Thoughts on Ablate AV Node and Pace

[Cypbill]

I have a long history of AF which resulted recently with me being admitted following a routine Echo as I was apparently in very fast uncontrolled AF. After the various obligatory tests I was told a cardioversion had been arranged for the following morning and I was started on Digoxin (which I am still taking 6-weeks later), The following morning the consultant cardiologist visited my room and suggested an ablation to the ward doctor, not addressing me personally and when I questioned him he turned to the doctor and said forget the cardioversion and send him away. Anyway, since then I've been taking the Digoxin which has slowed my heart rate and I have now received a letter from my long-standing EP suggesting the next likely course of treatment is that of AV Node Ablation and the upgrading of my Pacemaker to a CRT-P Device.

Just wondering if any of you guys and girls out there have been down this road and how you are now.

Thanks in advance.

[baba]

You certainly wouldn’t want that ignorant consultant looking after you.

[Buffafly in reply to baba]

Maybe not ignorant but certainly a rubbish bedside manner!

[Jalia]

The behaviour of your cardiologist would have made me see red! I wouldnt call it bad bedside manners but bad manners per se.

[HiloHairy]

I was once treated poorly in the ER by the presiding physician but nowhere near as flippantly as you were. Where are you located? Wherever it is I don't think I want to ever go there.

[CDreamer]

I had ReSynchronisation Therapy PM implanted Oct 2019 in preparation for AV node ablation. It was great - so great I cancelled the AV node ablation and I have only had 1 mild AF episode since. A few weeks after cancelling the the procedure I had very bad diaphragmatic hic ups which left me gasping for breath I had had an incompetent cardiologist implant the device (since gone from the hospital) so I needed a revision to replace the LV lead which had been firing my diaphragm instead of my LV which was very uncomfortable and took me quite a while to recover from the revision because it had been left for too long.

Once recovered - fabulous!

Assuming you have a competent doctor who gets the LV lead placed correctly, which is the real skill in this procedure as it is the most common point of failure, so I understand, I hope you will feel so much better, as I have.

[Cjhall1948]

Well, I had a mitral valve replaced 20 years ago. Since then I’ve been in and out of AFib, passed out from low BP and high pulse or the reverse and many cardioversions and hospital stays. I was exhausted just making the bed and felt constantly I had just run a marathon. I couldn’t exercise and so gained weight. I was so tired all the time and very cranky. My husband was going through cancer and needed to be cared for, seemed liked so much on my plate.

After much discussion and many different doses of meds my Cardiologist and EP and I decided I would have the Pacemaker and A/V node ablation. They told me it is not reversible and was a last resort.

That was 2 years ago and the best decision all around. I am so happy now and full of energy. Once in awhile if I get upset over politics, I do feel the AFib coming back and then poof, it’s gone. My husband is getting better too, he just turned 80 and I’ll be 72 soon.

I wanted to let you know that it is one very good alternative and one to take seriously.

However, I’m in Las Vegas and my team we’re excellent, just the best. I would stay away from that grouch consultant cardiologist, I wouldn’t trust him after the way he treated you so disrespectfully.

This is a delicate but routine procedure and not to be taken lightly. I would tell that man to effing stay away from me.

Good luck to you, oh and I lost 4 stone too.

Life does get better when you feel better. 👍👏🏻

[AvrilB in reply to Cjhall1948]

Hi, I had a CRT - P pacemaker implanted and my AV node ablated, both at the same time in April ‘18, and it was the best thing I have ever done.

Although I am still in AF, and always will be, I am simply NOT aware of it at all 😊

I was terrified at the thought of what I was about to have done, so much so that on the morning of my procedure, I was sat on my hospital bed, speaking with my EP, who would be doing it, and I so very nearly called it off. So very glad I didn’t, and that I went through with it.......

It was, and still is, fabulous to wake up each morning, not worrying or even thinking about my heart, or pacemaker. I am 74.

I do get short of breath now on exertion, but that is because I have put on too much weight ☹️ (blame COVID for that 😊). My aim now is too shed weight (easier said than done). I have done it before, and WILL do so again! 🤞🏼

I hope this will help you a little, and I wish you well with whatever path you go down.

Avril

[playcards]

I keep stressing that we are all different, but I agree with Avril8, I wake up every morning giving thanks that I feel so well. I have a standard ICD/pacemaker, had two years of misery with various difficulties with my badly behaved heart and then a year ago had the AV node ablation and things were transformed.

I too wish you the very best with your decision and your future.

[Dodie117]

I know nothing about AV node ablation except what I read and that it makes you completely dependant. Have you discussed ordinary ablation with your EP before taking such a final step. I had ablation in 2013 and still free of AF and all meds except anticoagulants.

[CDreamer in reply to Dodie117]

It doesn’t make you 100% dependant as they ensure the leave a small % of functionality in the very rare possibility of failure. These days they also monitor your PM remotely - mine is done through an app on my phone but others have a monitor attached to téléphone. I have no longer have concerns about the PM dependability.