SUMMARY OF PAST YEAR (so you don't have to read the scores of posts!

I suddenly developed permanent atrial fibrillation starting in September of 2004.

Since that time, a lot has happened, to wit:

1. I learned to cope with AFib (which reduces heart output by 30% and requires beta blocker(s) and other drugs to slow the heart beat from about 160-250 - death enhancing - down to below 100) and gives a very irregular heart beat.

2. I continued my exercise program (weight lifting, bicycling, walking) with some vigor despite the AFib. In fact, up to 3 weeks ago I was bicycling 150 miles per week (I am 65yo).

3. I located a procedure called PVI Ablation which is used to reduce or eliminate the errant signals in the heart (causing the atria to fibrillate at about 400 BPM) by scarring the offending tissue with radio frequency heat. There are other procedures such as the Maze and Mini Maze.

4. I located a famous physician (Andrea Natale, MD) who is world renowned for doing this procedure, which is about 85% successful. He usually operates from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (world famous for heart care) where he is in charge of their Electro Physiology Lab, but also does(did - he is cutting back) procedures in Marin General Hospital in Marin County, CA.

5. I arranged for the procedure in CA (8 month wait period as oppposed to 1.5 years at the CC) and had it done two weeks ago. It takes about 4 hours, involves three catheters into the heart area (two from the femoral arteries, one from the jugular vein), temperature probes down the throat, etc.

6. My heart is now in normal sinus rhythm, and I am back doing 20-30 mile rides and weight lifting and walking.

I wanted to let all of you know about this because atrial fibrillation is the single most common occuring heart disorder with about 2.3 MILLION!! folks having it in the USA, and many more world-wide. Sometimes it is intermittent and sometimes permanent. It requires the patient to go on warfarin to "thin" the blood to prevent strokes from pooled blood coagulating in the atria. Folks with sleep apnea have a greater chance of getting it.

It can occur in folks in their 20's. For some it is quite debillitating, for others, such as me, it has a lesser effect.

Interestingly, the more athletic and "in shape" the individual, the more likelihood the occurence of AFib - a bigger, "athletic" heart has a greater chance of getting the condition.