Hi…recently last week had an AV node ablation following pacemaker fitted two months before..after the ablation I wasn’t too well …extremely breathless…so hospital decided I couldn’t go home very elderly at 86 years old. I think they did every blood test that they could …I was dehydrated so was given IV fluids ….they were happy eventually to send me home this past Monday (Bank Holiday) ..since I have been home I am back to square one with extreme breathlessness… i did phone the Coronary Care unit where I was treated …to say they couldn’t admit me … no beds!
advised A and E …obviously if everything gets extreme. I would welcome any advice or comments from others like myself post ablation. The hospital I could not fault …I had X-rays…blood tests …ecg’s etc etc. I do not want to go to A and E for just another repeat of what has gone before. Prior to the ablation I was on 7.5 mg of Bisoprolol …it was reduced to 1.25. mg on my release from hospital. Would this have possibly effected my breathing problems it was such a dramatic reduction of the drug. I have read the advice sheets on post ablation and I am wondering if I am going to take a while to get over this …but any comments or advice would be great fully received.
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Lamplight37
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I'm afraid I know nothing at all about AV node ablations but I'm just wondering if you are drinking enough water now that you are home? I can totally understand why you do not want to go to A&E.
That was quite a drastic reduction of your Bisoprolol, have you any way of measuring what your blood pressure and heart rate is at home? That could help determine the next step forward. Certainly if you're experiencing extreme breathlessness as you state I would have no hesitation in dialing 999 for an ambulance. Paramedics will come and do some tests at your home.
hi Jean…..Thankyou for replying… since I was dehydrated in hospital I have been drinking as much as I could…my wretched BP machine packed up last week…and I havn’t been able to purchase another with so much going on. I really don’t want to go back in hospital again.. I may phone the unit again…depending on how things go. They did so many tests on me I look like a pin cushion. I fear that would be the outcome again if I go to A and E …but have decided if the situation goes beyond what it is now I will call an ambulance. Thankyou for your reply this site is so informative and their always seems to be someone kind to give good advice …I will post again to give update btw I am a Jean too
Beta blockers like Bisoprolol are supposed to be weaned very gradually. This does seem like a very big reduction. I would contact your doctor ASAP and ask if you can go back to your prior dose to see if your symptoms get better. Of course, if in distress go to the A&E.
I am not medically trained and don’t know this procedure but with mini maze and catheter ablation inflammation can cause breathlessness if the inflammation then presses on parts of your heart carrying oxygen to your lungs like the pulmonary burns or phrenic nerve. Inflammation is treated with drugs, have they put you on anti inflammatories? It’s worth asking your doctor. If it continues it’s not a bad idea to go to A&E as specialist scans would be needed to see this.
l stopped taking bisoprolol about 2 years ago, but it made my AF episodes longer and increased my heart rate during the episodes. I quite quickly went back on them. My dosage is minimal, so coming off a higher dosage could make symptoms more severe.
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