Posted by Sharee Berry on May 27, 2002 at 10:53:20:
In Reply to: Help.I don't know what to do ! posted by Laura Wood on May 21, 2002 at 18:20:07:
Laura: You have been given great advice and insight by those posting on this board; however, you ultimately have to make the final decision, not the physicians. I was so naive about what to do when I realized I could no longer live with A fib controlling my life. It seemed that every cardiologist who treated me had a different opinion of what should be done. Most only talked about drugs, ablation, and pacemaker. Only one suggested I look into the Maze. At that point, the thought of such an invasive procedure really scared me, and I dismissed it right away. I then started to research ablation and actually had an appointment in Utah to have it done. Thank goodness a dear friend of mine and surgeon talked me out of it and educated me about the actual mechanics of the Maze and its benefits, and success rates. I am 58 years old and had the surgery nine months ago. I did have episodes of A fib after the surgery but mild compared to the ones I had preoperatively. I have kept a positive attitude, however, and just waited things out, and I have now been free of AF for seven weeks. As many have suggested, once you have a pacemaker, you are dependent on it for the rest of your life, plus the risks of being on Coumadin. I wish you the best with whatever decision you make, but just wanted to add my story to the many others you have heard from.
Sharee Berry