A-FIB Patients

[1Jerbear]

Is there anyone that has had any treatments for A-Fib at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio( USA )or the university Of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan USA.? If so can you comment on anything about your experience? Thanks' Jerry

[Spoiler]

I had a partial ablation at the Cleveland Clinic on Jan. 05, I was a high risk case and developed complications during surgery(cardiac tamponade). I went there because it is the #1 heart center and I felt confident they were more able to give me my best chance at handling whatever could arise and best experienced EP’s and EP lab. They were able to ablate the 2 left pulmonary veins and 1/3 of the 3rd Right pulmonary vein. Altho my heart is normal sized with great coronary arteries They found a lot of scarring in the atrium, so we are waiting to see how the next 3 months go, so far great. I am back at work, I send in via phone my weekly report from a machine they sent me home that you place bands around both wrists for signal to send on a land line phone. My EP is Dr. Patrick Tchou and he has been doing ablations since they were started in the 90’s. I went out of network and my insurance paid 0, but I knew that. The estimate was 114,000.00 , but cash price was $74,000.00. I pulled from my retirement as I feel, what is money if you are dead? In Arkansas I would have been covered at 100%. My primary care physician said I made the right choice, I had a check up last week. He said money well spent! The entire campus there is amazing! We stayed at the Holiday Inn there in the Clinic campus where shuttles are available nonstop. I would do it all over again. I am on Flecainide 50 mg every 12 hours, metoprolol 50 mg every 12 hours and warfarin 5 mg. Daily. Dr Tchou thinks I will probably have to stay on the Flecainide due to the excessive scarring. I wish I would have elected the ablation sooner. He is also very conservative on what he ablates, he says you can create more problems with too much.

[1Jerbear in reply to Spoiler]

Thank You so much Spoiler .I wish you good health . God Bless , Jerry

[Dinodog]

Hi Jerry

I just had my ablation in New York with dr Dibiase who is Dr. Natale’s protege. Obviously too soon to tell but my research told me I wanted him doing this surgery. My main suggestion is to see someone who has a track record for being an artist at this surgery as the success rate is highly dependent on the skill of the surgeon in a way that it just isn’t for say, a knee replacement. Best wishes to you!

[1Jerbear in reply to Dinodog]

Hi Dinodog .Thanks for your reply . I wish you many blessings from above . I am really in no hurry so I have plenty of time doing research . The word is most of us need the second ablation but I'm in no hurry as I said . So far I don't have the skyrocket pulse and I only get out of breath on occasion for a short period each time it happens . I am 72 just incase you wondered . My advise to you is just listen to the doctor and take it easy for a while even if you feel like climbing a mountain don't do it yet . Rest and take care . Jerry