Patrick
After his retirement in 1995, Patrick and his wife Laurie wanted to move someplace nice. Little did they know they would do so literally, when in 1997, they moved to Niceville, Fla., where they settled in a home that Patrick and Laurie designed.
There, they enjoyed many of the activities that go along with retirement. Patrick swam regularly and often took walks or bike rides with Laurie and their Yorkshire Terrier, Cheerio. Laurie, a master gardener from the University of Florida, sometimes required Patrick’s help in maintaining the landscapes around their home.
Years later, Patrick noticed his energy declining. His usual laps in the pool were taking increasingly more time to complete and he often found himself out of breath and resting in between laps. Walking up stairs was becoming a challenge and he “was constantly feeling old and tired,” he explains.
His lack of breath after physical activity led him to believe he had a respiratory problem. In January 2005, Patrick explained his symptoms to a cardiologist, who after running several tests, diagnosed his Atrial Fibrillation.
Three months later, he underwent cardioversion, which returned his heart to sinus rhythm. “I immediately felt great. I went swimming and it felt like it did before I had AF,” he notes. With renewed energy, Patrick resumed his former activities however, a week later his arrhythmia returned.
After several months of declining energy and a routine of anticoagulants to avoid blood clots, Patrick sought the opinion of an electrophysiologist. After a number of tests, his physician recommended a catheter ablation procedure to eliminate the irregular electrical currents running through the tissue of Patrick’s heart. In March 2006, Patrick underwent the procedure and two days later, returned home.
Although he experienced some bruising in his groin, Patrick was able to return to the pool approximately 10 days after the procedure and in June, his physician decreased his medication.
Today, Patrick is enjoying retirement and is back to the active lifestyle he shares with Laurie and Cheerio. “I’m back to doing the things I did before I had AF,” Patrick shares. “It’s like getting a new battery. I’m doing all the things people enjoy when they’re retired.”
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
