5 box Thorascoscope maze done on me 9/17

[Pete0629]

Hi all, just letting you all know I had this procedure done last Friday at Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital. Dr Sirak is one of the innovators of this minimal invasive procedure. To save time and learn more you can go Ohioafib.com.

The advantage of this procedure over a typical ablation is it is much more affective on my condition, persistant, afib. It is more thorough and has better longterm results.It is definatley not a walk in the park. It is more invasive than the popular cardiac ablation, but as I said more affective on my type of afib, from the research I have done.

I am going to answer as many questions as I can in order to help people that are considering the procedure.

From what I have understood the procedure is " in network" in my United Healthcare insurance network. But I haven't seen any bills yet so only time will tell.
The worst part of the surgery is , to me, the feeling, weakness, and psycotic feeling from the  anethstetic and pain killers, I hate em! I actually hallucinated on them and they lingered for days. I did talk to others that have had surgery and they didn't have the same reaction , so it may be just me. I had essentially 2 nurses taking care of me in my room, one for general house keeping and care and the other a cardiac nurse. Both were professional and caring to the max. I also, being a single guy, developed a crush on my nurse in the OR, but I'll save that story for my buddys.
I have 10 incisions on my body, under my arms across my chest and 2 drain holes below my ribs. Small ones 1/2 inch long. Another concern I had was the whole BM issue, but I can report this morning I'm happy in that area.
I am on several meds for the shorterm. Mainly, as Dr Sirak told me, my heart has burns on it for the moment and need to heal, there will probably be inconsistant reactions to the inflammation over the next few weeks, but eventually I'll be taken off most or all the meds.

I'm not out playing tennis again, yet, but that is in my sites.

Any more questions? I'll be home the rest of the week and happy to let you know my experience.

Pete

[neginf]

Have parox afib 17 years on and off and it's worsening fast. Had ablation 3rd week of Dec. but it came back in 2 months. My rate often stayed above 170 and this lasted 2.5 days. Hospital convinced diltiazem and digoxin converted me but I wonder why they took more than 2 days and my rate was so high. Having repeat ablation in a few days. Now have left ventricalular hypokinesis and hosp. says that might be from the ablation.

2 questions

1. Can a procedure in the atria affect ventrcles like that?
2. Would previous ablations mean I couldn't get the 5 box?

[camero1944]

Has anyone had a cough for weeks after the procedure?

[camero1944]

how long did you have the cough?  brother-in-law had it done in december 2011 but still has the cough.  Ruth  

[Joed131]

Yup...24/7.  I am wondering while in AF how much damage I am doing to my heart. Tomorrow I am going for an electrocardioversion.  This is my third one.  First one lasted 18 months and this last one 31 months.  Now I am hoping for at least 4 years and by that time some new innovative technology will be out.

Joed131

[LindaTX]

I had paroxsysmal a-fib which started out the first few years with 2-3 episodes a year and gradually increased to weekly episodes of 24-36 hr duration or longer.  Incredibly, I never had to be shocked back into NSR.  I was on many different anti-arrhythmia meds throughout the years and eventually every one of them would stop working.  I feel like my only way out was an ablation.  My Dr. might tackle persistent a-fib (do you have it 24-7?)  Some Dr.'s won't.  

[bill00]

Has anyone gotten Blue Cross Blue Shield to pay for the 5 box maze ?