Posted by Harley Gilmore on January 05, 2002 at 21:52:43:
In Reply to: Maze success posted by Tony Spackman on January 04, 2002 at 21:50:29:
Hi Tony, I know what you are going through in the decision process. I have had this AF for 10 years and it is getting worse. I had an ablation Oct 25th 2001 to stop the flutter and the Dr hoped to stop a lot of the AF. The flutter was stopped. Both my EP and regular Cardiologist recommended a pacemaker to hold my HR up in the 70's and batapace to keep it from going to high. Both said I would still have AF and would still be on all these meds. Thanks to my dear wife she prodded me to get a second opinion. I called a nurse friend who works in the St Paul Heart center. In my conversation with Dr. Vatterott he mentioned Dr. Cox and the maze procedure. I set out to find out more information on the maze procedure. I found this board and it was an answer to prayer. I had delayed my Dec 12 pacemaker implant. After finding the Dr's who do the procedure I put together a summary history sheet and faxed it to Dr. McCarthy, Dr. Barnes, Dr. Millar and Dr. Gaudaini. Dr. Guadaini California and Dr. Barnes, Boise ID called me to discuss what they could do for me. Christmas day I made my decision to go for the Maze procedure. I was rescheduled for the Pacer the second week of Jan 02. I wrote a letter to my cardiologist telling him I was going to have the maze procedure done in lieu of the pacemaker and asked him to refer me and if he would be part of the preop and post op. I will meet with him this monday. I have deceided to have Dr. Barnes do the procedure. I am delighted that there is a procedure that will get me back to NSR and off ALL the medication that have drug me down for so many year. I would go next week if I could get scheduled. I am hoping to have mine done the last week of Jan or early Feb. I have realy been encouraged by the people who have reported their great success stories, the e-mails I have received and the opportunity to talk to Claude Hepworth here in Seattle who is 3 months post Maze. I will post my progress as it happens. I know I am in God's hands and He will bring me through the operation just fine. God Bless, Harley