A few weeks ago I mentioned that Dr Ohtsuka will be a panellist in an online (Zoom) discussion about AFib and the mini-maze procedure.
The WO-MM (Wolf-Ohtsuka Mini Maze) is an adaptation of the Wolf Mini Mazem as performed at the NewHeart Watanabe hospital in Tokyo.
Dr Wolf, who is a surgeon at Debakey Cardio Vascular Hospital in Houston, Texas, will also be in Tokyo and will be a guest speaker at the event.
Dr Ohtsuka promised "A thorough breakdown of Operation Mini-Maze! Also the secrets of the technique!" (Dr O's words verbatim).
I am not an innocent bystander.
I was a lone AFib patient since 2018 (no co-morbidities) and I did travel alone at 76 years young from Greece to Tokyo to have the WO-MM. Although I was paroxysmal, I had to do something because at the end of last year I fainted twice, due to pauses in the heart, just as I was converting from AFib to NSR.
I sailed through the Op and recovery, and two days ago I celebrated four months post-OP. I am doing great in NSR, my breathing has improved much, and I managed 9 chin-ups this morning. Previously this would certainly have been followed by an episode of AFib.
Thank you Jean. All is still well and I am getting fitter because I can now push myself. I have no idea what the "secrets of the technique" will reveal, but hope that it'll be fun...
I hope that you are well and looking forward to spring.
I must admit to feeling a little envious that you can now exercise more and get fitter. I must push myself to get out walking and build my fitness levels up again after the winter. It poured with rain yesterday and today we have really strong winds. I live on a finger of land that juts out into the sea, so water on three sides and we're very prone to winds, but rarely get frost or snow., today our temperature here was 15C. What is the weather like where you are?
Jean, exercising is very important for me. I feel better and less floppy when I am fitter. In the year before the Op I could do less and less because the exercise would beget an episode if the HR went over 110 or so. Sounds lovely where you live. We are on the edge of the centre of Athens but close to a lovely natural spot with a hilly wood where I try to walk every day.
We are getting spring weather now and today was sunny and 21C.
Thanks for posting and great news on the chin ups! I felt an ectopic beat just reading about it 😀 I know it's getting better, but what did Dr Ohtsuka have to say about your post ablation breathing issues? Is it part of the mini maze recovery or something else? Are you still on any afib drugs now?
Hi Jim. I asked Dr Ohtsuka about the breathlessness and he said to give it more time. I think that it is a lung issue and not the heart, because the HR could be just 85 yet I would be breathless. During the Op the lungs are slightly deflated and this could be a consequence.
For the first 10 weeks after the Op I took it very easy because I was worried about having an episode, and since then I started to gradually push more. A month ago the hill outside the house would have me stop at the top and pant like mad, but now I am just breathing hard but can carry on. Today I did 10 minutes rowing at 110W power, and can row 40 minutes at 90W power rating.
❤️🩹Thank you for sharing! So happy to hear your update & that you’re doing well! My husband is as well. It’s truly like he got his life back! We’re so thankful for Dr Wolf! Take care ❤️🩹 and God Bless! 🙏🤍✨
So I actually had the Mini Maze last week with Dr Wolf before he left for Japan. I am in day 6 and doing pretty well. A lifelong runner robbed of breath & endurance by afib, i pray I have same results as you Looking forward to the talk with he & Dr Ohtsuka tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up
Welcome to the AFA forum. Are you on Sandi's FB site?The endurance will return fairly rapidly. On the day that I left Japan, 4 weeks after the Op, I walked 10 km in two hours, but stairs were difficult and left me panting heavily. It is much better after 4 months but not as good as I was, when not in Afib.
The strength will return and I can now do 10 chin-ups with no after effects. The HR is higher for me after the WO-MM at 65 RHR, whereas I was 53 before.
I never expected to be where I am after just 4 months. The world has opened up to me...
Saul, Im not on Sandy Streimeyer’s FB site yet, but that’s certainly on my “must do” list, (Ive watched all her & Dr Wolf’s videos) - she is very insprational. As far as MM recovery, since my surgery May 20th Ive experinced two afib / simple tacycardia runs this past week ~126 bpm for a couple hours (Dr Wolf said this might happen).
Ecstatic I found the AFA forum and you. Its Very comforting to chat with others who’ve “been there done that”.
Did you have any post surgery arrythmia? Other recovery advice?
Lots of folks on Sandi's site report their experiences re surgery and recovery. Sandi is a retired nurse and is a volunteer admin of the FB site.
Yes, I had tachycardia three days after surgery that lasted 3-4 days and again, after about 10 days post hospital-discharge , that lasted a couple of hours, and nothing at all since.
I thought the presentation was great. They were so relaxed and down to earth! They explained everything very well and even I, who am normally mind boggled by the terminology and too squeamish to watch medical demos, found it easy to follow.
Thank you Saul! I hope you continue to make an excellent recovery.
Thank you, too ! I also enjoyed it and liked how Dr Wolf explained all the steps and Dr Ohtsuka prodded him to add more educational content.
Dr Ohtsuka was a little more formal when I was in Japan and very kind and caring. They love their work. Just look at this photo of Mavis who just had her WO-MM with Dr Ohtsuka.
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Looking forward to the talk with he & Dr Ohtsuka tomorrow. Thanks for the heads up
Wolf Mini Maze
Minimally Invasive AFib surgery in Tokyo with Dr Ohtsuka
