Pace and Ablate has given me my life back. After years of AF this last couple of weeks I have been able to walk a total of four miles a day and talk whilst I’m walking. Few coffee stops thrown in
I can’t exactly feel it doing anything. I had an av node ablation as well. I can hear it as I have pulsatile tinnitus.
It doesn’t really feel any different from when your heart was healthy.
I can do anything I think. Haven’t tried joining great-grandson on trampoline yet. I even sneak in odd glass of wine
Six weeks after pm not to put arm above head while everything settles after that slowly ease yourself back into everything
Pacemaker was set as 70-120 when I left hospital then down to 60 now 50 as always had a low hr at night. Am told I’m now in AF 100% of time so have had one lead switched off and a quick reprogramme. I can now walk several miles and talk at the same time.
I have had the pacemaker for a few years now so it is the AV node ablation and the fact that is beating your heart was the information which is the thing I am scared off
But your reply is great thank you very much and great to hear you are doing really well
I fought having an ablation for years so many people seem to need more than one and life’s to short to have to keep resting . Took Flecainide until it gave up on me. Tried all the other drugs and pace and Ablate was the last choice
I have two friends who had P&A and it pretty much 100% gave them their lost lives back. I have paid close attention to the P&A subject on forums for years and my friends’ experiences appear to very much be the norm. I personally would/will not hesitate to have it if/as and when required, and - no criticism intended as we all have pur own individual views/criteria/philosophies- would not wait until the last minute risking heart damage in the process.
So far as I'm aware pretty much all folks with ablated AV node have a back-up ventricular escape rhythm of 25-35BPM if the PM stops functioning that will keep you going well and long enough to get medical attention. I have read many times that the escape rhythm is tested/checked every time one's PM is checked out.
Good morning from a wet North Somerset, I had pace and ablate 2021 after a period of time with AF. Two goes at getting sinus rhythm back did not work and I had two fainting episodes which helped with the decision to go pace and ablate.
I echo Hylda2 in that it has also give me my life back, back to golf 3 x per week and no longer feeling so tired and having no energy levels. Only medication now is a blood thinner.
I had pace & ablate 6 months ago and I too have my life back. I can do anything. Couldn't bend to do the gardening, now I'm tackling the wilderness! Back to being able to push the hoover and giving the stairs a good clean, I'm easily pleased! Please don't be scared of the AV node ablation, it's helped me and many others to feel normal again. Good luck.
Hello, I had to update my driving licence immediately, just the usual form filling and to give the pacemaker details for the new licence. I haven't driven for a few years so I can't comment on the insurance part. I just like to keep my licence alive for ID purposes.
I've had pace and ablate, actually Hylda2 and I went through the process virtually " together". She had her pm fitted before me and talked me through mine and then the ablation. It's been great having someone to bounce off and weve become pace and ablate buddies. 😘❤.
After 8 yrs with experience with AF and 2yrs of permanent AF, I too feel like I have my life back.
Ask away if you have any more questions and best of luck.
I had the pm implanted in september 2022 and the AV node ablated in december. I've got the Medtronic azure pm, didn't have one before that and no, for the 6 weeks before the AV node ablation, the pm on it's own didnt make me feel better. I have a single lead and mine is purely for AF.I'm currently in france and just climbed a massive hill with stairs to a hillside restaurant with no problems at all. Sue
I want to add my two cents here nanny Sue was the one that really helped me because we have the same pacemaker at Cetera. It is not your every day one. Others on here also made me realize I had nothing to gain by quality of life, and nothing to lose because I didn’t have anything going for me. I was so sick.
After months of misery, as soon as I had had the P&A I felt better. Am more than happy to rely on a trusty pacemaker rather than the natural workings of a totally unreliable heart (not its fault). Three years on I still don’t really understand why more people don’t have this.
I had Pace & Ablate a year ago, after 3 years of failed ablations and meds.It has given me my life back and only need to take meds for BP and anticoagulation. x
After going thru many hours of AFib, I had Pace and Ablate almost a year ago. I haven’t had any bad episodes of AF since, sure was the best choice for me. The surgery was not bad, Good luck
the AV node FYI will block the natural pacemaker, so it can’t keep giving stupid orders to our heart such as go faster at Cetera that’s just my wording. FYI it’s my version. Thank of the AV node is putting a natural pacemaker in a room and locking the door so I cannot longer give orders. That is when the pacemaker takes over and don’t be afraid that it is in charge. It is much smarter than we are and much smarter than the natural one because ours are damaged for whatever reason
Just to give you an example of how fast things change. Within days I had feeling back in my feet and lower legs. I had color in my lips you could no longer read the newspaper through my skin. Lol I look alive again. The funniest thing to me was when I would look at my feed and I had pink toes. I try to find humor when I can. It helps me through my day. All of this means your circulation is moving again. I had been having severe pain in my arms, legs and hands right to the fingertips. I no longer have that. Another thing that has changed is I can sleep through the night usually without 1 million bathroom runs. Unless I drink a lot of water that is. 😛
I had tachycardia 150 for a Heart Rate I am not a doctor, so I don’t know what the differences between your fast beats and mine although Maya were ventricular and out of sync as well, but I have the same pacemaker is NannySue. My heart rate was set at 80 and changed last week to 70 which these rates are what they want when you are resting. Pretty good compared to 150 and there is one more change possibly next month not sure yet. It will be down to 60. The pacemaker anticipates when you are active and will show the active rate. Ask your doctor about Medtronic. Azure pm. They were doing it in the UK first it is relatively new in the states. In fact, my doctor was just asked to return to Dallas to teach the procedure to a group of EPS there so more people like me can be helpful. I got my p.m. fitted two weeks later my AV node ablation. As others have mentioned here most of us don’t feel an improvement until the ablation because that is when the pacemaker can take over and get us into the sinus rhythm we need. Before that the natural pacemaker will continue causing problems. FYI, we even have an app for the pacemaker. They can call us and ask us to send a transmission from the pacemaker right from our phone along with many other things. I just had my first real follow up last Wednesday. My doctor is thrilled especially with my EKG. I also have the beginning of heart failure so I am getting an echo next month. I am not 100%, but you could fool me for the most part. To go from not being able to walk across my kitchen to being able to take my big dog out onto our acreage to walk him within a six week span is a miracle to me. A lot of it is rebuilding your stamina and that takes time. Remember to find out if this might be a pacemaker meant for you any questions feel free to reach out if I don’t know the answer, I will get it for you.
I’m so glad everyone has been so positive as to their responses. I just thought I would throw in another possibility. I understand there is a great surgeon there in the UK that does a surgical MiniMaze on people with permanent AFib. MummyLuv had it done last year and she has been in rhythm since. Maybe talk to her and see if it might be an Avenue to pursue. Just a thought.
I had my pace and ablate almost 8 years ago and have just needed a ‘box change’ as they call it. In other words I had a new one fitted. It’s really been wonderful. Like you, very scared when I first had it in case the wires came out!! Couldn’t play golf for 3 months and the first time I did I was really nervous about the first swing. Can do everything I used to do, no more being ambulanced off to hospital in a terrible state! Good luck. Tricia
You have it done 8 years ago that is great to hear from you and you are well. Such positive responses and I feel so much assured
That is my worry also any failure in the pacemaker however I have had the pacemaker for about 4 years now and the other leads will be activated that. That is scary but I know will be for the best
Shirley the one I have actually has a back up switch. L O L I just found this out last week at my check up because someone had left it on. I had been complaining that I could feel thumps which I should not feel anymore. The tech that is with me in the hospital and that the doctors discovered the switch on my pacemaker is so no she had to make calls. It is not harmful, but I was getting almost like an echo effect, so I really was feeling some thing. It was turned off immediately while I was there by the time I got home, I realized how quiet my chest felt. That’s why you have to ask questions and tell them your complaints. I’m telling you this because there is a back up switch at least in the one that I have perhaps other new ones as well. If something goes wrong I have back up I don’t just suddenly die , just so you know. I am monitored 24 seven and have a hotline 24 seven I can call. I used it a few weeks ago I thought I would just have a tech on the phone but within 10 minutes and EPcalled me back. After speaking with him, I was not scared like I had been and I waited it out because I only had a couple of days before seeing my own EP for my first check up after the ablation.
it is just amazing what they are doing out there not just for a fib but other things as well not just for the heart bad for diabetics at Cetera I just read through everyone’s replies as you can see. We are all feeling so much better with no regrets, so please join us and feeling that way.
I did not want anything to do with a pacemaker. My EP spoke to me of it when my second cardioversion failed after three shocks the end of December. I have had a fib for three years. Come October and except for my first two ablations nothing worked for any length of if at all. After trying me on digoxin for a month and having it fail twice within that month, even when doubled, we spoke about the pacemaker and decided to go ahead. I thought I was going to have one like you, but it turned out that would not help me. Perhaps you will be able to get one like mine if it would be helpful. It is called the Azure made by Medtronic. It was actually available in the UK before the US it is relatively new here. In fact, my EP has just been requested to teach the procedure in Dallas for a group of EPs they are so that they can help more people like I have been helped. Prior to this becoming available there was nothing to help me other than meds for my heart failure and probably eventually transplant if possible. This has what is called HIS pace bundling which I believe is a big part of the procedure and possibly what makes it so different. I am so grateful to have a second chance at life if this was a year ago I don’t think I would’ve had it in December I truly thought I was going to die and soon because of the way my entire body felt.
Not only do I have no regrets getting this, but I am so grateful to everyone on here that has walked me through things from cardioversions to medication’s to this miraculous pacemaker. I have now found two people who have the same one. They are also grateful with no regrets. I never thought I could feel this normal again. I just came in from taking my big dog out. We have about an acre of land. Six weeks ago, I could not have taken him to the front porch without huffing and puffing’s, and wanting to cry from pain of my a fib, etc. to get to my bathroom, seemed almost impossible at times. I hope that shows you the miracle of the pacemaker and AV node ablation, and I specify about the ablation because I had no relief until it was done two weeks after the fitting of my pacemaker. The only pain I truly felt was not what I would call pain these days. The incision was sore if I moved certain ways And it feels weird to have some thing over on your chest like that but you really get used to it I think it’s more in the head than it is on the body lol. The rest of the pain again wasn’t really pain especially if you have had an ablation before. I forgot about the ache in your chest that you can get . For me it’s normal but I forgot about it so I worried. When I thought about it, I realized it was normal. I have a tendency to get pericarditis and that’s what I had been concerned about but I did not have it this time for the first time when having an ablation.
Please don’t put it off unless you can say you’re feeling good. You will remember what good feels like when it’s all over. Oh my goodness mentally I am happier than I have been in years and physically like I said, I just had my dog out walking I can bend over and pick things up and so much more that I could not to six weeks ago.
Your replies thank you for them they are really detailed and great. I do have a pacemaker
An American one Bi-Ventricular by St. Jude medical
As I said, Barts knew I would have to have the AV node ablation at some time but I kept on refusing. I know I have to have it done and the other leads on the pacemaker put in operation.
I understand more now how having The AV node ablated works, thank you
I too am in heart failure have been for about 4/5 years
I also have Tachymyopathy which is pretty bad. My lips go blue and and legs/feet and hands are numb some of the time
I understand that my blood is not circulating properly
I have days of feeling pretty awful
To feel marginally better will be great
I work and some days feel too Ill so to feel more energetic, be able to breathe better and get on with everything without the exhaustion will be wonderful
Your replies have really made me positive about having it done
I have an appt next week at Barts and another one in 2 weeks I will the tell them to book it in and get it done soon
Shirley I had no feeling in my feet and lower legs and could not walk very far and it was more than I Shuffle. I have pink toes now lol it sounds funny but it’s exciting because the numbness is gone also. We sound more alike than we are not before I head my pace and ablate which was only in February. They ablation was February 27.
the type of pacemaker, you have could not help me nothing would have. If the one I have now had not become available. It’s amazing what they can do for us now compared to even a year ago. Yes the breathlessness I have the crushing pain and dizzy ready to hit the floor almost just standing up or trying to get to the bathroom and I am praying for you. I am so happy yours is almost here. I am excited for you, because I am praying that you end up feeling like I do. Yesterday I took a deep breath. Some thing I have not really been doing since a fib. I had started breathing shallow because of the pain I guess. When I took the deep breath, I realized how good it felt no pain. It just felt good that I could do it. Oh, how I wish you had already done it but I feel like sunshine is just around the corner for you. We are all different. We don’t know how these will turn out, but look at the replies here. It seems like most of us have quality of life that we did not have even a few days before the pacemaker and ablation. The way I had it explained to me it says if your poor pacemaker is Assam and going upstream because you don’t have the ablation yet. Again from what I understand and it’s just me, right now, the natural pacemaker is still involved and causing problems.
I hope the time you are waiting flies by. I can’t believe how long it’s been now since I had mine done because it seems like I was just waiting for it and here I am feeling the most normal. I have felt since afib attacked. Lol I use words like attack because a fib is such a horrible nasty thing. They should make a punching bag called a fib so we could beat it up lol Big hugs my friend. I can’t wait for you to let us know when you are done.
Just so you know, an ablation can be hard because the area is hard to map to get the precise spot. It’s nothing you have done wrong or your doctor. Unfortunately a fib does not have a cure and it really can be hit or miss but they are trying every day to make it better. This is the reason my doctor would not do any ablations other than my AV node with my pacemaker. I was already badly scarred from the first three. Everything takes a toll on our heart. Eventually, he also will not repeat, cardioversions after they fail. My first one worked it just didn’t continue for long. My second one could not get me into NSR after three shocks. He does not believe in doing something that didn’t work he wanted to get quality of life for me, which is why after a month trying one medication that did not work. It was final about the pace and ablate. It was up to me. I did not want it originally but people here had nothing but praise about it, and I really didn’t have any great options staying the way I was made no sense. I can tell you know it was one of the best choices I have ever made in my life. I have no regrets. I I cannot believe how much better I feel mentally and physically from six weeks ago. Do yourself a favor get it done. Be aware that until you have the AV node ablated, you’re not gonna feel a big difference if you are anything like me. It takes that being done so the pacemaker can take over and do right by your heart. My doctor told me ahead of time that this is how it would be. Luckily for me it was only a two week space. The only real pain I had was soreness of the incision for the pacemaker no different than any other cut. It’s just that we are aware of it because of where it is and we suddenly have this what feels like a 10 ton thing on our chest. I know I try not to even bother thinking about it. I think it’s mostly in our head. The ablation is just like all the other ablations I always got an ache in my chest but I forgot about that. Once I was reminded by my cardiac nurse that it is normal, I was fine. Things we don’t understand or know about can make us nervous, so ask questions. When you are all done, please let me know how you are doing. I want to hear how wonderful you feel. That being said, you have to heal, you are not gonna jump off the bed and all of a sudden he’s super person. I forgot about that too. I thought I was instantly going to be fine. We have to build our stamina which in my case I had none left. I also have heart failure so that throws a little bit of a wrench in things, but not major. Just be realistic the first 6 to 8 weeks your healing is going to be about the leads securing themselves where they have been put. Our body does not like foreign objects, so first it tries to make it go away. That’s probably why we get a little bit of pain. Then it finally excepts that the foreign body is not leaving so it covers it. That’s what we need is for it to get buried and secure so the first 6 to 8 weeks you can’t lift your arm above your shoulders or do anything silly with your arm and don’t lift anything in the beginning more than 3 pounds maximum 10 pounds later, on within the 6 to 8 weeks. No stretching the arm be sensible. Of course I am a righty, but all of a sudden I wanted to use my left arm all the time lol. The hardest thing for me is that I sleep on my left side but I found a way to do it cushioning with pillows. I can actually sleep on either side now. it can take up to six months or so to be healed but as always, we are all different. It could take longer it could be faster who knows. Take a deep breath. Relax, there are so many of us on here that have pacemakers. I am one of the new ones. I also have a unique pacemaker. Before this was cleared by the FDA in the states, there was no pacemaker for me. As I said, every day, they are working on new things to help us and give us quality of life. My doctor tries to find the fastest way for us to get there, which is why he doesn’t repeat failures. His first procedure on me was Christmas week. My pacemaker was February 13th the ablation February 27 here I am feeling almost normal and very very happy
Hello Dawn I Had the AV node ablation 2 days ago. It took longer than it should as had to change some technical, doctors seem to think all went well. Pacemaker pace to be changed, lowered in 5 weeks. Of course feeling tired no energy etc as I would expect. I know it takes weeks to feel ok. Having had 4 ablations already. I am having shortness of breath mainly after any exertion, I hope it passes, but concerning
I think I am pleased I had it done, well I had to no other way forward for me another than this.
congratulations on having it done. I agree you are not going to regret this hopefully. We sound a bit like that to have any quality of life. This was the way we needed to go. That being said, I hope you are like some people and feel good right away. It took me a bit longer, but overall within days I felt much better than I had the previous year plus. In December I thought it was the end for me and today I am amazed at how good I am feeling and what I can do. I went into the hospital in a wheelchair and I was able to walk out now, although I have balance issues a little bit other than that I can do pretty much anything including being out with my 80 pound dog.
There is not a day I have not been grateful that I was blessed with my EP. I am still experiencing tiredness, but then again, I also have heart failure, and that is a separate issue that can also cause shortness of breath at Cetera. If no one told you also be aware so that it doesn’t scare you, you can still feel your a fib or flutter whatever you have. it should not be as severe and it will not affect your heart any longer that is the point of the AV node being ablated if no one told you. I thought I was crazy thinking I could feel it. It’s very rare and one trigger I found is extremely cold ice cream. Anxiety is another even if I don’t think I feel anxious so just be aware that there is nothing wrong if you feel a thump or two, but it should not be like it was. I picture it like a crazy person in a padded room now lol. It is bouncing around being crazy and no one else can hear it. The pacemaker is in charge now protecting our hearts. I guess to doctors and nurses it is not some thing they think about telling us. When I brought it up, I was told oh yes, you can feel them. There’s nothing you can do about that. It’s to prevent the damage to your heart that the pacemaker is for. With that being said, your first couple of months might be strange. Suddenly one day I realized I had turned a corner. I did not feel as tired and just overall felt so much better.
Please make sure you are very careful with your left arm and do not use it for much or swing it around or a raise. It’s going to take a few weeks for your leads to sink in where they need to be and stay attached. My doctor really emphasized that I don’t want them to come out. Our body will encapsulate them. I knew about that because my daughter actually had a needle dropped and left inside of her and to try to remove it later I was too invasive because of the way it buried itself. That is a good thing for our leads to do. They sent me home with a sling. My nurse suggested wearing something like a sweatshirt with a long sleeve and keeping the arm inside the shirt pinning a sleeve. To the shirt. I never knew I used my left hand for so much, but evidently I do. I worked law enforcement, and perhaps being a lefty.
Follow your instructions and you should be great. Please keep us in your circle of information and let us know how you are doing. PS one thing I found was that I had a little pain. It was more irritation at the incision. Make sure you don’t get anything near that. Keep it covered, because if anything gets in there and it gets inflamed or infected, they will have to remove and do it all over again. Your seatbelts should have padding under it if you drive. Because that and brass straps will also irritate.
Things we don’t know and don’t think of until it happens. They should have a little books for different things like this told from the patient point of view not the medical.
I have had my pacemaker for about 3 years now. I had it fitted sinus pauses and Brady and my consultant knee I would have to have AV node ablation at some time
I was the AV node ablation a week ago.
Yes I think I am pleased, I haven’t woken during the night since with heart going bonkers and feeling very I’ll.
I look forward to energy and stamina. I have not got over the procedure yet, breathing problems which I am going back to the hospital about next week
Also not much energy but I understand it will get better especially when the pace is lowered from 80 downwards or so I understand this should make me feel better
I know that AF/flutter etc still goes on but not feeling it and not waking up in the night feeling very I’ll is great
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