Posted by Scott Burgess on February 13, 2002 at 11:11:45:
In Reply to: 18 Week Update - Mini-Maze III at Cleveland Clinic posted by Jim Roff on January 31, 2002 at 14:24:10:
Hi Jim,
I to had a long recovery. The day after my surgery, 1/11/01, I started bouncing in and out again. Drugs still had very little effect as before the procedure. They were pumping me full of drugs and nothing would control it. The most effective thing I found to work were vasavagle(sp)treatments I applied myself. I would take a wet rag loaded down with ice and put it on my cartirod (sp) artery, this would put me back in rhythm quicker than drugs. I went home in the same condition. I was not staying in AF like before the operation, but bouncing in and out. I actually found this to be more frustrating. My EP finally put me on amioderone. This seemed to work for a little while. I did not like the side effects. I felt very lethargic and my hair started falling out. Well my hair falling concerned me very much. At this time I started to bounce in and out of NSR again. This time things were very different. I would go into AF and stay a whole week then the next week I would stay in NSR. This cycle repeated twice, my 4th month post surgery, and I went back to my EP. I asked if the drugs could be causing the AF, because sometimes they can and I felt different than I had before (very heart aware). When I went to see him I had just converted back to NSR on my own, again. I asked him to take me off all medication. We agreed that the worst-case scenario would be that I would have to restart my meds, hospital stay. I stopped taking everything that except coumidin. I have been in NSR and drug free since. Like you I was getting down and all the positive feedback from the board did not help. People running 2 months post op and I still couldn’t walk to the mail box and back. The board also helped, I got tons of support and prayers from many. The best support I got was my wife (Emergency Dept Doc) and Mike and Debbie Johnson. Without those three people and God I don’t believe I would have had the presence of mind to beat this. I do believe that a positive outlook helps. Please do not give up hope. Remember that the body heals at different rates for all people. The scar tissue has to fully develop in some people before the procedure works. I am available to talk if you would like. Drop me an email and I will get in touch with you. Finding this board was one of the best things that happened after my surgery, I was not aware of it existence before hand. Keep the faith.