Offering a little perspective

Dear Dr. Gott: I wrote to you on June 13, 2008 about my atrial fibrillation. I am scheduled to have an ablation in September. 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’m afraid I cannot be used as a second opinion for upcoming procedures. I simply provide information that can be used to receive appropriate medical care from a physician who can perform an examination.

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 good 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 heartbeat, and the ablation was used to destroy the area of your 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 whether it would help. 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, health status and other vital information. I am merely here to help patients who are having trouble getting straight answers or have hit a brick wall. 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 lead to a positive conclusion. I hope that I am that perspective.