Kathy(Columbus)- followup OK?

Hi Kathy in Columbus--

I think you were suppossed to see your doctor for a followup & I was wondering how it went? I had my ablation at Cleve. Clinic about 10 days before yours and am still waiting for a definate appt. for followup. I had one for Nov. 19, but doc cancelled. They're suppossed to reschedule me for
Oct. 29, but I won't believe it until it actually happens.

I think it's really great that you are getting a 30 day event monitor(as you posted earlier). I've had them 2 or 3 times over the past 4 years & wish the Clinic would prescribe them. I guess I should just request one & see what happens.

Anyway, hope reports are good.

njb

Hi! Thank you for remembering me I wore the 30 day event monitor and then a few weeks later wore the 24 hour Holter monitor. My follow up appointment was last Thursday. I had a wonderful appointment, because I got to talk to my electrophysiologist for about 1/2 hour and asked many questions. Turns out that the event monitor did show some afib, but few events and only during the first couple weeks after my PVI ablation (on 8/4). I've been having a great deal of other arrythmias, totally new to me. I told my doc that they mostly feel like the beat my heart makes right before it goes into afib. He said that was exactly correct. I'm having PAC's along with some atrial flutter and some sinus tachycardia. He said I could go on drug therapy for the next 3-5 years and wait to have another procedure done (since ablation technology is changing and improving every day). Or, I could go through another ablation. This ablation would be an RF linear ablation with an 8mm tip. I'm not sure yet what I'll do. I have a friend who helped me get an appointment at CCF in November. I may just send my records and have them reviewed first for a 2nd opinion.

I'm surprised CCF doesn't prescribe the 30 day event monitor. Mine caught a great deal of important information, especially the sinus tachycardia. So, I highly recommend to anyone having an ablation that they wear the monitor a few weeks after the surgery. It's a great way for the docs to see what's going on.

I can't believe you've not had a follow up visit yet. Definitely push on that cause it's been almost 3 months since your surgery. How have you been feeling?

Hi Kathy;

Right now I'm extremely upset after a conversation with Clinic.

Friday, the person who is suppossed to be the assistant to my EP DOC told me she would get the appt. moved up. Today I asked her for confirmation & was told "a guy" from a certain desk would call me tomorrow. When I asked if she got his name, she said "if I got his name, don't you think I would have told you?"

Yesterday, I called the "pacing lab" as directed & transmitted a crude EKG. Was told rate was 106 ish(could be caused by flutter) & 2 PAC'S. EP'S assistant claims there were none. Told her about the other report & that just seemed to upset her. Assistant said PAC'S are normal-- she & everyone has them. I thought they could be a precursor to AFIB. Anyone know if PAC'S lead to AFIB?

I was told to go off Atenolol (25 mg) last Friday.

Suppossed to wait another week to go off Lipitor or longer? Confused by what I've been told by different people who respond at Clinic.

I suppose if I don't get satisfaction soon from Clinic about evaluation of ablation, I'll have to ask my regular EP. Right now, I feel so stressed about trying to get straight answers from Clinic that I don't know what to do.

Perhaps I'm just expecting to much from such a bureacracy. I'm used to a great EP doc who is extremely supportive, attentive, & reassuring. Unfortunately, he's never done a pv ablation.

But all in all, I guess I'm better off. Unless there is some more flutter.

Sorry to hear your ordeal isn't over yet. I know how dissappointing it is when you take great risks for a cure & then come out not cured.

njb

I'm sorry to hear about the runaround you're getting. It sure sounds like you've spoken to a few rude people at CCF. Which doctor did your ablation? Please be persistent, even though it's frustrating. It seems that many of us have to fight for answers, and fight for the attention we need in dealing with this condition. I'd probably talk to my EP too. After my ablation, I couldn't get responses from my EP. I could only communicate through his nurse. She was great, but I kept getting told "it's normal" when I relayed my symptoms, etc. Now I finally got confirmation last week that there are other things going on and I'm not just crazy I'd even talked to my old cardiologist who referred me to this EP (cardiologist doesn't do ablations) and scheduled an appointment with him for follow up care. I even contacted CCF and got an appointment in Nov. with Dr. Schweikert to get a 2nd opion. After meeting with my EP last week, I cancelled the appointment with the cardiologist cause I feel so much better finally getting answer and getting the time I deserved with him. I don't think you're expecting too much at all. Where do you live? Are there other EPs where you are that can perhaps help with your questions?

Kathy,

Thanks for your encouragement & feedback. I know exactly what you mean about having to fight for answers. In fact, I just wrote those exact words in a note to Hans.

I did manage to get the docs email address at Clinic this evening. I guess his assistants are tired of dealing with me. Or maybe all I had to do was ask for it. Also, I will tell my doc about your 30 day event monitor & request one. If he refuses, I'm quite sure my referring EP would prescribe one.

Fortunately, I live quite close to the Clinic.

I'm glad you got your questions answered & your symptoms validated. It's very difficult when you are "blown off"(by that nurse or anyone). I often hesitate to report symptoms for fear I won't have any during EKG. But usually they are confirmed and then, ironically, I feel relieved because it proves I'm not a hypochondriac.

Later, NJB

Yup, even though I still have some problems, I'm relieved knowing I wasn't "making things up". I'll keep fighting to so hang in there in the boxing ring with me Take care. Keep me posted with your progress in getting hold of your docs at CCF and the event monitor.