Pace and ablate and 4 days in fast AF

[Bettiehough]

I have ME/CFS and PAF. Due to my ME I am very sensitive to medications. I am a wheelchair user due to ME. I was taken to hospital 4 times in June and July; first time was with fast AF when i was a week in AF and treating it at home and at a routine visit to my EP he sent me directly to hospital for a electircal cardioversion. Next visit a week later it was heart failure and i was put on Furosemide a diuretic. I started feeling very dizzy etc then a week later AF hospital visit with extreme dizziness and fainting. I was chemically cardioverted back to SNR Back home i became very ill fainting when i stand up and GP called the ambulance. I was diagnosed with dehydration treated for it and 3rd day in hospital started AF. I discharged myself after wrong and neglectful treatment and laid a complaint. All this rendered me bedbound with my ME for a month after that. Hospitals are very bad for my ME as i cannot sleep or rest properly, my eyes hurt by harsh lights and always problem to get a bedpan when I i want to wee every 5 minutes in AF. If I DONT GET A BEDPAN i will unhook myself and crawl to my Electical wheelchair to go to toilet resulting in 3 fainting and falling episodes with black eye bruises and now last visit a broken front tooth where I will need an implant. I am scheduled for my first ablation 17 sept. Unfortunately 4 days ago i started PAF again but with double doses of sotabol [80mg a day normally to 160 mg a day now i keep my HR from 130 -140. I emailed my GP and EP with kardia and BP results had no answer yet.

I want to avoid hospital if i can as i am generally feeling better at home with my hubby taking care if me, much better nursing. My questions are. Can i stay at home with a HR of 130-140 no other type of pain except my usual ME pain and slightly dixzzy due to higher dose of sotalol and normal BP until my ablation date 17/09 if i do not revert to SNR? I am on apixaban.

Second question my chances of first ablation being successful is 40% due to enlarged left atrium. EP discussed pace and ablate but i was scared and opted just for ablation, now i am reconsidering. Did anyone of you had a pace and a ablate and did that resolve your problems? What are the pros and cons of the pacemaker? Could that save me for having multiple ablation which would mean lots of hospital visits?

I know you cannot give medical advice but your experiences could help me. Thank you in advance

[BobD Volunteer]

Some difficult questions. Firstly we are all different and have different levels of coping and acceptance but I went on holiday to France with a rate of 140 with no ill effects. It dropped in as I was on my way to the airport and no way was I going to miss my flight. lol

Regarding pace and ablate it is important to understand that this will not stop AF. What it should do is maintain a steady ventricular rate ( heart beat) which should remove most of the symptoms of fatigue etc. The left atrium will then be independent of the rest of the heart and can do it's fandango whenever it wants to which of course you may still be aware of. I know people in this situation who describe it thus.

Hope that helps.

[Hidden]

Oh dear Bettie...you certainly have alot going on. As you say we cannot offer medical advice. However if I was comfortable in 130/140 rate , which I have been in the past, I would sit it out at home particularly as an ablation date is so close.

We have several members who have undergone pace/ablate and it has made a significant difference to their QOL. Hopefully they will reply and reassure you.

Best wishes

Sandra

[Bettiehough]

As I am mostly bedbound with my ME anyway the additional symptoms of AF is not that distressing. I was just wondering if it is bad for my heart to be in AF up to 140 for a mont or so until ablation date. I find hospitals make my ME symtoms so much worse thus the reason for trying to avoid it if at all possible. Thanks for reassuring advice up to now

[Bettiehough]

I was hoping with pace and ablate that i could stop taking the anti rymth drugs as i have had bad reactions to most of them. That would definitely increase my QOL.

[Hidden]

Hello Bettie, I’m not in a position to add much, just wanted to add my best wishes for a good outcome........

[Bettiehough in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Flapjack. I could use all the good wishes i can get