WolfMiniMaze in Japan

[MiniMeGreen]

I've got really lucky to get a surgery date in the 1half of December 2023. I'll be celebrating my 67th birthday in Japan, hopefully already AF free.

My symptoms are really getting annoying as I get AF from music, especially heavy metal and today from jazz. Some voices , especially bass and/or angry ones trigger it as well. Then from eating, but certainly not overeating or even e.g. when feeling well and standing up too quickly, all clearly vagal symptoms. It's good for loosing weight though. AF now every 2nd or 3rd day.

[10gingercats]

I have had hyperacusis(intolerance to certain noise) for most of my life. Like you bass sounds and loud voices affect me a lot .It is difficult to deal with and I have not yet found a remedy.CBT did not help either.It has crept into my social life and most background music affects me. My Afib is recent....last 10 years...so can't blame it on that.I am also affected by the sudden apearance of people, as in around a corner..the unexpected and also anything crooked , as in a slopped picture on a wall or anything not straight.There are docs/quacks out there claiming to be able to cure it but be wary of them.

[MiniMeGreen in reply to 10gingercats]

There is no remedy except to avoid the trigger. I have one restaurant which offers really good food for very sensible prices thus I like to go there. However they almost always play loud music of the kind which triggers my AF. I'm now always asking them to lower the music as much as possible while I stay there as short as possible. If that doesn't work I will likely write to the management and if that doesn't help I'll have to stop going there.

I'm extremely curious to see whether the MiniMaze will change that. After my catheter ablation it got only worse.

[Rainfern]

That’s great news Mini, keep us posted on how it goes!

[jeanjeannie50]

Have you spoken to Saul known as saulger on this forum, or maybe you know him from other forums or Facebook. He had his mini maze in Japan earlier this year.

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on.

Jean

[MiniMeGreen in reply to jeanjeannie50]

2x yes and I'll report.

[mjames1]

Good luck with the mini-maze. I know some of our members have had great success.

As to the loud music, if you haven't tried them already, I suggest foam ear plugs. Inexpensive and with practice, both discreet and easy to pop in and out.

My favorite is the EAR TaperFit2 (see link below) but there are many to choose from.

Inserting them properly is the key. What you want to do is roll/compress them with your fingers so that they become a thin tube. Then open the ear canal up by pulling up and back on the ear lobe with one hand, while inserting the earplug with the other all the way to the eardrum. If the start to come out, they are not in far enough.

As Napoleon reportedly implored, when interrupted by an innkeeper,

"Bread, Olives, Silence".

He would have appreciated them

ebay.co.uk/itm/113538951813

Jim

[MiniMeGreen in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim, this is actually a very good idea 💡. I only don't know why I hadn't think about it myself as I use earplugs always when traveling.

[Mrsvemb]

That’s great news. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you get on please.

[Poochmom]

Congratulations! You won’t regret it! Sounds like vagal AFib and this procedure has excellent success rate for lone AFib (vagal AFib). Keep us posted how you get on. I had the Wolf Minimaze in Houston and it was the best thing I ever did for myself!

[MiniMeGreen in reply to Poochmom]

Thanks, I would have loved to go to Houston but the costs for selfpayer made me think twice.

I've read a bit about your earlier drug problems. Are you now off all drugs or still taking something and what?

[Poochmom in reply to MiniMeGreen]

I get it. If you don’t live in the US Houston is very cost prohibitive. You are in the best hands with Dr O. As Saul said, it will be a trip of a lifetime. For me Houston was a wonderful vacation with the gift of no more AFib. By the time I went to Houston my episodes were every 5 days. Headed for persistent sooner rather than later. NSR since June 2022. I still take 2.5 mg of Nebivolol but that is my own choice due to heart rate higher than I’d like. In the 80 and with Nebivolol it is upper 60 to mid 70. Nothing else and I’m elated.

[saulger]

Good luck MiniMeGreen. It will be the trip of a lifetime. A vacation in Tokyo with NSR gifted by Dr Ohtsuka.

[MaryCa]

I feel your pain. My afib episodes were every three days. It's absolutely exhausting. Best wishes for success in Japan and that you come home in nsr. Nsr is a wonderful feeling.