Posted by Henry Alken on February 09, 2002 at 11:21:47:
In Reply to: Maze drugs or ablation? posted by Tim on February 08, 2002 at 06:35:17:
Tim,
I think many of us who have have had the Maze have spent nights wide awake at 4am trying to decide what to do. I know I did. I tried the drug approach and after several pleasant years on Betapace the drug gave out and no longer did the job. I understand that sooner or later all the drugs stop working and then you are left high and dry. One cardio decided that I needed Amiodarone and wrote me a prescription. I still have it. It has never been filled. I don't have that kind of capacity for risk.
Next, I tried the Ablation route. It was for the right atrium. It stopped the Flutter I was having and replaced it with more Afib. Great! I asked the catheter doc how he steered the catheter wire probe in and around the heart. He told me that the tip portion of the catheter was curved and that by turning the catheter he was able to steer the thing. Flaky! When he wanted to do another ablation in the left atrium, with all the risks associated with that, I said "Thanks, but no thanks". Meanwhile, I had been reading those silly Afib boards where each person talks on and on about the medications they are taking, etc. I finally found Jack Drum's Maze board. That was my lucky day because this is where the action is. This is the place where the B.S stops and people get cured of Afib! When I read Ed Wiehan's saga about circumnavigating South America on his feet after his Maze, and Carl Plaskett's and Jack Drum's excellent results, (Dr) Steve Giddings careful analysis of the procedure and his approval of it, my doubts were resolved. I woke up one morning and my mind was at rest. During the night it had made the decision. I was going to Cleveland and get myself a Big Mac. I did this on October 16, 2001. I am now, at 4 months post op, waiting for the day when I can dump all the meds into the trash. But, even if this doesn't happen and I am one of the unlucky 5% who do not respond well, going to the CC was still the right thing for me to do.Many years ago, when I was learning to fly an Aeronca Champ puddle-jumper airplane, I remember our club doctor landing his Stinson and being very, very upset and shook up. We asked him what happened. He said "Well, I was cruising along and I felt something was wrong. I finally realized that I was able to read the small print stencilled on my propellor blade. Then I knew I was in trouble". Tim, you have reached the point where you can read the small print. It is time for you to act. Don't waste your years by following the meds and ablations trails. They go nowhere.
Please excuse my bluntness.
Good luck and may you soon regain your health.