Lower Ejection Fraction after Ablation?

I'm 44 year old Mom of 2. I had an Ep study and 8 hr ablation in 2001. Had Atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter & AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. Underwent slow AV nodal pathway ablation & 2 of 3 PVC spots in the right ventricle were ablated. He "didnt want to do too much". He told me I had a very strong heart. I was left with Bigeminy, which I take Verpamil to control and also have Mitral regurgitation.
I haven't been feeling well. My heart feels like it's working too hard when I'm doing nothing (not stress), get tired, chest is mildly sore, sometimes have trouble catching my breath, sometimes my arms & legs fall asleep. I've moved, so had to see a new Dr and he acted like he knew everything already and I should stop drinking carbonated beverages. He repeated my Echo and 3 weeks later I finally hear from him.
My Ejection fraction is down to 45-50% but valves are doing better.  EF has never been an issue before. I don't know how good this dr is, I just don't like his personality and don't want to go back. I need to feel better. He wants me to do a GXT w/ cardiolite (4hr test to check for blockages) My cholesterol is 150.
Is this a test of value? Is this due to PVC's? I have to wonder: did the Dr who did the Ablation "fry" too much of my heart? should I find another Dr. even though I've got a problem?
Thanks!

[CCF-M.D.-MJM]

Hello,

Sorry to hear that you aren't feeling as well as you should.  These are tough questions to answer because the decisions are more subjective.  If you were having chest pains and you had a decreased EF, this is a no brainer, a stress test is appropriate.  It does not sound like you clinically have heart failure, but doing a stress test is not an unreasonable move as long as it is an exercise stress test.

I cannot tell you why your EF is mildly decreased or if it is mildly decreased.  There is some reader variability in reading echos.  There are rare cases of PVCs leading to cardiomyopathy that is reversible after ablation. It is also possible to decrease EF with an ablation, but I don't think there are a lot of studies to support this.

The biggest is issue is that you don't like your doctor.  If you think you gave him a fair chance and you didn't like him, find another doctor.  Some times personalities don't fit and it is your right to look elsewhere.

I hope this helps.  Good luck.

[VTBen]

I doubt they fried to much.  I have had 50 ablations in my right ventricle and I hav an EF of 65%

[tickertock]

Hello, I think I remember sometime back you said you might have an epicardial ablation procedure for RVOT VT, Did you have it, how did it go and was it a success if you don't mind me asking? Hope all is going well for you.

[ellentx]

Has anyone had an ablation/myectomy for a Dynamic LVOT Obstruction due to Systolic Anterior (SAM)
Thanks

[tickertock]

Thanks for the response, sorry to hear about the complications, at least it seems you're on the road to recovery,Hope things continue to improve for you, if I have anymore ?s , I'll drop you a line. Thanks for the info. Take care.