Words of encouragement

Posted , 5 users are following.

I suffered from paroxysmal afib for 12 years.  A year ago December, I had my first ablation at a local hospital.  It could only be described as a disaster.  A month after the ablation I was in permanent afib and permanent aflutter (new).  The doctor basically forgot about me when it became apparent that the operation was a disaster.  I had to stop working.  My resting heart rate was 88 (it used to be 60).  Every few days, my heart jumped into the 160s.  No one (it seems) could help.  I actually started investigating States that allowed for assisted suicide in hopeless cases.  I also researched centers of ablation excellence.  I found Brigham and Women's hospital in Boston.  I begged them to take my case.  I got an appointment in two weeks.  The Doctor evaluated me and assured me he could address my problem.  They found an opening and three weeks later I had my second ablation.  When I went into surgery, I was certain I was about to die.  My heart rate was close to 170.  I could barely stay conscious.  I remember conversing with the anesthesiologist, tears running down my face, thinking that this was the last sight I would ever see.  Well, six hours later I woke up.  My heart rate was 60.  I was not in afib or a flutter.  They released me a day later.  The next day I went for a short walk.  The day after, a longer walk.  Three days later, back to work - the first time in seven weeks.  In the ensuing 10 months, I have had plenty of scares.  Missed beats, occasional runs.  However, in the last few months, I've had nothing.  I can walk, I can run, I can hike, I can live again.  So, to all of you out there who feel it's hopeless, it's not.  Just go to someone who knows what he is doing!

1 like, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Great advice and so true !! Never give up ! Cheers to you ! Best , Didi
  • Posted

    Great story, congratulations Mike! Having a highly skilled practitioner doing your ablation is absolutely critical to its success. It's a pretty significant procedure that has the potential to give you your life back IF its's done well.

  • Posted

    Great! I'm glad youre better but what an awful experience!

    It goes to show that Catheter Ablations for AF need to be carried out by specialised centres with good results. I ended up with 3 and a sepsis in between at a London Teaching Hospital,  which was a bit of a nightmare but like you I'm fine now!  Long may it last for both of us!

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