Ablation Question

Has anybody had an ablation done? I am on Coreg 50mg twice a day (max you can have) and Digoxin 0.25 mg once a day and my heart rate is still in the hundreds resting. I am nervous because they are talking about doing an ablation (I am only 26). How long was you in the hospital afterwards? Did you continue taking your medicines after the procedure?

[merileegal]

I had an ablation done 2 months ago for AVNRT which is they most common type of SVT. I've had episodes of SVT since I was in the 30's. I'm now 60. If I had the chance to have an ablation done back then, I would have jumped at it. I was found out earlier this year that I was even a candidate for one. I tried digoxin and tambocor and didn't like the way they made me feel. My heart rate for the most part was pretty normal unless I was in SVT. I only had it 2 to 3 times a year and my rate would get to 250 bpm. Some episodes were worse than others and the older I got the more often and worse they were.

Doctors know so much more than they used to about this. If you have the ablation make sure you get a doctor (EP) who has done hundreds of these and has a good reputation and at a reputable hospital. Some types of arrythmias are easier to fix than others. For me AVNRT was one that has a very high success rate. I haven't had an attack yet.:) When you find a good EP, ask about success rates for your type of tachycardia.

The ablation was sure worth it for me and others in this site. Good luck.

[vanguardrachel]

Thank you so much! I know the cardiologist that I am seeing will refer me to the best. It is at one of the best hospitals in the state so I feel safe! I will be sure to ask what the success rate is and all that good stuff when I go see him on Oct. 5th!

[tom_h]

I'm 9 months post ablation.  I had AVRT for 54 years.  My episode had increased in the last 20 years from about 6 times per year to 5 times per month.  Most are released the same day or perhaps the following morning.  I walked in at 6:30am, and walked out less,than 12 hours later free from SVT hopefully forever.  I had it done on a Thursday and ws work the following Tuesday.  I resumed normal activities in about 2 weeks.  I'm now running, and skating once again.  maybe not quite as fast as I once was, but all the other 60 year olds I know have their ever widening posteriors sitting in the seats :-). See my journals and especially Jannie411 journals for moremdetails on the procedure.

[Janpes]

If Tom is 9 months out then I am soon 11 months out from my ablation for SVT, AVNRT as had the procedure done a couple of months before him. Been some bumps along the way but my god do I feel loads better. I stayed in overnight after my procedure as it was a difficult one to ablate. I walked out the next day and had to endure a 4 hour car ride home too. Was sore for about a week at the puncture site and very tired. The tiredness came from them inducing the SVT so they could ablate it, which in turn lowered my blood pressure. Took about 2-3 weeks to start to feel better but everyone is different. The most important thing is that I no longer live in fear of an attack. I go about my day just like everyone else does and that to me is priceless.
If your cardio has suggested it then you do need it. Go for it!

[Jannie411]

I'm going into my 5th month post-ablation for SVT AVNRT.  I was very fortunate and had no problems afterwards.  Had a few short runs of palpitations that faded out within seconds, and after the first couple of weeks those were gone.  Very occasionally, I'll get one of those dreaded "thumps" that used to signal the beginning of an SVT attack, but it never goes any further.  Like many of the others, my EP wasn't able to ablate as much as he wanted to as the problem area was very close to the AV node, but he damaged the faulty pathway enough to stop the SVT.  He considers the procedure a success and I have a 95% chance of remaining SVT-free for the rest of my life.  Personally, I like those odds.  Three weeks after the ablation, I was taken off beta blockers permanently.  Between the ablation and being taken off Atenolol, the difference in my life is amazing.  I have lots of energy now, no longer chronically exhausted, I exercise an hour nearly every day and have lost nearly 30 pounds of weight gain that was caused by the beta blockers during the 10 years I was on them.  I feel so much better, both physically and emotionally.  The daily fear of an SVT episode is gone now and for the first time in many years, I am leading a normal life.   My only regret is that I wasn't able to have it done sooner.   Based on my personal experience, I say go for it, it will change your life for the better.

[twinbee]

I am 3 1/2  years post ablation for a-fib and a-flutter. I had no complications after the procedure. My only complaint was that my back hurt from having to lay flat for soo long (my procedure took 8 hours, then had to lay flat for another 6 hours). I was kept on some meds after, but was slowing weaned off . I have been in NSR ever since my procedure. I feel my ablation gave me my life back. I would not hesitate to have another one if my a-fib decides to return. Good Luck! Wishing you well, and wishing you enough... Jan

[littlegreenman1]

Everybody here has it covered.
The procedure itself is not overly risky. The back pain from lying flat is horrible. (get some narcotics pushed in your IV - good relief there)

As the resident guy to bring this up: make sure you have checked your insurance and are prepared to pay your max out of pocket. (not deductible). The procedure runs about $75k-ish. Average max oop in USA is $3-5,000. Your mileage may vary, but you'll have that bill due - whatever it may be.

[artties]

I am 18 (male), I did suffer from SVT from age 8, I had ablation before 1 month for SVT, however, during the ablation it turned out to be AVNRT . Actually I wasn't that scarred that I thought I would be.. it wasn't most terrible thing that I have experienced up till now and it wasn't best experience either. I showed up in hospital at 7.30 am, and was on my way home at somewhere between 4 and 5 pm the same day. There was some extra beats, missed beats next day, but nothing serious.. There are already month post procedure, I'm feeling great, as I assume, my heart has been settled down and I'm experiencing maybe 1-2 extra beats during a week. I am so thankful to my self that I had enough courage to go with ablation, I am feeling so relieved now, that I no longer have to worry about bending over, playing football etc. These thing in past caused for me so much SVT attacks I can't even imagine. I was on medicine from age 10, it was horrible to take tablets each morning and evening, the bottom line was when I experienced SVT attacks despite that I took these tablets. My life quality so far has improved, now I really enjoy life without fear to visit ER again. If You feel that Your life will improve as well as mine or maybe You just feel that ablation is right thing for You , and You believe in Your EP go for it! Good Luck!