AV node ablation at last.

[Alphakiwi]

I just want to tell everyone on here how much i have appreciated there support ,encouragemwnt and ideas on my way to being and understanding normai again, of course with all that that means..On the 3rd of feb i go into hospital to have an AV node ablation. I had the Pacemaker put in three and a half years ago, so as you can imagine its been quite a wait for this wonderfull news..Will it be worth it. Im so positive., you bet !. Im going to give this my best shot no matter what with this amazingly modern technology

What will i expect ? I hope to be able to have a much more able blood supply to my extremities.

Can Afib .make you feel lousy ? YES !

The lack of good blood supply can cause dizzy spells or light headedness. It may be light or severe and cause nausea or vomiting.Severe episodes can even lead to temp loss of conciousness known as fainting or syncope.

Fatigue weakness. When your heart isnt functioning efficiently it cant supply enough oxygenated blood to the rest of the body which can cause fatigue even when resting or sligjtly active.Everyone gets tired from time to time but the fatigue that accompanies a heart condition like afib is often described as constantly tired. Drained,exhausted, extremely tired, no energu, especially after a heavy palpitation which hurts my left side.

Palpitations. Many people experience palps.Different people experience palps differently.. mine arefluttering or thumps skipping beats or a squelchy feeling. A shortness of breath a d hard to breath.

Im looking forward to my trip into Auckland.

Colin

[CDreamer]

Good luck and do hope that it makes a difference. As you know many people on this forum have had this procedure and although it hasn’t always stopped the palpitations, the fact that you will then have a consistent pulse should mean that your symptoms should lessen.

I’m think that I may not be far behind you, although my AF seems rare these days I am having bouts of tachycardia and low BP.

[Alphakiwi in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CD. Im getting tachy at the drop of a hat.got tested on the treadmill and failled miseably, especially as ive been a successfull cyclist athlete even winning a gold and a silver in my discipline in the workds of 2017. I remember the first time i knew i had a problem. I was hitting over 200bpm regularly to get a result !!!

[Alphakiwi in reply to Alphakiwi]

That was the world masters of 2017

[wilsond]

Best of luck! My mum had this done and felt a lot better. Fingers 🤞

[Jalia]

Wishing you all the best! If my latest ablation doesn't hold that will be my next step.

[JGBH]

Hello Alphakiwi,

I have just come across your post and I wish you good luck. 🤞.

I have just been diagnosed with AFib - but now realised I must have had this for quite a while… Although I often saw my GP with issues pointing at this, she did not even think about it. Does not make one feel safe.

After fainting again in September (fainted in July) and before, I went to A&E. I felt pretty unwell, as though my brain was not functioning properly and very weak. Was admitted for a few days for observation and a few scans (on a lungs MRI scan they noticed lots of small blood clots apparently… then denied it- so what to believe? ) . I was plugged into a heart monitor for 48 hours, no sign of any problems. So it was decided to insert a small titanium loop into the left side of my chest to monitor my heart rhythms remotely before being discharged.

Then at the end of December I received a letter from the hospital saying an 8 hour AFib episode had been recorded (again no date nor times) and the cardiologist (this cardiologist did not see me when I was in hospital) sent a letter to my surgery asking the GP to prescribe anticoagulants and Bisoprolol 2.5 mg. Nothing else. No suggestion he would see me in hospital for a further check up, especially because I feel really out of sorts. No energy at all. Utter exhaustion.

GP prescribed Edoxaban 60 mg plus Bisoprolol 2.5 mg. On reading about Edoxaban (apparently the only anticoagulant which doesn’t have a reversal agent) I emailed her asking her to prescribe Apixaban 5mg, twice a day) because it had fewer side effects and fewer contraindications with my many other medications. She did.

I have not started talking the medication yet. I sent an email to the cardiologist asking for his advice, awaiting his reply. I am so scared…. Living alone and being 78 does not help. My family live quite a distance away from me.

So any opinion, experience from yourself or anyone else would be most appreciated. I am really worried.

Not sure you will be able to see this post before you have to go into hospital for your procedure. I found your post most interesting. Thank you.

I live in the UK.

So wishing the very best again.

[Alphakiwi in reply to JGBH]

Just finished doing a big write to you JGBG but it seemed to dissapear. Let me know if it appears colin nz

[JGBH in reply to Alphakiwi]

Hi, unfortunately it has disappeared into thin air.. What a shame you took the time and effort to reply and it disappeared. Sorry. Jo

[Alphakiwi in reply to JGBH]

Never mind i will reply to it tomorrow night

[JGBH in reply to Alphakiwi]

Thank you. Only if you feel well enough. So kind.

[jeanjeannie50]

I'm sending you my best wishes for a successful outcome.

Will look forward to hearing how it all went and how you are feeling.

Jean

[30912]

Good luck! Would be interested to hear your progress and opinion before/after ablation as I'm at a bit of a crossroads myself.

[Alphakiwi in reply to 30912]

Well youve come to the right place, so to speak haha.because suddenly , i mean in the last month or so my physical self has deterioratd and i need this treatment more than ever. I mean ive really come unstuck..There are so many things that csn can REALLY go wrong when youve got this monster of a thing graduallyeach one of those things gets so worse. I keep hoping that i havent been pipped at the post with it..One thing ive been able to do for the last 3 years here at our retirement village is head up a small ealking group but have had to stop that in the ladt year.. i could doeasily 5 to 7km no trouble. Now if i do just 1km into town i will be hunting for a park bench at leadt 3 time on the eay back. Whats the prob you say. Well every physical ach e or pain i have ever gained over the years has amplified it seems.Hows your blood supplu ? The lack of one due to beast i have running round at times in my chest may cause dizzines a feeling lousy,nausea

Severe episodes can even lead to fainting spells. I could go on bu througj it all i have have this wonderfull group of people who understand and listen and help with suggestions even in the middle of the nigjt like now in this wonderfull KIWI land. Only2 weeks to go and i will be able to startgiving the positives on this next step of my journey

Colin

S

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to 30912]

Hi

Any ablation can slow your heart!

I think this procedure needs to be done with thinking through anxd becoming a pacemaker and ablation to the AV node.

You cannot go backwards and you can wait until research gives AF patients better outcomes.

I've never had to call A&E. Never rung my St John Alarm. In rapid and persistent AF I have CCB Diltiazem for control of H/R which slows at night normally to 47bpm avge. It is a safe antiarrhymic med. It also keeps BP under control.

I'm happier walking without BBs. They give you low BP.

cheri JOY. 76 now. (NZ) like kiwiAlpha.

[Alphakiwi in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Put a lot of thought in Joy. At 82 and otherwise healthy i dont care that its not reversible, after all how many are taking .meds that will not stop. I cant hack meds and i have a myeiad of symptoms with rxcersise intolerance and fatigue predominating.lately large palpitations are causing brain fog etc .. 3 years now not completed. Colin

[Igotrhythm]

All the best to you Colin. I had an AV node ablation on January 15th. My quality of life this past few days has improved beyond any words I can manage to string together. Sending positive vibes your way from Canada. I know luck is not required for a positive outcome but should you need some "all the best of luck to you".

Gary.

[Alphakiwi in reply to Igotrhythm]

Thanks Gary .Your so kind. I need this with all its in tended positive outcomes

[gusG]

Good luck Colin, I'm recently currently going through the same thing with similar symptoms although I haven't made the decision to have the procedure just yet, I'm a little apprehensive on being pacemaker dependent and I need to hear some positive outcomes to help me along.

Look forward to hearing from you and your progress.

[Alphakiwi in reply to gusG]

Heh Gus I had the paceemaker put in three and a half years ago and thats been ok. The condition and life remaining in it is downloaded at two thirty every morning, so thats ok. If the whole thing stops working tjen the heart can still operate at a very low speed and you can go to hospital and have a new device incerted, so thats ok so were pretty nrarly there. I cant tell anymore till after the 3rd of feb. Other 5han than that thanks for the thoughts. As for me i just cant hack it any longer really without a fix. The drugs are useless for me im just feeling dreadfull from drugs and i cant excersise in any way. Not even walk far, so i stand to gain a lot. Theres more.Colin

[gusG]

Thanks for the information Alphakiwi, it helps to talk to someone who has been through it.

Hope it all goes well

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

All the best.

Now on no Beta Blockers. YES helpful in my satisfaction to have less fatigue.

cheri JOY

[Alphakiwi in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi joy. When i first started takung BB s I had no high blood pressure readings ever, just arryhthmia at times. So i have never been able to figure out why they havent invented an af specific tablet yet. Any ideas about this.Colin

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Alphakiwi]

Hi Alpha k!

After a stroke with AF the so call professionals are questioning using any BB med.

Latest since 2017 before my stroke in 2019 the research recommends thinking through what medical condition the patient is in.

My diagnosis Rapid and Persistent AF.

Therefore suggested is to try a CCB to bring down rapid Heart Rate and alternatively a BB. Whangarei Hospital and NZ give priority to Metoprolol. But it is not suitable for asthmatics and those who have lung/breathing infections etc.

I could not take inhibrice? an ACE blocker used for hypertension. Mine has never been overly high 170/90. Then.

If one has AF what is looked at is the history if any whether symptoms are the most important action is to rid these as against the heart rate - slow or rapid. But I think it is AF with rapid H/Rate.

I should have had a CCB. But first tests done.. ECHO. ECG. 24hr Heart Monitor.

Why because I have Diltiazem and I couldn't have this if I had ventricle problems. I haven't. Also Systolic fine.

Does this answer your question?

In 2 hours when Diltiazem 180mg was introduced, my Bisoprolol 5mg giving 156 h/rate on 24hr Heart Monitor shot down to 51h.rate.

Twinked quickly I have been on Diltiazem 120 CD mg AM for 3 years. Bisoprolol was moved to PM (separated, reduced to 2.5) for BP but in the December I completely stopped this as BP went low.

I now rely on Diltiazem for control H/Rate and BP. 120CD mg AM. My night h/rate is 47bpm average, my normal.

In my case Thyroid cancer caused the AF which caused the stroke. I probably had AF for a while but neither the AF nor the Thyroid Papillary cancer. In 2020 I had a Thyroidectomy plus. 2 lymphs removed showed metasasis out of the 12 taken.

cherio JOY. 76. (NZ)

[Alphakiwi]

So what is your alternative Joy.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Alphakiwi]

Hi

It could be genetic.

It could be something triggering it. Like for me Thyroid Cancer.

But if the AF is not controlled in slowing down heart rate, or heart hypertension the heart remodels. This is the most important issue.

I was left with a heart rate of 186 with pauses night Metopolol, and Bisoprolol 156 (stopped breathless and pauses so gained some energy) for 2 years 3 mths. Damage done as my heart remained in rapid H.Rate Day.

My damage is shown in ECHO of severely dilated left atrium. My heart in the first ECHO showed a slightly abnormal size.

cherio JOY