Posted by Carl Plaskett on March 20, 2002 at 21:57:38:
In Reply to: I'm getting the Maze next week! posted by Tim Hawkins on March 20, 2002 at 20:10:33:
Tim: My first thought is "congratulations"! I know, from your previous posts and personal emails, that this has been a difficult decision because of the 6 month wait for a re-exam by the FAA, compounded by your insurance problems. I knew the CC could help you over the insurance hurdle with some persuasive education by their staff. I think your rationale for the maze vs an ablation is sound, but should the CC think you are a better candidate for an ablation (like Angie, a couple weeks ago), don't close your mind to it, as I believe they are getting better than 70% success with their new techniques.
My second thought, about you driving back 1600 miles in the back of a Suburban is crazy!!! Go to Priceline.com and bid on a flight to Cleveland. If you simply HAVE to drive, buy or borrow a Tempur Pedic mattress, which will provide much better support for your return trip, which still would be really tough, in my opinion. Personally, I can't imagine that Dr. Hammer would condone you traveling this way unless you hang around in Cleveland for a couple of weeks or more, post-maze, but I would ask him tomorrow, if I were you. (Give him my regards, as well).
I know all about your experiences of getting ready to exercise and being in afib. That will soon be a thing of the past.
Please set up a patient page at thestatus.com, so we and your friends can follow your progress. You will have to post the password here and give it to your friends. It is a neat service, and your wife can continually update at a computer on your floor in the hospital (or in the CC library).
I will be thinking about and praying for you.