Aa
cryoablation
Has anybody had a cryoablation done.Also is anybody familiar with any hospitals in rochester,ny.This is where I might go to have this procedure done.Not sure which hospital though.
I would like to know the difference in svt and atrial tach.I was told at first that I had svt, then told I had atrial tach.Is there a difference?I finally spoke to another doctor that does the cryoablation last week.He mainly works on kids and mainly fixes with the rf ablation.He has only done cryoablation 1-2 x yearly. I dont know if that is enough experience for me doing the cryo.What do you think? I have no other options at this point.
SVT is, by definition, an Atrial Tachycardia(Supraventricular meaning not in the ventricles). So, what is the difference between Atrial Tach and SVT?? As far as it being close to the AV Node, I would assume that cryo would be the way to go, since it's the preferred method for ablating AVNRT(AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia).
My skipped beats are few and far between now. Been getting out and walking more, but still have issues with panic attacks(100+ heat index and very humid... perfect setting for my svt triggers.. not used to not having to worry). My bruising is gone and things really seem to be getting better! Hope you can get yours done soon... I have a new outlook now. Hope it keeps getting better!
You had posted before that cryoablation is a method used to ablate one specific type of svt.Avnrt.Can it be used successfully for atrial tach too?Even if it is very close to the av node?
The doctor thought at first I had svt,but then said no, you have atrial tach. Im assuming they are related because they both cause racing heartrates.You say that the ablation might somehow have caused your atrial tach.Thats weird because Im suppose to get a cryoablation done to get rid of my atrial tach. So now I wonder if it will even work .Does your doctor think the ablation has caused your atrial tach?It just sound to me like your anvrt wasnt cured if your now getting episodes of atrial tach.They sound very similar.Maybe like you said you have had it all along,and maybe misdiagnosed you..I had to wear a events recorder and thats how my doc. found out.Does the anvrt and the atrial tach episodes feel similar?
ANVRT is a common form of svt (supra ventricular tachycardia) ... basically racing heart that feels just like atrial tachycardia that I now have and is easily cured with ablation. But nothing like a-fib. That was horrible. I agree, I don't know how anyone lives with constant a-fib.
I did have more skipped beats initially after the ablation, but those seem to be subsiding somewhat. The doctor said the skipped beats were what initiated the svt episodes and the fact that I no longer get svt episodes after the skips is a good sign. Of course now I have the atrial tachycardia to deal with. That is just a real mystery to me. Either I had it all along and somehow it was missed in the ep study before the ablation, or it had to have been caused somehow by the ablation. I am hoping once my heart settles down the atrial tachycardia will subside. It's been 8 weeks since the ablation, which my doctor said would be kind of long for my heart to still be irritated, but lots of other people on this board seem to take several months before all of their weird post ablation symptoms go away.
Good luck finding someone to do cryoablation. I would not hesitate to have an ablation. From personal experience, everyone I know who has had it has done great and been completely healed (excepte me, go figure) In fact, I would go in for another one for this atrial tachycardia that I now have if the doctor thought it would prevent a-fib.
I did have more skipped beats initially after the ablation, but those seem to be subsiding somewhat. The doctor said the skipped beats were what initiated the svt episodes and the fact that I no longer get svt episodes after the skips is a good sign. Of course now I have the atrial tachycardia to deal with. That is just a real mystery to me. Either I had it all along and somehow it was missed in the ep study before the ablation, or it had to have been caused somehow by the ablation. I am hoping once my heart settles down the atrial tachycardia will subside. It's been 8 weeks since the ablation, which my doctor said would be kind of long for my heart to still be irritated, but lots of other people on this board seem to take several months before all of their weird post ablation symptoms go away.
Good luck finding someone to do cryoablation. I would not hesitate to have an ablation. From personal experience, everyone I know who has had it has done great and been completely healed (excepte me, go figure) In fact, I would go in for another one for this atrial tachycardia that I now have if the doctor thought it would prevent a-fib.
Hi ,now what is anvrt?Is there another name for it?Is it short for something?I have heard that after an ablation palpitations have gotten worse for alot of people.Thats what worries me about having the cryoablation done. I dont want to make it worse .I am just thankful I dont have constant afib.I really dont know how anybody can deal with that.Most of the time my heart beats fairly normal. I'll just get an occasional skipped beat or a couple of fast beats.I have been on atenolol since last october and have never had any side affects other then being tired all the time.Its seems to help alittle with anxiety also because it slows your heart rate down also.I take 50 mg daily.I take 1/2 in the morning and 1/2 at night.Just talk to your doctor about taking the lowest amount and work your way up if you have to.I was also nervous about side effects ,but have never had any problems.I think its safer taking atenolol then an anti arrhythmic pill.Like I said Ive only had 2 afib episodes in over a year so I really couldnt tell you if my meds our working.I try to watch what I eat also.I never eat any spicy foods,avoid caffiene,not too much sugar,chocolate,soda.Anything carbonated.citris like oj.I have noticed anything spicy or hot will make my heart palpitate.Maybe just a coincidence I dont know.I just avoid anyways.
Hi Donna,
I had rf ablation for ANVRT. According to the ep, that was a success. However, I now have atrial tachycardia, but it only lasts a few seconds...never more than ten. Yours sounds much, much worse than mine. Mine just seems so weird. I didn't have before and it started one week after my ablation. I just have to think there's a connection. I am hoping it subsides and that it was caused by the irritation to my heart. I am just scared of it triggering the a-fib again. He prescribed atenolol but Ihaven't started taking it yet cause I'm scared of the side effects. My BP is low to begin with. But if taking it keeps away a-fib, then it's worth it. I agree.....worst feeling I have ever experienced. I NEVER want that again. And I also agree....I hate all this and just want it to go away!!!!!
I had rf ablation for ANVRT. According to the ep, that was a success. However, I now have atrial tachycardia, but it only lasts a few seconds...never more than ten. Yours sounds much, much worse than mine. Mine just seems so weird. I didn't have before and it started one week after my ablation. I just have to think there's a connection. I am hoping it subsides and that it was caused by the irritation to my heart. I am just scared of it triggering the a-fib again. He prescribed atenolol but Ihaven't started taking it yet cause I'm scared of the side effects. My BP is low to begin with. But if taking it keeps away a-fib, then it's worth it. I agree.....worst feeling I have ever experienced. I NEVER want that again. And I also agree....I hate all this and just want it to go away!!!!!
Hi .my atrial tach used to last 30-45min,but now when I get it if im home I stand on my head,and it goes away quickly.Usually within a few seconds.Yes I have been told that he thinks the atrial tach can cause my afib.I had afib back in feb. and went to the er.It lasted for about 21 hours. Afib is the worst to me I cant even function when I get it.I cant sleep or do anything.Luckily I have only had 2 episodes in over a year.Im on atenolol which I really cant tell if it works. Just makes me tired.I usually get atrial tach once or twice a week.Sometimes every couple of weeks.Its weird because any movement sometimes can cause atrial tach.Like reaching ,bending over or any odd movement.I can usually tell if it is going to start.Sometimes it will come from skipped beats.It happens sometimes if im just laying on the couch or I'll wake up in the middle of the night and it will start. I can never sleep on my sides either.Now did you have a rf ablation or a cryoablation? Your still getting skipped beats?Is it as bad as before or better? Alls I know is that Im hate having this and wish it would just dissappear.
Hi Donna,
I read your postings on this thread and hope you don't mind if I jump in to ask you a few questions about atrial tachycardia. I had an ablation for ANVRT 8 weeks ago and according to the ep that arrhythmia is gone. However, I have been having very brief (lasting a few seconds) episodes of atrial tachycardia. One of these was caught on a 48 hour monitor that the doctor had me wearing to see what was going on. He said that atrial tachycardia is a precursor for atrial fibrillation, so now I am scared to death that I am going to get atrial fibrillation. I should mention that I did have one episode of a-fib in April which the doctor was hoping was triggered by my ANVRT, and that by ablating that, the a-fib would hopefully not come back.
Sorry for the long explanation! But anyway, the doctor did also say that sometimes it takes 2-3 months for the heart to heal from an ablation, so there is an outside chance that the atrial tachy will go away as the heart heals. So my questions to you are: how long do your atrial tachy episodes last? Have you ever been told that atrial tachy can cause a-fib? Do your atrial tachy episodes come from skipped beats? I am still having occassional skipped beats also.
Ugh....I just wanted this to all be over once I had the ablation. I am so concerned about this! Thanks for any info you are willing to share with me!
I read your postings on this thread and hope you don't mind if I jump in to ask you a few questions about atrial tachycardia. I had an ablation for ANVRT 8 weeks ago and according to the ep that arrhythmia is gone. However, I have been having very brief (lasting a few seconds) episodes of atrial tachycardia. One of these was caught on a 48 hour monitor that the doctor had me wearing to see what was going on. He said that atrial tachycardia is a precursor for atrial fibrillation, so now I am scared to death that I am going to get atrial fibrillation. I should mention that I did have one episode of a-fib in April which the doctor was hoping was triggered by my ANVRT, and that by ablating that, the a-fib would hopefully not come back.
Sorry for the long explanation! But anyway, the doctor did also say that sometimes it takes 2-3 months for the heart to heal from an ablation, so there is an outside chance that the atrial tachy will go away as the heart heals. So my questions to you are: how long do your atrial tachy episodes last? Have you ever been told that atrial tachy can cause a-fib? Do your atrial tachy episodes come from skipped beats? I am still having occassional skipped beats also.
Ugh....I just wanted this to all be over once I had the ablation. I am so concerned about this! Thanks for any info you are willing to share with me!
hi just wondering how you have been feeling?Are you still having skipped beats?Svt attacks?
Other than the skipped beats being just as limiting as the SVT now, the surgery seems to have worked for what it was intended.. afraid to really test it, till I see what's going to happen with the skipping. Keep updates coming on your situation... hope you get a good doc this time, that is willing to help.
So how is everything going? Have you had any svt episodes ? I finally talked to my regular cardiologist friday and he called another doctor down in hawthorne,ny near new york city.Im hoping to talk to him this week on the phone so I dont have to waste another trip if he cant fix it.Arkansas is a bit far to travel,and my insurance would never allow it. They didnt let me go to boston because it was out of network.I have to stay in the state.Im sure if it was any of them they would travel out of state for the best hospital if they had to.If this doctor is even the slightest bit hesitant about doing the procedure Im going to try to appeal so I can go to boston.This doctor here mainly has done this procedure on children. He has worked on adults too,but not many.That makes me alittle nervous.There may not even be a difference .I dont know.We'll I'll keep in touch.
I've had a number of skipped beats in the past 24 hours, but trying to not worry too much about them, as others on here have reported that as being somewhat normal. Good luck finding a doctor that will do your procedure. I got lucky enough to find one very willing to do it. I have no insurance and no job because of all the problems, and they were nice enough to work out a deal to let me pay small amounts monthly, until I am better able to pay. If you can travel, I'd suggest finding a Cardiology Associates location.. great doctors and staff. Dr. Roosevelt Gilliam, III, was my doctor.. maybe you should spend a week or 2 in Arkansas lol :)
Hi, glad to hear it went well.Hope it works out for you.Im next if my doctor can find me someone to do it.I have to try to get ahold of him today.I agree it is very awkward waking up and feeling your heart racing. I was awake the whole time my ep study was done.Hope you feel better .Keep me posted!
Okay, I am at home now. Overnight hospital stay for observation. EP study reveled that the pathway was very close to my needed ones, which meant Cryo was definitely the way to go. Cardiologist was unable to ablate it through my groin, so had to go back in through my neck. He said it was successful and that the recurrence rate is about 5-10%. I am very tender in my neck and groin, but have zero discomfort in my chest/heart. Kept waking up during the procedure, and it is very odd to feel them purposely causing SVT, stopping it, repeat... I understand they have to to find the source as well as make sure it's properly ablated, but awkward, nonetheless. I'm not on any kind of post-op meds, nor were there instructions for taking it easy. Told me not to lift anything heavy today, but otherwise I am good to go. Plan on resting a couple days just to be sure. Just wanted to give an update for those that only see the negative comments on here, as it had me scared to death, but it was not a bad experience, at all.
hi,so your doctor is not doing a ep study?How I wonder does he find the spot to fix?I thought they had to map it out,and then fix it?Are you having the cryroablation done or the Rf ablation done.I agree with you on the slight chance of a pacemaker.Thats my worst fear also. Any chance of that scares me also.I'd almost rather live with this then have that happen.I still havent heard back from my regular cardiologist yet,he was also against meds too .I guess Im back at square one.
No study, he's planning on being correct about where mine is(av node). I know someone that he did an RF ablation to, and it has solved her problem. I'm hoping for the same result lol. Sorry to hear about your appointment last week. My dr was against meds from the start, because he prefers fixes to a lifetime of medication, but I was young and scared of the procedure(and cryo wasn't even an option then), so I opted for meds. They never worked.. even the $350/month pills that were supposed to be really good(rhythmol). So now I'm forced to go this route, or just not live a decent life. I hope you are able to find a dr willing to get you fixed before it gets too bad.
The slight chance of a pacemaker at 27 is still scaring the bejeezus out of me. Only 2 more nights before the moment of truth.. I can feel that my blood pressure is through the roof lol
The slight chance of a pacemaker at 27 is still scaring the bejeezus out of me. Only 2 more nights before the moment of truth.. I can feel that my blood pressure is through the roof lol
Next time you get a svt attack put a pillow on the floor,and stand on your head.It has worked every time to stop my atrial tach.The last time I was in the hospital a doctor told me to do that and it works within a few seconds.It makes all the blood rush to your head,and it will stop your heart from racing.I went several years with this happening to me and just waited for it to stop on its own.Unfortunately I cant do that when Im out and about. I just try to get home quickly .I also have atrial fib which to me is worse than the atrial tach. To me it feels like a constant rattling in my chest, and I cant do anything when I get that. Ive only had 2 attacks of atrial fib in a year.Both times I had to go to the hospital.It stopped in its own both times.Im 42 so im hoping to get this fixed soon.I did go to my other doctors appointment last wednesday and didnt get the answers I was expecting.He wants to put me on a new medicine,which was not the point of going to see him.I pretty much wasted over 6 hours of driving for something he could of told me on the phone.We werent very happy.Now I have to see if my regular cardiologist can refer me to another place. He wanted me to go to boston ,but insurance wouldnt allow it.I wish someone could help me! My heartrate gets around 240.When you have your study done they will be able to figure out exactly what it is and where it is coming from. Thats if they can provoke the svt.My doctor did and found that it may be near the av node.Which is the reason why he didnt do the ablation because it would be too risky,and may need a pacemaker if not done right.This is my worst fear also.Thats why he sent me to this other doctor that does cryroablation,but was dissappointed.Have you already had a ep study done?Let me know what happens Good luck!!
My doctor is fairly certain that my SVT is of the AVNRT type, and thus the cryo instead of RF ablation. I'm having it done a heart care center of a hospital in Jonesboro, Arkansas. I'm concerned with the effectiveness of the cryoablation and chance of recurrence mentioned above. I'm also very anxious about the possibility of needing a pacemaker due to the procedure. I'm 27 and don't have much of a life because of the frequency of my SVT, which has also caused me to develop anxiety/panic attacks when I go outdoors or am alone. I'm counting on this procedure to give me my life back. It's only 4 days away now and I'm really nervous. I will be sure to post my experiences with the procedure and the results. As of now, bending, kneeling, sudden burps and coughs, sudden changes in direction, sitting down while breathing a certain way.. just about anything will start an SVT attack. My rates vary from 230-260 during an attack and my doctor is concerned with me being toward the top of the speed ranges. Had to have adenosine shots to stop my heart a few times recently. I haven't had an EP study, so I really hope my Dr is correct about the type of SVT I have, as I don't want to go through this for nothing. My mom had open heart surgery for valve replacement, which was botched and had to be redone, so I'm cautious about anyone messing with my heart. Okay, I'm done venting for now, and I hope everything goes well for your procedure and they fix your problem, Donna.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Cryoablation is a method of ablating one specific type of Supra ventricular tachycardia ( AVNRT) using deep freezing technology to detroy the tissue instead of radio frequency ablation. It has the advantages of being somewhat reversible in its initial stages, and so can be used near important structures. However, it has a higher recurrence rate, and presently cannot be used with any electroanatomical mapping system. For the patient it is usually better tolerated than radiofrequency ablation.
I have a appointment with a doctor next week 3 hours from my house.I have atrial tach. or svt,and atrial fib.Im hoping at this appointment he says he can fix it.When I had my ep study a couple of weeks ago,my doctor couldnt fix my problem with an ablation.He thought it would be safer to fix by freezing it .It is in a difficult spot to fix.Where are you having it done,and for what reason.Let me know how it goes and Good Luck!!!!
I am scheduled for this procedure on July 6th.. I'm also looking for anyone with experience with it. Tons of RF ablation stories and expectations, but I can't find anything about cryoablations. I know it's supposed to be safer, but I want to know about success rate and post-op expectations. Anyone got any info for us?
You are reading content posted in the Heart Disease Forum
Is a low-fat diet really that heart healthy after all? James D. Nicolantonio, PharmD, urges us to reconsider decades-long dietary guidelines.
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Fish oil, folic acid, vitamin C. Find out if these supplements are heart-healthy or overhyped.
Learn what happens before, during and after a heart attack occurs.
What are the pros and cons of taking fish oil for heart health? Find out in this article from Missouri Medicine.
How to lower your heart attack risk.
