Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Many of you on this board have been patients of Dr. Natale. He seems to be the most experienced of the EP's mentioned. For those who have had ablation, did Dr. Natale put you out before doing the procedure, were you well asleep?? I am afraid of medical procedures of all flavors and if I decide to see an EP for help want to know that it is not going to be a trauma- filled nightmare. How was your recovery? Did it go fast? I am 39 and a single mom of a 9 month old, how much help would I need after the procedure and for how long?? I'm trying to see how soon I want to persue this. I haven't had AV since December 7th, other than the very short palpatations and PVCs I get daily. I stopped the Rhythmol but continue on the beta blocker and aspirin. I have high blood pressure that is being complicated by my uncooperative thyroid. I take thyroid replacement too. I do not take stimulants of any kind but would like to have an occassional drink again someday. I'm afraid to indulge because both big bouts of AF required chemical conversions and it becomes a problem when I don't have anyone to leave my baby with. Been feeling like a hostage to AF for 6 months and want things back to normal... Thanks! Michele in CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 I met with Dr. Natale and team last week (at Marin General) and think I'll go for a 2nd ablation with him in January. Here's what I'm to expect: > The procedure will last approx. 2 hours. > I'll stay over night and be released the next morning. > I'll be completely under through the procedure (though the sedation is a type that allows them to immediately revive you if there's any need to address any stroke concerns) > I'll be on cumadin and flecainide for some period after the procedure. > I can expect some afibs for several weeks after the procedure. > No self administered blood thinning shots. > I'll have to " call in " your heart activity via a nifty card - a piece of technology that you place over your heart and then dial in to them (not sure exactly how this works). The great thing about this is that I need not go in to see the doctor for follow up visits. It's all done over the phone. If the second is anything like the first, the recovery entails being somewhat depleted for several days after but part time work is doable and you'll be pretty much back in stride in a week. Through all the great testimonials about Dr. Natale on this site and my in person experience with him and his team I am very optimistic about having him do this job. I believe he and his team are the best. Good luck! Tom in CA, 39 --- Michele wrote: > Many of you on this board have been patients of Dr. > Natale. > He seems to be the most experienced of the EP's > mentioned. > > For those who have had ablation, did Dr. Natale put > you out before > doing the procedure, were you well asleep?? > > I am afraid of medical procedures of all flavors and > if I decide to > see an EP for help want to know that it is not going > to be a trauma- > filled nightmare. > > How was your recovery? Did it go fast? I am 39 and > a single mom of > a 9 month old, how much help would I need after the > procedure and for > how long?? > > I'm trying to see how soon I want to persue this. I > haven't had AV > since December 7th, other than the very short > palpatations and PVCs I > get daily. I stopped the Rhythmol but continue on > the beta blocker > and aspirin. I have high blood pressure that is > being complicated by > my uncooperative thyroid. I take thyroid > replacement too. > I do not take stimulants of any kind but would like > to have an > occassional drink again someday. I'm afraid to > indulge because both > big bouts of AF required chemical conversions and it > becomes a > problem when I don't have anyone to leave my baby > with. Been feeling > like a hostage to AF for 6 months and want things > back to normal... > > Thanks! > Michele in CA > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2005 Report Share Posted May 5, 2005 HI Tom...Who did your first ablation? Thanks... > > Many of you on this board have been patients of Dr. > > Natale. > > He seems to be the most experienced of the EP's > > mentioned. > > > > For those who have had ablation, did Dr. Natale put > > you out before > > doing the procedure, were you well asleep?? > > > > I am afraid of medical procedures of all flavors and > > if I decide to > > see an EP for help want to know that it is not going > > to be a trauma- > > filled nightmare. > > > > How was your recovery? Did it go fast? I am 39 and > > a single mom of > > a 9 month old, how much help would I need after the > > procedure and for > > how long?? > > > > I'm trying to see how soon I want to persue this. I > > haven't had AV > > since December 7th, other than the very short > > palpatations and PVCs I > > get daily. I stopped the Rhythmol but continue on > > the beta blocker > > and aspirin. I have high blood pressure that is > > being complicated by > > my uncooperative thyroid. I take thyroid > > replacement too. > > I do not take stimulants of any kind but would like > > to have an > > occassional drink again someday. I'm afraid to > > indulge because both > > big bouts of AF required chemical conversions and it > > becomes a > > problem when I don't have anyone to leave my baby > > with. Been feeling > > like a hostage to AF for 6 months and want things > > back to normal... > > > > Thanks! > > Michele in CA > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2005 Report Share Posted May 5, 2005 Hey , I had my first with Dr. Badhwar at UCSF. I still feel he and his team were great, but, alas, I'm still fibbing. I looked to Dr. Natale for the second because he's done so many and comes so highly recommended by the folks on this forum - from all over the nation/world. Tom --- trumpetnyc wrote: > HI Tom...Who did your first ablation? > > Thanks... > > > > > > > Many of you on this board have been patients of > Dr. > > > Natale. > > > He seems to be the most experienced of the EP's > > > mentioned. > > > > > > For those who have had ablation, did Dr. Natale > put > > > you out before > > > doing the procedure, were you well asleep?? > > > > > > I am afraid of medical procedures of all flavors > and > > > if I decide to > > > see an EP for help want to know that it is not > going > > > to be a trauma- > > > filled nightmare. > > > > > > How was your recovery? Did it go fast? I am 39 > and > > > a single mom of > > > a 9 month old, how much help would I need after > the > > > procedure and for > > > how long?? > > > > > > I'm trying to see how soon I want to persue > this. I > > > haven't had AV > > > since December 7th, other than the very short > > > palpatations and PVCs I > > > get daily. I stopped the Rhythmol but continue > on > > > the beta blocker > > > and aspirin. I have high blood pressure that is > > > being complicated by > > > my uncooperative thyroid. I take thyroid > > > replacement too. > > > I do not take stimulants of any kind but would > like > > > to have an > > > occassional drink again someday. I'm afraid to > > > indulge because both > > > big bouts of AF required chemical conversions > and it > > > becomes a > > > problem when I don't have anyone to leave my > baby > > > with. Been feeling > > > like a hostage to AF for 6 months and want > things > > > back to normal... > > > > > > Thanks! > > > Michele in CA > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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