Posted by SuLynn on April 27, 2001 at 14:54:29:
Hello to all,
Randy, my husband, who is only 35 years old has suffered with sick sinus syndrom and Afib for 5 years. He had a pacemaker placed at age 30 then had to have it changed out at age 32 to an updated version. He has been in and out of hospitals and had every cardiac test known to medicine, I think. He has also been on so many cardiac and antiarrthymic medicines that we have lost count. They either did not work or the side effects were worse than the Afib itself. He was totally debilitated and becoming depressed at the idea of living his life that way. Formerly we were very a active couple. We did our own research to treatment options and it was on the internet that I first learned about the maze. We presented the idea to our cardiologist and he thought we were crazy for considering such an invasive procedure for "just Afib." It was not "just Afib" to us. It was a debilitating disease that had changed our lives. Finally we made the decision to have the maze done. It was done on Otober 10th in Houston at St. Lukes Hospital by Dr. Micheal Duncan. We were very impressed with Dr. Duncan. He, along with the electrophysiologist, Dr. Massumi, saw Randy every day until discharge. The care at St. Lukes surpassed even my best expectations. Randy had an extended hosptial stay with several complication. He first was found to have a pericardial effusion and then had bilateral pulmonary effusions. On his fourth post op day we learned that his tricuspid valve had a severe leak which was not there pre-op. He had to go back to surgery but not open heart. They had to try to reajust his pacemaker lead thinking it was causing the leak. It was not the problem. All and all we were there in the hospital for about 2 weeks. Randy has had only two very short minor episodes of Afib since the surgery and is not using his pacemaker at all. We have been into the ER one time for the valve problem and we just got back from Houston this week for that problem. We thought Randy was going to have to go back to open heart surgery to have it repaired or replaced but found out that they will try to treat it with medicine. They tell us that at any time he might have to go back to surgery. He is only on diuretics and potassium now but now antiarrthymic meds. Even with all of that going on, he still feels so much better than before the surgery. Hopefully we will be able to manage the valve problem without surgery. If any of you have any comments about the valve problem post op please let me know.
SuLynn