Butch
Butch is determined not to let anything slow him down. When the 54-year old pacemaker patient isn’t busy running a construction business, he’s coaching his son’s basketball team, lifting weights or running his usual 3-4 miles per day. So in 2003, when his daily runs seemed to require more effort and he was often short of breath, Butch attributed the symptoms to overtiredness. However, it was his erratic heartbeat that prompted a visit to an internist.
After evaluating his symptoms, the physician referred Butch to a cardiologist, where he was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation. Shortly after, he was placed on medication – anticoagulants and antiarrhythmics – to manage his condition.
Despite these treatments, Butch’s condition continued to hold him back. “If I ran or exercised, I’d lose breath,” he notes. “I’d lose my breath even when walking up several sets of stairs at work.”
Butch’s wife Connie noticed his decreasing energy as well. Worried that he would overexert himself, she was hesitant to plan family activities that required physical activity. “I wondered if he was getting tired, not enjoying himself or just keeping up a good face for the family,” she adds.
Over the next two years, Butch continued treatment for his condition, undergoing two cardioversions that resulted in his heart returning to the irregular rhythm. In early 2006, his physician recommended another type of treatment — a surgical ablation procedure, which presented less risk for damaging his pacemaker leads. Butch’s desire to return to the activities he enjoyed confirmed his decision to pursue the procedure and in May, he underwent surgical ablation.
Despite the surgical nature of the procedure, Butch’s recovery time was minimal — permitting him to walk shortly after the procedure was complete and do light work two days after his return home. His running and weightlifting routine resumed four to six weeks later and Butch is active again, allowing him to participate in family activities and enjoy his regular lifestyle.
As you read this please keep in mind that every patient is different. Not all treatment options are appropriate for every patient. All treatment results and outcomes are specific to the individual patient, and results may vary. All medical and surgical procedures have risks, and the procedures described may result in complications such as blood loss, infection, damage to the heart or valves, stroke, heart rhythm disturbances and heart attack. Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, warnings, precautions, adverse events, clinical results, and other important medical information.
Published: January 1, 2007
