23 days post maze

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Posted by Harley Gilmore on March 23, 2002 at 21:34:24:

I went off to Cleveland Clinic to get the Maze procedure done. Ended up with a quadruple bypass, Maze and a PFO closure. My assessment of the situation is that I was a heart attack looking for a place to happen. Thank God that I set out on my own to get the AF corrected. I stumbled into the Maze procedure, then set out to find out more about it. Thanks to Jack Drum and others on this board for the tremendous amount of encouragement I received. I had my procedure done February 27th by Dr. McCarthy and Team. My road to recovery has had a few bumps in it but nothing I cannot deal with. I was back in the CC twice after my first discharge. I have had 2 cardioversions. I went back into AF on the way home (3/16/02). The hardest thing the past few days was trying to do much walking with a heart rate of 136 in the rain and snow. Yes, snow the first day of spring.
I talked to my GP 3/18 and the first thing he said was that the Maze didn’t work so we may have to put a pacemaker in. I told him that going back into AF in the first 3 months could be expected and I was not going to consider a pacemaker yet. I am just amazed at the lack of knowledge most doctors I have dealt with in South Seattle have on the Maze procedure. It seems they cannot think outside of the box.

My EP Doc was out of town so I had to wait till Thursday, 3/21/02. They did the tests they needed but could not get me scheduled for the Cardioversion until Friday morning. Friday morning they did the TEE echocardiogram and converted me. My EP Doc noted that I had an infection in the lower part of my incision. He put me in the hospital and had a surgeon open the incision and clean it. I was discharged today (3/23/02) in normal sinus rhythym and off Coumadin. All the redness is gone. Dr. Hill told me the cultures came back negative. Anyway what ever it was is gone. I am on an antibiotic for the next 7 days. I was very pleased with the care I got at Virginia Mason Hospital. I do not regret going for the Maze even though the road has been bumpy. I know the Lord is with me. Thanks for ALL your prayers.
Harley

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