Arythmia

[Pete0629]

I have had afib for the past 1-1/2 years. I have gone through Adriodone and multaq. My cardiologist said I need to talk to someone about cardiac ablation. I am in continuous afib and in good health other than afib. My stress test turned out good with no blockage and no heart enlargement at all.I get dizzy once in a while and feel weak sometimes. I am 56 years old. What are the chances that an ablation would be successful? I feel I can't play racquetball, run, cycle or play tennis anymore because the strenuousness of the activity isn't helping my heart since it is beating in odd ways now and not efficiently.
Thanks you.
Pete Nicholls

[Angel_001]

Hi Pete!
Wow! Congratulations on your courage and journey!
I found a afibbers forum on Yahoo that had several people commenting on their experiences for the surgical maze option.  Specifically Dr. John Sirak's technique.  I think you are in good hands b/c there is a lot of patients pleased (so far) about their results.
Also, Congratulations for being Proactive about our healthcare options and asking lots of questions to better equipt you on your journey!!  You really should feel proud of yourself for all the hard work and research you've done on this.  All I can say, is that my friend would do it all again in a heartbeat (NSR of course ;) ).  She got her life back.
You are in my thoughts and prayers as you continue on your path!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please, keep us updated to your progress :)

Angel

[Pete0629]

Huh, yeah that is strange they wouldn't at least discuss a possible cureable option with you and your husband. I chose the 5 box Thorancoscope maze because I'm in persistant afib and the success rates seem to be higher with that procedure. Your condition seems to be perfect for the cardiac ablation, or at least from what I have read. It definatley is a very expensive procedure either way you go and risky. But for me personally I think it's worth the expense and risk, if my insurance will cover most of it  :). If I remember the UK is under a more socialized medicine, is it not? Maybe there lies the difference between ours system, at least as it stands today and your system, who knows really. Anyway, for me, and I am on warifin also, I want my life back, drugs put me in a state where I feel I am looking at life through plexiglass, I can see it, I just can't fully feel it anymore.

So anyway I hope you continue to educate yourself. The people on this site have been soooo helpful to me.

Pete

I hope you can figure this out

[Pete0629]

Annie

My son and I are going to head out on the 16t eeaarrllyy! I have to be there at 10:30 and it's a 6 hour drive. As I said I'm nervous about it, some because of going to a strange place and have them cut on me and some because I want to be done with this sooo badly. I can't let myself get to optimistic about the success----yet.

But I'll let you know how it goes and thanks for thinking of me.

Pete

[JoKelly]

I wonder why doctors in the UK never even suggest surgical ablation?  My husband has been in permanent AF for two years now and I have paroxsysmal AF but only anti coagulants (Warfarin) are prescribed for both of us.  I note how costly it is for you in US and wonder if this is why or whether it is a medical reluctance due to risk.  I read about the success rates whenever they are mentioned so that I can try to educate myself in the subject.

[annie1724]

Please keep posting and let us know how the five box procedure goes, Pete.  Good luck to you!  We'll be thinking of you on the 17th!

[Pete0629]

Hey Angel

Well I guess I have to completely follow through with this thing now. I am scheduled to have the 5 box procedure done on Sept 17th. The thing that's most shocking to me is it is an in network procedure with my insurance company. Dr Sirak looked at my stress test and echo results today. He said I'm a perfect canidate for the procedure. I'm a little nervous about it now. You spend so much time fighting  to get it done then once you get it approved reality sets in. Oh well I can always blame you if it goes bad----just kidding, my research, my decision.

Wish me luck all.

Pete