Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
So,
My lovely wife Laura and I go down to D.C. on occasion for a mini-vacation, where we stay at the lovely Fairmont Hotel on 24th and M. Saturday we are leaving the hotel to mosey up and see the Tudor Mansion (first owner - Martha Washington's granddaughter) in Georgetown. Who is coming in for a meeting, but my main man Dr. Hugh Calkins! I think he was rather stunned to be recognized just walking down the street in D.C. I thanked him again for making my life afib free. He was on his way to some meeting, so couldn't chat....my wife laughed when he left, as she asked me "Gush much?" I guess it was obvious to her (and maybe Dr. Calkin's colleague, who was strolling with him) that I give this guy "hero" status. Cannot help myself. To this day I am AMAZED that this small group of people have this incredible skill to stick catheters INTO our hearts, and hit the right spots, and potentially cure us of afib. Isn't this incredible? And we let them do it!
In any case, I of course thought of a dozen things to ask him once he had left...but I did mention that my 2 year "anniversary" was coming up (Ablation was 2 January 2013), and I figured since I was in the study they were doing at Hopkins, that I would have a follow up visit. He said no, he didn't think so. I don't know the protocols of these studies, but how do they come up with the "Good 2 years/5years/10 years out" numbers unless they follow up with each patient in these studies? Hmmmm...will have to email his nurse and ask. Maybe they just send me a post card? "Dear Bill, it has been another year since your ablation. Are you A) Afib free, B) Suffering from afib symptoms? or C) Dead? If C, it is NOT necessary to return this card."
Still great to see my hero, even though I am sure he had ZERO clue who I was!
Bill
My lovely wife Laura and I go down to D.C. on occasion for a mini-vacation, where we stay at the lovely Fairmont Hotel on 24th and M. Saturday we are leaving the hotel to mosey up and see the Tudor Mansion (first owner - Martha Washington's granddaughter) in Georgetown. Who is coming in for a meeting, but my main man Dr. Hugh Calkins! I think he was rather stunned to be recognized just walking down the street in D.C. I thanked him again for making my life afib free. He was on his way to some meeting, so couldn't chat....my wife laughed when he left, as she asked me "Gush much?" I guess it was obvious to her (and maybe Dr. Calkin's colleague, who was strolling with him) that I give this guy "hero" status. Cannot help myself. To this day I am AMAZED that this small group of people have this incredible skill to stick catheters INTO our hearts, and hit the right spots, and potentially cure us of afib. Isn't this incredible? And we let them do it!
In any case, I of course thought of a dozen things to ask him once he had left...but I did mention that my 2 year "anniversary" was coming up (Ablation was 2 January 2013), and I figured since I was in the study they were doing at Hopkins, that I would have a follow up visit. He said no, he didn't think so. I don't know the protocols of these studies, but how do they come up with the "Good 2 years/5years/10 years out" numbers unless they follow up with each patient in these studies? Hmmmm...will have to email his nurse and ask. Maybe they just send me a post card? "Dear Bill, it has been another year since your ablation. Are you A) Afib free, B) Suffering from afib symptoms? or C) Dead? If C, it is NOT necessary to return this card."
Still great to see my hero, even though I am sure he had ZERO clue who I was!
Bill
Bill, I can just picture you gushing all over this poor fellow. After you left he probably turned to his colleague and said something like That happens to me all the time!
Yes, the folks at the hotel were talking about Oprah's 3 day stay at the Fairmont (the 4 Seasons up the street was booked). When I got my ablation with Dr. Calkins, the big thing was the laser balloon ablation. He said they had had a 90% success rate in France with this method, but it was new here..but that was 2 years ago, so to be honest, I don't know what the "hot" new method is. I heard that Dr. Natale didn't like this system...but you would have to ask Dr. C. Ron Berger is also another big EP at Hopkins...you can get all the contact info for these guys on the Hopkins website. Let me know if you need any help when you are getting ready to contact him. The weather this past weekend (Thursday through Sunday) in DC was INCREDIBLE! If I could just hit that darn lottery, the stays would go from 3 nights to 10! I will keep trying!
Bill