Posted by Cyle Wold on October 25, 2001 at 11:13:49:
I'm a 47 year old male and an avid runner. Lately I've been running 100k and 100 mile ultra marathons. I've had chronic AF for the past 6 years but I wasn't diagnosed until nearly 2 years ago. When I was diagnosed I wasn't too concerned since my cardiologist made the condition sound like a mere inconvenience..that turned out to be far from the truth for me. I had some tests done and found that my ejection fraction was at 30% but my heart didn't have any obvious physical problems. I was put on a witch's brew of drugs and had my first cardioversion one month later. Over the next 16 months I was put on a string of debilitating drugs and had 7 more cardioversions. During that time I researched AF and was very disappointed with the prognosis (pacemakers, ablation or just live with it) then I ran across this board. Right then and there I knew that the Maze was the ticket for me. When I decided that I had had enough of the drugs and talked to my EP about having the Maze he was a bit surprised saying that people tended to shy away from such a procedure for fear of being cut open..I couldn't imagine anything being worst than the drugs and the AF. My EP referred me to Dr. Ralph Damiano, Jr. at Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, MO.
I checked into Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO on 9/11/01 and underwent a catheterization since I was over 40..everything looked good. The next day I went into the operating room at 8:00AM and was in ICU by around 12:00PM. The first thought that I can remember after the procedure was at 8:00PM..I couldn't believe that the procedure was done..one moment I was being wheeled into the operating room and the next I was laying in bed with no pain (good drugs). If it wasn't for the tubes and pacer wires sticking out of me and the 7" incision down the center of my chest I wouldn't have believed that the procedure had been performed. I had the full blown, split your chest, Maze. I did have the most terrific thirst that I had ever had and was only given the occasional ice chip to quench it. I was in ICU for just over a day and was up and walking around a few hours after the procedure. Dr. Damiano told me that I had made the right decision in getting the Maze as my right artium was beginning to dilate and in another 10 years I would likely be looking at very serious heart problems.
I was taken to the step down unit on the 13th with the chest tube, folie, and oxygen being removed the next day. The pacer was originally set at 80 and was periodically turned down to determine my underlying heart rate which turned out to be 50. This seemed to be of concern so I had to keep reminding everyone that my normal resting rate was 30 to 40. People were finally convinced that 50 was an acceptable heart rate and the pacer was removed on the 15th. My heart drifted between NSR and junction rhythm for the next 3 days and finally settled into NSR. While in step down my heart rate would drop to 37 at night and get the nurses all excited..I couldn't seem to get more than an hour of sleep at a time with the nurses coming in asking me if I was ok. My resting rate is now 44. I was started on a low dose of Amiodarone to control any AF that might arise..I haven't experienced any. Post op wasn't a bed of roses for me. I steadily became less energetic after the procedure and was feeling pretty bad when it was discovered that my blood count had dropped to about half of normal. I was given 2 units of blood and felt like a new person. After receiving the blood I had a growing pain in my left calf which turned out to be a small blood clot..felt like a muscle strain but no associated swelling. I was already on coumadin so things were allowed to run their course and the problem cleared up in about 2 weeks. I had to have a final unit of blood the next day. I had a real problem eliminating waste and felt like I was going to explode..gained 11 pounds and my abdomen was stretched like a drum. I was released on the 20th after things started to work again. I flew home on the 21st.
It's been 6 weeks since the procedure and other than some aching in my chest and back muscles between my shoulders I am without pain. I did have to spend 3 weeks sleeping in a recliner after returning home..felt like someone was sitting on my chest when I layed flat. I went back to work on a limited basis immediately and was back to full speed after a couple weeks. I'll be on Amiodarone for another 2 weeks and coumadin for another 6 months. I won't be able to do anything strenuous for another 6 weeks and can hardly wait to get back to running. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that when I come off the drugs my AF will be nothing but a memory. Whatever happens, I'm glad I made the decision to have the Maze.
I was very impressed with the care that I was given at Barnes and with Dr. Damiano. Dr. Damiano made his own rounds so I saw him every day..this was very comforting. He was open to questions and explained everything that was going on.
I want to thank all of the contributors to this board for without you I wouldn't have been as well informed and may still be battling the AF. I feel like I've got my life back again!!!
- Re: 6 weeks post maze Paul Jenkins 17:33:35 10/29/2001 (0)
- Re: 6 weeks post maze Carl Plaskett 20:36:10 10/25/2001 (0)
- Re: 6 weeks post maze Ed Wehan 13:06:42 10/25/2001 (1)
- Re: 6 weeks post maze Jack Whitfield 22:32:01 7/31/2004 (0)