18 Week Update - Mini-Maze III at Cleveland Clinic

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ MAZE Alumni Forum ]

Posted by Jim Roff on January 31, 2002 at 14:24:10:

Tomorrow completes my 18th week (approx. 4 ½ months) post Mini-Maze III Procedure by Dr. McCarthy at the Cleveland Clinic. I wish I had good news to report but I do not. I continue to have frequent episodes of skips (PAC’s & PAT’s), flutter, and AFIB. Recently the episodes have reduced somewhat in both length and intensity. This is encouraging, however, I am getting very frustrated and depressed at the length of recovery. Especially after reading all the success stories. I try very hard to maintain a positive attitude, but it is difficult. I am hanging in there with prayers and hope. I have heard mention of some patients that have gone as long as 5-7 months before returning to NSR.

For the first 8 weeks post surgery I was flipping in and out of AFIB & NSR. The frequency was approx. 24 hours of AFIB and then 24 hours of NSR. From Week 9 to Week 15 the duration of AFIB reduced to approx. 3 to 20 hours while the time in NSR increased from approx. 8 to 40 hours (The amount of PAC’s and PAT’s increased significantly) during these weeks. Then approx. Week 15, the pattern changed again. From Week 15 until present (Week 18), I have experienced approx. 24 hour periods of NSR, but with lots of PAC’s and PAT’s, occasionally some flutter/AFIB. I have been taking 225 mg propafanone (3x/day) with coumadin. This past week I stopped taking the propafanone and the pattern has changed slightly. I now have some good periods of NSR (20 to 28 hours) with mild PAC’s/PAT’s. Then I revert to what seems to be short flutter followed by AFIb for 3-4 hours. This recent change has only been for 3-4 days, since stopping the propafanone.

I would like to hear from folks who have had similar experiences, if any. This flip-flopping condition has me on pins and needles. It is very difficult to relax. Has anyone else experienced these conditions?

My local Dr. has only had one other patient who has had the Maze surgery and he is not very knowledgeable about the Maze. I have tried communicating with both Dr. McCarthy and Dr. Hammer at the Cleveland Clinic. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Clinic has not been very helpful in providing guidance or past experiences.

Jim Roff

Follow Ups:


Post a Followup

Name    : 
E-Mail  : 
Subject : 

Comments:


Optional Link URL:  
Link Title:         
Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ MAZE Alumni Forum ]

WWWBoard 2.0a and WWWAdmin 2.0a © 1997, All Rights Reserved.
Matt Wright and DBasics Software Company