Posted by Terry Gann on July 26, 2002 at 16:28:31:
Just a few thoughts that have been stirring around in my head - I thought it might help to vent.
My Dad was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation 15 years ago when he entered the hospital to have his gall bladder removed. Unlike my sister and me, he never experienced any symtoms so the diagnosis was a surprise. At that time, and at no point since then, did any physician try to convert him to NSR either through medications or cardioversion. The solution to the problem was to put him on Coumadin for the remainder of his life. The Doctors told us that since he experienced no symptoms that the a-fib was a relatively "benign" condition. (How many of us have heard that before?) He's now 73 years old and has several health problems; we've noticed that he gets mentally confused when he takes some medications, especially pain-killers. This confusion has been getting worse, so this week he saw the Doctor who diagnosed vascular dementia and told us that his years of continual a-fib had very much contributed to this. Aagh! That's not a benign condition, and this is just another reason for persons afflicted with a-fib to have it cured. I don't consider persons in their seventies to be old anymore; it's funny how our concept of "old" changes as we grow older. Does anyone have any information regarding the success/failure rates of converting to NSR after years of chronic a-fib? (Either through medication, cardioversion, or the Maze?)
Well, that's enough on that subject. This is my other thought for the day: There are lots of athletic persons who regularly post on this site who have had the Maze procedure, and mention has been made of the possible correlation between an athletic heart and a-fib. That connection may exist, but I believe the persons who pursue research and want to live life the fullest are the ones that eventually have the Maze performed. In other words, Maze patients have a mindset that if they can be cured then why not go for it. Why waste time taking medications that can have dangerous side effects and worrying that the a-fib could occur at any time. I personally love the freedom from worry that the Maze has given me. I'm not athletic, but I am quite active. I like to walk, swim, ride my bike and play basketball. I use to worry that if I did too much the a-fib would happen - and it usually did! Thanks to everyone on this board for your encouragement of others and thanks for listening to me vent my thoughts!Terry
- Re: On My Soapbox! Ed Wehan 13:23:53 7/29/2002 (0)
- Re: On My Soapbox! Roger Meyer 08:42:30 7/28/2002 (0)