Posted on 05/21/2021 4:54:24 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
So, after an episode of V-tach, I will be having a heart ablation to prevent *most* future episodes.
Also, to cover the remaining potential of further episodes that could still occur, the doctor wants me to get an implanted defibrillator.
All new stuff to me and I thought where better to hear about people's experiences with these things than here.
Not looking for medical advice, unless you are a doctor. I have doctors for that.
I am looking for advice based on your experiences.
What do you wish you knew *before* having an ablation or defibrillator?
Were you placed on medication afterwards?
Thank you in advance.
Frankly, I accept the idea of ablation. I'm a bit freaked out about the implanted defibrillator.
Help!
Diagnosed with Afib in 2012 at age 60. Totally asymptomatic. Electrophysiologist thinks I had it for a couple of years before it was found during a routine physical. I was put on a calcium blocker and Xarelto. No issues until 2015. Went in for a physical and was found to have a 194 heart rate and 5% ejection fraction. Had no idea. I stayed in the hospital for 5 days. During this time they did a cath, found 25-30% blockage which they were all very happy with for an overweight 63 y/o male, meat, butter and cheese eater. When I left I was wearing a defibrillation vest and on a low sodium diet. Wore the vest for six month (still trying to stick to a “lower” sodium diet) at which time I had an echo and was found to have recovered to 50% EF and took off the vest. There was talk of a pacemaker during the six month I wore the vest, but since my EF recovered it was tabled. Never offered ablation. I’m presently on a beta blocker, Xarelto and Losartan, and wear a Garmin smart watch to monitor the HR since I’m asymptomatic.
Last Echo was in 2017 and the EF is still 51-52%. My Cardiologists think the heart rate just went off the rails, their term, and that is what caused the EF to drop and why I was presenting with CHF symptoms. Those are all gone now that HR is staying “normal” (RHR is in the mid 70’s.) Have had no problems in the last 6 years, but do see my cardiologist yearly. Afib runs in my family as does CHF, but my mom lived to 93 (died of a stroke) and her sister made it to 96 (died from a heart attack), so I’ve got my fingers crossed.
Cycle through a few of these YouTube videos, you may find some answers here.
https://www.umms.org/find-a-doctor/profiles/dr-stephen-r-shorofsky-md-1124068721
Here in MD were are blessed with two of the top hospitals in the nation. Johns Hopkins and UMMS. Each video will continue on to the next if you stay with it.
Thanks!
Ablation should in my opinion be your last resort. My wife has atrial fib and has considered cardiac ablation. He younger brother with the same hereditary atrial fib had ablation with mixed results. He had to have a second ablation and a pacemaker. If your arythmia can be controlled by medication try that route. My wife had an excreting tumor on her adrenal gland found by at the Mayo clinic that affected her heart and which has been treated by medication.
If ablation is your option have a second opinion and by all means have the procedure done by a physician who specializes in electrophysiology at a major heart center not some regional hospital
I had a heart attack in 1990 and a defibrillator implanted in 2008, which was replaced with a pacemaker/defibrillator about 18 months later, so I have some experience with these.
I don’t really know much about ablation though. There is a procedure that my doctors thought I might need to combat arrhythmia but it would make me “device dependent” and I wasn’t too thrilled with that. If that’s ablation then ask about being “device dependent”.
But don’t sweat a defibrillator. My devices have triggered 4 times and saved me for sure at least once, though I might’ve pulled out of the other 3. Honesty compels me to tell you that being shocked by one of these things hurts like a sonofabitch! But it’s quick and over with shortly. If you do get shocked I’d advise you to go to the emergency room or your doctor’s office right away to get checked out. The manufacturers have representatives and they can come in and read data from your device which may be helpful to your cardiologist (and you).
You might need medication as well. A few years ago I was having considerable atrial fibrillations, about 3 per minute and the pacemaker wasn’t completely eliminating them. So they prescribed Amiodarone and that helped a lot.
Good luck.
I used to do marathons, but was easing off in my old age. Had an ache in my lower left chest that didn’t go away. Went to the convenient care (it was Sunday). They didn’t figure it out, but I got a call the next day. They said I had pnemonia and gave me an antibiotic. Told me to see my regular doctor. I did that & he said we nee an ekg. When he got the ekg plot, he pointed to an irregularity and said that needs to not be there - you have atrial flutter. To get rid of it we will set you up with this ablation specialist. The specialist had me sign a pacemaker waver because he did not know how much of the natural function would be left after the ablation. I woke up with a pacemaker. They kept me overnight. My previous resting heart rate was about 40. The pacemaker was set at 60. It must be a standard procedure, but ever since (about 2017) I wake up early & can’t go back to sleep. If I don’t take a nap, in a few days I will have a headache. I have used up 1.5 batteries. The .5 was after a series of tests which had my ejection fraction on a decreasing curve and they put in a pacemaker/defibrillator. Other than the sleep thing, so far neither or defibrillator functions have been noticeable.
No longer do marathons, but my granddaughter & I did do a half in 2009 and I still go out for my morning run (age 81) although much slower than just a few years ago.
My cardiologist pretty much tells me to keep doing what I am doing.
All the best for your experience.
In 2015, I had a heart ablation for premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). I was having thousands of sharp-pain PVCs a day. Went to a wonderful electrophysicist in Kirkland, WA. Because the offending location was so near the His (pronounced “hiss”) bundle, he only had one mm of tolerance to avoid damaging it. So he used radiofrequency (RF) and cryogenic probes for the ablation. The advantage of the cryogenic probe is that - if something goes awry like the His bundle being damaged - the heart will recover. With the RF probe, it cannot recover, because the tissue is destroyed by the heat.
Anyway, near the end of the procedure, when the PVCs disappeared, I broke into tears of relief and joy. It was like getting my life back again.
Hope this helps and that your procedure does what it is supposed to do.
They're very expensive.
I had a cryogenic ablation in 2012 and it was a 100% success. Every year they hook me up to a Halter monitor and everything is good to go. I am now 71 and in fine shape.
Good luck and God Bless You.
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