~AV Node ablation update~

[Megams]

To my dear travelling companions who have been down this path - just wanted to share my situation thus far and wonder if this resonates with your journey....... would love to know.

Been struggling with extreme fatigue, sometimes dizziness, unsteady on feet, weak in legs, swollen lower legs/ankles. Loss of appetite, slight nausea but eating OK

I'm 15 days post op and went out yesterday for 1st time to get overdue 3 monthly bloods done for Rheumatologist.

Results have answered some questions for me but dismayed at what they showed when arriving into my inbox last night. Heart failure gone from 44 to 166. My liver (GGT) from 41 (29/2/24) to 68 (10/4/24). My haemoglobin count is down to 104 from 115 (21/3/24). I suspect this may be coming from gut as so sore at times of late and due for follow-up investigation August.

There are other readings too that are not normal, but GP believes the pacemaker ( Feb 2024) was enough for body to cope with and this AV Node ablation has been too much too soon - I juggle a few other health issues alongside which added to the mix.

An urgent appointment with Cardiologist sought from my caring GP today so hoping for call in not too distant future - my EP away.

Anyone identify with the above and offer some wise comforting words please - most grateful and thank you in advance ~

[Brianboru]

Thank you Megams

[Mugsy15]

I agree with your GP; you are only a fortnight out from a fairly hefty assault on your heart and there will be substantial inflammation until everything settles in time. Your blood results may be a direct result of this as your system works to repair the 'damage'.

I recall a blood test I had done a few weeks after my ablation and my liver number was alarming - but it went back to normal as I healed.

[Megams in reply to Mugsy15]

~Thanks Mugsy - really appreciated your feedback.

Whilst these procedures are a marvel within modern medicine, they do take their toll on the body in so many ways.

I was not warned for one moment and now realize that the PVC ablation Feb 2023 should never have been attempted with my history - hindsight is marvelous but not when the heart is repeatedly scarred with further new scar tissue as mine was from original open-heart surgery in 1988.

Thanks once more with kind regards~

[grandadbren1]

10 days after my av node ablation I ended up in hospital with oedema I was supposed to have echocardiogram but discharged without and the dr on discharge abruptly told me I had acute heart failure. When I contacted my heart team at my usual hospital LGI they arranged echocardiogram and said no heart failure. I recently went to see my gp and he said he believes the oedema was probably result of the ablation as the heart is not meant to have cauterisations etc fired into it and responds in all sorts of ways to the trauma. Another 10 days down the line I had a vertigo dizzy and vomiting attack hopefully this is part of the healing process our poor hearts are going through. Hope you are improving.

[Megams in reply to grandadbren1]

~So sorry for this late reply which I've only found.

Thank you for your feedback and sorry to hear of your journey after your AVN ablation - found your experience interesting.

I certainly have been struggling since this procedure and as it is just over a month now feel heart may be healing OK - at least I pray that is the case. I guess I won't know until my checkup with EP scheduled in July where I will have another echo prior.

In meantime there has been a discovery that not all is well within my abdomen after recent ultrasound - awaiting MRI and slowly building myself with daily gentle exercises to face next round of assault on the body.

Sending kindest wishes~