Maze versus Catheter Ablation

May 11, 2006

Hello

I've been in AF for about 6 years now and was told this week that since I've

been in AF so long that a catheter ablation probably won't cure the AF. My

question is, is the Maze procedure successful on a person that's been in AF so

long? If so, who do I contact to get the Maze done? I live in S. California and

have Blue Shield PPO Insurance.

Also, my AF has become so bad over the last few weeks that I can hardly

function. Are there other AF sufferers that aren't able to work? If so, how do I

convince my doctor that I feel too weak to be on my feet 9 hours a day doing

physically hard work? I'm on disability right now for a bleeding ulcer, a mild

heart attack, and an angioplasty but the doctor seems to think that I can return

to work in a week. I'd be devastated if I return to work and lose my job because

of being weak and losing my disability also. Thanks in advance for your help.

---------------------------------

Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo!

Messenger with Voice.

May 11, 2006

, it sounds like you need to get some help soon. I know know

much about any of these surgeons in Cal. but here is a list of 4 that

I have listed on my web site.

I also have some of the listed surgeons's personal page that tells a

little about them.

You are welcome to view all this in the LINKS on AFibcures web

site.

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/A-fibcures/

Best wishes

Jack

Dr. Burdon and Dr. Fann

of Stanford

Palo Alto Veteran's Hospital

______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Chang

(only does the Maze with valve repair)

San Francisco, CA UCSF

______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Gaudiani

2900 Whipple Ave.

Ste 210

Redwood City, CA 94062

______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Alden H. Harken

Institution: University of California, East Bay

E-mail: harkena@...

Mail: 1411 East 31st Street

Oakland, CA 94602

United States

Phone: 1 510 437-4091

Fax: 1 510 437-5127

>

> Hello

>

> I've been in AF for about 6 years now and was told this week that

since I've been in AF so long that a catheter ablation probably won't

cure the AF. My question is, is the Maze procedure successful on a

person that's been in AF so long? If so, who do I contact to get the

Maze done? I live in S. California and have Blue Shield PPO Insurance.

> Also, my AF has become so bad over the last few weeks that I can

hardly function. Are there other AF sufferers that aren't able to

work? If so, how do I convince my doctor that I feel too weak to be

on my feet 9 hours a day doing physically hard work? I'm on

disability right now for a bleeding ulcer, a mild heart attack, and

an angioplasty but the doctor seems to think that I can return to

work in a week. I'd be devastated if I return to work and lose my job

because of being weak and losing my disability also. Thanks in

advance for your help.

>

> ---------------------------------

> Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using

Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

>

May 12, 2006

- I believe some of the big heart centers, such as Cleveland, are now

doing ablations on permanent patients with very good results. You may not see

a " cure " but you may see a significant improvement of the burden of your afib.

You might want to call out there and get their opinion on both ablation and maze

and see which they think would suit you best.

Do you have good rate control while in afib? I had lousy rate control, and

wouldn't have been able to get off the couch, had I not been able to control it.

While in afib it was an effort to just take a shower, let alone actually work.

I also get very headachy while in afib, and my mental capacity goes out the

door!

I had an ablation almost 11 weeks ago, and so far I'm doing quite well. I was

somewhere between paroxsysmal and persistent afib, though, but quickly heading

down the road to permanent!

Stef

Baird patbaird2@...> wrote:

Hello

I've been in AF for about 6 years now and was told this week that since I've

been in AF so long that a catheter ablation probably won't cure the AF. My

question is, is the Maze procedure successful on a person that's been in AF so

long? If so, who do I contact to get the Maze done? I live in S. California and

have Blue Shield PPO Insurance.

Also, my AF has become so bad over the last few weeks that I can hardly

function. Are there other AF sufferers that aren't able to work? If so, how do I

convince my doctor that I feel too weak to be on my feet 9 hours a day doing

physically hard work? I'm on disability right now for a bleeding ulcer, a mild

heart attack, and an angioplasty but the doctor seems to think that I can return

to work in a week. I'd be devastated if I return to work and lose my job because

of being weak and losing my disability also. Thanks in advance for your help.

May 12, 2006

Hi Stef

What meds did you take to control your rate, I also have lousy rate

control, I am on a small dose of atenolol but it is not controlling the

rate, it is not as bad as previously but I get break throughs several

times a day. My afib is not 85% of the time, that just leaves 15%

normal sinus rhythm, my GP is now contacting the hospital and to see if

my appointment with the EP can be sooner. I have to agree with you

about mental capacity going out of the Door. I have my accounting exams

coming up in June and have 2 3hour papers to sit, I am finding the

revision difficult but must get on with it as I really want this

qualification.

I do not want to have an AV node ablation but would consider a PVIA or

maze, I am not sure whether they would consider me for the PVIA with so

much afib, I think that maybe I should have been referred to the EP

before now.

ine

Re: Maze versus Catheter Ablation

- I believe some of the big heart centers, such as Cleveland,

are now doing ablations on permanent patients with very good results.

You may not see a " cure " but you may see a significant improvement of

the burden of your afib. You might want to call out there and get their

opinion on both ablation and maze and see which they think would suit

you best.

Do you have good rate control while in afib? I had lousy rate

control, and wouldn't have been able to get off the couch, had I not

been able to control it. While in afib it was an effort to just take a

shower, let alone actually work. I also get very headachy while in

afib, and my mental capacity goes out the door!

I had an ablation almost 11 weeks ago, and so far I'm doing quite

well. I was somewhere between paroxsysmal and persistent afib, though,

but quickly heading down the road to permanent!

May 12, 2006

Hi ine - are you on rhythm control drugs as well as the atenelol? If not,

it sure sounds like you need to be and that's the first thing I'd ask for when

you see your doctor. I take 100 mg atenelol still, which keeps me slow while in

NSR. None of the drugs I've been on or given do much at all to slow me down

when I'm in afib. Cardizem will work IV, but the dose has to be high, and as

soon as it's lowered my rate goes back up! And I never ever convert with it

either, so when I get an ER doc who insists on trying drugs (vs cardioversion)

first, it's always a giant waste of time!

The only drug that ever worked to slow my rate down consistently DURING a

lengthy afib event is digoxin. It's not supposed to be a rate control drug, but

it's the only one that has ever worked for me. I don't know why it's overlooked

so often in favor of things that don't work!

Stef

ine pj.gilmartin@...> wrote: