Ablation for AFIB

I've encountered one of those inevitable times when we have to make choices that will affect us, good, bad, or indifferent, but they will affect us and how we live the rest of our lives.

My arrhythmia doctor is a very busy man. In addition to his practice, he holds an administrative position. I usually see his P.A. I know any decisions she makes are discussed with him beforehand and after the fact. A few months ago, she told me that he wanted to see me personally when it came time for my next checkup. Well, that gave me something to ponder. I didn't think he was missing my exuberant personality!

When time for that particular appointment came around, I was a bit apprehensive, but he's a very frank person and I knew there would be no game playing, that I would hear it as it is, so that gave me peace. After expressing surprise that the last time he saw me was when he put in my loop monitor which monitors my AFib, he told me that my heart has begun stopping periodically for as long as five seconds. He has been my doctor for around ten years, and I credit him for keeping me alive for those years, so I had confidence that he had a solution for the problem

Actually, I think my heart stopped for a least five seconds when he told me that! He said that flecainide, the medicine I take when I actually have AFib, is known for causing it. He gave me three choices of ways to proceed. I like that about both him and my primary-care doc, they always have options for me. He said I could have a pacemaker put in, have ablation surgery, or procced as I am and see what happens. I think he was surprised that I chose ablation because I have avoided it in the past. I am 78 and a little long in the tooth for surgery, at least in my view. There's always that fear of not waking up! However, since my husband's death ten months ago, my AFib has become more frequent and more disturbing, making me extremely uncomfortable when it manifests.

My ablation surgery is scheduled for October 7th. It's getting close. My daughter is taking a day off work to be with me. I will leave the hospital after the surgery, provided it goes as planned, and she can be on her way once I'm settled in. I live alone except for my indoor cat, Lucy, a spoiled calico; and my outdoor cat, Smut, a wild feral who sleeps in my backyard, eats in the morning, leaves for the day, then returns at night to eat and do it all again. I need to be there to keep them fed, but I've made arrangements with my cat sitter just in case something goes awry. Other than that, I'm told I can go back to my work editing and proofreading depositions two days after the surgery. All that to say, "I am prepared."

At the moment, I'm waiting to hear back about blood work from this morning. My last blood test showed I was anemic. After two weeks of B12 -- only every other day because it makes me nauseous -- I am hoping I'm no longer anemic and the surgery can proceed. My husband was a wonderful cook and cooked lots of meat and fish and chicken. Since he's gone I tend to eat mostly vegetables and it's not working out well with my blood work!

I used to wake up between 8:00 and 8:30. Since Joe's death, I wake every single morning at 5:30. I've gotten some beautiful sunrise shots as a result. This morning's was magnificent.

I forgot to mention that on the day of surgery, I am having something called a TEE procedure. I have read about it online, just enough to know I need to stop reading about it. It involves something going down my throat, which makes me gag just thinking about it. I have every intention of adding to this as things evolve. I would love to have had someone sharing their experience with me and am happy to share mine.

Stay tuned! It's only a week until showtime! Ochsner is usually quick with results so I'll likely know the verdict on the blood work today. I truly don't know if it will cause the surgery to not happen if I'm still anemic. I read years ago that if you're on the path of uncertainty, you're on the right path. I have nailed it!