioversion would bring me to NSR
7) What type of an ablation did you have?
RF

Paul: many have multiple ablations, however, if the minimum goal is to have fewer symptoms and occurrences, ablation does that. For the luck 40-50%, they may never have another episode. That would be great odds for many cancers, but the difference is no-one has to have an ablation for afib for longevity reasons. Except maybe stroke risk goes down. petey

petety,

Any cardio doctor or EP that I went to, they said I MUST do something about my afib since the longer you have it, the more possibility of making the atrias enlarge and making the heart weaker, which eventual results will be congestive heart failure.

Well, I thought the doctor were exaggerating about the above. However, after my ablation, it turned out my atrias are enlarged and my heart output has diminished to 40% from 55% a few years back. I was told that I might regain the heart output after a few months not being in afib and my atrias might shrink too. I will let you guys know when I go back for another echocardiogram.

I know you are in contact with some of the greats cardiologists and EPs. I am wondering what they say about being in afib for a long time. Any adverse effects like the ones I got?

Thanks.

Scott

My EP is Peter Chang-Sing, and his office is in Santa Rosa. He's written several articles for medical journals, and does lectures in other areas.
2 reasons why I chose ablation: sometimes my A Fib symptoms were severe ( continual nausea and trouble breathing) and within 1 year I failed 3 heart rhythm meds.
D.

Paul,

I forgot to add your name to my question for "petey". What do your doctors say about your afib and its long term side effects?

Also, I am very happy that you are doing so well after your stroke and now you can drive. That is really excellent news. Thanks for sharing your pictures too. Absolutely, you were a cool dude, move over James Dean, LOL.

Take care,
Scott

Sorry I misread your blog. Cross me out of this discussion. I am over 50 years old, that is my excuse.


Dee

Scott,
No offense just back back from the seminar and it was fantatstic to meet Dr Natale again along with 3 other patients who followed me.

I had a 2 week flutter/afib/tachy events starting at day 15 postop that eventually morphed into full bore flutter the last 5 days. I got cardioverted at day 30 successfully. I was also going thru my mothers aortic valve replacement 5 days later and subsequent ICU psychosis for a week so I was under duress. It didn't help that I starting working out at dat 10 again and drinking coffee so soon after. 2 weeks later I had another flutter episode that lasted 4 hours where I self converted and have been afib free since now at 7 months. I wouldn't say it was rocky but rather par for the course with all the buring he did because I waited too long that other hot spots poppped up in my CS, back wall etc...
Actually quite normal to go into flutter the first few weeks.

It made my day say the Maestro today along with my fellow abaltees. The man is such a humble human being and a genius.
Got to run, more later!

McHale