Which Procedure? What Docs?Where Available?

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Posted by Beverly Crane on January 06, 2003 at 07:17:03:

Trying to sort it all out--which MAZE procedure, by which doctor and where?

Thanks to those of you who responded to my questions under the subject heading "Dr.Cox & the Tesas Heart Institute." Carl Plaskett has suggested I use this method for posting so that I may hear from more of you out there. Several of you have inquired as to what my lung conditions are and whether or not I have been on the drug amiodarone (sp?). At the risk of sounding like a patient :>), I provide the following information/history. (Please note: I am aware this is a message board, in general, for non medical personnel. I also am aware that your comments and suggestions come from your personal knowledge and experience. Therefore, I will read your comments and advice with this in mind. Please feel free to share your points of view with me.)

History:
I have been experiencing AFib for almost six years with acute, lengthy episodes coming more and more frequently. AFib associated symptoms: gross fatigue/ malaise, depression, loss of appetite, extreme shortness of breath,difficulty sleeping, have become more prevalent and incapacitating--all to such a degree that I have been unable to see patients since May, 2002. (I am a 65 year old, Ph.D. psychologist in private practice.) In the last three months I have been in constant AFib. I have already been through two radio frequency ablation procedures (Texas Heart Institute-done by Massumi and his crew of Fellows)this past year. Neither of these were successful. Prior to the second ablation I had tried every drug available and various drug cocktails--except amiodarone which, given my lung problems, was very much discouraged by my pulmonologist. One of the six hospitalizations in the past year was due to a drug interaction which produced transient neurological symptoms resembling a TIA or mini-stroke. In addition, and as a result of the numerous heart diagnostic procedures, it has been discovered that I have an aortic aneurysm (not large enough to operate on as yet), and cardiomyopathy-enlarged heart wall--almost double the normal size.

At present I have available only 52% of my normal lung capacity. Pulmonary biopsies have not been done, so a solid diagnosis is not known. A number of diagnostic possibilities exist including institial lung disease, and aspergilousis (caused by aspergilius, a toxic mold.) Invasive diagnosistic procedures will not be done (according to the pulmonologist) until the AFib/heart condition is handled. I highly suspect that the lung, and some of the heart problems are related to toxic mold poisoning and the stress of having to vacate my home (which was found to have four toxic molds), leaving almost all belongings behind. I have made eight moves (from apartment to apartment) in the last 22 months--all due to the presence of mold. Regarding my home, prospects for complete mold remediation, reconstruction and moving home are not immediately forseeable. I include this latter information to emphasize my deep need and desire to have my physical condition handled effectively and efficiently, with as little physical and psychological trauma as possible. It scares me when I read that "the Houston workup (from Texas Heart Institute?) was incomplete."

If you have made it through all this, congratulations! I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to read it and will be most grateful for any comments you have.

Beverly Crane

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