VanessaJ
07-18-2005, 09:10 PM
Hi All-
Although I am still keeping up with things on the site, it's been a while since I've written in (so long in fact that I had to create a new user profile!).
My 29 year old husband, Scott, suffers from HCM. He was diagnosed at 2 weeks (at the time called IHSS), had his first pacemaker put in at age 5, and until about 3 years ago lead a life with little to no manifestations of the disease. Unfortunately, that's when the a-fib and a-flutter began.
After a long struggle to fight his debilitating a-fib and a-flutter (via cardio versions, varied medications, multiple catheter ablations) he underwent an open heart maze procedure this past February. The surgery seemed (seems) to have been quite successful and aside from a few minor episodes of arrhythmia (which he comes out of on his own- without having to be cardioverted- within an hour at most) he has been feeling great. He had a follow-up with one of his doctors last week and they advised him to start going back to the gym.
Well, this past Saturday that's exactly what we did. After about 10 minutes of moderate cardio he passed out. As always, I make sure to have a direct view of where he is out of fear of this happening. "Fortunately" he did not go into cardiac arrest but "simply" passed out. After being monitored in the hospital all weekend his primary cardiologist (acutally he's an ecocardiologist) strongly suggests that Scott get an ICD (he currently has a dual chamber pacer). Scott is reluctant to go down this road and is understandably torn. After speaking with his parents today they told us that when Scott was 16 they wanted to implant an ICD. They got a second opinion in Boston (from Yale in CT) and decided he did not need the ICD.
Before Scott's ablations and maze we did seek a second opinion with Dr. Sherrid at St. Lukes-Roosevelt in NYC. After meeting him we decided that we were more comfortable with our doctors at Columbia Presbyterian. WE LOVE THEM...they are really wonderful. But now, as we are faced with such a HUGE decision we really think we need to seek a second and maybe even a third opinion.
This is where I am hoping you all can help us. At this point we are willing to travel just about anywhere to see the right doctor. Would you please make some recommendations?
Thanks for your help and support!!!!
Vanessa
Although I am still keeping up with things on the site, it's been a while since I've written in (so long in fact that I had to create a new user profile!).
My 29 year old husband, Scott, suffers from HCM. He was diagnosed at 2 weeks (at the time called IHSS), had his first pacemaker put in at age 5, and until about 3 years ago lead a life with little to no manifestations of the disease. Unfortunately, that's when the a-fib and a-flutter began.
After a long struggle to fight his debilitating a-fib and a-flutter (via cardio versions, varied medications, multiple catheter ablations) he underwent an open heart maze procedure this past February. The surgery seemed (seems) to have been quite successful and aside from a few minor episodes of arrhythmia (which he comes out of on his own- without having to be cardioverted- within an hour at most) he has been feeling great. He had a follow-up with one of his doctors last week and they advised him to start going back to the gym.
Well, this past Saturday that's exactly what we did. After about 10 minutes of moderate cardio he passed out. As always, I make sure to have a direct view of where he is out of fear of this happening. "Fortunately" he did not go into cardiac arrest but "simply" passed out. After being monitored in the hospital all weekend his primary cardiologist (acutally he's an ecocardiologist) strongly suggests that Scott get an ICD (he currently has a dual chamber pacer). Scott is reluctant to go down this road and is understandably torn. After speaking with his parents today they told us that when Scott was 16 they wanted to implant an ICD. They got a second opinion in Boston (from Yale in CT) and decided he did not need the ICD.
Before Scott's ablations and maze we did seek a second opinion with Dr. Sherrid at St. Lukes-Roosevelt in NYC. After meeting him we decided that we were more comfortable with our doctors at Columbia Presbyterian. WE LOVE THEM...they are really wonderful. But now, as we are faced with such a HUGE decision we really think we need to seek a second and maybe even a third opinion.
This is where I am hoping you all can help us. At this point we are willing to travel just about anywhere to see the right doctor. Would you please make some recommendations?
Thanks for your help and support!!!!
Vanessa