Posted by Kristine on July 18, 2002 at 00:14:59:
Hi-
This is a wonderful site, but I am kind of lost in all the posts, so I hope my concerns aren't repeated throughout the posts, if so I am very sorry.
First, I am 27 and went through open heart last Oct. for a bad valve and a very bad case of endocarditits. So, has anyone else had previous open heart procedures prior to the maze? I also have a pacer already due to a radiofrequency ablation leaving me in 3rd. degree heart block-I have had 4 electro-phys tests with 3 including ablations. The cardiologist I am seeing now has offerred a couple options, but has left me kind of frusterated in making a choice-#1-he can attempt to ablate this but he says my rhythm looks like flutter but the waveforms are different making it difficult to ablate and 2-the maze procedure, but he was not sure a doc would consider me due to the recent open heart and I depend on I.V. to meet my nutritional needs due to a severe form of colitis. So, currently I am scheduled for another electro-phys study and possible ablation next Thurs.-7-25-02, I have already been told I will need to be on anti-coags. more than likely, so as I have read many of your posts I am becoming more and more tempted to look into the maze, especially since my cardio says I may still need this after my procedure he will do. My open-heart in Oct. was really hard-I swore I would never do that again, but you all make it sound soooo easy!!!!
Also, I was wondering if anyone has had any of the modified versions and how everything went from start to finish, although I seem to find in the little literature I have read shows that the original open heart has had the very best result! Has anyone experienced ablations with full success? Finally, I am lucky enough to live in Ohio and only about an hour from the Cleveland Clinic!!!
Again thanks for taking the time to help me with this decision, My Love & Prayers are with ALL of You-
-Kristine
- Re: Decisions, Decisions Carl Plaskett 07:17:10 7/18/2002 (0)