Posted by Rob Hamill on May 09, 2001 at 01:04:03:
In Reply to: Rob Hamill's surgery posted by Jack Drum on May 09, 2001 at 01:03:01:
First of all, none of this would have happened, without all the great board input.
I have been having documented problems with AF since 1978, although I just thought they were normal until Sept 1994. At that time I went through all the failed drug regimes that we all know about so well. The only thing that worked initially for 4 months was quinaglute, but it left my prostate kind of shot. It was a good thing that saw palmetto works so well.
My cardiologist basically said accept the condition, as my heart rate was fairly controlled, and I had a good ejection fraction. It is tough skiing the Jay Glades, the Whiteface avalanche chutes, and really pushing a wave or an endo though, I could only because of skill. not because of a good heart. You see, this to me is living, and now that my 9 year old daughter is my equal on the ski slopes, not to mention my 12 year old son who has surpassed me on his way to helicopters and beyond. My wife was the only one to enjoy a slowed down ski.
The reason that I think I stayed as healthy as I did comes down to one factor, I swam an hour a day somewhat regularly. It seems the swimming action massages the heart well. POINT!
The actual decision to do a maze though, came down to the fact that my left atrial was enlarging(a point refuted by the CC last week). I had wanted to come off coumadin, and a small left atrium is the only safe way to do it. When I learned my atrium wasn't enlarged, I was ready to bag the operation, and come back when I really needed it, as 2 cardiologists advised against this.Then I talked to Dr Hammer, and he reiterated thae success rate and the risk return benefits, so it made sense again.After praying earnestly I went ahead with the operation, and I made mine a double, due to a leaking sticth in the heart. This was done on Tues. morning, today is Sunday, and I'm back in the human race again. There has been no afib so far(30-40% return) is normal in the first 3 months. When the pressure subsides so I can sleep better, al will go much smoother. I'll take it real easy for the next 5 weeks, and then start to improve a lot.
It's funny, when you in AF for so long, NSR seems foreign and my heart feels ready to beat out of my chest, but all the tests have me very normal. Quess I have to get used to the funny feeling of NSR, that I have yearned for for years
Make no mistake about the pain involved in recovering, but when I compare that against another 30 years of heart health, no coumadin risks, no stroke risks, no CHF risks, no tirednessor exhaustion due to AF: It makes it all worth it. I got my new shot at life and took it. The risk in not mazing was much greater. Thanks again to all, and let me know if you have any questions