DEAR DR. GOTT:
I wrote to you on June 13, 2008 about my atrial fibrillation. I am scheduled to have an ablation on September 29th. My concern is the pulsating in my head which is causing lightheadedness. Is this caused by the heart problem? Will the ablation solve this condition? Is there any danger of the ablation procedure worsening the pulsating? I have complete confidence in the physician performing the ablation but he does not give me an exact answer to my questions about the pulsating sensation which I described to you in the June letter.
DEAR READER:
I have written many times in the past that I cannot be used as a second opinion for upcoming procedures. I simply provide information to the writer that can be used to receive appropriate medical care from a physician that can examine him or her.
I regret I cannot respond to every letter I receive but due to sheer volume I must limit myself to answering letters that are of interest to the general public or can provide awareness of needy causes.
If you are reading this, you must now realize that it is far past the date of your procedure. Whether you are better or not, I do not know. I would imagine that the atrial fibrillation ablation did little to improve the pulsating in your head as the sensation is often caused by plaque buildup or narrowing of the carotid arteries in the neck.
Ablation is a medical procedure that essentially destroys tissue. In your case it was heart muscle. Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart beat and the ablation was used to destroy the area of the heart that was sending out abnormal signals.
You said you had confidence in the physician but couldn’t get an exact answer about the pulsating. I take this to mean that he or she attempted to answer but was unsure if it would help or not. No physician can give an exact answer about a medical procedure because situations and circumstances vary from person to person. What helps one may harm another.
If you continue to have problems, return to your physician and request further testing. Personal physicians are often the best source for information. They know your medical history, current health status and other vital information. I am merely here as a tool to aid patients who are experiencing difficulty in getting straight answers or have hit a brick wall as far as diagnosing a medical condition is concerned. My advice is not to be used as a replacement for appropriate medical care but as an adjunct to it. An outside, fresh perspective can sometimes shed light on a situation and thus leads to a positive finish. I hope that I am that perspective.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Coronary Artery Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
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