Too good to be true

I have posted previously on this BB re my search for the right ablation doctor for me. I'm a 60 year old lawyer and feel I have an obligation to the readers on this site, to report back. I had made appointments with the two top names that come up on this BB. Ultimately, through a series of referrals and opinions I value, I traveled from L.A. to Provo, Utah to see Chun Hwang, M.D. While there is little on the net about him, he has been doing ablations (2-3 daily) for the last 7 years when he transferred to Utah from Cedars in L.A. Arrangements were made for him to do the ablation for A Fib at Cedars Sinai in L.A. two days ago. I had the aprehension that I suppose I was supposed to have. As I was being prepared for the procedure, he had a line of cardiologists, E.P.'s and the directors of E.P and Cardiology coming in to see the procedure on me. If I had popcorn and candy, I could have sold tickets to the truly standing room only event.

The procedure was 3 hours. I felt pretty good even immediately afterwards. I had none of the pain in my chest or any problem with the catheter entry points that I have read about on this BB. I was released the next day at lunch time and by dinner, my wife and I were out with friends. I am generally a complained with a low tolerance for pain. While I promised the doctor I'd take it easy, I feel that I have more energy than I can remember. We're going out to a restaurant for lunch and I plan on being at my office for a full day Monday.

Through this BB, I met two new friends. He has my identical profile-type A personality Beverly Hills lawyer with A.Fib and going through the same due dilligence process to search out the right guy to do the ablation. I understand that he also is now in the process of scheduling Dr. Hwang for ablation at Cedars in L.A. His wife and my wife have identical approaches to their husband's underlying condition, the level of concern and the solution. We plan to get together with them following his ablation in a few weeks.

I know that in the area of law I practice, I am always concerning myself with locating the "right expert" for a particular case. I went through the same process with my own condition and interestingly enough, the lawyer friend I met, had followed a similar search approach and independently came up with the same doctor. While the internet is indeed a valuable source of information, it is not the end all of valuable information. I had a concern that Dr. Hwang was not listed as a top ablation doc in Hans' most recent report, but after hearing from Hans' I got top remarks re Hwang and found that the non inclusion was a result of the absence of sufficient reportable information.
I will continue to bring you up to date re continued progress. I hope I am within the 80% of successful first time ablations that Dr. Hwang has performed.

"I hope I am within the 80% of successful first time ablations"

And I hope so, too, Bob. Thanks for sharing your good report. Wishing you continued normal sinus rhythm and good health.

Marian

Great report and good luck!

John

Bob,

Good job with the due diligence. I've heard nothing but positive comments about Dr Hwang, but not many (or any) participants of this board have used him, so it is great to have your report. I would encourage your friend to likewise report.

In the last couple of weeks, someone else was looking for info on Dr. Hwang, so your report will help.

Good luck & NSR to you!

George

Bob,

Happy to hear the procedure went well for you.

Can you tell us how long it took from your initial appointment with Dr Hwang to you getting the ablation done?

The other top centre on this BB (CCF and Bordeaux) are posting longer and longer wait time.

Best wishes for health and NSR!


Alain

It was under two months from first contact to ablation, but I attribute that wait to the fact that I booked it beore Christmas vacation time and that Dr. Hwang was a speaker at a Pacific Rim confernce in Korea during that time. Further, had I wanted it in Utah rather than L.A. it could have been even sooner. He said he does 2-3 every day. The E.P. in Los Angeles said that with his style is a smaller procedure time. While I initially was concerned, I was told he has never had one of the nightmare problems we read about. He was trained at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.

Aside from feeling incredible-NSR and no post ablation problems, even though it is now only the third day post ablation, I feel that I have more energy than evrer. I don't know if that is psychological or as a result of what I can only regard as the magic done upon me.

Hi Bob, You wrote regarding Dr. Hwang, "He was trained at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles." Do you know anything about the other doctors at Cedars Sinai who do ablations or are cardiologists? Susan was looking for a good cardiologist (not necessarily an ablationist) and it would be useful to know for me too since we live in the general area. Thanks. Bob K.

My initial referral to Dr. Hwang, praise and 10 on a scale of 10 remarks came from C.Tom Peter, M.D. (director of electro-physiology) and P.K. Shah (director of cardiology). They are wonderful.

Bob,

Thank you for all the info. It is a short waitting time compared to others.

You mentionned ''The E.P. in Los Angeles said that with his style is a smaller procedure time.''

Do you know which style he does: the Segmental(Haissaguerre), PVAI(Natale) or Circumferential (Pappone).

Again thanks for the info, I wish you the best in recovery and NSR.

Alain

I don't fuully understand and am paraphrasing, but I was told he burns very little, avoids getting near the pulmonary vein and does the ablation, unlike Bordeaux and CC. I had a anatomical variation from the norm-a severe narrowing on the left and hence, he took another route. All I can say is that I've never felt so good from an energy standpoint and truly have none of the post ablation problems we all read about.

Hi Bob:

Congratulation on the success of your ablation. My father, age 71, has had AF for 10+ years and has been on a number of medications, including Amiodarone, that have not worked for him. His cardiologist in Toledo, Oh, finally recommended that he get an ablation.

For a second openion he went to the Cleveland Clinic and the EP there recommended that he get onto tykosin for 3 months prior to and 2 months post the ablation; this is the standard protocol there. Per the Cleveland EP this reduces the chances of arrhythmia post ablation, however, the risks associated with tykosin are quite dangerous.

Did any of the EPs that you consulted recommend tykosin as a medicine to try out or its use as part of the ablation procedure?

Thanks.

A