AF and gallbladder removal.

[Palpman]

Flecainide has halted my bouts of SVT but a new arrhythmia has now developed. HB is a steady 54 during them but I get breathless and a strange feeling in my chest with flip flops.

Now I scheduled for a gallbladder removal under GA next Friday. I am afraid to have it done while I have this strange arrhythmia.

My GP said I will survive but she does not recommend it.

[BobD Volunteer]

I think it best to contact the surgical team who will be doing the gallbladder. Have you had your pre op appointment yet where you should have discussed any worries.?

[Hidden]

The anaesthetists monitor you constantly, if there are any concerns they will not start the op.

When I had my gallbladder out 2 years ago I was concerned about going in to AF, both the surgeon and anaesthetist said that they operate on people with arrhythmia on a regular basis and it was not an issue

[Palpman]

Thanks for the replies. Just after posting this, they phoned me to arrange a pre op appointment. I will find out then.

[Satispati]

Can you hold off on the gallbladder removal? If so, I would. I had mine out too and it was a very easy recovery but I didn't have any arrhythmias at the time.

[Hidden]

This may be old news but if it helps someone else reading my outdated response ...

Hi Palpman,

I'm a 64 y/o guy who has had long term SVT such as yourself.

The SVT began to worsen into short episodes of Ventricular Tachycardia.

After a frightening, prolonged episode of VT, an AICD, (which is an automatic cardio-defibrillator) was implanted in 2002.

When I developed gallbladder issues in 2012 I needed surgery as it was deteriorating quickly.

However, there were delays because of what sounds similar to your concerns.

Waiting for the surgery caused serious issues for me.

I had the perfect storm as my ailing gallbladder triggered ventricular arrhythmias.

I was shocked by my AICD 41 times.

Apparently I broke a record of not only staying conscious through it but surviving more shocks than any one the cardiologists ever knew of.

I’m the subject of conversation at cardiac conferences here in the states.

It was surmised that my vagus nerve was over stimulated.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta discusses the vagus nerve and arrythmias and it may be beneficial to for you to research that subject .

Everything credible that I’ve read suggests a link between the gut and the vagus nerve, gallbladder notwithstanding.

Once you have cardiac clearance for surgery, with today’s less invasive techniques and with reassurance that you will be monitored closely during the procedure, you may find yourself in a better place heart-wise as I did.

I loved your *CONTEMPORARY KIDDING*.

Thank you for the laughs and best wishes!

Larry

[Palpman in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the advice Larry.I feel for you during your shocking time with VT and hope it is all now history for you.

I had my gallbladder removed and only suffered with 24 hour inability to pass urine. Nothing has changed since except that I no longer get that bloated feeling after a small meal.

I do however have short episodes of arrhythmia that is new to me. They last 2 to 5 seconds but make me feel terrible and breathless. I don't think I could handle or even survive a few minutes of it. I have a strange feeling that it could be VT.

Keep well. Marco