A V Node ablation

[Pintpool]

I'm a 74 year old manwhose had about 6 ablations. On Oct. 21 2024 I had an A V Node abalation, with new Pacemaker. It's been over 3 months and I'm extremely fatigued, light headed, and I feel like I'm going to faint when I stand up. My Cardiologist says eveything is coming along fine. I'm very confused. I've been told this could take up to 3 months, is this normal?

[BobD Volunteer]

Give it time. Your heart has had a serious assault and will need time to recover, maybe longer than three months. No doubt they will "play" with your PM settings as you recover.

[Pintpool in reply to BobD]

Thank you for your response. I got to experience a Cardioversion by the Paramedics at my house, wide awake with no sedation. Worst moment of my life.

[Buffafly]

6 ablations? Your poor heart must be confused and struggling to adjust as well. Are you still on any medication?

[Pintpool in reply to Buffafly]

I'm on about 10 different medications. Very depressed

[Buffafly in reply to Pintpool]

Maybe some of them are no longer appropriate or the dose needs adjusting. 10 medications could be fighting each other! Also if you have heart failure it will take a long time to recover strength. Seems the EPs tried too hard…..

[Buffafly in reply to Buffafly]

There is a lady from the USA on here who had a bad experience with ablations and took a while to recover from P&A. Her posts are very positive now but sadly I can’t remember her name, will tag her if it comes back.

[DawnTX in reply to Buffafly]

hi there without assuming anything I wonder if you mean because we have spoken

[Buffafly in reply to DawnTX]

Yes!!! Thank you for replying. I am sure reading about your experiences and outcome would be helpful especially as you are based in the US where health care is somewhat different xx

[DawnTX in reply to Buffafly]

hi hon I hope this finds you feeling better. as you can see, I answered her. I was afraid she took our in a negative way which as you know is not what we mean. I didn’t even notice she was also in the US. I had someone write me last week it turned out we have the same pacemaker when I got mine and what they did with was unique but then again I would think they all are because we are different. But he mentioned my specific type and told me he has the same and we sounded like twins. We are both so happy with the results. He called our pacemaker the Rolls-Royce of has moved. I am about to look into seeing another one. I actually was going to see him two years ago, but my had asked me to meet the one that I ended up with and that was the best thing I ever did. This other EP though looks like his twin at least on paper and when I spoke with the office yesterday, you could hear the enthusiasm and affection towards him in the person‘s voice. They have been unable to replace my doctor, but he received quite the promotion when he took this new job, especially for a young doctor. He is now chief of electro cardiology for the university of Florida in Jacksonville, Florida I actually had moved from Florida not up in that area, but except for extenuating circumstances believe me I would consider moving there for him. He always made me feel swaddled in safety and as you know, we all want to be that way.

I hope that the young lady here listens to everyone so that she can get better like we have. I have had a rough couple of but not because of my I got some type of a that was bad enough. They had me on all kinds of meds with steroids, etc. it didn’t help, but I was starting to feel a little bit better when I got a second punch. Whatever I I have never felt anything like it. This all started in November believe it or not. can add to everything. I lost five law enforcement friends, including a best girlfriend and her seven year old all within 12 hours. Needless to say it really affected me. They were all working. The memorial for my friend and her daughter really knocked me down. I really believe that. What made me weak enough to catch whatever I people don’t realize what your emotions can do to the rest of you my friend and her daughter had also been sick. It evidently was going around and we had been talking about it my very last text with her the day before I lost them.

I look back since I first had a fib. It has been quite a ride I realized, but during it, you don’t have time to take and pay attention to that because you are trying to deal with it. That is how I law enforcement. You don’t have time to think you do what you are trained and know what to do and react. The thinking has already been done. You just don’t realize it. That is how you keep yourself together. Life happens so fast doesn’t it when I look back I can’t believe that was that had all those things happen but they did and I’m still here lol I tell people I am like crab grass. I don’t really go away and when expected, I will pop right back up again

take care hon nice to see your name on here. I don’t come on all the time I do get emails and when I saw yours mentioning someone that could’ve been that is why I reacted. Sometimes coming on here can be a bit depressing or annoying today was not one of those days lol I saw someone else that he considered a fib annoying and I’m always saying that. If it was a real person I would say who do you think you are trying to make me feel so bad. in my head I think I told you a fib is the Mucinex commercial man if never seen him try to find it lol that is who I consider a fib. When you get the AV note, it is like taking the nasty little thing away so you feel better. In the commercial he up and down because everyone is just ignoring him. That’s what I do with a I almost have an attitude like what did I do now if I get palpitations or flutter. I also know it will go away today. I go to the doctor. I do suspect I may have pericarditis again and will need that med because that’s my point and I have the ache and a few other things that I remember coming with pericarditis it had been a while and I had forgotten but as I mentioned on here today, it is one for 30 days and I also remember by the third day or so how I feel better so it’s not tragic. The funny thing is the medication was originally made for gout somehow they discovered it helps with this. This was pretty new in fact, my insurance pharmacist questioned my choice and actually looked it up while he was on the phone with and admitted it was off label for pericarditis. It’s nice when you have a pharmacist who looks out for you. I recently had another one do similar for and he was right my doctor wasn’t really wrong because of the situation but again it’s nice to have people out there watching your back

Please be good to yourself. Take care of yourself.

Dawn.

[Jalia]

Sorry to hear this. I'm 80 and have had 5 ablations, most recent one 7 months ago. I'm listed for a pace/ablate procedure so am very interested to hear how you're getting on.I hope things improve for you soon.

Best wishes

J

[Jenmay]

I’ve just had my 4th ablation and been told that the next step will be a pacemaker. Most people say that it’s a miracle cure. I think I need to get more information

[HollieAdmin Administrator AF Association]

Hello,

Thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear that you have been struggling since your most recent Ablation.

If you have any concerns, please speak with your Cardiologist as they will be able to advise you personally.

If you would like any further information on an Ablation, please visit our webpage:

US: heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

UK and International: heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a member of our Patient Services Team, please fill out our contact form and a member of the team will be in touch:

US: heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

UK and International: heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

Kind regards,

HollieAdmin

[MaryCa]

I would advise putting how you feel into a letter or email, I always think they take it more seriously if written down. Always worth a shot. Other than that, after my first ablation it took about six months to feel normal. Second ablation was a rough ride recovery wise initially, but quicker than the first ablation to get back to normal. Doing good now. Few ectopics but that's ok.

[mike1961]

Did you have the CV because you could still very much feel the atria fibrillating?? Hope you feel better soon.

[DawnTX]

I just saw your post and to you from Buttafly. I don’t know if she meant me, but I’ve been there like you two years ago I had the and an unusual pacemaker. I am called unique.

enough about me yes it’s gonna take a while especially the fatigue. I also have heart failure that developed six months before I got the pacemaker. My doctor would not even consider another ablation. I had had three and was severely scarred. He said neither my or I could take we went with the pacemaker.

it was almost a year before I truly felt healed so to speak. My doctor told me it could take that long. The three months or so is usually after an ablation not what we had. I didn’t have pain after the first few days of aching and headache from the anesthesia. However, just overall it’s gonna be a lot of trial and error. Your doctor should be going over your meds with you and hopefully you may be able to go off of some. I don’t know what you’re taking them for and right now to be watching your pacemaker. You should have device checks and readjustment. I think I’ve started with 80 for a heart rate the following month it was 70 and finally 60. They do it in increments to give your heart a chance to adjust same with I will be on xarelto. the rest of my life and I take I definitely still need that twice a day. And also a statin they will not consider taking me off of, although I have a new one with less side effects.

please remember you are not cured but when things fall into place, I pray that you end up like me feeling normal. It’s the best feeling because I never thought I could be like this again. You also need to remember your age I am 72 so I know it’s hard to accept. All of this has been extremely traumatic as Bob just told you. I don’t understand the fainting although I do get dizzy at times.it sounds to me like it could be your meds as it was mentioned. I will also mention to you I have found many things that no one tells you about. First of all, be aware you are going to feel a fib and flutter even with the pacemaker. Don’t be afraid until my doctor told me it’s normal. It scared the heck out of me. What you do need to know and remember is it is not harming you it’s just the feeling like a toothache. It’s a feeling only because your pacemaker is now in charge and it’s keeping you in rhythm. doing what your heart needs when it needs it. my pacemaker is monitored 24 seven again not knowing anything about you or your pacemaker or condition. There’s not much I can say, but I will tell you they can pull up a chart at any time to see if anything is not right that may be how your doctor is making that statement so that’s a good thing. They can see you right on it if you had events and tell you exactly when.

yes I was on about 11 meds also hot weather and other things can make me is not the fault of the pacemaker, but it is something to be aware of. You are going to have so much to learn about but then you will be so surprised that you are normal. My doctor told me there is nothing I can’t do that. Someone without a pacemaker can do lol within reason don’t go joining Cirque du Soleil anytime soon

not only am I better but my heart failure has reversed because of my pacemaker. I have my second new birthday on Valentine’s Day of all days. I call it my new the first time I was able to snap the leash on my dog and take him out. I realized how good life was again and it was not that long after my procedure. Also, I been unable to walk for about six months and I had extreme tachycardia to get to the bathroom. I would shuffle and hold the wall and almost yet the day I left the hospital of course I was in a wheelchair, but then I was able to stand up and get into the car by myself what a wonderful feeling like trying to eat an one bite at a time.

was the cardioversion after getting your pacemaker. I’m not clear on a few things about your post, but I do the same. I also write novels lol feeling alive and normal again. I just get so excited.

my doctor said we blame a lot on the heart when it really isn’t. The poor heart gets blamed for everything especially when you know there’s a problem. We are getting a lot of new the with us as far as how it is working with our body. Yes, we are all different as you are going to hear from all of us.

please be careful of certain things like if you take supplements even if they seem harmless. There are a lot of things as I said no one tells you about that. I am learning I should or should not do or even eat

definitely talk to either your person or your doctor about your meds, especially if you’ve got anything new. My doctor actually went over everything while I was in the hospital and they removed a couple of them that day.

try not to be afraid which is easier said than done I was scared. It’s a bit overwhelming to think. We suddenly have a machine giving us life I had no other option and I have no regrets not from day one I have had pericarditis a couple of times there are things that are going to happen again try not to be afraid if they talk to you about it FYI, hopefully for you as one pill a day for 30 days and it was gone, and I felt better within a couple of days.

sometimes a doctor forgets he is dealing with an individual because they are doing so many of these and each one is a little bit different I have a tech assigned to from Medtronic. I had worry they actually had an engineer on the phone along with my doctor the tech and the nurse to explain what was going on. Nothing had to be fixed. It’s understanding also I have an app besides being monitored 24 seven. evidently the first 90 days things aren’t as they look. In fact they had wondered if that should be on the app for the patient to see it’s very technical and again it can make you nervous. There wasn’t a reason to be nervous, but we are not doctors or engineers. Sometimes we stick our nose in where we should keep it out of because we don’t know what we’re looking at.

I agree about your meds. I had to see my doctor two days after I had this done. I also had monthly check ups, including my test, who has been by my side since I woke up in the hospital. You’re gonna be doing a lot of thinking try to stay out of your head because anxiety can be one of your worst enemies. My EP actually wanted me on more medication for that I had it as as said I needed it more than I thought so he spoke with my GP.

please keep in mind your pacemaker according to your doctor is doing exactly what it should. That is the most important thing that is what’s gonna keep you going the other stuff will get sorted out.

[sdweller]

6 ablations is a lot... and then the nodal ablation! I would think the way you're feeling is completely understandable, as your heart has been through a lot! Time is what you need I suspect, you have to be patient! But keep in contact with your doc or his nurse, try to relax about what you are going through but don't overlook any strange symptoms that arise! Know that your heart IS healing but it needs time! Good luck!

[Twosumsmum]

hi

Have you tried contacting your pacemaker clinic , it take a few adjustments to get the best settings to eventually arrive at the best settings and pacing rate for you . I need the paceinh rate to be faster as otherwise I feel awful . Apparently people with AF do need faster rates

[Pintpool]

I want to personally thank all of you for your comments and encouragement. I'm very optomistic for 2025 and getting better. I was in the hospital 17 times in 2024. I went blind for about 10 minutes in the ER waiting room, my heart rate was 230 and my Difibulator went off and brought back my sight. I've lost 50 pounds in a year, so that's one good thing. The doctor doesn't want to see me for 3 months, so he must think I'm coming around. The anxiety of wanting to get better is over a strain to deal with. Thanks again for your concern.

[SweetMelody2]

6 ablations?

Cardioversion with no sedation?

10 different drugs?

3 months after Pace&Ablate and you still feel crummy?

Find some new doctors! ASAP That’s the only thing that leaps to my mind

I think I’m the one a responder to you referred to as the lady from the USA who had a difficult time but is now feeling chipper. I had my P&A in September, 2024. I am doing great. The P&A has given me my wonderfully ordinary life back. The Afib Circus left town.

No more ablations, cardioversions (without sedation? Are they crazy?), or drugs that turn me into a zombie. TEN drugs? No wonder you feel awful. Just one, amiodarone, dragged me into the pits of bradycardia for six miserable weeks prior to my P&A, which has turned out to be just the right solution for me.

I lobbied against another ablation after the second one failed and lobbied in favor of a pacemaker. SIX ablations?? That’s nuts, in my humble layperson’s opinion. I’d never agree to that.

A pacemaker combined with an LAAO has my heart beating steadily and has me off ALL drugs, except aspirin as needed maybe once a week or so.

Yes, it took time, is still taking time, for me to get my old oomph and stamina back (I’m 83), but I’m able to live everyday life with joy and ease.

My pacemaker has been through 3 adjustments and seems to be in fine shape. I still lose my breath on hills, but that’s probably pretty normal.

I have nothing amiss with my heart other than fibbing and fluttering atrial cells—which continue to do their misfiring at wool, but it doesn’t matter because my ventricles have no idea what they’re up to. Perhaps you have other major heart problems that could account for your lack of progress?

Please seek some second opinions. A P&A can lead to a huge leap in QOL. I hope you find the right professionals to help you get there.

[Pintpool in reply to SweetMelody2]

Thank you for your suggestions. I've already changed Cardiologist once last year. The Paramedics are the one's that shocked me at my house with no sedation, worst second of my life. I've asked about coming off some of my med's and they said no right now. My heart aches about 10% of the time, which used to be more. The 16 steps up to my bedroom is my main problem, that and standing up to quickly. I deal with a young Indian Doctor that has 5 star ratings. I guess it's just going to take longer for me to recover.

[BJ24 in reply to Pintpool]

When the paramedics shocked you, it had to be because your heart had stopped. They could not sedate you because it could have knocked out your breathing capability. Sounds like they saved your life!

[Pintpool in reply to BJ24]

I was wide awake and they said "I'm sorry what we have do to you"

[BJ24 in reply to SweetMelody2]

your post is very interesting. When you mentioned the LAAO, it sounds like the Watchman device. Did you have that put in? It blocks the left atrial appendage where the clots settle, thereby preventing any clots from going to your brain. I don't have one, just have read a lot about it. I didn't think the Watchman is also a pacemaker, so I was wondering if you had both? Anyway, glad to hear that you are doing so well! I laughed when you said the afib circus left town! 😂 That's about right!

[SweetMelody2 in reply to BJ24]

Yes, I got a Watchman in February, 2024, at the same time as my 2nd ablation. My heart went berserk at the intrusion and injury (not a typical response, but it was mine). We calmed it down with amiodarone (ugh, double ugh) followed by maybe 5 more cardioversions for flutter and tachycardia. That’s when I decided No More, I want off of this carnival ride. I had Pace&Ablate in September, 2024. I’ve been a happy heart camper ever since. A few bumps, but easily navigated.

The Watchman and pacemaker have completely different purposes. The Watchman reduces my stroke risk to being on a par with those who don’t have afib. The pacemaker lets my atria afib away with their crazy electrical signals from miscreant cells but without my ventricles having a clue what they’re doing. My ventricles are reliably in rhythm, giving my body just the right amount of regulated blood flow it needs to function best.

Together an LAAO and P&A make a dynamite team to get an Afibber’s life back to normal, including no drugs.

When I read the woes on this forum, I find myself wondering why that combo is not the first-line treatment of choice after drugs and ablations do not solve the problem within a reasonable period of time. For me it was three years from diagnosis to getting my problem solved via sensible and effective procedures.

Good luck along your afib trails!

[SweetMelody2]

Afib requires patience. Tests it, that’s for sure. Best of luck.

[Tricia239]

I think you need to make sure the PM settings are right for you. I don't understand why you are still taking medications, that shouldn't be necessary. I had P & A just over a year ago, what I have been told is that before you start climbing stairs, you need to sort of move around a bit to 'wake up' the pacemaker. Seems a bit daft, but it also seems to work. Just let the PM know you are going to do some exertion. PM's often need a few tweeks before they get them right. Have you checked your oxygen level when you are exercising, walking, climbing stairs - that's a good indicator. Good luck.