Anyone know a good cardiologist in Florida?

August 20, 2002

I am age 78 and have been in and out of afib for two years including two

visits to ER. After betapace failed to work I was loaded with carderone

(amiodarone) in the hospital but the side effects cause severe fatigue and

muscle weakness. My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

I want a complete exam and second opinion but do not know of a good

cardiologist in the area from Palm Beach to Ft Lauderdale. Have you had a

good experience down here? Can you recommend someone?

August 20, 2002

The Cleveland Clinic operates facilities in Florida. I haven't been there,

but I have been a heart patient at CC in Ohio twice. Based on my experience

at Cleveland, and their world wide reputation for heart care, I know I would

go there if I were in Florida. Here is the link:

<A HREF= " http://www.clevelandclinic.org/florida/ " >Cleveland Clinic Florida -

Home</A>

Diane

August 20, 2002

jross,

As to your original question - go to http://www.naspe.org/ and " find a

physician "

but, you said...

>My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

>ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

Having had an ablation (even one that is currently awaiting a second go

!) is, in my opinion and that of many who have had them, a breeze and

not at all a problem.

Provided you are anti-coagulated properly and go to an EP who has a good

results record, an ablation is among the best options. Obviously you

need to know that you personally are suitable, with respect to actual

symptoms, age, type of AF (paroxysmal vs chronic), the degree to which

your life is being disturbed by the AF, insurance, etc etc. But although

I originally was somewhat anti-ablation myself, when my AF got to the

stage where it was just too bad, I positively looked forward to it.

(My little aftermath is only a mild flutter and should be easily fixed -

something like 50% need two goes)

Hope this helps.

Best of health to all,

Vicky

London, UK, 1954 model

August 20, 2002

Hi JRoss:

The following website may be of help to you:

http://www.naspe.org/find_heart_rhythm_specialist/

Also, you might want to check out ' database. Several of our members are

from that area and you could contact them directly.

http://www.dialsolutions.com/af/

To our New Folk: If you haven't reviewed 's database, this really is a

must see! If your name is not listed there, please consider doing so. This

information is extremely important to all of us and who knows - somewhere down

the road, may contribute to the Research/Cure we are all looking for.

A very warm welcome to each and every one of you.....we are so glad you found

us.

Ellen

69 NC

(NSR on Dofetilide)

*********************

----- Original Message -----

From: jross42589@...

(snip) I want a complete exam and second opinion but do not know of a good

cardiologist in the area from Palm Beach to Ft Lauderdale. Have you had a

good experience down here? Can you recommend someone?

*************

August 20, 2002

> I am age 78 and have been in and out of afib for two years

including two

> visits to ER. After betapace failed to work I was loaded with

carderone

> (amiodarone) in the hospital but the side effects cause severe

fatigue and

> muscle weakness. My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

> ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

Ask your cardio about trying dofetilide, which some people in here

have had very good results with.

August 20, 2002

jross42589@... wrote:

> My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

> ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

When Vicky replied and wrote about her own ablation, I assume she referred to

her pulmonary vein ablation and flutter ablation.

Another kind of ablation is an AV nodal ablation performed in conjuction with

the implanting of a pacemaker. Which of these was your

doc suggesting? If you were referring to the AV nodal type of ablation, I would

guess that few on this site would encourage you in

that choice, at least until other approaches had been tried.

Best of luck, S. (75, Houston)

August 20, 2002

jross42589@... wrote:

> My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

> ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

When Vicky replied and wrote about her own ablation, I think she was referring

to her pulmonary vein

ablation and flutter ablation.

Another kind of ablation is an AV nodal ablation performed in conjuction with

the implanting of a

pacemaker. Which of these was your

doc suggesting? If you were referring to the AV nodal type of ablation, I would

guess that few on

this site would encourage you in

that choice, at least until other approaches had been tried.

Best of luck, S. (75, Houston)

j

August 21, 2002

on Tue, 20 Aug 2002 at 15:42:44, and Sieber

wrote :

>jross42589@... wrote:

>

>> My cardiologist says that my only alternative is

>> ablation......a conclusion that I am not willing to live with.

>

>When Vicky replied and wrote about her own ablation, I assume she referred to

her

>pulmonary vein ablation and flutter ablation.

>Another kind of ablation is an AV nodal ablation performed in conjuction with

the

>implanting of a pacemaker. Which of these was your

>doc suggesting? If you were referring to the AV nodal type of ablation, I would

>guess that few on this site would encourage you in

>that choice, at least until other approaches had been tried.

,

You are right - I should have checked - I forgot about " ablate and

pace " .

Best of health to all,