note from an afib-free member

[Guest guest]

Greetings,

I was cured by ablation number 2 in 2002. The regulars are familiar with

my scenario. I still post on occasion, However it seems that so many members

have more recent experiences.

It is difficult for me to write, as so many of you are not cured and some

have had multiple ablations.

The below web site, created by member Steve has my story, that was

written at his behest. No, there was nothing in for me other than trying to

help others who still suffer.

< http://www.a-fib.com/PersonalExperiences.htm >

see: Two ablation Procedures Necessary

Please remember that my afib was very severe and most Doctors told me

that the chance of a cure was remote. Mine were the ablations from hell, due to

the severity of my afib.

It is easy to get a high cure rate by only taking the simple cases.

Doctors like Grant Simons are few and far between.

,

Cured by ablation # 2, no afib, no meds

[Guest guest]

I was cured in 2002. I didn't want to go with the drug therapy and my EP

didn't have a problem with it. He didn't require any failed drug therapy's to

qualify. I wanted my life back.

Sixteen years of AF. My only drugs were asprin and atenolol 50 mg.

My advice to those interested in PVA's is simple. If you want your life

back, get the best qualified/experienced EP to do your procedure or if you go

the

mini maze route, get the best qualified/experienced cardiothoracic surgeon.

The key word is qualified/experienced. If you don't get the best

qualified/experienced doctor, don't waste your time.

Don't substitute a Doctor's positive bedside manor or a feel good doctor

patient meetings for qualified/experienced EP's or cardiothoracic surgeons. Many

cardiologists recommend EP's that are affiliated with their medical groups.

That is the basis of their recommendation, not the EP's experience or

successes. They are certainly not going to speak bad of them.

Major medical centers with teaching hospitals is where you'll find the

qualified/experienced pros. Those centers have the research, facilities and

personnel.

Remember experienced is an EP having done 200 to 300 PVA's or a

cardiothoracic surgeon having done 100 plus mini maze's (newer procedure).

Rich O

[Guest guest]

I can only speak for here in the U.S. Are you in the UK

Rich O

[Guest guest]

I didn't realize it was you . Sorry.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

Thanks Rich,

Great words of wisdom. Your first ablation was successful?

Kathy

>

> I was cured in 2002. I didn't want to go with the drug therapy and

my EP

> didn't have a problem with it. He didn't require any failed drug

therapy's to

> qualify. I wanted my life back.

> Sixteen years of AF. My only drugs were asprin and atenolol 50 mg.

>

> My advice to those interested in PVA's is simple. If you want your

life

> back, get the best qualified/experienced EP to do your procedure or

if you go the

> mini maze route, get the best qualified/experienced cardiothoracic

surgeon.

> The key word is qualified/experienced. If you don't get the best

> qualified/experienced doctor, don't waste your time.

> Don't substitute a Doctor's positive bedside manor or a feel good

doctor

> patient meetings for qualified/experienced EP's or cardiothoracic

surgeons. Many

> cardiologists recommend EP's that are affiliated with their medical

groups.

> That is the basis of their recommendation, not the EP's experience

or

> successes. They are certainly not going to speak bad of them.

> Major medical centers with teaching hospitals is where you'll find

the

> qualified/experienced pros. Those centers have the research,

facilities and

> personnel.

> Remember experienced is an EP having done 200 to 300 PVA's or a

> cardiothoracic surgeon having done 100 plus mini maze's (newer

procedure).

>

> Rich O

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thanks for your story and the link to the other stories. It does

make me feel better to hear this thing can actually work :-)

Kathy

>

> Greetings,

>

> I was cured by ablation number 2 in 2002. The regulars are

familiar with

> my scenario. I still post on occasion, However it seems that so

many members

> have more recent experiences.

> It is difficult for me to write, as so many of you are not cured

and some

> have had multiple ablations.

> The below web site, created by member Steve has my story,

that was

> written at his behest. No, there was nothing in for me other than

trying to

> help others who still suffer.

>

> < http://www.a-fib.com/PersonalExperiences.htm >

>

> see: Two ablation Procedures Necessary

>

>

> Please remember that my afib was very severe and most Doctors

told me

> that the chance of a cure was remote. Mine were the ablations from

hell, due to

> the severity of my afib.

> It is easy to get a high cure rate by only taking the simple

cases.

> Doctors like Grant Simons are few and far between.

>

> ,

> Cured by ablation # 2, no afib, no meds

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How do you find out what an EP`s success rate is and if he is above 3/4 hundred

do you think he is still going to be working for the NHS, wise words but

unrealistic.

Unless you put your hand in your pocket ( big time ).

Re: note from an afib-free member

I was cured in 2002. I didn't want to go with the drug therapy and my EP

didn't have a problem with it. He didn't require any failed drug therapy's to

qualify. I wanted my life back.

Sixteen years of AF. My only drugs were asprin and atenolol 50 mg.

My advice to those interested in PVA's is simple. If you want your life

back, get the best qualified/experienced EP to do your procedure or if you go

the

mini maze route, get the best qualified/experienced cardiothoracic surgeon.

The key word is qualified/experienced. If you don't get the best

qualified/experienced doctor, don't waste your time.

Don't substitute a Doctor's positive bedside manor or a feel good doctor

patient meetings for qualified/experienced EP's or cardiothoracic surgeons.

Many

cardiologists recommend EP's that are affiliated with their medical groups.

That is the basis of their recommendation, not the EP's experience or

successes. They are certainly not going to speak bad of them.

Major medical centers with teaching hospitals is where you'll find the

qualified/experienced pros. Those centers have the research, facilities and

personnel.

Remember experienced is an EP having done 200 to 300 PVA's or a

cardiothoracic surgeon having done 100 plus mini maze's (newer procedure).

Rich O

[Guest guest]

Sorry..... I should have said i`m uk based.

It`s very frustrating here in the uk, tread carefully when asking about a

doctors credentials and past successes and failures ....if you get that far

!!!!!.

What do you think Mr Codling !!!!!!!!.

Re: note from an afib-free member

I didn't realize it was you . Sorry.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

To be really honest you be lucky to get a UK Dr to reply to any letters,

speak about there past , speak about any new drugs process procedures. I

suspect you will have a better chance speaking to the big man in the sky.

Just my 2p Worth

C Uk

Re: note from an afib-free member

Sorry..... I should have said i`m uk based.

It`s very frustrating here in the uk, tread carefully when asking about a

doctors credentials and past successes and failures ....if you get that far

!!!!!.

What do you think Mr Codling !!!!!!!!.

Re: note from an afib-free member

I didn't realize it was you . Sorry.

Rich O

[Guest guest]

Amen Rich! I always said before mine that I didn't really care if my surgeon

was a jerk.. as long as he was the best! Luckily my surgeon was not a jerk, but

he was also not a touchy feely either... he was honest and to the point... I

liked that during our first meeting, when we were talking about the risks of PVI

ablation, that he not only mentioned that if I was not a risk taker, then the

procedure was not for me, but also when we were talking about fistulas, that he

mentioned that there had been about 37 recorded fistulas from PVIs and that

" most of those were dead " .. there was no sugar coating or smoke and mirrors...

just straight up facts, which I really appreciated.

He also gave me his cell phone number during our first meeting and told me I

could call him with any questions! I ended up talking to his nurse alot more

than him, since I didn't feel it right to call him with all my silly little

questions! I saved the important ones for him, which he very much took time to

answer sufficiently.

And for those who don't know, I'm talking about Dr. Hugh Calkins at s

Hopkins University.. I have the utmost praise for him, his staff, all the staff

for that matter, and for the facility itself. I was really amazed at the

quality of care I received.

Stef

My advice to those interested in PVA's is simple. If you want your life

back, get the best qualified/experienced EP to do your procedure or if you go

the

mini maze route, get the best qualified/experienced cardiothoracic surgeon.

The key word is qualified/experienced. If you don't get the best

qualified/experienced doctor, don't waste your time.

Don't substitute a Doctor's positive bedside manor or a feel good doctor

patient meetings for qualified/experienced EP's or cardiothoracic surgeons. Many

cardiologists recommend EP's that are affiliated with their medical groups.

That is the basis of their recommendation, not the EP's experience or

successes. They are certainly not going to speak bad of them.

Major medical centers with teaching hospitals is where you'll find the

qualified/experienced pros. Those centers have the research, facilities and

personnel.

Remember experienced is an EP having done 200 to 300 PVA's or a

cardiothoracic surgeon having done 100 plus mini maze's (newer procedure).

Rich O

[Guest guest]

I did that - found an EP with a good track record of

PVA (250 plus over 5 yrs, with 3 complications in

total - he told me all this - 2 PV stenosis, one

something else can't remember what - and he's both NHS

and private). But i still don't think he was that good

- apart from his insufferable patronising, dismissive

manner, he left me with this fast heartbeat, and

apparently couldn't care less - the part i find

amazing is that if he was so experienced, a) he had

never come across it before, he seemed to have no

interest in finding out what it was, or concern that

i'd ended up that way. I had to find out myself via

another specialist that it appears to be the vagus

nerve endings are accidentally also ablated -- but

you'd think my specialist should have SOME idea of

that, or indeed be able to hazard such a guess, if he

is a specialist in that area??

Do we publicly declare who our EPs are on this site?

Shd we compile a list of them with our

ratings/comments? Or is this dangerous ground?

sue

--- " martin.pile@... "

martin.pile@...> wrote:

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

How do you find out what an EP`s success rate is and

if he is above 3/4 hundred do you think he is still

going to be working for the NHS, wise words but

unrealistic.

Unless you put your hand in your pocket ( big time ).

Re: note from an afib-free

member

I was cured in 2002. I didn't want to go with the

drug therapy and my EP

didn't have a problem with it. He didn't require any

failed drug therapy's to

qualify. I wanted my life back.

Sixteen years of AF. My only drugs were asprin and

atenolol 50 mg.

My advice to those interested in PVA's is simple. If

you want your life

back, get the best qualified/experienced EP to do

your procedure or if you go the

mini maze route, get the best qualified/experienced

cardiothoracic surgeon.

The key word is qualified/experienced. If you don't

get the best

qualified/experienced doctor, don't waste your time.

Don't substitute a Doctor's positive bedside manor

or a feel good doctor

patient meetings for qualified/experienced EP's or

cardiothoracic surgeons. Many

cardiologists recommend EP's that are affiliated

with their medical groups.

That is the basis of their recommendation, not the

EP's experience or

successes. They are certainly not going to speak

bad of them.

Major medical centers with teaching hospitals is

where you'll find the

qualified/experienced pros. Those centers have the

research, facilities and

personnel.

Remember experienced is an EP having done 200 to 300

PVA's or a

cardiothoracic surgeon having done 100 plus mini

maze's (newer procedure).

Rich O

[Non-text portions of this message have been

removed]

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

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.

[Guest guest]

Hi Sue:

Yes ~~~~~ this is very dangerous grounds! And thank you for asking! There

is however out there a site for anyone to enter a Doctor's name and add

comments....I've been really surprised with all the comments about

physicians on our site, that more people don't take advantage of that Doctor

site. Its perfect for any comments.

http://www.frappr.com/docs4afib

Ellen

**********************************************

(snip)

> Do we publicly declare who our EPs are on this site?

> Shd we compile a list of them with our

> ratings/comments? Or is this dangerous ground?

>

**********************************

[Guest guest]

> Hi Sue:

>

> Yes ~~~~~ this is very dangerous grounds! And thank you for asking! There

> is however out there a site for anyone to enter a Doctor's name and add

> comments....I've been really surprised with all the comments about

> physicians on our site, that more people don't take advantage of that Doctor

> site. Its perfect for any comments.

>

> http://www.frappr.com/docs4afib

>

> Ellen

> **********************************************

>

> (snip)

>

> > Do we publicly declare who our EPs are on this site?

> > Shd we compile a list of them with our

> > ratings/comments? Or is this dangerous ground?

> >

I'm more than happy for you to enter the place and your doctors details

in my database. Critical comments ()good or bad) are also fine as long

as they remain civilised

There's currently 623 entries in the database and 113 (almost 1 in 5 !)

have ticked ablation

http://www.dialsolutions.com/af/database/index.html?Adv=1&_ablation=1#results

there's also an ablation database on this site

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/database

where you can add some details.

--

D