Many of you will have read my epic voyage to Japan on 15th November 2022 to get my five year AFib struggle fixed. Having fainted a few times when my heart paused for up to eight seconds, when returning to NSR after an episode, it was make-or-break moment for me.
I give thanks to this forum because I first read on the forum "Tim's story" of having a successful thoracic procedure in Brighton to fix his AFib, something that was completely unknown to me because it was not common knowledge then.
Whilst researching a surgical procedure, Mummyluv (Alison) and I exchanged the science and settled on a thoracoscopic procedure to ablate the heart from punctures on either side of the chest. Alison had her surgery some 6 months before me in London, and I went the other way to Tokyo.
Why sell the car? If you are in the UK and are not able to have the procedure with Mr Hunter in Sheffield, I had for the cost of a second-hand Ford Mondeo at the NewHeart Hospital, Tokyo.
It may be affordable for some, and we all hope that there will not be a need to travel so far to have a life-changing result.
Two years in NSR, zero meds, and living life again.
MAZE-L Tov.
Written by
saulger
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Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary! May you have many more . ( I'm almost 6 months from my epicardial ablation so have a bit of catching up to do !!)
Many thanks and big congratulations. I found that it's best to go easy for a whole year. At six months did too many pull ups and had some tachycardia that resolved, but it was a scare. Take care and we shall meet in six months !
Happy two year anniversary! I pulled the trigger six months after you and have been afib free now for 1.5 years, with the exception of one short episode a year ago. By the way, that meal sure looks healthy. keep up the good work, the rowing. but easy on the pull-ups if I remember correctly.😊
Thanks, Jim. I remember our chats and this summer it was swimming. Fifty times swimming in the sea and being hypnotised by it all. Good luck to you too.
18 months ago PFA was available at a few centers in the UK and Europe, but not in the US, other than in a trial. For that reason I spoke to ep's in the UK and France about PFA, but decided to go locally with Cryo.
Lovely to hear from you Saul and so pleased that you're doing so well. I could afford the procedure in Japan but not if I take someone with me.☹️ I must admit to being a little envious. Enjoy life.Jean
Thank you. I use the car metaphor because a forum friend thought it was Aston Martin expensive, but it was just a used car cost. Why can Japan, a first world nation, offer such a treatment for some 13K GBP ? Good luck and all the best.
congrats Saul may sinus continue for many more years to come. I was hoping to catch up while we were in Athens but got collected by family who took us on a few day trips. Maybe next year!
Thank you Saulger for continuing to keep in touch with the forum - it’s so important people know what potential choices are available to them. I’m still ticking along in NSR a year on from my cryo-ablation, but unfortunately our old Nissan Micra wouldn’t fetch more than a 3 or 4 hundred!
Hoping that your CA will hold and no need to travel afar, except to see the cherry blossoms. More good luck, and hoping to post my twenty year anniversary in 18 years !
Interested to know you are getting on with your Nissan Micra. Bought with 8,000kms on clock, it kept stopping on hills. Returned 3 times but couldn't find fault.
Thought may be the clutch.
In the end I sold it on. So paid $17775.00 and sold it back to Nissam 8,500.00 about 18mths later.
It’s a second generation 90s version Joy, same as I had years ago. No bells and whistles and built to last. I don’t like the newer micras, so I paid £2,000 for this one 8 years ago. Sails through MOT, takes me uphill and down dale, cheap to run. But as a great believer in active travel (walk, public transport and cycling) I try to use it little as possible. I hire a car from time to time so know what new cars are like to drive. Rather spend money on travel, books and an occasional good haircut!
Only had a 1,000cc motor in it. Later they were cc upped and called a Tilda or something.
I was coming back from BOPlenty. Going up the hill before Auckland it lost power. Then it came OK but then it happened again on Auckland Harbour Bridge. I coasted down and sat for the tow truck.
When boys stole my 99 Galant and it was written off I bought a Yaris. 1.3 quite a peppy little car but no overtaking trucks without an overtaking lane!!! Keeps going from ECO to Eco off to Eco on. A nightmare!
Hi Joy, Of course I knew. Was only joking. I was lucky that, when I went, the Covid 19 rules were just lifted, and the hotels needed the business and it cost just $50 a night - much more now.
I guess the insurance companies try to minimise any claims and typically exclude anything that might cost them money.
Hello Saul, wonderful news and so pleased you are doing well and living life to the full.
Your and Alison’s stories were what inspired me to, firstly look at going to Japan, then look into options in the UK. I had my mini maze last year in Sheffield and in sinus rhythm for just over a year now. Thank you both for sharing your stories, there must be quite a lot of people, like me, extremely grateful to you for doing so. x
Great news from more amazing mazers. We are all learning from each other and so happy to share what worked for us. May it long continue and I look forward to your 24 month celebration !
Great news that all is going well for you. 2 years of heaven!
I was told by an EP from BARTs in London that they are now doing minimally invasive epicardial Thorascopic ablations, although not the bilateral ones performed by Dr Ohtsuka in Japan and Mr Hunter in Sheffield.
I am quaking in my boots, I’m on the list for Mr Hunter.
What good news ! You are in wonderful hands with Mr Hunter. So many success stories on the forum and on the WMM FB group from Mr Hunter's patients.
For me, the pain was just for the first day when drainage tubes are still inserted. After the first day, not even a single aspirin was needed. I was out of puff for about six months and it improved slowly to being normal and as before after a year, I would say.
Apart from not having the arrhythmia, which is the major achievement, the psychological relief of not being aware, at all, of the beating heart, is magic!
Good luck going forward and wishes for good things only.
Thank you !!! I was surprised by how satisfying the small portions were as a meal "package". I had chocolate and nuts in the room but didn't even touch them. I craved nothing. Amazing !
So delighted to hear everything is well with you - I completely understand you prioritising your health over a car and from what I remember of Greece the public transport service is first class anyway!
Thank you Irene. I'm so fortunate to have been able to take the leap, and it to have turned out so well. As to the car. Athens centre is very walkable and they are adding more Metro stations. Good luck to you and greetings.
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