ablation for benign pvcs

[hankstar]

Dear Doctor,
      I posted here before and I thank you very much for providing this most informing service.
      For the past five days I've been experiencing very frequent
pvcs , i have been to cardiologist and, had an ecg which showed the pvcs, had a stress test and did very excellent.
   The pvcs seem to appear right after i eat and go on for hours
sometimes one every other beat at times. I take atenolol 50mg bd, which i've been taken for sometime, but this doesn't seem to help.
   He told my heart is in good shape, but since the pvcs are benign he would not prescribe life threatening drugs for this condition, which i would not take anyway, but the pvcs are very intolerable and alarming when they occur with such frequency.
  Do you the the pvcs will deterioate in to a more serious arrythmia?
   I asked him about ablation, but says he doen't recommend it for benign pvcs.
    I have had this condition for years off and on and has lasted for months at a time, but always clear up and return,each time symptoms are more severe and intolerable, they do seem to
subside at night when my stomach is completly empty.
   Do you think i should try ablation, and do you think the atenolol could actually cause a worsning of the problem, because
i notice a increase in them after i take my medication.
  Thanks for your time and providing agreat service.
    Hank.

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear hankstar,

My opinion is that ablation is a good option for very frequent PVCs.  With the newer tools that we have the success rate is much higher than it previously was and oftentimes the individual is cured of the very frequent episodes of PVCs.  In general the PVCs do not deterioate to a more serious arrhythmia.  Atenolol should not be causing an increase in the PVCs.  If you would like to be considered for a PVC ablation at the Cleveland Clinic I would ask your doctor to refer you to Dr. Schweikert, Dr. Saliba or Dr. Natale.  If it is planned in advance for individuals from out of town the appointment can be done one day and the ablation the next day.  You can get more information by calling the number below.

[snhn]

Hello,

Can you please explain what PVC means and what is benign.  How do you tell if you are having any of these.  Is there a certain feeling you get.  How fast the heart rate needs to be in order to get them..  I know I have some thing going on.  I have non loping monitor these days, but it has not caught anything yet.

I dont take any meds.  My my hear rate is usually around 88 - 105 resting...

Appreciate the comments..

Thanks!

[arthur]

I, too, have posted here many times.  I had PAF which was successfully ablated, however, a number of PV foci were left untouched (due to a prudent EP who wanted to minimize possible complications).  These remaining foci cause atrial premature depolarizations (which are synonymous with APCs, PACs and the incorrectly used term, PVCs).  They occur anywhere from 0-6 times per minute (my normal pulse rate is about 40...due to athletics).  When occuring at 6+/min for most of a day they are definitely a challenge to ignore. I keep telling myself that the PAF is gone and that's the main thing.

The rf ablation of benign "PVCs" like these is generally not done, however, I am willing to bet that centers that have done alot of them may suggest coming in for an evaluation.  Even my EP stated that "if they really bother you, then we may consider doing an ablation".  Of course, I took this as a challenge (thinking, hey, I am not going to whimp out just for a few skips).  So, my current strategy is to keep running my head off in competitive sports (soccer) and wait for one of three things to happen: (1) ablation technology gets to the point of being significantly safer, (2) I agitate the PV foci to the point of generating another PAF...then rf ablation is easily warranted, or (3) I burn out the foci by a constant stream of vigorous exercise (this last option seems least likely, but what the hell).

I'm very interested in what the good docs here suggest is the best course of action for extremely bothersome "PVCs".

[Jean27]

You can actually feel the skipping in your chest? I sometimes feel like my heart thumps or bangs for a second but not like a skipping or turning over. Also some days I feel like every time I breath in and out I can feel my heart thump with each breath. Do you ever get that? I have not been able to figure out what this is, I ve been told it's anxity but I dont see how that is possible. Thanks so much Jean

[davem44]

I'm a 58 year old male runner with morning resting pulse of about 42 bpm. I went atrial flutter about 2 years ago and had to electro cardioverted. Before that incident I had no problems,since then I have pacs.
My symptoms are very similar to those described by arthur,as I get them 0-6 times per minute,when I get them.
I had a six month period last year when I had none,but this past June they came back with a vengence.
I also notice an increase in frequency after meals.
I take the following and it appears to help:
  500-750 mg magnesium and potassium aspartate daily
  1000mg taurine daily
  2-3 teaspoons of maalox after meals and at bedtime(a tip I got
  from this forum).
I'm not a doctor and I'm not recommending any of this, but it appears to help my situation.
If anyone, especially runners, would care to discuss how they handle their pac pvc problem,I would be interested in hearing from you.
email ***@****
dave

[arthur]

The skip which appears to be in sync with breathing... I have in fact noticed this in myself.  It may be that a PV focus-generated skip can be triggered by the extra pressure of the lungs expanding against the pulmonary veins.  It's not a 100% kind of  thing, but more often than not, there does seem to be a relationship.

As I believe a lot of interested people may be perusing this string of comments, I would like to ask if anyone out there has ever come across a reference source re. arrhythmias which actually addresses symptoms?  I have searched some of the best medical libraries in NJ, and plunged into the Web, but have not yet found a single medical resource which actually describes the range of symptoms reported by people with various types of arrhythmias.

[Blu]

I have had the same experience. I have had pvc bouts for years, since I was in my twenties. They come on something terrible, but after a few months have gone away. This is my fourth major bout and they have been with me since June. This time it's worse becasue I am in peri-menopause and I really see the difference. My heart is other wise healthy and I am taking 200mg. a day of Atenolol which does nothing for my pvcs but controls my BP. I wish to God that doctors could come up with something safe for this miserable and life altering condition. It may be benign physically, but mentally it is devastating. My only hope now is that my pvcs will go away like they have done before. I pray to God this happens.

[Roys]

I guess I should feel lucky I have only been experiencing PVCs for the past 2.5 years. I am a 43 year old male. Like others, mine come and go over a period of months. When they come on strong, I will get 5 to 10 per minute and this will go on for weeks. It sometimes feels like my heart is trying to move to a different location in my chest.

From my own experience, anxiety does sometimes bring them on. However, I also suffer from hypo-thyroid. When my thyroid hormone levels are low, I also end up with long bouts of PVCs even though I am not experiencing any stress in my life at that time. My doctors don't seem to think there's any connection but I'm not so sure since it's happened several times now as confirmed by thyroid blood testing. Are there any other PVC sufferers who are also hypo-thyroid?

[jan]

Arthur, why is PVC 's an incorrect term? I thought it all depended upon the location as to whether they were PAC's or PVC's. I was told I have both, premature atrial contractions and premature ventricular contractions. I do not have them bad, but I do hate when they last 45 mins. or longer and I can't stop them. Usually coughing or getting up moving around will stop them and so I usually only have a few. I am taking atenolol and Tiazac but for inappropriate sinus tachycardia and neurocardiogenic syncope. I for one do believe the PVC's have gotten worse with the atenolol. I have had bigeminy and tri. recorded since being on these meds.(I have MVP/with MR and TR, also, all mild).

[Blu]

Interesting Jan. I also have bigeminy and trigeminy. Miserable. I took Atenolol, for five years at 100mg. When this last bout started my doctor increased it. The bigeminy and Tri came on for the first time with this bout. The doctor said I had so many pvcs, he recommended Beta-Pace. After reading about the side effects, I said no. The doctor and his nurse also said the pvcs can suddenly go away, and that is my hope now. They have before, but this time they are so much worse. Each time they did go away, the remission lasted two years. Hope it happens again!

[heartbuddy]

I had an ablation in January.  Two days after my heart went in to A-flutter.  They went in again and did another ablation in my pulmonary vein.  Rythum problem was fixed.  Bad news, I was sick for the next 5 months.  After switching docs, it was determined that I had pulmonary vein stenosis.  Underwent an angioplasty and now have periodic testings to make sure it's still open.  I too have tried several different places to find someone with this problem and also want to know about their side effects.  I have been unable to locate anyone with "pulmonary vein stenosis".  I have a lot of pain/pressure/discomfort in my chest around my heart.  It does seem to be anything, but it's somewhat bothersome.  I'd love to hear comments.

[arthur]

PVC is a term people seem to use regardless of what kind of skip is occurring.  It's incorrect and misleading to use the term when you are describing premature contractions in general.  It is correct to use ther term when referring to a premature ventricular contraction.  Regardless, PACs and PVCs both suck, so I guess, in the end, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference when complaining to each other.

I was surprised to hear that ablations are now being used routinely for treatment of individuals with many "PVC"s.  There have been some small improvements these past couple of years in the type of rf ablations (circular v linear v focal) which have reduced the stenosis problem.  Some groups have been claiming about a 4% complication rate (stenosis, stroke, peritonitis, etc)...which is actually pretty good...but still a bit risky when weighed against simply living with an irritation.
The recent development of cryoablation as an alternative is very exciting since it presents an option which has the possibility of greatly reduced complications with reduced tissue scarring and no clot formation.  However, we in the US need to wait a bit longer before cryoablation becomes routine enough for the treatment of bothersome skips.

[Soleil]

I also experienced this symptom.  The thumb feeling that comes with each breath. I get this when it's very hot/humid and sometimes for no reason at all.  When this happens, it seems that I don't get enough oxygen and cannot walk fast, can't do exercice.  It is as if my heart and my lungs don't work well together. Very bothersome.  I once told the doctor about this symptom.  He asked me if I had it all the time, I said no - then he said that I should not worry about it... da.  So, I still don't know what it is.

[NancyA]

Blu, I'm pretty much in the same situation as you.  I have bouts with frequent PVC's.  I'm 40 and wondering if I'm premenopause, as my periods are coming sooner.  

Arthur, I agree with you that someone needs to post a site with ALL the possible causes of arrhythmias (PVC's, PAC's, whatever a person has).  And a list of traditional medical and alternative treatments.  BTW, I think someone here posted a request for a PVC survey, to compile a database.  I'm not sure if this person completed it, though. You can try searching here under PVC and maybe come across that person, and email him/her.  And if you do (or anyone else does), please share info with us!

[jan]

Hankstar,
My bp was higher once I went on atenolol, too and even when they added the verapamil. I use to be consistently 90/60 until I hit 40 and then 110/70. Once on the atenolol and verapamil it was anywhere from 110/70 to 130/88, (usually above the 110/70). When I was put on Toprol XL my heart rate finally went lower to 80 bpm, even to 60. My bp dropped back down again, too, at one point in the hospital it was 80/54. Now I am on atenolol and Tiazac and it is still holding to a low bp (110/72 last visit) and a good low heart rate. My cardio had told my hubby and me that he had wanted my hr in the 50's and that it never happened, at that time it was low at 80 bpm. I am on a very low dose of each medicine. I cannot seem to get away from a beta blocker even though I take a low dose, my heart goes nuts w/o it and I get short of breath. Plus they say I need it for the neurocardiogenic syncope.

[mr mojo]

I too had diagnosed pvc's. It turned out that ASTILIN (sp?) nasal spray was causing them ~6-8 hours after use. I quit using the ASTLIN and haven't had pvc's since! Neither the ER doctor nor my family pract. made the association when told what drugs I was currently taking, but said " Yeah that could cause it I guess..." when I mentioned it to them later.

God Bless

M

[NBCT]

Hi, I have read all the comments above, and can see myself in almost everyone. I have been trying to cope with the freguency of PVC's, bi&trigemy recorded with moniters and in cardio tests, a thousand or more PAC's daily, and PSVT, for almost two years. I am 39 years old and a nurse. I am taking Toprol XL. I have MVP with mod MR and mild TR. I, too, have searched the web, reference books, and all medical books I could get my hands on.There were many times I doubted the casual, non alarmed, approach of my cardio when I was truly frightened about the way I felt. Then, I began reading the cardiac histories of all my patients that were admitted to my unit, even with only a fractured hip. I soon realized many of my oldest patients(85 and up) had EKG's documented for YEARS, with every known arrythmia, some with chronic atrial fibrillation, runs of v-tach, holters showing 2-3000 PVC's daily, pacemakers, implanted defribrillators, heart attacks etc, and they were walking, talking, driving, had social lives, traveled, and their hearts were still BEATING! That was the reassurance I needed to put the fear of dying with every episode out of my mind. I still have frustrating days when the beats are relentless, but the anxiety level they used to cause has diminished GREATLY. Good Luck and Best of Health to all.

[jan]

Hi Hankstar,
Eating doesn't effect mine, but definitely rising from a sitting or lying position. I for one will stay on the atenolol, but like I said my PVC's are not bad, not bad at all. Also, my 1st cardio said I needed to take it because of the tachycardia, which most of the time isn't bothersome. I do hate when it gets me short of breath, though. Also, I have to take it for the syncope, so... I, however, don't like being on the beta blocker and calcium channel blocker, but the dr. here and my cardio(s) do not seem to think it is a problem. I am on a very low dose of each!

[NBCT]

Your heart may begin to race after meals and when standing due to a drop in your blood pressure(it may be from the beta blocker)
Ask your MD to take your BP and Pulse lying and then standing to see if there is a significant change.
Good luck with your decision to consider an ablation for your PVC's. Suffering daily with them is no picnic, but as you can see from starting this thread you are NOT ALONE and there are people who are willing to help. Take Care and Best Wishes.

[arthur]

I am dealing with skips occurring from 2-6/min each and every day since my ablation for PAF (one year ago).  I have taken toprol (beta blocker) and found that it controlled only my occassional high bp ... no effect on skips.  I have taken tambocor and found that at 200mg/day the skips were cut down by half.  Both drugs caused me to lose my edge in competitive sports, so now I take no drugs.

At times, I feel like you do, and really start considering another ablation.  Such an ablation is expected to be relatively simple, since you only need active skips to pick off the foci (unlike the required induction of a full-fledged AF incident).
At other times, I seem to have the willpower to ignore the skips and simply cannot comment on whether they are still there.  It's almost paradoxical.

Like you, I expect that someday I'll say that's enough.  I'm just holding out for a while longer to let technology and time reduce the risks of ablation.

[CodeBlueNJ]

As a health care practitioner, having PAC's myself, I can only say that they are annoying, and not a day goes by that I wonder when it will convert to A-Fib or something worse.  The problem is, to my knowledge there is still very limited studies as to the cause, and the path that these "benign" arrythmias take.  I am going to re-post this as a question to the docs.  In any case, the only thing you can do is try to ignore them.  If you can't, take pride in the fact that the thumps and bumps and flip-flops we feel actually are signs that the heart muscle itself is healthy and pumping away, although just to the beat of a different drummer.  The fact that we are all typing away and reading this forum is proof enough that indeed, we will all live to see another day.  Good luck!
Gary Latimer, RN, LNHA

[ariz4me]

I have been reading all the comments posted for irregular heart beats and I needed to ask a question about my own situation.  I have been experiencing what I called palpitations for well over 7 years.  I am a 44 year old female who has undergone 2 thalium stress tests, 1 echocardiogram, many EKGs and several halter monitors.  Each time I have had these tests, my doctor tells me that my heart is in great shape and not to worry about these palpitations.  When I had the echocardiogram performed 5 years ago, the cardiologist at the time told me everything was fine.  He said that irregular beats can be caused by hormones especially around the time of menstruation.  I am also taking effexor and was told that this type of drug also can cause irregular beats.  Nevertheless, when I feel that skipping, fluttering sensation that is followed up by rapid beats, it scares me to death.  When I talk to my internist about this, all he does is refer to the tests that show my heart is functioning normally.  My question is: Has anyone out their docs tell them that hormone fluctuations and effexor can cause this?  Also, is this condition really benign or does it lead to more serious problems? Thanks for any help.

[NBCT]

I have heard many references to the start of palpitations and hormonal changes, especially in  premenopausal women. Even the nurse on the telephone who recorded one of my event monitors, had been dealing with frequent PVC's with no underlying cardiac condition. She was told hormonal changes were to blame. There is a book called Screaming  To  Be Heard, Hormonal  Changes Women Suspect and Doctors Ignore (obviously an angry author!!) by, I think a Dr. Viel, something like that. I hope that will help. Maybe your gynecologist can give information on the subject.
As you know, and many others understand the word "benign" is still not comforting when the feelings are so distressing. Good Luck!

[NBCT]

A quick thought on why the irregular beats are increased ON the beta blockers. I have been told that PVC's don't "fire" as often if the heart rate is increased. That is why most cardios say to exercise and "they will go away" which I found true, however they are stronger then ever after exercise when the heartrate slows again. That slowing caused by the betablocker itself maybe whats causing your heart to be irritable. Please be careful stopping the medicine all together! The dosage should be tapered down, check with your cardio. Good Luck Again!

[jarbo]

I haven't posted here for almost two years, I did initially when I (happily) came across this forum when I had a bout of palpitations about 4 years ago. Had all the tests - everything was fine and I was told (like so many others here) that it was benign and that there was nothing to be done, just to try to ignore them. As you all know, this is tough. Being into "alternative" health stuff I went to see a homeopath and am happy to report that the palpitations went away. There were indisputable correlations between the remedies I was taking and the way my heart was behaving. They resurfaced a couple of months ago (maybe 200-300/day) and I went back to the homeopath who  prescribed a remedy and predicted that they would go away within 4-7 days. This is exactly what happened. Not to denigrate the good doctors at the Cleveland Clinic nor this very supportive forum, but since "regular" medicine has little to offer for this condition, I just wanted to report my experience.  John

[NancyA]

Hi jarbo,

PLEASE share with us the homeopathic formula you took!!!!!!!

There are many of us (me included) that use both conventional medical and alternative remedies.  There were several posts about vitamins, Maalox (acid reflux), accupuncture and other treatments that helped PVCs.

[jarbo]

Hi Nancy- Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that. The thing about homeopathy is that it's very closely tailored to one's individual set of symptoms. For instance, one of my books on homeopathy (I got pretty interested in it after my success with it) lists 36 different remedies for palpitations with varying symptom descriptions. One says "Violent palpitations with vertigo, headache, and restlessness", another says ""From the slightest movement", another,"During the night, lying on the left side and at about 4a.m.". So it really has to do with your exact set of symptoms - not just the palpitations, but other physical symptoms and also mental symptoms. There are several thousand different remedies and maybe hundreds that have to do with palpitations as a primary or secondary complaint.When I first was being treated we went through about 6-8 consecutive different remedies over a period of about 9 months as my "symptom description" would change.  
So you really need to get with a homeopath who can narrow things down. Sometimes you'll see "shotgun" remedy mixtures in a drugstore or health food store for things like colds or coughs. These are mixtures of several remedies that are most commonly used for these conditions. "Classical" homeopaths (like the guy I went to) frown on these because they feel that this confuses the body and that remedies should be given 1 at a time. The rationale for this is that the more closely the remedy fits your exact symptoms, the more successful the treatment will be.
  If you can't find a homeopath in your area, (I'm near NYC), I'm sure an internet search would turn up some resources. I'd also recommend getting familiar with homeopathy - there are a lot of good books on it , especially by Dana Ullman and George Vithoulkas. A lot of this will sound like voodoo to regular MD's (but mostly in the US - in Europe, esp. England, France, and Germany, there are many MD's who also practice homeopathy)  but in recent years there have been a number of placebo controlled double-blind studies that have proved (in the words of one somewhat incredulous researcher) "either homeopathy works or placebo controlled double-blind studies don't". I know I sound like a cheerleader for this but I know how frustrating dealing with palps can be and I did well with homeopathy.   John

[NancyA]

Thanks jarbo (or is it John?) for your comments.  I don't know if there's a homeopath in my area (central CA) but I'm not too far from Los Angeles. I've used homeopathic remedies from health food stores for other conditions.  Some work and some don't.  There's a doctor I see for accupuncture, maybe he know where to find a homeopath in my town.

[jarbo]

Part of your success or lack therof with homeopathy in the past may have to do with the fact that there are certain substances that tend to counteract homeopathic remedies. These include coffee (which you shouldn't be drinking if you have palps anyway cause of the caffeine - but don't substitute decaf because as far as homeopathy goes, it's not the caffeine that counteracts remedies but the coffee itself ), mint (in almost all toothpaste), and camphor and menthol (found in Vick's Vaporub, Listerine, Chapstick and some coughdrops.)  You should avoid these when taking remedies.   You also shouldn't eat for about 1/2 hour before or after taking a remedy. If you didn't know this stuff, the remedy you were taking, even if it was the right one, might not have stood a chance of working.   John

[NancyA]

I just saw part of a CBS Healthwatch clip on TV today.  It mentioned that there is ongoing research, linking arrhythmias and air pollution!  Couldn't find anything directly quoting this on their web site, but there were a couple of articles about heart attacks and smog.  Does anyone know about PVC's and air pollution?  I live in a smoggy area of California, so this is particularly interesting to me.

[Carly]

Blu, I'm wondering what side effects of Betapace you were worried about.  I have been taking it for three years and I have done very well.

[LORIANDTOM]

Hi.  I tried beta blockers for my pvc's unsuccessfully- they all made me very tired, breathless, and slowed the heart rate way down and really didn't stop the pvc's.  My cardiologist is now suggesting a calcium channel blocker.  Will this have the same affect on my system as the beta blockers?  Cardizem is the one my Doc would like to try.  Any info would be most helpful as I am beginning to dread any new meds for this condition, but I have thousands of PVC's daily and would like some relief.

Thanks

Lori

[LORIANDTOM]

Hi.  I have them all the time.  My last holter monitor registered 15,000 in a 24 hour period.  I am not sure but I believe ablation isn't an option because the pvc's aren't coming from one direct location.  I am not exactly sure, but I believe that is the case.

I have some days when they are not totally constant but I would say most of the time they are.  I am trying to deal with them and not totally flip out and function....I am getting better at it, but it really is affecting my life at this point.

Eating seems to get them going and I have lost weight that I did not need to from it and if one more person tells me that i can't possibly feel bad because I look like the picture of health I will strangle them.  I guess the hardest thing about it is having no definitive answers on what is causing them.  I have been to two GP's and two Cardiologists and they all have something different to say or ways to medicate so it leaves me with little faith, yet I need the faith to believe that the pvc's are benign and that I will be ok.

One cardio wanted to put me on anti-arrthymatic drugs which I think (after reading a bit) would of been a really bad decision so what other options are there?  The other cardio has said he has had great luck with the calcium blockers when the beta blockers aren't tolerated.  I'm so darned confused I don't know what to do, I just know that feeling this way isn't good!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Lori

[wilson-wilson]

Hankstar said:

"I know a friend of mine walking around with 15-20 PVCs a minute and is not aware of even one, this is what really has me puzzled.
Why do some people feel every one and others don't, this is what baffles me."

-----------

Since I've learned the difference in "the feeling" 'tween PACs and PVCs (PACs having a "lighter {blip} feel" and PVCs having a "heavier, rolling feel"). I cannot understand how one can have their heart "feel" like it is ROLLING [or pitching and yawing like a ship in The Perfect Storm] in one's chest and NOT "feel" it either?!!


wilson-wilson

[Abbiegaile]

I have been searching all over the web for a forum that I can ask questions to and get some answers..  Finally I found one :)  

Well, I'm a 24 year old female who has had PSVT since 13 years old and was just recently diagnoised with it.  It took them like 10 years just to catch my episodes on a holter monitor.  After I got diagnoised with it I had to wait to start the Beta Blockers due to being pregnant at the time but after the birth of my 2nd child I started on Tenormin then they switched me due to it making me way to tired and weak to Verapamil then to Lopresor and they all made me so tired and weak I could hardly function and when you have a 3 year old and new baby it was very hard to function during the day with the medications.  My doctor then decided to put me on Lanoxin and they took blood alot to check my levels and they remained low so the ended up putting me on it on a rotation bases.. Mon,Wed,Fri 3 pills a day and other days 2 pills a day.  I finally got refered to a Electrophysiologist that suggested since the Lanoxin wasn't really doing much to get off of it and he scheduled me for Catheter Ablation Procedure.. I just had the procedure done on the 5th of Dec of this year (2001) and I went home the next day with 3 catheter sights that they went in with.  I felt everything throughout the whole procedure even when they were inserting and taking out the catheters.  When the procedure was done they removed the 2 catheters in my Groin area and I felt that and then they removed the one up under my collar bone.. Now when they removed that one I immediately had a sharp stabbing pain in the center of my chest and a little to the left and up some.. It was constant and I started crying and grabed the nurses hand and sqeezed it and started begging him for something for the pain.  They proceeded to take me to a room in the Cardiac Care Unit and I still had the pain so bad that my husband's hand was hurting also from me sqeezing it. Lol But my doctor did a chest Xray of me they didn't find anything and since then I am at home and I'm still having the pain.  It's not as constant as it was when I first got out of the surgery but it's very intense and it's still there.  On a scale of one to ten it's about a 9 when it starts hurting which is at least a few times an hour...  Please someone tell me if this is normal for recovery from this procedure..  I want to go up to the hospital but they did an Xray already and it turned out fine and I dont want to go up there just to be released and go back home again..  Any input on this would be great.. I have a follow up with my doctor on the 13th of Dec.. Next Thursday and I am wondering if I should call him sooner.. Anything is appreciated!!  Thanks for your time and I'm sorry if I bored anyone.
Sincerly,
Abbie

[arthur]

I had an ablation done for a PAF condition.  The procedure was similar to yours...two catheters up the groin and one under the collar bone on the right.  Although the groin catheters were psychologically disturbing, they really did not presnt with any great amount of pain.  The collar bone catheter did produce some unusual sensations: (1) I could hear the catheter moving around and (2) felt a sharp pain in the heart (I believe this was the catheter point making its way through the heart membrane separating atrium from right). This is a normal part of the procedure as the EP needs to access the left side of the heart. In my case, the pain dissipated quickly.

Ask your doctor if the collar bone cath procedure was designed to do what I am guessing at, and if the temporary cut (which is supposed to heal on its own) can result in an extended level of pain.

[Abbiegaile]

My pain isn't at the catheter sight.  I have my pain in the middle of my chest and over to the left some and I can't even lay on my left side because it hurts so bad....  I have Darvocet and Xanex they are giving me for pain and unless I'm on those I'm in alot of pain.  I go see him Thursday and I can't wait...  Surely there is something he can do to make the pain go away.  I've done alot of research and no one else has said they have had chest pains after having the procedure.  But surely I can't be the only one that has ever had the pain there.  Please let me know if anyone else has or any info would be great.  Thanks

[arthur]

The pain in my case was in the center of my chest...it just didn't last very long.  Sorry to hear yours is so persistent.  The symptoms of pain are very important and your doc should follow-up with more than pills.

[Abbiegaile]

Yes, I agree.  I just called the Doctors Office and left a message explaining everything to them and now I'm wait for a call back.. I honestly dont think he should have let me out of the hospital with me having this much pain.. I think he should have kept me in till he could resolve it.. but who am I? lol Well, hopefully I will hear from them soon..  I'm pretty worried and anxious to get back to my regular schedule..

[PVCMAN]

I am 35 and have had the occasional (1 a week) PVC for my entire life.  These were no problem and "normal" according to the Medical Community.  However, over the last two weeks my PVCs have increased to about a dozen per hour.  My BP is 118/76 and I am in good shape.  My doctor was surprised and figures that the PVCs are a result of a cold, or some external cause.  I can go hours without a single PVC and then get several per min.  They suck and scare the hell out of me.  I am healthy and should not be having these.  I can only hope they do not increase as they are manageable at this point.  I feel for those of you we are having constant PVCs.  This would drive me crazy.

I have complied a list of some remedies (have not tried these yet) that have helped others with their PVC's.  I am not a Doctor and I am NOT recommending any of these as treatment.

Chamomile Tea, Fish, Vitamins, Magnesium, Potassium

Again, I am not a Doctor and I am NOT recommending any of the above as treatment.

I wish us all well because PVCs really suck.  I only hope the medical community can find a cure.  But since they are not considered life threatening I doubt we will see any cure for a long time.

Good luck to everyone and keep this forum going!!!!!

[RST2023]

For two years ago I was diagnosed with AF. I was put on Rythmol (propafenone) but continued to have about 3 episodes a week. I finally underwent ablation. Abations were done on three of the pulmonary veins and I was told that repeated applications of adrenaline could not induce AF. The procedure was considered successful. The next day I was in sinus rhythm all day, but the day after that I started experiencing more and more frequent PACs which eventually turned into AF. It has now been three weeks since the ablation and 90% of the time I am experiencing bigimeny which is very unpleasant. Once an ekg documented that I had returned to AF.
Overall, I feel worse since the procedure. Before I was in AFib about 15% of the time and the rest of the time in very, very regular sinus rhythm at 60 BPS. Since the procedure my blood pressure has been as low as 92/62. I feel bad (a little lightheaded and headachy with tickling and light thumbing in my chest).
Has anyone who has undergone ablation therapy for AF experienced these symptoms? I would love to believe that they are a short-term result of the procedure which will disappear with time.