Hello I just joined and would really like to talk about this procedure for AF which I am planning to have - in 2 weeks. Have been on medication for some time (bisoprolol) and have had some stressful events in life which caused me to call 999....
Feeling nervous about being pacemaker dependent.
Hi Caroline
I am also on the waitlist for some ablation. I think mine will be in 4 to 6 weeks. I am sorry I don't know much about the procedure yet, so I am proabably in a similar boat to you. There are people on here with experience and I understand it is a low risk procedure. I found this bhf video helpful. bhf.org.uk/heart-health/tre...
I had a cardiac arrest out of the blue in early April this year. Im 29 and was healthy. After 3 weeks in hospital i had an ICD fitted that has both pace making and shocking functions. I had another cardiac arrest in May and the ICD delivered appropriate shock therapy, so i am very happy to have the device. It's not done any pacing yet.
I think each device implant experience is going to be slightly different. I think you are fortunate that yours is a planned op. Many people have these under local anaesthetic and are quickly back on their feet. You need to take it easy for 6 weeks and your docs will have specific advice. I am already back to yoga and light jogging despite the broader medical context - and the device isn't even that visible in a bikini :).
There are existint threads about ICDs on here ypu may want to read.
Good luck!
Alice x
Hello Alice
Thankyou for your reply and for the ablation link. I think you are right that everyone has slightly different reasons for having a pacemaker - I am sorry to hear about the events that you have had this year, it's good that you are optimistically cracking on and I hope your procedure goes well. Mine is because of quite longstanding AF, which got worse as a result of quite stressful events caused by a family member being ill. Take care and Thankyou again for your help... Caroline
This is me. I feel fabulous after the 2 procedures even though I’m still getting ectopics. I’m much less breathless and have much more energy and enthusiasm for life. Here’s hoping it lasts and good luck to you. If you want to know anything specific I’m happy to answer.
That’s great! Do you think the reduction in breathlessness is all down to the procedures or do you think that coming off some meds gave an improvement?
Hi definitely the procedure I’m on virtually all the same meds due to heart failure. The only change has been the addition of Amiodorone to try and reduce the ectopics and dropping Digoxin.
Thanks, that’s very encouraging to hear. I have heart failure with dilated cardiomyopathy and have just been referred for ablation and an ICD.
Yes I can’t really believe it! When I came round from the av ablation I was told it hadn’t gone as well as hoped I was so disappointed. The surgeon was talking about the ectopics which started at the bottom of my heart. During about 2 weeks recovery I was very up and down. Now though I seem to be consistent. Good luck to you.
I just found your post while searching for an input from people who had AV ablation and life after that. My husband had the procedure last month, he is doing better than before, but like you , he has cardiomegaly and heart failure. Your post is 4 years old, did you have AV node ablation, is your life better/ My husband wants to fly to our homeland, almost 10 hours and I am a little concern.
Hi Yogi. 4 years on...I did have an AV ablation and pacemaker fitted and I now feel pretty much back to normal. I have no issues with walking or recreational cycling. If I push myself too hard my pacemaker limits my upper heart rate, which is probably no bad thing. I am still on the usual heart meds, which I didn't originally want to be, but have now got used to the idea - better safe than sorry, I think. My ejection fraction is now up around 50% compared to 26% at its lowest before my treatment commenced.
If you are concerned about long-haul flights, just check with your medical team.
I hope this helps.
Thank you Ian, glad to see you are doing well. My husband goes for walks few times a week, HR set to 70 now but adjusts itself with exertion. gests windy a little and has to stop, average length of walk about 1 mile. Still retains some water in his legs though. But overall happy with progress.
Best wishes to you
My husband did not have follow up Echo, so I do not know what his EF is now, at times it was below 20%. I will ask the doctor next time he has an appointment. Thanks again for all your positive informations
One month on is still very early days and much too early, I think, to see an effect on EF. His heart is just recovering from taking a hammering. If he just continues doing what he can comfortably and can get out in the fresh air I’m sure he will be much improved in 6 month’s time. Best wishes…
I have had the R.F. Ablation 3 times for A.Fib & BBBlock. My A.Fib rate used to run up over 200 BPM. The first two times worked for a while but eventually, the area regenerated.
The next time the Ablation was carried out the cardiologist said he would remove the signal completely and put in my Pacemaker. He was not very cooperative, however, as I asked him to leave a lead hanging out so I could connect to the cigarette lighter in my car because I was not very trusting of the battery in the Pacemaker. He wouldn't do that so I just had to trust the thing. That was from memory was about 2007. He told me that the battery would last at least 10 years. Now in April this year, he is going to give me a new Pacemaker and connect it through an Ap to my Smartphone, so he can check it out without me having to make the trip to his rooms.
He turned it off once while checking it out and my pulse dropped to 37 & I felt very light-headed. He told me that if that happened of its own accord to get in touch quickly.
I think that nowadays they must be very good. I have turned 85 last year and have had Congestive Heart Failure for a long time, but the Pacemaker is great. It is not a worrying surgery and I was conscious while ith surgery was carried out but very relaxed from meds
Go for it as it is a lot better than the alternative. I am in Australia but I would think that the devices and procedure would be pretty much the same worldwide.
Bill P.
Hi Caroline, assuming you went ahead how did the AF node ablation go and how has life been relying on the pm.
Hello Bond33. I had the PM in 2018, I dont suffer from awareness of mixed rhythms as I used to. I am now just on a blood thinner. I am fine so long as I get enough sleep and I go swimming to try to keep fit, though this was not possible in lockdown and I was not very well last winter. If you are pacemaker dependent you do have to have it replaced every few years which is not soemthng I look forward to to be honest, but I was in a situation where I was having syncope and was not safe driving any more - tiny little blackouts. The PM did take a little time to settle down, I was a bit dizzy for a while after I had it put in. It was a difficult decision to make at the time but I had had an ablation before where they had to shock me back to life. I hope this helps a bit.
Thanks for the reply. I had a PM implanted in Jan 20. I have been in touch with Medtronic asking them how reliable their device is.Cardiologist won't cardiovert any more and medications only have a marginal effect.
If Medtronic convince me their Pm is reliable, I don't really have another option.
Regards, David
Dear David, I find it quite hard to understand your situation from this..... you sound anxious that the device will fail, do you have a good reason to think this? I would think you may want to get a second opinion if you are very worried.
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