AV Node Ablation

[shwills]

Hello

I had an appointment last week with one of my consultants at Barts London. It is all what I know: 2 heart valves leaking Tricuspid and Mitral, enlarged left ventricle, dilated veins,moderate heart failure, persistent AF, super ventricular tachycardia. The AF is a nightmare now, I have had 4 ablations and none has worked. It seems that the valve problems, HF and enlarged left chamber has most likely come from the AF.

Barts have been talking to me for a couple of years about having an SV node ablation but I am so scared of this, it is permanent and drastic. Has anyone had this? Do you feel any better any experiences please would be helpful or knowledge of it

Thank you

[Bagrat]

Was just giing to say that!!

[Annaelizabeth]

Yes, I had an av node ablation and pacemaker fitted last year. I can absolutely say that it has made all the difference to the quality of my life. I had a prosthetic mitral valve fitted 24 years ago. which led to af and the inevitable knock ons to the structure of the heart, all medications were tried, didn't work and made me feel ghastly. Our medical situations are all different and individual, to be nervous and worried is absolutely normal. Listen very carefully to your ep/cardiologist at Barts, ultimately the decision of course is yours.

[shwills in reply to Annaelizabeth]

Hello Annaelizabeth

Thank you for your reply, I know that this is what I will have to have done but it’s so final and if there are any developments coming in AF that does not mean an AV node ablation I couldn’t take advantage of them, however reading your reply I see that you feel so much better which is great.

I guess I have a lot questions to ask about AV ablation I hear that you can still get AF but don’t feel it?

Regards

[Annaelizabeth in reply to shwills]

Well, so they say.....however when i get a run of ectopics which can last a couple of days, although you don't feel them, I know all is not well as i will feel slightly below par. I don't know who your ep is, but one of the keys is getting the right pacemaker fitted and trusting his judgement. Your feeling of it being final is understandable, however if there was a possible 'cure' around the corner I don't believe your ep would be talking about a pace and ablate.

[shwills in reply to Annaelizabeth]

I had a pacemaker fitted this year for sinus pauses/AV block/bradycardia it is a 3 lead my consultant put this one in in view of maybe having to have the AV node ablation

No help with SVT and AF however I am only on beta blockers targeting heart failure

I am not on any meds for this as I had to come off them due to sinus pauses but now I have the pacemaker it’s not a problem but haven’t seen my AF consultant since the PM only other consultant I am seeing for other heart problems

He may prescribe meds to try first but as AF is now persistent stage I am doubting they would do the trick