What do I do?Next step another ablation for A Flutter or not

[jsanta]

I’m a 69-year-old male who is diagnosed with a flutter seven years ago then the a flutter turned into a fib. Had to oblations for the a flutter and a fib they did not work three or four years later I moved to Dallas and went on Tykosyn and cured my a flutter and a fib right after I had the cardioversion. Things went great for about Five years. During the meantime however I got Covid despite being vaccinated and according to my EP Covid burnt out my electrical system and I have total left bundle branch heart block. Almost died they rushed me to the hospital popped a pacemaker in my heartbeat won’t drop below 60 works perfect. That’s the good news during a recent test they found my QTC number was elongated and they immediately took me off the Tykosyn worried that I would get SAC.. Then I went into back into a flutter. My condition is is following normal resting, talking on the phone playing the piano and i’m perfect at 70 BPM when I lay down in bed after 20 minutes of drops down to 60 and holds feel great but as soon as I do any type of physical activity as little as walking up the steps toward 2830 yards by a flutter kicks in my BPM will rise to 130 I’m out of breath and if I wait for three minutes it goes back down to 70 and I have to stop to rest. My EP doctor down in Austin it was one of the best in the world wants to put a watchman in and do another ablation to get rid of the flutter. My wife has had about had it and maybe it’s just something I should live with and forget the fourth ablation. My a flutter is very stubborn they have me on solotal. I don’t think it’s doing anything for me. Also on Xarelto lisinopril.

getting a cardioversion in a week maybe to snap me back in rhythm but I seriously doubt it. I’m gonna wait till next year I think to get another ablation. But the longer I wait does the a flutter get more stubborn and harder to get rid of. Also what are your thoughts on the watchmen. I think my harness had enough zapping and there’s a route that works fine I have no issues with it. So my questions are do I get a watchman? Do I try for a fourth ablation to get rid of the flutter. Or do I just stay the way I am and not exercise and being a couch potato the rest of my life.

[BobD Volunteer]

How about AV node ablation and becoming pacemaker dependent?

[jsanta in reply to BobD]

I am totally pacemaker dependent now there’s no electrical being sent I wanted percent blocked so I don’t need an AV node abalation.

[jsanta in reply to jsanta]

100% blocked

[jsanta in reply to BobD]

I am Pacemaker dependent no need for av node ablation 100% block..

[SeanJax]

I would go with the ablation since your case sounds complex and you are in good hands. I do care about your flutter since the heart rate is usually high rate. The more you wait the more your heart gets weaker and atrium hypertrophy will cause valve leak too. Trust your ep in Austin. Regarding your watchman, it is up to you. I would trust him blindly. Your ep deals with extremely complex cases and he makes his reputation out of them.

[dwright12]

I had ablation for aflutters 4 years ago. Last year afib. Had watchman implanted March of 2022 and will be off Plavix in November. So far the best thing I did. I guess those flutters turn into afib?

[jsanta]

You think watchman got rid of your A flutter?