Re: My consult with Dr. Natale

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/17/04 1:20:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

susanr20z03@... writes:

> Steve, I would very much appreciate it if you would ask your EP

> which doctors have a better technique and preparation. That would be

> information we all would like to know.

>

,

Thank you for your report on Dr. Natale. It is the most first hand report on

Dr.Natale I've read, from a personal point of view.

Thanks

Rich O

[Guest guest]

, I'm glad that you were able to have a consult with Dr. Natale. I

suffered with AFib for over 3 years and tried most of the medicines which

failed. I thought long and hard about the ablation, but my quality of life was

to the point that I thought I would try to get the best Dr. and go for the

ablation. For those who are satisfied with their condition using meds, then

that is the way they should go. After much researching, I decided on Dr.

Natale. I am a nurse, and for the most part....those with the most experience

usually are the best. I'm not going to say the whole process was a piece of

cake. My first ablation was in Feb. and after one week, I was back in AFib

24/7. But I have to say that Cleveland Clinic and the AFib staff did not

abandoned me. I opted for a second procedure, and had that in May, and I have

been AFib free now for about 3 1/2 months. I don't regret any of what I did,

and would do it all over again. I know there are other great Dr.s out there who

have great success rates. He is one of the best because he does so many. If I

was going to have brain surgery, I would want someone who had done the procedure

many, many times. AFib is what he is interested in and I truly believe that he

is committed to curing as many as he can. A good marketer...probably.....but

the bottom line is a cure for those who are suffering. I would recommened him

in a HEARTBEAT....and his staff. My 2 friends who have had the ablation

procedure with him are doing good. One...was cured after the first

attempt.....the second had to have a touch-up as I did and he is so far doing

well. The only con I can think of is that sometimes it is hard to get through to

one of his nurses, but keep calling....they are very busy but dedicated as well.

Good luck in however things play out for you. I believe that now I have finally

been cured of this thing. Only the individual can decided what is best for

them. Ablation is not for everyone....Consider all the possible options. Good

luck.......

My consult with Dr. Natale

> Kathy had asked for help in telling her EP that she didn't want him

> to do an ablation on her, I guess because she wasn't confident in

> him. I know that lots of people swear by Dr. Natale as a

> groundbreaker ablation specialist, and I know nothing of him

> personally. However, in my first meeting with my EP I noted to him

> that I read a lot of support groups and was aware of treatment

plans,

> meds and physicians, and mentioned Natale. His reaction was sharp

> and quick ... that Natale was a bit too quick to ablate and that

> there were others whose technique and preparation were better. I

> told him that if/when I was an ablation candidate I wasn't sure I

> wanted him (my EP) to be the surgeon since I knew nothing of his

> skills, nor did I really know much about Natale. He said he

> understood that view, and would help me get second/third opinions

if

> I wanted them. And he said to please talk to him if I thought I

> wanted to visit Natale (I don't yet .. only mild AFib).

>

> Again, I don't know Natale at all, and his reputation on the

support

> groups is certainly good. However, I would encourage asking

several

> EPs or other cardiologists what they thought of any doctor who was

> going to tamper with one's heart.

>

> Steve

*******

Steve,

I am happy to hear, finally, from some people who are not on the

Cleveland Clinic bandwagon! I finally decided to go out to Cleveland

and talk to Dr. Natale myself. Is he all Hype? A grand Marketeer?

Warm and fuzzy? Trying to talk people into having ablations there?

Trying to keep his success rates up by not accepting any but the best

candidates? All great bedside manner, but no action? Or is he

actually, the second coming of Christ, as some people who have been

cured by him rightfully think? The best in the country? The most

successful at afib ablations? These were all questions I had in mind

when I decided to go see him.

I had already been for a consult with Marchlinski at Penn.

He and Dr. Natale do a similar procedure with similar success rates.

I am still, after 18 months, on Dr. Marchlinski's waiting list. I

liked Dr. Marchlinski, everyone at Penn was efficient and pleasant.

I have to tell you that Dr. Natale had neither horns nor a halo. I

can't comment on his bedside manner because I wasn't in a bed! He did

walk into the examining room with a warm smile and a handshake. He

asked me questions about my prior treatment, how many drugs I had

tried, what were the results. Then he asked me what questions I had

for him, and he sat and answered every one. Told me pretty much what

Marchlinski had told me. You are a good candidate, etc. I told

him how long I had been on 's list. He laughed and said, that's

because only does 2 to 3 per week and I do 3 per day, every day.

Weekends off, I presume.

I have to tell you, I could not detect anything phony about him.

He was not trying to sell me anything. He was a very personable guy,

a doctor who is interested mainly in curing people with Afib. That's

what he does. He sent me for an echocardiogram, because apparently,

if you have a large left atrium, it can affect your chances for

success.But he never said that he wouldn't accept a patient with a

large left atrium. He did tell me that 20% of his practice is

patients from other centers who have had 1, 2 or more unsuccessful

ablations. He is able to help many of those people.

Before I talked to Dr. Natale, I talked to his P.A., . I

had 3 pages of questions for her and she answered all of them. She

gave me her email address. I saw Dr. Natale on a Friday, and

called me on Monday morning with the results of my echo,

which was good, except for some mild enlargement of the left atrium.

She gave me a date for my PVI in February.

I emailed her with a couple of questions the following week,and she

emailed me back right away, and faxed me a copy of my echo report.

Here is my take on this. Dr. Natale told me he has done over 1000

PVIs. That's way more than Marchlinski has done or anyone else

in the US that I am aware of. I would be interested in hearing about

what your EP's objections are to Dr. Natale. I certainly didn't get

the impression that Dr. Natale was too quick to ablate. My impression

was that he would only accept a candidate after that person had

failed a couple of drugs.

But I think we hear more about Dr. Natale simply because he has

done more than anyone else in this country. And, of course, he is

good at what he does.

I would very much like to hear from anyone, the pros and the

cons.regarding Dr. Natale and the CC.

And, Steve, I would very much appreciate it if you would ask your EP

which doctors have a better technique and preparation. That would be

information we all would like to know.

Thanks.

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

:

I believe a poll of those of us who have had a PVA by Dr. Natale or the

Cleveland Clinic would reveal we did so because of the sheer number of

procedures they do & the success rates they are achieving. ( & getting better all

the time, according to the tech who did my echocardiogram)

My motivation to go to Cleveland was the same as 's: When I have to have an

invasive procedure, I want the Doc who has the most experience on the other end

of the knife or catheter that's going into my heart !

My experience, as has been the case with a huge majority that post on this

board, is nothing but positive regarding the Cleveland Clinic. There is a reason

they are considered one of the top cardiac hospitals in the world. That said,

there are several other centers that are achieving excellent success rates, too,

but do your homework !

Thor

Re: My consult with Dr. Natale

> , I'm glad that you were able to have a consult with Dr.

Natale. I suffered with AFib for over 3 years and tried most of the

medicines which failed. I thought long and hard about the ablation,

but my quality of life was to the point that I thought I would try to

get the best Dr. and go for the ablation. For those who are

satisfied with their condition using meds, then that is the way they

should go. After much researching, I decided on Dr. Natale. I am a

nurse, and for the most part....those with the most experience

usually are the best.

*******

, thanks for your response. Sounds like you and i have been

pretty much down the same road. I was diagnosed with afib in Oct.

2001, so almost three years. I would like to be able to wait until

everything is perfect with the procedure or there is a pill that will

take it away, but my afib is increasing and I resent all the time I

lose to it.

I would love to hear from anyone who has had two ablations with Dr.

Natale and still not cured. Or any comments about Dr. Natale, pro or

con. I have to believe that we hear about him more because he just

does more. ANd by doing more, he has become very good at what he does.

My best to you and to your your friends.

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

[Guest guest]

> :

>

> I believe a poll of those of us who have had a PVA by Dr. Natale or

the Cleveland Clinic would reveal we did so because of the sheer

number of procedures they do & the success rates they are achieving.

( & getting better all the time, according to the tech who did my

echocardiogram)

>

> My motivation to go to Cleveland was the same as 's: When I

have to have an invasive procedure, I want the Doc who has the most

experience on the other end of the knife or catheter that's going

into my heart !

>

> My experience, as has been the case with a huge majority that post

on this board, is nothing but positive regarding the Cleveland

Clinic. There is a reason they are considered one of the top cardiac

hospitals in the world. That said, there are several other centers

that are achieving excellent success rates, too, but do your

homework !

********

Thanks, TK. I am so happy that you are doing well.

[Guest guest]

Rich, I was curious if you or anyone else has attended the past patient

seminars in Boston. I guess what I'm, asking is would this be something that

anyone

with af would benefit from. Boston is only about 1 1/2 hrs from me and this

sounds like a great learning experience. I would love to have more info.

Thanks, Kathy in CT. (40yo)

[Guest guest]

Kathy,

Go to www.affacts.org for info.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

It's OK with me. If there are any questions to be asked. Let me know. I would

like to forward them in advance to the AF Foundation.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

It's OK with me. If there are any questions to be asked. Let me know. I would

like to forward them in advance to the AF Foundation.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

Rich would you be willing to report to the rest of us on the seminar? It

sounds interesting and I think many of us would like to hear your comments

and reactions.

Brenta

> I'm attending an AF patient seminar in Boston Oct. 23rd. All these EP will

be

> there. Discussing the latest in AF medicine and ablations and more. The

time

> and place can be found at www.affacts.org

> Rich O

>

>

>