Posted by Carl Plaskett on April 30, 2001 at 20:40:45:
In Reply to: Not Ready for the Maze Yet? posted by Jerry on April 30, 2001 at 20:32:09:
Jerry:
I agree with Ed, read all of the posts on this board, look up some of the other websites mentioned, get as much info as possible, so you can make an informed decision.
Without the research on the Net and this board in particular, I might not have had the maze almost 4 weeks ago at the Cleveland Clinic.
The discomfort from the surgery is nowhere near as bad as I thought it might be (I had the open chest procedure rather than the mini-maze, which I understand is more painful than the open chest, but activity restrictions are fewer- lifting and driving primarily).
Perhaps because I had the open chest procedure (I am a large guy-normally around 200lbs, but up to 245 before surgery because of exercise intolerance), I was lucky enough to leave the hospital in NSR and have yet to experience any
AF since leaving. This ALONE, would have been worth much,much more discomfort from the surgery.
My only discomfort now is from a cough which I had before surgery, which usually follows air flights (post-nasal drip) for me. It got worse after surgery and the coughing has been painful until I finally got a prescription with Hydrocodorn (sp?) which has just about arrested the cough.
I'm not sure where you have gotten the idea that "everyone who has undergone the maze has endured a much worse rehab". I think if you read all of the posts you will find that some people have continued to have some AF for a few months after surgery UNTIL the scar tissue formed, a very few have not had a 100% cure and even fewer (I believe 2 on this board) still have AF about as bad as before. I believe both of these were "first-timers" with new changes in the Maze protocol for surgeries done by Dr. Cox.
I was worried about going to a facility as big as CC, fearing that I would be just one of 100s there getting open heart surgery during the same period. I was pleasantly surprised by the care I received before and after the surgery. I even got 2 calls at home in Fla from the attending cardiologist, Dr. Hammer, after I left CC. One call was about 10:30PM, which was welcome since I was having one of my coughing episodes. He set my mind at ease about any damage coughing was going to do to my heart.
I don't want to downplay the seriousness of this surgery, but at age 30 do you want to live in fear of a stroke, from which you might never recover, the fear of side effects from the meds (the manifestation of some led me to my maze decision), the debilitation of AF, or do you want to get on with trying to get your life back. My doctor told me before and after the maze, that I could go back to doing whatever I am capable of doing after 3 months. I know I won't be capable of doing what I was doing 10 years ago, but I am darned happy to know that I can go out and try to do so: AF-free!! I know any of the Alumni would be happy to communicate with you re: what is a big decision, but gee, you are so young compared to most of us, the risk is extremely low. GOOD LUCK