Posted by Ed Wehan on August 15, 2002 at 11:36:00:
In Reply to: New Involuntary Member of AF Club posted by Mike Ware on August 15, 2002 at 07:35:06:
Mike, I am now 58 and endured AFib for 14 years before having my maze procedure in January 2001. I wish I had done it sooner but little was known about the maze early on and Jack hadn't started this website yet. I would recommend that you read some of the stories by each of us posted at the top of the page. This will give you some good information on the progression of this disease. To answer some of your questions, I will tell you how AFib affected me. My AFib started very occasionally, was controlled by drugs for a while and then became chronic. This seems to be a pattern for most people. I did exercise while in AFib and even raced (running). I don't know how much it affected my heart but I didn't feel any effect except that my performance was probably 50% below what I would normally do. Also, at the top of this page is a list of doctors who perform the maze. I live in California but flew to Cleveland for mine. Like you, my quality of life was diminished by AFib and I could no longer do those things I loved to do like backpack and run as much as I wanted. I now lead a normal life. I take no drugs. I run 50 to 60 miles a week and play tennis a couple of days. The maze was a miracle of sorts for me.