Posted by Anne Rowthorn on October 13, 2003 at 09:51:26:
In Reply to: 11 months on from Maze posted by Phillip Powell on October 13, 2003 at 06:53:49:
Dear Phil,
I can well understand how upset you are having gone back into a-fib and getting back on meds. I understand because the same thing happened to me; I went back into a-fib exactly one year and 3 days after having the maze. If you read through posts on this board, you will see that this does unfortunately happen from time to time and most people finally get fixed with "touch-up ablations." You mention Tooting, so I assume you are writing from England. It's a London suburb, isn't it? If so you might not have as much freedom to take your case to the best clinic in the country and the best doctor who treats people post maze as we do here in the U. S. A. From my perspective, I had my maze done at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, a top ranking hospital and cardiology department. After returning to a-fib, my cardiololgist there felt I should just stay on meds and couldn't really understand why I wanted to be drug-free. However, largely from the encouragement of those who post on this board, I decided to take my case into my own hands. I only have one life and one heart, right?! Don't we all? So tomorrow I am going to see Dr. Natale at the Cleveland Clinic who has a very good record of performing ablations on people post maze. If I feel assured after talking to him, I will go ahead with the procedure in early February. In England, can you seek out the best doctor and the best hospital and still expect the National Health to pay for it? If that is possible, that is what I would do.
As disappointed as you may be and, trust me, I know that feeling, don't give into it. Turn all that hurt into positive energy seeking a solution, even if it takes a little time, telephone calls and more consultations. Good luck and keep us posted as to what's happening and believe that you will get through this feeling a lot better than you do right now.