A Matter of the Heart : Cardiac Procedure Changes Patient’s Life
Trudy Schalm
Jan, 2016
Physicians: Abhimanyu Beri, MD
For two decades, 63-year-old Stevensville resident Trudy Schalm had lived with tachycardia, a condition in which the heart beats much faster than normal. These attacks could be brought on by nothing more than an upset stomach or reaching for a high kitchen cabinet, and last for hours.
When her episodes increased from one or two every few weeks to at least twice a week, Trudy made an appointment with Abhimanyu Beri, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist specializing in treating rhythm problems of the heart. Dr. Beri gave Trudy a heart monitor and took her off her medication, which allowed him to understand what was causing her tachycardia and how to fix it.
It turned out that Trudy had a “short circuit” in her heart, which caused her heart rate to increase. The solution to this was a minimally invasive procedure, called an ablation, which involved sending a probe into the heart. Dr. Beri explained the high success rate associated with such an operation to Trudy, and she was eager to proceed.
Prior to the morning of Trudy’s procedure at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, Dr. Beri walked her through the ablation and what would occur. She found his confidence and thorough nature helpful.
“Dr. Beri was clear on what would happen,” Trudy said. “I really liked how he made sure I was ready, and I was not afraid. The Lakeland prep team was also really good, and every one of the nurses was wonderful.”
When it came time for the operation to begin, Trudy was impressed even further. Though she was sedated, she was calm and could answer questions as it happened. Due to the thorough prep, Trudy was relaxed, and it made for a successful ablation. She particularly takes note of Dr. Beri, who she described as dedicated, very focused, and full of “an intense desire to share his work.”
“The procedure was fascinating,” Trudy said.
After returning home, Trudy waited to see if her condition would surface again. She took that first week off work, only to realize she didn’t need it.
In the months following Trudy’s operation, she had no sign of tachycardia. After having the condition for 20 years, and then having it corrected in an afternoon, Trudy is overjoyed.
“I love sharing my experience,” she said. “I’m so grateful that it’s fixed.”