Scheduled for AV Node Ablation in November. I'm concerned that I will be missing an opportunity for better treatment if i have this ablation. There seems to be more negative information than positive except from the medical doctors.
I have had two ablations for A Fib and two ablations for A Flutter. One cardioversion which kept me in rhythm for 16 months. My doctor told me he would not do another regular ablation or cardioversion , I had to have an AV ablation with a pacemaker and be permanently on blood thinner.
I'm meeting with my doctor in a few weeks to go over the procedure and would love some feedback.
I am also trying to get into the Cleveland Clinic for a second opinion.
Thank You.
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lockerbie
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It doesn't sound as if you have any other options as you have already had the 'better' treatment and it hasn't worked. There are people who go on and on having ablations but I wouldn't, I'd prefer to have pace and ablate and get on with my life but that's purely my personal feeling. If your personal feeling is that you don't want it maybe another doctor would be willing to try again.
Describe "better treatment". All and any treatment for AF is only ever about improving quaity of life so if everything else has failed why reject the next option. You would have the pacemaker inserted first which may possibly help and then after some weeks once it is stable then the AV node would be ablated. This would ensure that your ventricular rate and therefor your pulse would be stable and steady leaving the rest of your heart to play whatever games it wants. That way energy levels and general health should be improved. I know of many people who have said the procedure(s) changed their life.
Thanks Bob. I needed to hear some positive responses. Although my Cardiologist still thinks I’m to young to have such a final procedure. Hopefully in the next few years we will have some terrific breakthroughs for all of us.
young as when you should get it done so you don’t spend your life in misery with a fib and flutter get it fixed now I just turned 71 and the fact that I wasted a couple of years on a field upsets me because I don’t know how many years left I have
I appreciate your dilemma but I agree entirely with the other correspondents. I live an energetic and symptom free life with my pacemaker whilst my atria is not involved. Have just had my annual pacemaker check and after eight years it seems I still have another six to eight years battery life left before I need a replacement. They do last a long time.
we are all different Eric I have five years because of the usage and the type of wiring that I have. I just got mine in February. FYI they don’t last the same for everyone in fact until we sorted that out I was petrified because mine went from 11 to 5 years within a couple of weeks. We even have the engineers involved because what I have it is one of a kind. Doctors are doing different things daily, so we can’t tell anyone anything for sure on here anymore not that we ever could and as far as your AV node, it depends what else was going on , I had tachycardia over 150 for close to a year. I also have heart failure because of it. I have a typical flutter and both my ventricles are involved. There is nothing normal about a fib.
most of us are sharing how much better we are since the pacemaker and AV node the doctors don’t just do the note for the fun of it it is to block bad things away from the pacemaker and heart is the way I word to people who don’t understand. In my case my heart failure has actually improved. My ejection rate is 76%. The average good is 50s I have no blockages either another thing we all need to take into consideration when we talk to each other we are all different. I’m glad that you had no need for the AV node to be ablated. It’s like me still having my appendix even though it’s useless if it’s not giving me a problem, I still have it that’s part of the original packaging. I am running perfect blood pressure, heart rate, etc.. my heart has been given a chance to rest no more craziness through the AV node so you have your opinion and others like may have ours
I have had pace and ablate, the av ablation was done last year. I had primary vein isolation but only lasted a few months as it seems I have scaring on my heart, I also had 5 cardioversions
And was tried on all the medications but nothing stopped my AF. My specialist told me AVNA was my last resort, which I didn’t particularly like the sound off. However it was the best thing I ever did. I had no quality of life before,had no energy and daily routines were a struggle. I would say I’m 80% better. My only concern was about being on blood thinners for life so I am seeing my specialist in regards to having the Watchman device fitted, if I’m eligable for it. Good luck with whatever you decide😀
O have had my pacemaker for 4 weeks now and must say that after the initial wobble for about 2 weeks where my heart was like 'what have you done to me?' my symptoms have improved. I don't feel dizzy anymore and my heart is now settling. I am also less tired.
I have my AVNA scheduled for 9th Oct. I'm looking forward to no longer needing to take beta blockers to stop my heart racing. I'm fed up with feeling my atrium and ventricles having an ongoing barney! As BobD said 'the atrium can play what games it likes' At least my ventricles will no longer play silly wotsits because of my atriums bad behaviour.
Thank you for your encouragement.i have my A V next week . Can you tell me how long did it take to recover I do regular exercise and walk my dog your advice would be appreciated.
I love the way you described it. I think you will feel much better when the AV node is done I had mine in February 1 the pacemaker than the node at the end of the month. I just had my six month of all of this check up. My doctor is over the moon as I told someone. My heart failure has improved and I don’t really notice my heart anymore except for the occasional thump. It sounds like you know, as I do it can do all it wants, but it can’t hurt us anymore. The pacemaker will do what it needs to do to keep us healthy and make us strong again. My ventricles are my major issue as well as my atypical flutter. I am told I am unique I have special wiring Dallas is actually asking my doctor to teach the EP doctors there to help people like he helped me. I think he’s already been there at least a few times I don’t know. He is young thinks out of the box. He saved my life in December. I didn’t want it anymore.
I know Cleveland is one of the best of the best but I really question another ablation, knowing all the scarring that I have from three procedures, although the third one was aggressive. You have to ask yourself how long do you want to keep needing touchups?
This is not negative. This is positive and you have a good doctor from what I hear. Of course I believe I have the best in the world lol a doctor that will not keep repeating things is a diamond. My doctor is not the favored because he won’t keep doing things that fail And he watches the ablation’s because of the scar tissue we get and it’s only a Band-Aid anyway, they do not last there is no cure. I was a mess in there. I had to in Florida and a very aggressive when I got to Texas that did nothing for me by the way it went through all of my arteries. They want to give us quality of life as quickly as they can without damaging us anymore. My other doctor oh what can I say nothing good I had tachycardia almost a year over 150 and ended up with heart failure. Scars on me are mostly from him. I was a guinea pig. I truly feel that because he was the pioneer of what he did. I’m still angry enough to still check out with a lawyer, so that’s what can be done to you with the wrong doctor.Yes we take chances if we are that miserable.
What my doctor did for me was also taking a chance, but they really weren’t any other options other than repeat repeat repeat and my heart was not gonna be able to deal with more he told me that both my heart and I had enough
From waking up not breathless, I began to feel hopeful yes, I did forget about chest pain after an ablation but overall pain was not anything and the fact I was able to get out of the wheelchair and walk to the car and walk into my home. Made me want to cry. I had been unable to walk for over a year except a scuffle to the bathroom or bed. Now I can take my dog out and even get some grocery shopping done within reason. It is not my heart that slows me it is my stamina I also get the feeling my meds slow me down.
as one they just had this done in February. It was my valentine day present with the rest of it finished two weeks later it truly was the gift of life.
don’t look for a miracle because they aren’t out there. Yes, they are trying new things. All I know is I don’t wanna keep wasting time taking pills and having things fail like they have kept failing. For me ablations, cardioversions and meds all failed We can’t see the future, but if we had, I would’ve thrown myself on the table for my pacemaker, the first time I went to the doctor to avoid all the hell I went through for a year and a half. Best of luck whatever you decide I can only tell you my story.
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