Posted by Phil Powell on August 09, 2002 at 05:51:22:
Hi I very recently found this message board in fact it was the day after I decided to go ahead with the Maze treatment following a visit with the then prospective Sergeon.
I am 53 and was Diagnosed with AF in April 2001 following a visit to my GP forced on me by my wife as she thought I might have a chest infection along with the Flu I was suffering with at the time.
So to save argument I went to the doctor who comfirmed the self diagnosis of the flu with an associated bad cough! not much I can do about that he said just keep up with the paracetamol and cough medicine and I will just take your blood pressure while your here after several tries he opted for a pulse check at the throat!
You seem to have an irregular Pulse he said take this form to the hospital and get an ECG they do walk in GP referals after 11-00 so with form in hand I did as I was told thinking this is a waste of time but I like a quiet life.
Well I arrived at Ashford hospital at 11-00 sharp I was promptly given an ECG (at rest heart rate 112 and confirmed irregular doh!) how do you feel said the nurse like sh*t I said I've got the flu, just sit down and I will see if a doctor can see you she said, yes come in said the doctor, I start to feel this is a conspiracy I mean my wife must have done some massive organising here this the UK your no supposed to get this sort of service from the NHS!
Hi doc I said (not in smug mode now) well Mr Powell he says it seems you have an arrythmia known as Atrial fibrillation take this prescripion this will help control it (Amioderone) the warfrin will reduce the chances of blood clots forming this letter is for your GP he wil make a proper referal to the heart clinic here is another two forms one for a chest x-ray and the other for a blood test see you in about a month bye.
In some what of a daze I went for the x-ray and blood test had the prescription filled out at the hospital pharmacy and exited the building I looked at my watch it was 11-30 I must be in a parallel universe!
Following regular visits to the clinic I realised that this problem had been with me for some time probably years.
I am in constant AF and do not suffer with episodes as are described by others on this forum I just seem to tired most of the time, there are times when thinking is very hard work it is now as it try to type this so I suppose for me this is an episode.
They have tried to cardiovert me twice and changed my drug regime without success and then told me it looked like the Maze was the only way forward! now I had read on the net quite a lot about this ailment and I was of the opinion that the maze was a sort of well we have tried everything else the Maze is the only option left sort of thing so it took me quite some time to come to terms with the mere idea of open heart surgery.
Now I have been refered to a surgeon In St Georges hospital Tooting for a chat and a pre op exam, I saw the surgeon on the 1st August he confirmed the type of op he would perform but I was still apprehensive you see I was having trouble with comparing how it would feel not being in AF and the way I fell now as for me this is now normal! I can still cycle 9 mile to work in 35 mins etc so I said I wished to think about it some more, no problem he said make an appointment in three months time and we will see then well I thought about it all weekend and came to the conclusion that I wasting my own time and just dithering so I telephoned my surgeons secretary on Monday the 5th August and told her I had decided to go ahead with the operation and she said she would put me on the list so here I am waiting for the Maze!
Is it psychological but now I feel phyisicaly worse have I some how admitted to myself that I am unwell and feeling symtoms I had been somehow suppressing?
- Re: Waiting for the Maze! Laura Wood 05:27:12 9/26/2002 (0)