Posted by SuLynn Mester on November 17, 2001 at 13:09:31:
In Reply to: Re: Some ideas on how to enhance the MAZE Alumni site posted by Jack Drum on November 17, 2001 at 10:16:00:
Hello again Jack,
To answere your question, no, I am not working at a facility that provides the Maze surgery. I would love to work somewhere that did so I could learn so much more about the surgeons and the intricate details that you only learn from being on the "inside." There are so few places that do the surgery.
Yes, Randy had his surgery in Houston at the Heart Institute by Dr. J Micheal Duncan. At that time, Dr. Duncan was the only surgeon in Texas that was doing the Maze. I have learned that there is now a surgeon in Dallas doing the Maze. I was incredibly impressed with Dr. Duncan's care and the care we received at St Lukes Hospital, which is where the Heart Institute patients go. It was unsurpassed by any I have seen in my 15 years of nursing. They were so on top of every big and little detail, even through all of his many post op complications.
Unfortunately, Randy's tricuspid valve is still a huge problem. They tell us that undoubtly it will have to be surgically repaired, but do not want to do it until his right heart chambers begin to enlarge (as documented by frequent echos) and until Randy's symptoms get to a point that it is interfering with a comfortable life style. At this point, he is so much better than he was, that even with the tricuspid problem, life is great. He tires more quickly than he would if he did not have this problem and he has to take Lasix and Aldactone, both diuretics to keep the problem in check. He is on NO rate or rhythem controlling drugs at all now and that in itself is such a blessing. So, we are thankful for every day that we are granted free of A fib and we take one day at a time with the valve problem.
Thanks again for this site. It has been such an encouragement to us and I am sure so many others. I did not post for quite some time after Randy's initial recovery as we were out having the time of our lives. We granted ourselves the trip of a lifetime after recovery, and spent this entire past summer in Alaska. We had not know life free of cardiac arrhythmias our 7 years of marriage until post surgery and it had gotten so bad the last several years before surgery that we did not even stray far from home due to the life threatening symptoms of the frequent uncontrolled onset of Afib. So we decided that we had earned our wings, so to speak, and we sold Randy's building business and I took a summer job in an ICU in Alaska, working three days a week. We played and toured all of southern Alaska the rest of the time. What an awesome experience we had. Heaven must look something like Alaska.
Thanks again for the site
SuLynn