7 Years - Unbelievable: I know a lot of... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,400 members38,733 posts

7 Years - Unbelievable

johnMiosh profile image
22 Replies

I know a lot of people drop out of the forums after recovery, but I have stayed to pass on my experiences.

It is now the seventh anniversary of the endocardial part of my mini-maze with Stephen Hunter at Sheffield. The catheter part was to be between three and six months after the first part and was finally completed on the 5th of October 2017.  The EP found atrial flutter and a partial re-attachment of one pulmonary vein, so I had a CTI Line burnt in and an RF ablation around the offending vein.  I was unaware of the flutter and thought I had been pretty much “cured” by the first procedure, except for an initial week of wobbles.  But after the second ablation, I felt better than ever.

Over the last seven years I have regularly tested with my kardia, and have only had a handful of readings that had not been NSR.  Some had been characterised as possible AF, particularly when I have had an infection, but I did not experience any symptoms at these times; I suspect that these were just runs of ectopics.  Also, as the mini-maze included a LAA excision, I am on no medication whatsoever for AF.

I feel very lucky.

Written by
johnMiosh profile image
johnMiosh
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
22 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Can't believe it is that long John as I remember it well. So glad you are another success story. Long may it continue.

Finvola profile image
Finvola

Wonderful piece of cheering news, John. Here's to many more years of a peaceful heart.

meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

fabulous stuff, continue to enjoy and thrive.

GordonS profile image
GordonS

Great news and I see you are continuing to cycle. How are the hills 🙂

johnMiosh profile image
johnMiosh in reply toGordonS

I live in the peak district, my 23yo triathlete daughter lives in the flatlands of Liverpool. She brought her bike back home for Easter and for the first time ever, she left me behind on the hills. So not as good as I could be, but far better than I had any right to expect a few years ago.

MummyLuv profile image
MummyLuv

love this post! Congratulations and long may it continue 🙌.

iris1205 profile image
iris1205

great news! Thanks for sharing !

After a 7th ablation - PFA last one with all cox lines and ethanol ablation of the vein of Marshall and the ligament of Marshall I am 7 months- gratitude is unending.

bassets profile image
bassets

That's great - onward and upward. :)

Omniscient1 profile image
Omniscient1

That's brilliant. How long did you have AF before the op?

johnMiosh profile image
johnMiosh in reply toOmniscient1

As a cyclist, I had a lot ot records of my heart rate during exercise. Looking back I had paroxysmal AF lasting very short periods for about three years before it was noticeable. I was in persistent AF for about a year prior to the mini-maze. I was in the right place at the right time for the clinical trial.

Fullofheart profile image
Fullofheart

Wonderful. What a great story! Really pleased for you and its great that you share this for others to experience the hope.

Mrsvemb profile image
Mrsvemb

Congratulations, long may it continue. I am nearly 4 weeks post op from my mini maze, still hitting a few bumps, but hoping to have the same success as you have.

johnMiosh profile image
johnMiosh in reply toMrsvemb

Four weeks was the point where my bumps started to dissappear. Good luck.

4chickens profile image
4chickens

Great news.

OzJames profile image
OzJames

great news John!……out of curiosity were you ever on drugs and for how long, which ones?

johnMiosh profile image
johnMiosh in reply toOzJames

I was on bisoprolol and rivaroxaban at diagnosis. Bisoprolol, rivaroxaban and amiodarone for six months afterwards. Nothing since then. I had a blood test last week in preparation for an annual check up at the end of the month. I suspect I will be pushed towards statins.

OzJames profile image
OzJames in reply tojohnMiosh

You’ve done well hopefully statins help lower your cholesterol, I found a big bowl of daily porridge with a date or two knocked mine down by 1.5.

I’m weighing up next step though I’m in NSR now. I’d get AF once every 5 years and would use exercise to pop back in rhythm. That worked for nearly 30 years until 2022 and have had 3 episodes since, all terminated by Cardioversion. They put me on low dose Metoprolol and Flecainide early February to calm the adrenaline and settle into rhythm. I hate taking drugs albeit very low doses and was thinking about mini maze if it progressed, hopefully I can find an expert here in Australia.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65

It's good to hear success stories like yours!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

What a lovely positive post to read, thank you John.

Jean

Corkel profile image
Corkel

I’m 8 weeks out of my mini maze by Mr Hunter in Sheffield. Had a few bumps along the way but feeling much better. I’m in NSR and am so grateful to Mr Hunter and his great team in Sheffield. Congratulations on 7 years, so nice to read stories like yours.

Letofeyd profile image
Letofeyd

That is fantastic news! Congratulations! I hope in seven years I am posting something similar.🤞

JOY2THEWORLD49 profile image
JOY2THEWORLD49

Hi

You have proved you are lucky.

Do reply to some posts though.

I have never come across your name before.

Thank you for being interested in us lot. I came aboard in 2021.

cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Three years later

I think its worth posting this as a bit of good news makes a change at the moment. I didn’t even...
johnMiosh profile image

Hybrid ablation part 2

I am part of a clinical trial to judge the outcomes of a mini maze procedure followed by a catheter...
johnMiosh profile image

Three years from diagnosis

I am writing this update as I am aware that a majority of people whose ablations are "successful"...
johnMiosh profile image

Atypical left atrial flutter post-ablation

Feeling much, much better after ablation three months ago, but EP thinks I may have developed...
Lizty profile image

Hospital Appt later

I have an appt this afternoon back at Atkinson Morley at St George’s. I was discharged last year...
LordGabriel profile image

Moderation team

See all
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.