Fifth Ablation Done

[DKBX]

The EP at Lovelace Heart in Albuquerque, Dr. Bestswros, (aka TopGun Maverick) zapped everything in sight after trying the usual suspects. His notes:

“Pulmonary vein isolation was performed at the level of the antrum. Successful PVI of LSVP. PVI x 3 confirmed. Rotor ablation for atrial fibrillation. CTI block confirmed for typical atrial flutter. Ligament of Marshall ablation was performed. Posterior wall isolation was performed. A roof line was created to treat roof flutter. Pacing was used to confirm block across the mitral isthmus and CTI lines. Synchronized cardioversion was used to restore sinus rhythm., Pacing at the end of the case did not induce further sustained arrhythmia.”

Not only was he thorough, he confirmed that arrhythmia couldn’t be induced. Four days being back in NSR, and lowered blood pressure to boot, feels great!

This one was quite extensive and hopefully lasts years and years. May the healing ❤️‍🩹 scars be with me and the zapped nerves NOT regenerate … ever!! Will continue with heart meds, especially anticoagulants.

Trust the experts; have confidence in your EP; breathe deeply; live and eat healthy. Have a great QOL in the remaining 10-20 years! (I’m 69).

[jeanjeannie50]

I hope you continue to be AF free. Did the same EP do your other 4 ablations?

Jean

[DKBX in reply to jeanjeannie50]

The practice has four EPs. My usual one, Dr Nair, who did the previous three called in the aggressive “Ace” to do this one. The very first one was a cryoballoon at Baylor by Dr Wheelan. So … three EPs and five ablations.

[wilsond]

Well done now rest up xxxx

[DawnTX]

I hope it works out for you and you hope. Wow that’s a lot of scarring. I had a cryo-, RFand then.vein of Marshall alcohol ablation. Other areas were also done at the same time. My new EP will not do other ablations because of the scarring. He is of the mindset not to continue repeating things that are not very successful or successful for long. He explained to me that even being a millimeter off can cause the ablation to not work. It is not that they fail it is they do not get the right spot to begin with. Even with new techniques of mapping, it is still extremely difficult. Every time they ablate, you are having trauma done to the heart. The same thing with cardioversions. My first only lasted a few weeks and my second did absolutely nothing even though they shocked me three times. again this is not done to your heart without some sort of trauma and to keep doing it makes no sense. Think about what they are doing. I also had many different medication’s are none of which worked for long for whatever reason my body rejects them. This is why we went with a pacemaker and AV node ablation. It is the one way to be relatively sure I have quality of life returned. That is the goal of everything they do to us. It is to give us quality of life. If it’s not working, find some thing else. All of these procedures, etc. are moneymakers. Just remember that. A pacemaker is not going to make anyone rich in fact once I am all squared away I will only see my EP probably once a year. Because I have a special pacemaker, it may be more because he has stated he intends to remain hands on follow me. That is not the norm. I will be seeing my cardiologist and he will handle everything else including my meds and I will see him most likely every three months. Ask questions and get another opinion if you feel unsure about some thing. I almost did, but I had made a list for my EP and before I could ask the questions he gave me the answers. He is phenomenal. I felt so safe with him. I did not bother looking for us. My second opinion after all. we are not puppets. We are people with health issues and we need answers and help. Don’t be afraid to demand what you need.

[Tantaanna]

going for my fifth by Dr Natalie in Austin Tx.