Fast uncontrolled A/fib and A/flutter

[Lee-J]

Hi I’m new here. Twenty five year history of arrhythmias. Initially medication as and when. Then regular medication of sotalol twice daily. Eventually doing rates up to 270bpm. Four catheter ablations. First one they did a pulmonary vein isolation and isthmus line, resulting in atrial flutter. The second one resulted in condition getting worse and having to increase dose of sotalol from 80mgs daily to 240mgs daily. Third ablation I was told was a success but 36hrs later off it went at 140bpm. Still on high dose sotalol, eight weeks later, underwent a fourth ablation which went badly wrong and my aorta was punctured by the sheath. Had a cardiovascular collapse, emergency sternotomy and placed on life support. Now being told another ablation too risky and should have AV node ablation and pacemaker, which it appears presents the same risks as ablation. Life has been tough over the last four years since the second ablation made it much worse. I was told to “go for it” that I could come of the sotalol and anticoagulant. Was told they had ways of reproducing the arrhythmias with drugs, but apparently they didn’t work for me, and EP went ahead without effective mapping, resulting in much faster rates and drug increases. I no longer seem able to go back to sinus rythmn and over the last two years have had no longer than sixteen days in sinus. Would interested to hear from anyone who has undergone AV node ablation and pacing for uncontrolled fast rates.

[Lee-J]

Bless you Dottie. I have been taking high dose magnesium supplements for fifteen years but sadly I am way past help from supplements. I have only had sixteen days overall of sinus rythmn since my emergency surgery six months ago and am taking a high dose of a Class IC drug which doesn’t help any longer. At the moment just looking for answers as to how to avoid having my AV node killed off and being pacemaker dependent.

All the best