Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 Bravo! Jim. Rich O Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 25, 2004 Report Share Posted January 25, 2004 P. Sorry I can't help you with most of the technical aspects of my ablation. I'm not familiar with " linear " ablation but I don't believe this was done. Also I didn't even know they had different size catheter tips. As for why I went to Alabama, I wanted to find the best ablation Dr. I could find and tried to limit the area to the southeast U.S. so it was a one day car ride. I chose Dr. Kay after several referrals, including comments from afibfriendSteve on this forum. I did not come across any ablation specialists in Fla. that I felt had a national reputation and was also told by a friend who is a pediatrician and whose wife had a-fib that if an ablation was necessary he had narrowed his choices to either UAB or Duke. My heart is structurally sound and I had no heart problems other than paroxysmal a-fib. Good luck with your decision. Jim, still in NSR with no breakthrough a-fib, getting ready to walk to the beach, in beautiful, sunny Fla. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2004 Report Share Posted January 26, 2004 Thanks Jim ! Keep us updated ! Thor 24/7 Post ablation report The following is a brief (hopefully) summary of my recent ablation. Arrived at UAB in Birmingham on Jan. 18. Reported to the hospital for an echo on the morning of the 19th and then checked in for the ablation. At approx. 10:00 a.m. I was taken into a prep room and met by a group of wonderful medical staff who treated me with complete professionalism yet sufficient humor to ease any tension. I was shaved in the groin area for insertion of the catheter and Dr. Kay came in to ask me whether I had any questions. My only question was in response to a recent e-mail from someone in the group who woke up during the ablation. I asked Dr. Kay what I should do if I woke up, and said I certainly didn't want to startle him. He laughed and said the staff would closely monitor me and not to worry that I would not wake up. With that I said lets go and we were off. We went into the procedure room and again the medical treatment was excellent. At one point one of the nurses jokingly said maybe there should be a little less laughter or I would think they were all crazy. I said it was much better to see them in a jovial mood than with somber expressions. She responded that working ablations was a great joy for them because it was a positive surgery as opposed to some of the other surgeries they could be involved with. Shortly thereafter I was put under and indeed did not wake up until after the ablation was over. The only cause for concern (not for me but my wife as I was still under the influence of the medication) was a dropping of my blood pressure several hours after the procedure. Although Dr. Kay was then completing another ablation he and another Dr. arrived shortly thereafter and did an echocardiogram and took a chest x-ray to make sure everything was alright. No problems and after being pumped with fluids for several hours my BP was back to a normal range. The next day was unpleasant. The aftereffects of the anesthesia can best be described as a serious hangover. I couldn't keep down any food and was restless, tired, and relatively irritable. However, no a-fib! Dr. Kay came in to see me Thurs. morning and said that the ablation was " textbook. " He said that as soon as he had completed the circle around the 1st pulmonary vein (I don't recall the exact name but he said it is the one where two main veins come together) the a-fib stopped. He tried hard to again induce it but couldn't. He then completed the ablation in the other potential trouble areas. He seemed very positive and I left with the impression that I was likely cured. He said that there could be some a-fib breakthrough for the next 6 weeks or so and that after that they would eliminate the medications and put me on an aspirin a day. (Wow, does that sound great.) It has now been three days and I still haven't fully recovered from the ablation and/or anesthesia. I am still tired and don't have much strength. But, the prognosis I was given, the lack of any a- fib since the ablation, and the feeling that even if it doesn't work I at least have done something makes it all worth it. Dr. Kay and his staff were incredible. My wife probably described Dr. Kay best when she said he had a sparkle in his eyes before the ablation and was like a kid getting ready to go out and play. After I went back to the hotel room the next day my wife went out shopping for a few hours (I think the ablation was actually harder on her than me). She said she she was out she had spoken to several people in Birmingham about why she was there and when they found out Dr. Kay was my doctor they all said I couldn't have chosen anyone better. I also was talking to one of the nurses before the ablation in the prep room and he said that he had come to Birmingham from the northeast a couple of years earlier where he had worked with a highly respected ablation doctor. He said that Dr. Kay truly had a gift for what he does. Well, thats my brief summary. Let me know if you have any other questions. Jim happily in NSR in sunny Fla. Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport FAQ - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.htm For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe List owner: AFIBsupport-owner For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 What technique have they been using? Pulmonary circumferential ablation (the one of Prof Pappone in Milan)? thanks > Thanks Jim ! Keep us updated ! > Thor 24/7 > Post ablation report > > > The following is a brief (hopefully) summary of my recent ablation. > Arrived at UAB in Birmingham on Jan. 18. Reported to the hospital > for an echo on the morning of the 19th and then checked in for the > ablation. > > At approx. 10:00 a.m. I was taken into a prep room and met by a > group of wonderful medical staff who treated me with complete > professionalism yet sufficient humor to ease any tension. I was > shaved in the groin area for insertion of the catheter and Dr. Kay > came in to ask me whether I had any questions. My only question was > in response to a recent e-mail from someone in the group who woke up > during the ablation. I asked Dr. Kay what I should do if I woke up, > and said I certainly didn't want to startle him. He laughed and > said the staff would closely monitor me and not to worry that I > would not wake up. With that I said lets go and we were off. > > We went into the procedure room and again the medical treatment was > excellent. At one point one of the nurses jokingly said maybe there > should be a little less laughter or I would think they were all > crazy. I said it was much better to see them in a jovial mood than > with somber expressions. She responded that working ablations was a > great joy for them because it was a positive surgery as opposed to > some of the other surgeries they could be involved with. > > Shortly thereafter I was put under and indeed did not wake up until > after the ablation was over. The only cause for concern (not for me > but my wife as I was still under the influence of the medication) > was a dropping of my blood pressure several hours after the > procedure. Although Dr. Kay was then completing another ablation he > and another Dr. arrived shortly thereafter and did an > echocardiogram and took a chest x-ray to make sure everything was > alright. No problems and after being pumped with fluids for several > hours my BP was back to a normal range. > > The next day was unpleasant. The aftereffects of the anesthesia can > best be described as a serious hangover. I couldn't keep down any > food and was restless, tired, and relatively irritable. However, no > a-fib! Dr. Kay came in to see me Thurs. morning and said that the > ablation was " textbook. " He said that as soon as he had completed > the circle around the 1st pulmonary vein (I don't recall the exact > name but he said it is the one where two main veins come together) > the a-fib stopped. He tried hard to again induce it but couldn't. > He then completed the ablation in the other potential trouble areas. > > He seemed very positive and I left with the impression that I was > likely cured. He said that there could be some a-fib breakthrough > for the next 6 weeks or so and that after that they would eliminate > the medications and put me on an aspirin a day. (Wow, does that > sound great.) > > It has now been three days and I still haven't fully recovered from > the ablation and/or anesthesia. I am still tired and don't have > much strength. But, the prognosis I was given, the lack of any a- > fib since the ablation, and the feeling that even if it doesn't work > I at least have done something makes it all worth it. > > Dr. Kay and his staff were incredible. My wife probably described > Dr. Kay best when she said he had a sparkle in his eyes before the > ablation and was like a kid getting ready to go out and play. After > I went back to the hotel room the next day my wife went out shopping > for a few hours (I think the ablation was actually harder on her > than me). She said she she was out she had spoken to several > people in Birmingham about why she was there and when they found out > Dr. Kay was my doctor they all said I couldn't have chosen anyone > better. I also was talking to one of the nurses before the ablation > in the prep room and he said that he had come to Birmingham from the > northeast a couple of years earlier where he had worked with a > highly respected ablation doctor. He said that Dr. Kay truly had a > gift for what he does. > > Well, thats my brief summary. Let me know if you have any other > questions. > > Jim happily in NSR in sunny Fla. > > > > > > > Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport > FAQ - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.ht m > For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af > Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2004 Report Share Posted January 27, 2004 What technique have they been using? Pulmonary circumferential ablation (the one of Prof Pappone in Milan)? thanks > Thanks Jim ! Keep us updated ! > Thor 24/7 > Post ablation report > > > The following is a brief (hopefully) summary of my recent ablation. > Arrived at UAB in Birmingham on Jan. 18. Reported to the hospital > for an echo on the morning of the 19th and then checked in for the > ablation. > > At approx. 10:00 a.m. I was taken into a prep room and met by a > group of wonderful medical staff who treated me with complete > professionalism yet sufficient humor to ease any tension. I was > shaved in the groin area for insertion of the catheter and Dr. Kay > came in to ask me whether I had any questions. My only question was > in response to a recent e-mail from someone in the group who woke up > during the ablation. I asked Dr. Kay what I should do if I woke up, > and said I certainly didn't want to startle him. He laughed and > said the staff would closely monitor me and not to worry that I > would not wake up. With that I said lets go and we were off. > > We went into the procedure room and again the medical treatment was > excellent. At one point one of the nurses jokingly said maybe there > should be a little less laughter or I would think they were all > crazy. I said it was much better to see them in a jovial mood than > with somber expressions. She responded that working ablations was a > great joy for them because it was a positive surgery as opposed to > some of the other surgeries they could be involved with. > > Shortly thereafter I was put under and indeed did not wake up until > after the ablation was over. The only cause for concern (not for me > but my wife as I was still under the influence of the medication) > was a dropping of my blood pressure several hours after the > procedure. Although Dr. Kay was then completing another ablation he > and another Dr. arrived shortly thereafter and did an > echocardiogram and took a chest x-ray to make sure everything was > alright. No problems and after being pumped with fluids for several > hours my BP was back to a normal range. > > The next day was unpleasant. The aftereffects of the anesthesia can > best be described as a serious hangover. I couldn't keep down any > food and was restless, tired, and relatively irritable. However, no > a-fib! Dr. Kay came in to see me Thurs. morning and said that the > ablation was " textbook. " He said that as soon as he had completed > the circle around the 1st pulmonary vein (I don't recall the exact > name but he said it is the one where two main veins come together) > the a-fib stopped. He tried hard to again induce it but couldn't. > He then completed the ablation in the other potential trouble areas. > > He seemed very positive and I left with the impression that I was > likely cured. He said that there could be some a-fib breakthrough > for the next 6 weeks or so and that after that they would eliminate > the medications and put me on an aspirin a day. (Wow, does that > sound great.) > > It has now been three days and I still haven't fully recovered from > the ablation and/or anesthesia. I am still tired and don't have > much strength. But, the prognosis I was given, the lack of any a- > fib since the ablation, and the feeling that even if it doesn't work > I at least have done something makes it all worth it. > > Dr. Kay and his staff were incredible. My wife probably described > Dr. Kay best when she said he had a sparkle in his eyes before the > ablation and was like a kid getting ready to go out and play. After > I went back to the hotel room the next day my wife went out shopping > for a few hours (I think the ablation was actually harder on her > than me). She said she she was out she had spoken to several > people in Birmingham about why she was there and when they found out > Dr. Kay was my doctor they all said I couldn't have chosen anyone > better. I also was talking to one of the nurses before the ablation > in the prep room and he said that he had come to Birmingham from the > northeast a couple of years earlier where he had worked with a > highly respected ablation doctor. He said that Dr. Kay truly had a > gift for what he does. > > Well, thats my brief summary. Let me know if you have any other > questions. > > Jim happily in NSR in sunny Fla. > > > > > > > Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport > FAQ - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.ht m > For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af > Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe > List owner: AFIBsupport-owner > For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, > send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > > Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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