Catheter Ablation and swelling in left extremities

[tdc03]

Hi and thanks for taking my question,

I am a 25 year old female, non-smoker, non-drinker and I had a catheter ablation done in May 2006, so its been about 5 months and I've been arrhythmia free. One year ago, I was diagnosed with an idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and went into the ER twice to revert my heart back to normal rhythym using IV verapamil. I decided to have the catheter ablation done because my tachycardia started happening more frequently and I didn't want to take medication for the rest of my life. I haven't a reoccurance of my tachycardia, but have had some skipped beats (usually happens 2 or 3 X a day. ) They ablated a long line on my left ventricle because they couldn't stimulate the arrhythmia again on the table. Anyway, for a week now, it feels like my left leg falls asleep and is sore and stiff all the time. It also happens to my left hand. Its pretty similiar to the feeling when you just wake up in the morning and you get out of bed. But, this occurs only on my left side which is kind of weird. My right side is fine. There isn't edema, but it does feel like blood if pooling in that area. Should I be concerned about this? Should I call my EP doctor about it or not worry about it.....  I also get more skipped beats when I am stressed out, have excess gas, or don't have enough rest.  Is this normal?

Thanks for the advice.....

[Cleveland Clinic]

tdc,

thanks for the post. You should definitely be concerned. However, it really doesnt sound herat related at all, more neuro related. I would see your primary physician asap or be seen in an emergency room if it worsens or returns.

good luck

[tdc03]

My soreness and swelling actually comes and goes now.  I will be making an appointment with my primary physician.  Thank you very much!

[wmac]

So are you saying that your ventricular tachycardia could not be induced during the ep study? If not why would they burn a long line on the left side? Im just curious cause I to have nsvt and I had two eps and both times they could not induce the nsvt. Im really amazed that they would burn a long line on the left side they usually only go to that side if the tachycardia is life threating that is the high risk side. Anyway im just curious.
wmac

[tdc03]

Well, I have been having this for a while, 5 years or more and been to the ER twice.  Two EP doctors were there and they had another one on the phone during my procedure.  They made a consensus to ablate because my tachycardia was becoming more frequent (maybe two episodes per month) and they knew it wouldn't miraculously stop on its own.  And the tachycardia was originating on the left side, they were speculating on putting a pacemaker in but decided to ablate.

[wmac]

Ok, well I have had my nsvt for four years. so you are saying your vt would never conver on its own. you always had to go to the  er? Because I certianly have like 4-5 episodes a months but it always converts on its own. Where did you go for your eps?
wmac

[tdc03]

Yeah, my VTs would not convert back on their own.  I had to go to the ER and get IV meds so they would.  Thats why I went ahead with the EP study and ablation.  I'm in houston, which is really good because its the largest med center in the US. :)

[wmac]

Were you able to handle the vt? So your vt was sustained right? How long would you say it would last for? IM just really curious to how you handled it when it wouldnt stop. That is my biggest fear. Did you always act like that or did it start ouf nonsustained and would convert on its own and then one day wouldnt?
wmac

[tdc03]

My vt was sustained for a looong time.  Like 8 hours.  I would go to sleep with it and I would wake up with it.  At first it would go back to normal rhythym on its own, but then it started racing and wouldn't stop.  I was stubborn and didn't want to go to the ER, so thats why it went on for so long and I didn't take it seriously.  The last time I went to the ER it went on for 2 days.  Yeah. again I was stupid.  I thought, I'm young I really don't need to be worrying about this.  I was taking verapamil 100mg at the time and thought this would make it go away, but it didn't so thats when I decided to go through the EP study and ablation.  I really don't want to freak you out, because we are obviously two different people and we have two different problems.  I didn't have SVT's.  They thought it was that at the beginning but it ended up being this rare VT that only a handful of people are diagnosed with each year. So, I really hope they find out whats going on with your heart.  Really, the best thing I've learned from this situation is to live life and try not to worry all the time about your health.  

I wish you good health and good luck!  I'll pray for you too. It helps!

[tdc03]

To answer your question, about how I handled my VT when it wouldnt stop....I went to the ER.  Your cardiologist will say the same thing.

[wmac]

Just wondering if your vt was ever nonsustained or was it always sustained. Im sorry to keep bothering you but im just really curious. Im so afraid that mine will become sustained one day. thanks for your time
wmac

[wmac]

I guess my question was when I asked you how you handled your vt for such a long period of time I was really asking how did your body cope with it did you ever pass out sob and do you ever feel your vt?
wmac

[tdc03]

Well, I'm pretty sure if the sustained VT did significant damage to my body, my physicians would have told me.  Symptoms I was feeling.... Shortness of breath, tired, weak feeling, dizziness, a little chest pain because it felt weird and i was getting head rushes.  I mean I could feel that my heart was beating irregularly if that makes sense.  I could feel my heart pounding and it was pounding hard at rest.  You know, usually you can't feel your heart do anything, I could when it was in dysrhythm.

[wmac]

Thanks for answering my questions I do appreciate it alot. Ya I know that feeling all to well. My longest nsvt run was 26 beats long I had a loop recorder implanted in me so I was able to record it and let me tell you what I dont know if I  could deal with it any longer than that. My ep doc and all the other docs said I would be able to withstand it due to the fact that I have normal healthy heart with a good ef.(hahah but I dont think I could take it). I was just curious to how you dealt with it for so long. I really hope that your ablation works for you. I wished mine would have worked for me to but I didnt get so lucky. They said even if they did get it it might come back again. So for each good heart day I have I pray to god and thank him and for each bad heart day I have I pray to god for a good one. Good luck keep us informed to how your doing. If you want to talk my email is ***@****
wendy