Ablation No 4

[Stinky1953]

I had my 4th ablation on Friday at the Royal Brompton and have ended up with a pacemaker due to Sick Sinus Syndrome. Apart from the usual tiredness and bruising I feel fine. Have noticed a few ectopic beats but after being in AF since mid July it's nice to see NORMAL on my Kardia.

All the best

Tim

[Jalia]

Good to hear...hope all goes well for you now . Can I ask what symptoms you displayed for Sick Sinus Syndrome please !

[Stinky1953 in reply to Jalia]

Julia I was totally unaware of the Sick Sinus Syndrome. I thought I had AF which turned out to be Atrial tachycardia and my understanding is that once the EP had ablated the atria to sort out the tachycardia it became apparent as my heart beat was down to about 10.Tim.

[CDreamer in reply to Stinky1953]

Thank goodness it was found and PM inserted! My husband had PM inserted for SSS back in 2014 and has really helped.

Wishing you speedy recovery and long lasting SNR

[captainKFF in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, Regarding your husband could you share what we’re his symptoms with SSS and whether that helped with afib if he had it?

[CDreamer in reply to captainKFF]

He didn’t really have symptoms apart from once or twice remarking he felt ‘light-headed’. He saw the cardiologist for episodes of AF, 7 day ECG recorder showed heart pauses of up to 7 secs so he was called back in immediately and PM insertion scheduled. He was told he must not drive until PM was inserted & checked, so about 12 weeks altogether - which didn’t go down very well.

Initially it did help with the AF episodes but gradually they returned and became more frequent until he was in persistent AF - Aortic Stenosis and reduced EF fraction. Amiodarone was advised and he has now been on that since Feb 2019, converted to NSR in April after about 6 weeks on Amiodarone, is now reducucing the dose and remaining in NSR>

[captainKFF in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the info

[Stinky1953 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you.

[Jalia in reply to Stinky1953]

Crikey! That's very interesting. I'm listed for a 4th ablation , mainly get A tachy episodes but also some AF, following different pattern to the past ( I go back a long way....). We shall see !

[captainKFF]

Hope you stay well, may I ask how come cardiologist didn’t know it was Tachycardia and not afib before ablation?

[Stinky1953 in reply to captainKFF]

Thats a very good question. I suspect he did know and it was me who thought I had AF as thats what my Kardia was telling me. Also when I last went to A&E at St Georges back in July they told me it was AF. My story is somewhat complicated by my having changed hospitals from St Georges to the Brompton and never having met my new EP face to face prior to entering the cath lab.

[Buffafly in reply to captainKFF]

Apparently it’s not always easy to tell, or you can have a mixture. I was admitted to hospital with ‘AF’ and chest pain but in the cardiologists report he said he thought it was Atrial Tachycardia.

[Desanthony]

Ah Bless you hope the soreness goes soon and you make a good recovery.

[Stinky1953 in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you.

[Khatpi]

I had diagnosis so SSS and it really wasn't figured out for more than a year post an ablation. Has horrible waves of lightheadedness. Scary when driving. I had to take deep breaths to make me return to a more alert state. Had 8 sec pauses. Finally went in and told them something was really wrong. Got my PM a couple years ago now and QOL is so much better. And not nearly as scary. PM set at 70. 60 want enough. Still had breathlessness. Hope you continue to do well and thank heavens for science !! Sarah in San Diego ❣

[Stinky1953 in reply to Khatpi]

Good morning Khapti and thanks for your reply. 8 sec pauses must have been terrifying. Luckily I never had anything like that. So far PM seems to be doing well. It's set at 60 and I'm still on 7.5mg bisoprolol daily. Best wishes and keep well Tim.