Going the Distance for a Higher Level of Atrial Fibrillation Care

Hoskins noticed early warning signs of his condition at age 10 while playing little league baseball. At the time, he didn't know his symptoms signaled an underlying heart problem.

"I was out of breath a lot. We just thought I had asthma or something; we didn't think it was anything more," he says.

As he got older, Hoskins says he noticed things still weren't right. But it wasn't until he felt numbness and tingling in his body while jogging that he decided to see a cardiologist.

Hoskins was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, in 2005. Doctors noticed heart murmurs during his appointments, a symptom of HCM, and put him on medication – but they never talked to him about his condition or how to treat it.

"The diagnosis didn't really mean anything, because the doctors never really explained it," Hoskins says. Eager for more information, he looked into his family history and discovered his uncle suffered from the same condition. Still, Hoskins felt unsure about what his diagnosis meant for his health or his future.

By the time Hoskins turned 30 and moved to Norman, Oklahoma, his symptoms were considerably worse.

"I would sweat a lot. I was short of breath after doing normal things, like walking across the room," Hoskins says.

In 2014, Hoskins went to the emergency room because his heart was beating rapidly and irregularly, an event triggered by atrial fibrillation – a condition that causes abnormal electrical impulses in the heart. The incident was severe and frightening, and it caused Hoskins to re-evaluate his level of care.

"This was the catalyst for my journey to The University of Kansas Health System," he explains. "I knew I needed a specialist to take care of me. I decided I couldn't keep living like this. I was uncomfortable and tired. I was having memory issues. And my heart was beating inside my body like a bass drum. I needed help."

Hoskins made an appointment at The University of Kansas Health System – 5 ½ hours away from his home in Norman. Because of his previous experiences, which provided him with little information, hope or treatment for his condition, Hoskins was skeptical. But his appointment with Dr. Berenbom was different.

"Dr. Berenbom was on top of it from the very beginning. He and the staff made me feel so comfortable and actually talked to me about my condition, explaining it in ways I'd never heard before. They talked to me about my options. It was exactly what I had hoped to hear."

Cardiothoracic surgeon Gregory Muehlebach, MD, joined Hoskins' care team and suggested that Hoskins was an excellent candidate for surgery. While the thought of open heart surgery was intimidating, Hoskins decided it was his best option.

"I really wanted to wait a while to have the procedure done," says Hoskins. "But Dr. Muehlebach said if I waited much longer, I might cause further damage to my heart and need a heart transplant. I took his advice."

In January 2016, Hoskins receive a septal myectomy – an open-heart procedure that removes part of the thickened, enlarged septum between the heart's ventricles. The procedure helps restore blood flow and reduces the likelihood of blood leaking backward through the mitral valve.

Hoskins' surgery went smoothly, and he was pleased to find his experience was better than expected. "When I was there, there wasn't a single negative experience," he says. "They were concerned about me in so many ways, not just my health."

Hoskins still comes to The University of Kansas Health System for follow-up care. Since his surgery, he says that his quality of life has improved greatly. He is able to perform normal activities without losing his breath, he even enjoys jogging. "I don't know how to quantify it, but I feel so much better," he says.

Currently, Hoskins is a casino safety coordinator and enjoys spending time with his significant other and their 3 children. "I don't expect a lot from life, but I wanted to be able to enjoy simple, normal events and activities with my family. And, now I can," he says. "I may have a scar as a result, but it's my badge of pride."