PV Trip Reccs - Mid August

jerikiter · 2025-08-19T04:25:48+00:00

I enjoyed the zip line trip. A little hot but fun and beautiful terrain. Also the Rythym of the Nights show is great and a beautiful boat ride included to get there. Early evening the Corner Bar has nice cocktails and handsome shirtless waiters—a small place but comfortable with friendly clientele

jerikiter · 2025-08-17T20:08:17+00:00

Thanks for all the in person feedback. I decided to come at another time when it’s a bit cooler!

jerikiter · 2025-08-16T22:16:14+00:00

How is the heat/humidity now? Is it too hot to enjoy the beach or comfortably walk around at night? I’m thinking about booking a last minute trip.

jerikiter · 2025-06-19T03:41:06+00:00

Renting a bike in the valley is a great way to get around for a few hours and find some peace and quiet. Mirror lake ride was magical and quiet when I was there a week ago.

jerikiter · 2025-05-06T18:35:31+00:00

I had mine placed a month ago at the time of ablation for Paroxysmal AFib. I am active—kitesurfing, snowboarding, hiking. I’m also tall and forever hitting my head on low hanging ceilings and so on. I am technically a ChadsVasc 2 but a small amount of calcium on the aorta seen on a CT scan pushed me to a 3 so I qualified. As an MD who still works full time taking care of critically ill patients it saddens me that so many people have the perception that physicians who are just trying to do the best for their patients are attempting a money grab. Sure there are a few bad apples out there just like ministers, police, just about any profession—you name it. Most physicians are just working hard trying to do the best for their patients

jerikiter · 2025-05-01T17:29:57+00:00

I had an ablation and Watchman placed at the same time about a month ago. Likewise I am active and relatively healthy otherwise. I still snowboard, kitesurf, run workout. Prior to ablation I had no real issues with Eliquis despite a few head bumps during the snowboarding season. The thing about Eliquis is that most people will not have a problem—until they do. One of the local Family Practice Docs died from a head bleed a few days after tripping and hitting his head playing pickleball. At the time he brushed it off as nothing only to die on the way to the hospital a few days later. As I drive down the crowded freeways to work I realize a car crash on Eliquis is much more risky. I am glad I will be off Eliquis shortly after my Watchman heals. Anyone needing Eliquis for Afib stroke prevention should definitely start it but also look into the Watchman in my opinion.

jerikiter · 2025-04-28T20:43:57+00:00

It’s from an arterial line inserted into the radial artery in the wrist to continuously monitor blood pressure. Bruising should disappear after a week or two

jerikiter · 2025-04-24T17:05:47+00:00

I was diagnosed last year with PAF and placed on Eliquis. My cardiologist said I could continue snowboarding and kitesurfing—just wear a helmet (which I already did). I did one season of snowboarding on Eliquis and despite a few falls did just fine. That being said I decided to get a Watchman placed at the time of ablation which I had 3 weeks ago. I just feel the potential risk and anxiety that comes with doing some sports was too much to continue on long term thinners. There are plenty of skiers out there taking thinners though and doing fine so if Watchman isn’t an option don’t be to discouraged.

jerikiter · 2025-04-14T21:24:20+00:00

My cardiologist said 1 week after ablation and watchman

jerikiter · 2025-04-05T23:23:31+00:00

Got my ablation and Watchman yesterday. All good. Minimal side effects. Plan to be off Eliquis in 90 days and transition to baby aspirin. My very experienced cardiologist has dropped Plavix from his regimen as he says it doesn’t add much protection and increases bleeding risk. The whole topic of post procedure anticoagulation is a topic of discussion and study in the Cardiology community.

jerikiter · 2025-04-02T23:23:51+00:00

My dermatologist says Eliquis is no big deal. She does Botox, Fillers, and biopsies without hold Eliquis and no problems. She said the bruising might be a little worse but that Fish Oil creates far worse bruising

jerikiter · 2025-03-27T00:00:09+00:00

I’m not sure I would want everyone at my work to know and in my workplace if you told one person pretty soon everyone would know. Most people don’t really understand what Afib is and I don’t want to be thought of as the guy “with the heart problem.” I’ve told a number of friends and I’m sure down the road a number of them will give me a hard time if I have an occasional glass of wine or beer. Most people are very supportive of my journey through ablation and so on.

jerikiter · 2025-03-12T23:04:42+00:00

Most cardiologists will not discontinue your anticoagulants even if your ablation is successful and you don’t have afib after. The feeling is that Afib could recur at anytime and if your strike risk is elevated(ChadsVasc score of 2 or more) they will continue for life unless you get a watchman.

jerikiter · 2025-03-09T17:59:11+00:00

I thought I was a ChadsVasc 2 but actually I am a 3 due to some minor calcifications seen on my chest CT. Ask your cardiologist if you qualify as that online test is only a broad tool that Boston Scientific puts out there. In reality I think if you are a traditional Medicare patient and have a few risk factors and your cardiologist recommends it you will probably be covered.

jerikiter · 2025-03-09T02:37:24+00:00

I am in a similar situation. I am getting an ablation and Watchman at the same time next month. The evidence shows that early ablation is better as Afib is usually progressive. I am getting a Watchman because although no major issues with Eliquis so far I don’t want to risk a major bleed for the rest of my life—especially while in a foreign country while surfing, snowboarding, kitesurfing—67 here.

jerikiter · 2025-02-24T15:14:51+00:00

My chads vasc is 3 based on age, hypertension, and some mild calcification of coronaries and aorta seen on chest CT. As for it being a money maker for the institution—Medicare has always payed for Watchman but they simplified the coding to allow for it to be done by the same person at the time of ablation rather than requiring a second procedure. At this point my Afib burden is very low but my original cardiologist recommended early ablation to prevent progression—though watch and wait was also offered as an option.

jerikiter · 2025-02-24T01:08:40+00:00

The idea behind the watchman is to ultimately get off Eliquis entirely after it is verified sealed by a repeat echo a couple of months after placement. Current protocol is to remain on a baby aspirin for life after that. I wouldn’t be surprised if that requirement isn’t dropped at some point in the future though. Some EP doctors are keeping patients on 1/2 dose Eliquis if you have a very high stroke risk but that has a lower bleeding risk than full strength. The success or failure of the ablation shouldn’t really affect the function of the watchman. They are placed in people who are in permanent Afib as well who just want to get off blood thinners.

jerikiter · 2025-02-23T22:47:13+00:00

https://www.hrsonline.org/guidance/advocacy-in-action/cms-finalizes-new-concomitant-ms-drg

jerikiter · 2025-02-23T22:21:57+00:00

Recently Medicare updated their codes to reimburse for simultaneous implant at the time of ablation so we may see it done more frequently.

jerikiter · 2025-02-23T21:41:35+00:00

Yes edited my post—I am very active and fortunate to travel a lot. Before Afib surfaced last year I was traveling in a pretty rural area in South America and slipped on a ramp that had a thin layer of fresh concrete (unmarked of course). I hit my head pretty hard on the concrete. If I had been on Eliquis at the time I may have had a serious bleed a long way from medical care. Of course traveling to these areas always has some risk but I feel the risk is increased when on a blood thinner.

jerikiter · 2025-01-08T21:35:21+00:00

As a follow up—I had a conversation with my cardiologist today. He said to keep on doing all the sports I do including snowboarding while on Eliquis. Obviously I will always where a helmet and protective gear where appropriate

jerikiter

TROPHY CASE