Posted by Carl Plaskett on April 25, 2002 at 22:31:23:
In Reply to: Re: Maze Selection Criteria posted by Dan Moyer on April 25, 2002 at 21:46:11:
I'm not so sure that all insurance companies might go along with the patient saying they want the maze (or ablation)to "improve their quality of life." The referring doctor saying it might be enough, but I think a prospective mazer needs to weigh just how much their quality of life has been altered and is likely to be altered by the drug regimen. If you are young (to me, that is under 60!)and in good shape and want to stay active, the drugs are not likely to keep doing the job for the rest of your life, unless perhaps, they shorten your life. In the meantime, time is flying by, and you are not living life as you once enjoyed it, AND the meds are not doing the job you would LIKE. If your doctor thinks that is reason enough, then it is probable that your carrier may OK it. Ask your doctor, whom I assume is supportive (if not, find one who is),just what reasons he has given for others to have the maze.
My operative report/"INDICATIONS FOR SURGERY" reads:"This is a 59 year old male who has had long-standing atrial fibrillation. He has failed numerous medications and has failed radiofrequency ablation. The procedure and risks of the maze operation were discussed with the patient who understood and agreed to proceed." Pretty benign stuff, (which sounds like you, Dan) but good enough for Aetna. This WAS a quality of life issue with me, but the important thing is, I believe, that I had "failed" the other treatments, which of course LED to the poor quality of life (compared to pre-afib).
If you are on coumadin, it certainly should be limiting the type of activities in which you engage, since you DON'T want to take any spills or heavy contact while taking it. There is RISK there, not just quality of life!
Is your heart rate limited to 120 while you work out because of the drug(s) or has that always been your normal workout HR? That became about my max while I was on drugs and in NSR, which would not get enough oxygen into my muscles to sustain my exercise (hard,fast biking)for very long before I would get cramps. I COULD have gone to slow exercise, but the competition element of going fast with others was important to me, and that, and the fear of crashing while on coumadin gave me an excuse to quit altogether.
To shorten a long post to the bottom line: You need a supportive doctor to make a referral, and YOU need to KNOW that you want to try to change your life for the better.
- Re: Maze Selection Criteria Steve Giddings 07:29:41 4/26/2002 (0)