Dallas, Tx EP visit

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Posted by Glenn Camp on January 27, 2004 at 22:24:42:

Well I didn't hear what I was expecting to hear from the EP I went to see Monday in Dallas. He's the one I said screens candidates for ablation for Dr. John Miller at Krannert Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana.

First thing when he looked at an ECG that was done in his office was..... "you have heartRATE problems, not rthym problems. The RATE problems cause the arrthymias which in turn causes your heart to go into atrial fibrillation, pvc's, bigeminy, etc.." He told my wife and I that he was surprised that my EP back in Tyler, Tx was giving me medicine for rthym problems instead of medicine for controlling heart RATES." He said "it's as plain as the nose on your face".

He agreed that copies of the Cesium Stress Test and echocardiogram reports looked good, but he wants to look at a video of the echocardiogram to see if there is any underlying heart problems they may have missed in Tyler. He has also ordered a Pulmonary Function Test and a thyroid test. He suggested that I start taking amiodarone and quit the flecainide that I have taken for the past 13 days. But that won't happen for at least another two weeks. So he left me on a medicine that he claims isn't the best for me. Makes me wonder about this guy. My wife wants me to try the medicine first and see how it works. I asked her and the EP how long can I use this 'majic pill' before it too becomes ineffective. He also said I would need to remain on coumadin for the rest of my life regardless of medicines or any kind of procedure I may decide to have done elsewhere.

He also told me that I was not a good candidate for Pulmonary vein Ablations. This was not what I wanted to hear. He hasn't made a definite conclusive decision yet. My next appointment with him isn't until February 9th, and he will know then if I can tolerate amiodarone or need to take something else. This is after him telling us that amiodarone is a very safe and effective medicine. Claims it will make me feel much better and maintain NSR where I'm not now. He also believes I'm chronic afib now because I have had it for so many years, but then he said my age is also against me and I would not realize probably no more than 20% success.

I already had an appointment with Dr. Jie Cheng in Houston at Texas Heart Institue who does PVA's for this coming Friday and I plan to go if at all possible and I am able to make the trip. I want to consult with as many of these guys as I can and see what they have to say.

It was tough going over to Dallas Monday and it's only a two hour drive/ride over there. My heart pulled every kind of stunt it could seems like. Bad feeling, etc..

Y'all give me some feedback and suggestions on this please.

and the beat goes on and on and on and on .... but glad it's still beating.

Regards,
Glenn Camp

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