Posted by Chuck Jones on April 30, 2001 at 20:28:04:
I had my surgery 1-18-01 in Boise, Idaho St. Lukes by Dr Robert Barnes. Dr. Barnes had done 30 maze procedures in the past in conjunction with other surgeries. I was one of his first for af alone. We started with a angiogram on the 17 to make sure I had no problems with valves or blockages. Every thigs was found to be in good shape. Nothing can prepare you for waking up after a open heart surgery. The tubes lines and wires that run from your body are to numerous to count, not to mention coming off the ventalator. I came out of sugery with two external pace makers, in addition to my implanted one of five years. They had to cut one of leads from my implanted pace maker to complete the maze process. This resulted in a new pace maker in one procedure ande new leads in another. The only set back was when I knocked one of my external pace makers into the toilet while trying to stand a urinate. My luck this was the one that was keeping me going set @ 80 bpm the back up was set @ 30 bpm so I dropped like a rock. I came to with at least 6 nurses in a 5'x6' bathroom trying to get me out from between the wall and john. This was no easy job because I'm 6'5" and 280+. Fortunatly the only thing hurt was my ego.
I have had a couple of af bouts since surgery but now its been a week free of af. I'm up to 3/4 mile on the tread mill and feeling much better.