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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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7 years and still counting
6 years since ablation number 1 (of 5)
Flutter 7 Days after Typical Flutter Ablation
Second Ablation in my four year journey with AFIB 
