On June 1 2022 I had a heart attack followed by cardiac arrests both in and out of hospital. In July 2022 I had a CRT-D fitted (an ICD device). For the next 17 months I steadily improved and then in January this year I tried a little too hard, got a bit stressed and my device gave me a shock because I went into VT, this happened again in February (on my birthday and whilst on my way to see Michael McIntyre 😞 ).. This shook me to the core and I slowly rebuilt my mental and physical health until two weeks ago when I went into VT again and received two shocks from my device.
I have read a lot about ablation, but am curious to hear your experiences as it is not inexpensive and I do not want to jump the NHS queue, so it’ll be a private job for me and will just add to my debts.
Many thanks for any replies!
Peter
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phollers
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Hi Peter. Can I ask what your cardio team have said and done following the shocks? My husband has had 2 failed cardioversions for afib, and has a meeting with his cardiologist in a couple of weeks, when we expect the possibility of an ablation will be raised again. (I’ve had my ICD for 6 years now and never been shocked.)
Hi Alison, Firstly, I am encouraged to hear that you have an ICD and that after six years it has not delivered a shock, long may that continue! In my case, I received two shocks in the early part of this year, and the cardiac consultant tried additional doses of existing drugs to try and resolve the issue. This clearly didn’t work as I then received two further (back to back) shocks a couple of weeks ago. In my letter from the consultant after the shocks earlier this year, he said that if I did receive further shocks he would consider pushing me forward for cardiac ablation. I suspect that this may well be the option that is discussed when we next meet in a couple of weeks time. Sadly, I understand that NHS waiting list time for ablation is about 218 days, so I am strongly considering going private as my mental health and physical health have taken huge hits as a result of these events and I cannot function in a way that makes my life enjoyable, indeed, there are days when it is intolerable. I wish you all the very best in your quest to get the treatment and results you need both for yourself and your husband.
Similar back story to you but they put an icd in as a precaution and the following day, just about to be discharged and for the first time ever, went into VT.
Before they turned the shocking off I experienced 8 shocks, a few minutes apart. I completely understand you being shocked to the core, I have since been diagnosed with PTSD.
It took two weeks in critical care for them to stabilize the VT with intravenous amiodarone.
Since, the amiodarone would help, and my ICD would pace me out of VT but not pleasant.
Had an ablation at papworth last year and not so much as a flutter since, not even in the early days.
Although I have chronic heart failure I can't put into words the relief. VT is very scary and, on doctor's advice, I have now adjusted to life without constantly monitoring my heart.
I would advise to go for it and I very much hope it is as successful for you as it has been for me!
The op was five hours but felt ok after and home the following day. It has also meant that I am off amiodarone, which is a relief.
If you are near enough, Papworth is an amazing hospital and I can't praise them enough. After the shocks I was taken to ICU as they couldn't get me out of VT.
Once stable I returned to coronary care and was so touched by all the smiles and welcome I received once back. I can only say that I felt the love from the amazing doctors and nurses that day - mind you, as you can imagine, after a couple of shocks I was screaming my head off when they had last seen me!!!
All the best and good luck, any questions just ask.
Wow, you really did have a rough time of it! There is no surprise what-so-ever that you have PTSD, well done to you for fighting through all of that, you have my admiration as well as my sincere sorrow for what you experienced.
Thank you so much for the hugely encouraging experience that you have had with the ablation, even in that you took a tough route with the procedure. Five hours is not an inconsiderable amount of time to have to lie still, even with sedation! You have pretty much convinced me to follow the route I have started to go down though, as I said before, it’s not a cheap route to follow, but if I feel even 10% better, that will be a huge win as far as I am concerned and if it stops the shocks, that’s an even bigger win! Those shocks hurt like hell as you know better than anyone!
Ah bless you Peter, it is good to speak to someone who knows of the horror of receiving shocks. If it was just once, problem solved, it would have been easier to accept.Good luck with the ablation, I was put under rather than given sedation, so it was a breeze - always an option to consider.
Your kind words have lifted my day, all the best for a successful procedure and a shock free future for us both, and thank you!
Hi Peter I had an ICD fitted in 2019 for none sustained VT and multifocal PVCs that absolutely ruined my life for best part of 3 years, I was eventually referred to a electrophysiologist at LGI who suggested trialing me on Flecainide which thankfully worked for me otherwise next step would of been ablation which I didn’t fancy to be honest, I have a normal heart thankfully no heart disease or damage my diagnosis was normal heart VT. thankfully my ICD has never shocked me.
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