Learning From Dave Funderburg

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Posted by Anne Rowthorn on December 08, 2003 at 17:44:29:
I need some help framing some qustions and deciding whether to go ahead with my ablation scheduled at the CC with Dr. Natale January 20. Dave's experience is making me very nervous, because my situation is almost like his. I had a mitral valve repair with a maze and like him I have what is described as a "moderately enlarged atria." I was in NSR until six months ago when I went into a-fib. It is controled by Norpace which I tolerate well now. I say now because with the summer's heat, I could not go near the sun or be in any place slightly overheated. I was also told, correctly I imagine, that antiarrhythmics work only just so long until one needs more and heavier doses. Obviously this thought was not attractive to me so I opted to go to Dr. Natale at the CC. He feels confident that he can do an ablation successfully on me. But now here are my qustions: Since I am getting on OK with Norpace now, would I do well to stay on it and get the ablation when NOrpace fails to work? How much does an enlarged atria effect the outcome of the procedure? I can get an echo the day before the procedure, but how can I get Dr. Natale to read it along with the TEE results before he gets me into the cath lab? I have talked to Minerva in the CC office, but I was wondering if any of you know someone else--an assistant to Dr. Natale--with whom I could share these questions?
I have waited almost 6 months for this appointment and I dearly want to be drug free but I also feel that I do not want to end up in worse shape than I am now. And Dave, if you are out there still reading the message board, I would really like to hear from you as to what, if anything, you might have done differently.
Any and all opinions will be most appreciated.

Follow Ups:

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Sarah 01:53:58 12/09/2003 (0)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Dave Funderburg 21:02:29 12/08/2003 (2)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Jimmy 13:54:54 12/09/2003 (1)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Dave Funderburg 14:33:01 12/09/2003 (0)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Bill Kilgore 18:03:50 12/08/2003 (4)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Bevely Jenny 00:37:20 8/11/2004 (0)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Anne Rowthorn 11:54:29 12/10/2003 (2)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Rachel William 17:48:15 8/16/2004 (0)

Re: Learning From Dave Funderburg Paddy White 18:00:18 8/09/2004 (0)

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