Posted by Glenn Camp on January 11, 2004 at 00:24:54:
In Reply to: Re: Medications posted by John Gross on January 09, 2004 at 11:11:37:
John the Dr's representative in Indianapolis has already told me that two trips were a requirement. I had asked them if it were possible for me to come a week early, or whatever time it takes prior to procedure for consultation and CTscan, and just remain there through the entire event.
Here's what she said...... "Unfortunately there is no way to keep it to just one visit. The CT scan is a very high definition test and it must be done a minimum of two weeks before the ablation so that we can get the reconstruction back. Sorry."
They do not schedule like that. It may be a couple months later or longer after the first visit. I do not have an appointment made for the first visit yet. The consultation visit probably will not be until sometime in March and I will not find out if I will be a candidate for PVA(I) until two weeks after that, then an appointment will be made for the procedure.
The reason I am pursuing the possibility of going to Dr. Miller is the fact that a lady we know in Dallas who had the same thing I have for twenty years and she is almost six weeks post PVA(I) and has had no after effects of any irregular beats, only takes coumadin and only had periodic light pain and no longer has that. If I knew of another Dr. who would do the same for me as for her, I would seek them out. What I've read on here and other message boards about Dr. Natale, seems many have to take antiarrhymic meds for quite awhile after ablations. Dr. Miller might not be as successful on me, who knows.... I'm hoping he will be. I'm past ready to get something done.
I'm kind of perturbed that regardless of where I go to have a DR. that has the expertise I will feel comfortable with, getting an appointment for the actual procedure is so far down the road. This is pitiful. It seems by now after all these years there would be more Dr's that would be proficient with these types ablations, I mean really good ones. I would go to Houston which is only a four hour drive south of us, to Texas Heart Institute, and have Dr. Seger and Dr. Cheng do the procedure. I have read and heard from others that they are very good with ablations. However, I have not been able to ascertain from them if they have the 'know how" to do ablations for the kind of arrthymias I have or not. So I'm 'gun shy' about going there.
So if I go to Dr. Miller in Indianapolis I will definitely have to make two trips. I'm really having problems with having to travel because of this nasty mess being so unpredictable and making me feel so bad when it strikes. My episodes are the kind that I can't walk or move around. I'm down for the duration. I have to find out if the airlines will accommodate me or not.
Glenn