Re: Second ablation (A little long)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/19/2005 11:03:05 AM Eastern Standard Time,

bookman00@... writes:

I won't know how this one worked for another three months, but I guardedly

optimistic. At the end of the three month period, I'll have another CT scan

to verify that there is no stenosis.

Bill Manson

" I live in hope because futility is useless. " --

Bill, It sounds like your there, less the Starbucks test. Hold Starbucks for

three months.

I'm happy for you.

Rich O

PS Call and tell him of you procedure.

[Guest guest]

best wishes that this is " the one " ... and that 2006 and beyond will be

completely afib free for you.

Stef

Bill Manson wrote:

I'm home from my 'mulligan' ablation.

A little background. I had my first ablation last Valentine's day with the

London Cardiac Institute in London, Ontario. I'd been diagnosed with fib for 5+

years. I had frequent and extended episodes. They were measured in days, weeks

and occasionally months. I slipped out of NSR within a day of the first

ablation. (I blamed a large Starbucks' with some justification.) Through the

90 day remodelling period, I was in and out of NSR -- not an uncommon result.

However, it became clear that the first ablation was very helpful, but not

successful. That is, my episodes occurred ever 7-10 days and had a duration of

about 12 hours, even with the presence of amiodarone then later flecainide.

There were no particular triggers; it simply seemed that pressure would build up

and need to be relieved. (I've never seen a 'plate tectonics' theory of afib,

but that was the kind of pattern that I had.) In July, I went on the list to

get a re-do done.

The LCI is truly a group practice; one gets the EP who's working the day that

you go in. For my first ablation, I had Dr. Lorne Gula. While I stayed with

LCI, it happened that my EP for the second procedure was Dr. Allan Skane. (It

happens that my cardiologist knows Skane and is enthusiastic about his skills,

so that pleased me.)

The process was slightly different than the one I described in February. My

rhythm control drugs were discontinued four days in advance of the ablation to

get them out my system. I also was told not to take any rate control meds in

the event that a episode happened while anti-arrhythmic were out of my system.

The procedure was scheduled for 10 a.m. on December 15. At 3 a.m. on December

15, i went into fib. The procedure went ahead as scheduled, but there was real

live data, not just EKGs to show how my heart behaves in fib. I was out cold

for the first ablation. Since the anaesthesiologist called in sick on the 15th,

I was scheduled to be conscious for this one. I may have been, but I don't

remember it. <g> I can remember the question " Are you feeling sleepy? " and

answering with my best Don Knott imitation of " Noo " . And then I remember

waking up in my room. Nothing in between.

I apparently have a talent for faking consciousness, however. According to my

wife, I had a long conversation with Dr. Skanes in which he reviewed the

procedure. He was apparently quite happy with it and said that they burned very

aggressively. He apparently gave a fairly detailed description of the procedure

but summarized it as " We supersized this one. " Unfortunately, not only do I

have no memory of the details, but I didn't know that the conversation took

place until my wife recounted it to me.

The next day, I had some chest discomfort. Taking a deep breath was not really

possible; the attempt would trigger coughing. After a day's worth of regular

Tylenol, that went away. (They did a chest x-ray to confirm that there was no

lung collapse or anything similar.) I'm finding that I am more tired this time

than last time. Hopefully, that means that more resources are being directed to

healing. I haven't slipped out of NSR yet. But I haven't had any double

Starbucks yet either. I'm back on my meds (flecainide and warfarin). The

flecainide will stop in two months. Judgement is being withheld on the

warfarin.

I won't know how this one worked for another three months, but I guardedly

optimistic. At the end of the three month period, I'll have another CT scan to

verify that there is no stenosis.

Bill Manson

" I live in hope because futility is useless. " --

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill: Great experience, hope the best for you. New year = NSR.

Alfred

Bill Manson wrote:

I'm home from my 'mulligan' ablation.

[Guest guest]

Bill, Hope this time does it for you. Stay away from the coffee.

I am recovering from my frist ablation. It has been about 5 weeks.

I was in and out of afib at frist, then went 15 days NSR, fell back to

afib today.

Earl

[Guest guest]

Bill, Hope this time does it for you. Stay away from the coffee.

I am recovering from my frist ablation. It has been about 5 weeks.

I was in and out of afib at frist, then went 15 days NSR, fell back to

afib today.

Earl

[Guest guest]

Bill, Hope this time does it for you. Stay away from the coffee.

I am recovering from my frist ablation. It has been about 5 weeks.

I was in and out of afib at frist, then went 15 days NSR, fell back to

afib today.

Earl

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm home from my 'mulligan' ablation.

>

> Bill Manson

...................

Second time's a charm Bill. Good luck to you.

P

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm home from my 'mulligan' ablation.

>

> Bill Manson

...................

Second time's a charm Bill. Good luck to you.

P

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm home from my 'mulligan' ablation.

>

> Bill Manson

...................

Second time's a charm Bill. Good luck to you.

P