5 box Thorascoscope maze done on me 9/17

[Pete0629]

Hi all, just letting you all know I had this procedure done last Friday at Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital. Dr Sirak is one of the innovators of this minimal invasive procedure. To save time and learn more you can go Ohioafib.com.

The advantage of this procedure over a typical ablation is it is much more affective on my condition, persistant, afib. It is more thorough and has better longterm results.It is definatley not a walk in the park. It is more invasive than the popular cardiac ablation, but as I said more affective on my type of afib, from the research I have done.

I am going to answer as many questions as I can in order to help people that are considering the procedure.

From what I have understood the procedure is " in network" in my United Healthcare insurance network. But I haven't seen any bills yet so only time will tell.
The worst part of the surgery is , to me, the feeling, weakness, and psycotic feeling from the  anethstetic and pain killers, I hate em! I actually hallucinated on them and they lingered for days. I did talk to others that have had surgery and they didn't have the same reaction , so it may be just me. I had essentially 2 nurses taking care of me in my room, one for general house keeping and care and the other a cardiac nurse. Both were professional and caring to the max. I also, being a single guy, developed a crush on my nurse in the OR, but I'll save that story for my buddys.
I have 10 incisions on my body, under my arms across my chest and 2 drain holes below my ribs. Small ones 1/2 inch long. Another concern I had was the whole BM issue, but I can report this morning I'm happy in that area.
I am on several meds for the shorterm. Mainly, as Dr Sirak told me, my heart has burns on it for the moment and need to heal, there will probably be inconsistant reactions to the inflammation over the next few weeks, but eventually I'll be taken off most or all the meds.

I'm not out playing tennis again, yet, but that is in my sites.

Any more questions? I'll be home the rest of the week and happy to let you know my experience.

Pete

[Joed131]

Thanks for your response.  My AF is persistent.  Did you have same or paroymal.

[LindaTX]

Hi Joe, no i did not have the 5-box, I had the traditional PVI ablation with Dr Andre Natale.  My heart did not settle down after my ablation Sept, 2010.  It took 3 mo. more of anti-arrhythmia meds and lots of prayer to finally say good-bye to a-fib.  Over the last 6 mo. or so I have had some short episodes of tachycardia but the last month or so I have had none of that either.  I have heard, as I'm sure you have, wonderful things about Dr. Sirak.  If you choose the Pulmonary Vein Isolation ablation I would highly recommend Dr. Natale in Austin, Tx.  Good Luck in which ever way you decide to go.  I am very glad I had the procedure done.

[Joed131]

I see you had the five-box procedure and had to take anti arrythemia drugs after.  Are you better and are you off the drugs.  I want to have the surgery because I do not want to get on those drugs.  If you are better what was your full recovery time.

Thanks,
Joe

[Pete0629]

Joe
There is a yahoo website where 5 Box alumni gather to discuss their experiences, research, recovery and as you can see from Glen, who is an alumni also, insurance issues. Glen can tell you more about it but it's at yahoo groups under afib 5 box I believe., I don't visit it as much now since I really have no questions and no longer have the issues I had previously. Plus there are many more people way more into it than I am.
My recovery was about 4 weeks before I could really feel normal again. Some others had a very fast recovery as you will see at th web site.

Good luck Joe.
Pete

[Joed131]

I too am from MA but I am on Medicare with BC/BS supplement to pay what Medicare does not.  Wonder if the will reject me also even though they are not the primary insurance and now wondering if Medicare will also say it in the trial stages.

[Joed131]

Thanks for responding.  May I ask you how was the surgery healing process.  Was it pain for a long period or short time.  I hate taking pain Meds.  Had shoulder surgery after slipping on ice and needed 4 pins.  Took pain Meds for one day.  Doc who did surgery could not believe I was not taking pain Meds.  

Thanks,
Joe