Posted by Carl Plaskett on July 22, 2001 at 12:48:52:
In Reply to: My September MAZE Operation at Cleveland Clinic posted by Osman M. Nassar on July 22, 2001 at 07:07:22:
Osman: I believe I have been seeing your posts on various boards since before I decided to have the maze 1/18/01. My post below:"Amazing Maze Update" pretty much sums up my thoughts re: the Cleveland Clinic. It worked for Ed & I. It IS somewhat scarey surgery, but what better place to have something like that done than the best heart surgery facility in the world. Dr. McCarthy was great for me. Dr. Donald Hammer, my CC follow-up Cardiologist was super! I would request him if possible! I had the open chest routine and was walking 3 miles in 30.5 minutes 12 days after surgery, with a pulse rate of about 115. My chest is still sore around the breastbone, but I am SURE that is the result of a couple of weeks of violent coughing caused by a post nasal drip from a sinus infection, which flared up the afternoon of the 12th day and lasted 2 weeks. I was sure my chest would rip open from the coughing (I passed out a couple of times for a few seconds). Throughout all of this, my heart stayed in NSR until I took Zithromax, a strong antibiotic, after a couple of weeks, and then I had some flutter for a couple days+, which was corrected by cardioversion.
The recovery time will vary depending upon your conditioning before the maze, but with me my walking in the second week was better than pre-maze, except my chest was sore. I was lifting and doing anything at about 6-7 weeks.
If you or your wife have any specific questions re: the maze or the CC, either I or my wife will be happy to respond to personal emails.
Good luck with your new life!!