AT 58 I'm struggling with the concept of having Pace and Ablate. I wonder if anyone else has had it at an early stage and how has the years been to you?
ALSO
Was there any issues when you had the battery changed? How did they keep your heart going whilst they swapped it over?
My understanding is that they don't completely destroy the whole AV node. A bit of it is left so that if the pacemaker were to fail the heart would continue to beat enough for you to seek urgent help. I also understand that it's possible to recharge modern batteries.
One day I too may need pace and ablate and what I have written above is gleaned from my research. I know 2 people with pacemakers and both appear to be fitter than me!
During may recent EP appointment we were discussing pace and ablate and I was told that it is very difficult to not destroy the whole AV node, so you don't necessarily have any natural pacemaker left. This is what scares me and what is putting me off pace and ablate although I feel it is now my only way forward.
Hi I'm 62 and had a pacemaker since August 2014. I take Flecainide and Bisoprolol and between them three things I'm on a fairly even keel most of the time. My pacemaker used 99% of the time according to my latest check on it. I do an hour 5/6 days a week at the gym something I hadn't been able to do for the five years before.
I have had a pacemaker for 8 years so I was only just 60, I think it was a couple of years late I had the av node ablation. They don't totally destroy the av node , I was told that if my pacemaker stopped my heart would beat at about 30 bpm, enough to call for help.
With my pace maker the renew the pacemaker not the batteries. Can let you know later as I only have about 4 months left in my battery.
Look forward to hearing about the replacement.
I was 49 when I had my pace and ablate procedures done, so as of yet I cannot comment on battery replacements or pacemaker replacements. They are talking now 18 months after the original proceedure of adding another lead to my pacemaker due to my heart failure worsening.
I will ask questions as this progresses and shall let you know!
All I do know is that my af felt immediately better after these procedures.
Best of luck
Sharon
The upper chambers can still remain in afib or flutter. So to me unless other things going on pace and ablate should usually be a last choice.
Most likely you will feel better but due to the upper part of the heart still being out of whack long term prognosis may not be good.
Hi Azriverrat,
You are quite correct about A.Fib continuing but the symptoms should be reduced. I have not seen anything on the long term prognosis of people on Pacemakers
How many ablations have you had? It took me three to cure my AFIB. Pace & Ablate does not stop the AFIB. Last resort S/be pace & ablate.
I have had one ablation which failed. Apparently, my Cardiomyopathy has made me a bad candidate for ablation. Currently on Amiodarone but QOL is low.
I’ve just had my pacemaker fitted 3 weeks ago two weeks after I was 56 waiting for my ablate now , the battery lasts 8 years or more and because they have advanced so much they know well before it runs out , I have to attend a pacemaker clinic yearly they can know from these checks how long it has when you’ve had a paf all sorts very clever things , so it doesn’t get to run out before it needs replacement pacemaker is needed and it’s so quick just a matter of unclipping the wires off the old and attaching the new one .
Thanks for that. I hope all goes well with your ablation. Let me know how you get on
Hi Ogilvie I’ve only recently had pace and ablate - I’m 53 and so far so good! - no experience re battery change but am told my own heart will beat around 40bpm so hopefully enough to keep me going in the unlikely event of a problem with pacemaker!!
Pace and Ablate 
Pace and Ablate
