AV Node Ablation

[shirlygirly]

Hi everyone,

After my ablation on 4th February I guess I was expecting great results.

Im so disappointed as things havent turned out exactly as I thought.

Im still so tired and lacking in energy, my PM was turned down on Tuesday

to 60' and I was advised I would feel better, I dont. I was sent for ecg and was

called back in because evidently I have a build up of fluid and was put on

medication to help with this. Im just so depressed because I felt I would be

back to normal by now. Im evidently still have af but I can feel no symptoms which is great but is still,no where near normal for me.

Im just so tired, my jobs to do list keeps growing ever longer but Im sat

down looking at it. I went a short walk with my husband this morning but

I cannot sustain any prolonged activity. My breathing hasnt really improved

since my PM tweak! Im also not really too steady on my feet.

Am I expecting too much too soon!! Any advice or hope !!

Thanks for sorry for the pathetic moan

Shirley.

[Hidden]

I haven't gone through what you have, but it took me at least 6 months to start to feel normal again and START getting my energy levels back to pre-ablation levels.

Good luck with your recovery, I'm sure you will feel better soon

[shirlygirly in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply and hope you too will feel

better soon. I love walking too.

[Shepheart]

Hi Shirley, you have to just hang in there. It takes time to recover and for the body to catch up to the new reality. It helps to do something to pick up the mental outlook on things too. Just know that you are already doing important things to improve your life. It’s an investment that will payoff in the days ahead.

It’s about 4 months since I had my av node ablated and I’ve been taking 40 minute walks with a coffee break in between. I’m on disability and almost retirement age so I’m taking things one day at a time with no rush. It is darned easy to get depressed so must be on guard about that for sure.

Keep looking hopeful for better days ahead.

[shirlygirly in reply to Shepheart]

Im an oap so Im certainly hoping that before long I can start

walking around the viĺlage where I live before people start thinking

Ive died.

Thanks for your reply.

[Ellembee]

Are you having synchronous pacing or do you just have 2 leads? After mine, I experienced the same and didn't improve until they changed the pacemaker.

[shirlygirly in reply to Ellembee]

Do not really understand the (syhchronous) pacing bit. I actually had

three leads, not done by my EP, he was on holiday. A bit of a cock up

actually this is a quote from a letter that was sent from him to my GP.

"The procedure was chaĺlenging owing to left ventricular lead and from

the images only the distal pole of the LV remained in the lateral branch vein with the rest of the lead being back within the main coronary sinus.

After some phrentic nerve stimulation and on interrogating the device today the left ventricular lead is not working at all and has been programmed off. The right ventricular lead also looks short on a chest xray although functioning normally."

Im quite at a loss what to do, I had PM check on Tuesday when the

Pm was set to 60'. I then had following appointment with the consultant

but I have now been transferred off his list to another medic, dont know

his qualification, who when I told him how I felt sent me for an ecg

and he seemed a little concerned that I have some odema and prescribed Furosemide. Im not certain this is suiting me as walking

in a straight line is impossible at the moment.

I do realise that once you have had a PM and av node an EP has done his bit as it were but I do feel a bit deserted and lost at the moment. I still

have af but I am unaware of it. He was going to put me back on Bisop

but hesitated as I can only tolerate a small dose, I wish he had as I do

not feel at all good.

I am almost 82 years old and up to this point have been very active

and went off on regular walks so this is something which Im finding

difficult to deal with.

If you have any advice it would be most welcome.

[tibetan36]

Have you been checked out for sleep apnea?

You don’t have to be a snorer to have it.

I’ve had the AV Node ablated and have found it’s the best thing ever. My PM is set at 55 rpm’s lol.

Do you have a weight problem? This can sometimes affect ones energy.

[shirlygirly in reply to tibetan36]

Worth looking into thanks for the advice.

Im about 8st and at the moment have not much appetite so

I dont think thats my problem., but worth mentioning anyway

you were not to know.

Thanks for your reply.

[jedimasterlincoln]

Don't ever feel like it's a pathetic moan, sometimes that's all we have and usually venting is a catalyst to starting to feel better.

I've not had AV node messed with but it does seem like very early days to be doing too much too soon. Take each day as it comes.

[shirlygirly in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I have read many of your posts so I know you have your problems,

thanks for your reply. Hope you are well at the moment.

[Morzine]

I’m three months on now and I get what you are saying...I was bright eyed and bushy tailed about this expecting to be full of energy by now.....hmm...not!....i guess it’s cos they say three to six months nths.....but im accepting this is goung to be much longer.....some days I just have no energy.....we love our circular walks around morzine, some days I do it,other days I start off with leaded boots and say oh let’s just go sit have a coffee there...and that’s that .

Wishing you better days,

Sue

[shirlygirly in reply to Morzine]

You too, I often feel as if I could go...then I get out of bed.

Thanks for your reply.

[shirlygirly]

Sorry Jo, I did reply but forgot to press reply key.

I admit to being upset that my EP who was excellent and highly

regarded passed me on to a nurse specialist for my 1st appointment

after having my av node ablation. I realise that they cannot keep

on seeing you as their skills are much in demand but a quick check

on me would have made all the difference.

As regards my PM the EP I chose I had heard of so i thought that

was good, in the event he didnt do it, he was there, but a student

did the honours which turned out badly for him and for me...

My feeling is surely he would only have fitted a 3 lead PM if

he had reason to think that is what my EP intended. My EP knows

the way things are so surely he would have repaired or changed

the PM if necessary. I think I will have to see how I go until my

next appointment (2 months) unless I feel I cannot wait that long.

Thanks so much for your imput which I appreciate.

Shirley.

[Fredanderson]

always be calm