Aa
Advice about Ablation?
Stats...I'm 44 year old, female and with normal echo and history of PVC's and NSVT
Well I finally saw the arythhmia specialist yesterday. I was very nervous and they did an EKG and my palps (PVC's) were 3 in a row constantly - and the nurse doing the EKG is saying, "ooh!, ooh! that shouldn't be happening! ooh ooh"....etc...which of course made me worse...guess that helped him with diagnosing me all right!...I don't think he had reviewed my chart before he met with me, he read my papers while sat with me, and said I have PVC's etc., and that they are benign, but my EKG shows tracings and it's in my right atrium, and I can either live with them or get them ablated - and then he explained to me about ablation - says my med Metroprolol will not be very effective with what I have happening - but when I questioned him about another medication, he said, no, he didn't want to treat me with meds becuase of the side effects - so left me with no advice there either. I told him I don't understand what's happening to me and he said yes that's why you are here - but then I asked him what he would advise in my situation, and he said I am not advising you, I am just telling you the options, you can live with them, it could get better, it could get worse, i.e. I could end up having spells of passing out (then told me to lie flat if I feel that coming on) - and that I can sign up on the waiting list for ablation. When I told him that if I had the choice I would not go for anything surgical because I am a chicken, he talked a little more about ablation, then said, "since you're not adventurous", let's just follow up in 6 months and see how you are doing. So I feel no further along - the only good thing I seem to have gotten out of that is that he told me these things will not kill me, they are benign, that my heart is structurally normal and I have an irritable electrical system. Anyone have advice, comments or been in this situation? ... Thanks!
Well I finally saw the arythhmia specialist yesterday. I was very nervous and they did an EKG and my palps (PVC's) were 3 in a row constantly - and the nurse doing the EKG is saying, "ooh!, ooh! that shouldn't be happening! ooh ooh"....etc...which of course made me worse...guess that helped him with diagnosing me all right!...I don't think he had reviewed my chart before he met with me, he read my papers while sat with me, and said I have PVC's etc., and that they are benign, but my EKG shows tracings and it's in my right atrium, and I can either live with them or get them ablated - and then he explained to me about ablation - says my med Metroprolol will not be very effective with what I have happening - but when I questioned him about another medication, he said, no, he didn't want to treat me with meds becuase of the side effects - so left me with no advice there either. I told him I don't understand what's happening to me and he said yes that's why you are here - but then I asked him what he would advise in my situation, and he said I am not advising you, I am just telling you the options, you can live with them, it could get better, it could get worse, i.e. I could end up having spells of passing out (then told me to lie flat if I feel that coming on) - and that I can sign up on the waiting list for ablation. When I told him that if I had the choice I would not go for anything surgical because I am a chicken, he talked a little more about ablation, then said, "since you're not adventurous", let's just follow up in 6 months and see how you are doing. So I feel no further along - the only good thing I seem to have gotten out of that is that he told me these things will not kill me, they are benign, that my heart is structurally normal and I have an irritable electrical system. Anyone have advice, comments or been in this situation? ... Thanks!
Hey there!!
Nice to see you again : )
My ablations were for PVCs/NSVT. Each procedure lasted between 6.5 and 7 hours. Taken in around 8:30 - 9:00 and out by 4:00. Time flies on the feel good meds! Each time, I was given a little medication (versed) prior to being wheeled into the lab (sounds sinister, but it's not....lol) and prepped. I don't rememeber much except for a COLD table, some BIG defib pads on my back and a room like a TV newsroom...screens everywhere!
I had versed (sleepy stuff and amnesiac) and fentynl (pain reliever) both times and had very little discomfort. I did not feel any pacing, wires, catheters, injections (except the IV) etc. I had a foley catheter, never felt it, but they told me I had one. My only recollections from the procedures were when they were closing off the entry sites. The first time, the doctor applied manual pressure for about 20 minutes (kind of uncomfortable, but not bad). The second time, because they entered the left side of my heart and had to access femoral artery or vein, I had a St Jude closure device (essentially, a tiny plug) to seal off the artery/vein. That was a little more uncomfortable, but tolerable. The only other thing that was uncomfortable was a headache after the second procedure. Apparently, they gave me something to induce tachy (calcium something or other, I think) and it caused a nasty headace. Tylenol worked fine.
After each procedure, I was flat on my back for 6 hours, sandbag on my groin, but comfortable and HUNGRY! A turkey sandwich seems to be the meal of choice after an ablation....I can't believe how many of us had turkey...LOL
I was able to go home the following day, and was fine. I took it easy for a couple of days, but could do whatever was comfortable. The first time, I had the ablation on Friday and was working on Monday, but I should have waited a little longer, just because I was tired.
Glad to hear you are doing well on the beta blocker. After awhile, they stopped working well for me.....My doctor didn't want to prescribe an antiarrythmic either, same reason (side effects). Let us know what's going on and how you're doing!
Connie
Nice to see you again : )
My ablations were for PVCs/NSVT. Each procedure lasted between 6.5 and 7 hours. Taken in around 8:30 - 9:00 and out by 4:00. Time flies on the feel good meds! Each time, I was given a little medication (versed) prior to being wheeled into the lab (sounds sinister, but it's not....lol) and prepped. I don't rememeber much except for a COLD table, some BIG defib pads on my back and a room like a TV newsroom...screens everywhere!
I had versed (sleepy stuff and amnesiac) and fentynl (pain reliever) both times and had very little discomfort. I did not feel any pacing, wires, catheters, injections (except the IV) etc. I had a foley catheter, never felt it, but they told me I had one. My only recollections from the procedures were when they were closing off the entry sites. The first time, the doctor applied manual pressure for about 20 minutes (kind of uncomfortable, but not bad). The second time, because they entered the left side of my heart and had to access femoral artery or vein, I had a St Jude closure device (essentially, a tiny plug) to seal off the artery/vein. That was a little more uncomfortable, but tolerable. The only other thing that was uncomfortable was a headache after the second procedure. Apparently, they gave me something to induce tachy (calcium something or other, I think) and it caused a nasty headace. Tylenol worked fine.
After each procedure, I was flat on my back for 6 hours, sandbag on my groin, but comfortable and HUNGRY! A turkey sandwich seems to be the meal of choice after an ablation....I can't believe how many of us had turkey...LOL
I was able to go home the following day, and was fine. I took it easy for a couple of days, but could do whatever was comfortable. The first time, I had the ablation on Friday and was working on Monday, but I should have waited a little longer, just because I was tired.
Glad to hear you are doing well on the beta blocker. After awhile, they stopped working well for me.....My doctor didn't want to prescribe an antiarrythmic either, same reason (side effects). Let us know what's going on and how you're doing!
Connie
I too have PVC's and SVT. Back in January, I had an ablation for the SVT and my symptoms of SVT are no longer there. Although my heart will race a little on occasion, I no longer feel like I'm going to pass out.
I think my PVC's are here to stay. Since my heart is structurally normal, like yours, they don't really bother me and I have learned to live with them.
The ablation procedure wasn't bad at all. Everyone has a different experience but I think, overall, most view it in a positive light. Even though I had some feel good meds, I was awake and aware throughout the whole thing. The ablation itself felt like bad heartburn and only lasted a few seconds (I chose not to have more meds at that time). For me, the worst part was the insertion of the catheters.
Before the ablation, I was on Metoprolol which I could not tolerate. I am very active and the beta blockers made me feel like a zombie. Switched to Cardiazem which is a calcium channel blocker. Did great with those until they stopped working.
Do what you feel is best for you. SVT can sometimes be very hard to deal with but if you aren't having a lot of episodes, and the meds are working well, maybe take a wait and see approach.
I think my PVC's are here to stay. Since my heart is structurally normal, like yours, they don't really bother me and I have learned to live with them.
The ablation procedure wasn't bad at all. Everyone has a different experience but I think, overall, most view it in a positive light. Even though I had some feel good meds, I was awake and aware throughout the whole thing. The ablation itself felt like bad heartburn and only lasted a few seconds (I chose not to have more meds at that time). For me, the worst part was the insertion of the catheters.
Before the ablation, I was on Metoprolol which I could not tolerate. I am very active and the beta blockers made me feel like a zombie. Switched to Cardiazem which is a calcium channel blocker. Did great with those until they stopped working.
Do what you feel is best for you. SVT can sometimes be very hard to deal with but if you aren't having a lot of episodes, and the meds are working well, maybe take a wait and see approach.
Hi
I too am having similar incidents to yourself. Can I ask are you in the UK as it appears that depending on the area that you live in (post code lottery I think they call it) sometimes they offer you an ablation as the first form of treatment. I think that is what has happended to me and I too on my first visit with the Cardiologists registrar was offered an ablation which I felt was a bit drastic just after one incident.
Anyway let me know and perhaps we can chat more.
Lots of luck
Caroline
I too am having similar incidents to yourself. Can I ask are you in the UK as it appears that depending on the area that you live in (post code lottery I think they call it) sometimes they offer you an ablation as the first form of treatment. I think that is what has happended to me and I too on my first visit with the Cardiologists registrar was offered an ablation which I felt was a bit drastic just after one incident.
Anyway let me know and perhaps we can chat more.
Lots of luck
Caroline
hi
i was not sedated for mine and i went on for 3 hours --it is a little difficult feeling your heart being played around with and having to lay there motionless ,they do a local anesthetic in your thigh where the wires go in for the ep i did not feel any wires going in or going up to my heart .when they were in my heart it just felt like paps .my ablation was for svt so they raised my heart quite a bit and there was a lot of that,when they do the ablation it kinda feels as if you are being burnt on the inside accross your chest for a few seconds i wont lie it did hurt {the burning}but it is only for a few seconds ,after all that they played with my heart a little more to see if it had worked and if the extra pathway was closed and then that was it---most of the time is done mapping the heart to see where the pvcs are occuring and if they can be ablated.
you will be tired afterwards from the operation and from the stress in worring about it--- all natural
you cant walk for i think 12 hrs after because of the insician in your leg i think they might do through the arm or chest as well mine was the leg and that is just to stop any bleeding etc
am _______--i hope that helps a little bit
i know how you feel worring about it i will prob have to have another and i worry about it
but like i say talk to your family ,your docs ,and you will know what is best for you in the long run
ok for today
i was not sedated for mine and i went on for 3 hours --it is a little difficult feeling your heart being played around with and having to lay there motionless ,they do a local anesthetic in your thigh where the wires go in for the ep i did not feel any wires going in or going up to my heart .when they were in my heart it just felt like paps .my ablation was for svt so they raised my heart quite a bit and there was a lot of that,when they do the ablation it kinda feels as if you are being burnt on the inside accross your chest for a few seconds i wont lie it did hurt {the burning}but it is only for a few seconds ,after all that they played with my heart a little more to see if it had worked and if the extra pathway was closed and then that was it---most of the time is done mapping the heart to see where the pvcs are occuring and if they can be ablated.
you will be tired afterwards from the operation and from the stress in worring about it--- all natural
you cant walk for i think 12 hrs after because of the insician in your leg i think they might do through the arm or chest as well mine was the leg and that is just to stop any bleeding etc
am _______--i hope that helps a little bit
i know how you feel worring about it i will prob have to have another and i worry about it
but like i say talk to your family ,your docs ,and you will know what is best for you in the long run
ok for today
Thanks for the comments, Lagoya, it helps to hear from people that have been there as patients and not as doctors...and Hi again, Connie! This specialist was quite firm that he didn't want to go the medication route. He made it sound like the side effects would be worse than the palps - I am active and perhaps meds would change that? I'd never met him before, I don't know if that's standard decision for him or a decision he's made for me personally. I really to think that the Metroprolol has made a difference for me, it seems to just calm everything down - and at this point I have zero side effects from it, only benefit. This cardiologist/specialist wasn't the one that prescribed the Metroprolol, that was the reading cardiologist for the holter monitor. This chap was the final specialist that put all the test results together, the holter, the echo, the ekg.
Do they sedate you for ablation? Does it hurt? Feel awful? Feel anything?
Do they sedate you for ablation? Does it hurt? Feel awful? Feel anything?
Oh yeah, been there, done that.
I ended up with two ablations, but only after the PVCs became SO frequent to have caused cardiomyopathy (that's rare, so don't worry).
For years, I had pvcs in all different forms and patterns, but other than beta blockers, the doctors were not interested in prescribing any other medications. They really only prescribed those because I was so symptomatic. After awhile, the BB didn't work so well so I eventually started taking it only as needed (that worked at the time).
When I had CM, the doctors did put me on antiarrythmics, but because I would have to stay on them and the side effects were crummy, I pursued ablation(s). In my situation, it was a good decision. However, for benign pvcs, I think I prefer your doctor's approach. Is he willing to try another BB?
connie
I ended up with two ablations, but only after the PVCs became SO frequent to have caused cardiomyopathy (that's rare, so don't worry).
For years, I had pvcs in all different forms and patterns, but other than beta blockers, the doctors were not interested in prescribing any other medications. They really only prescribed those because I was so symptomatic. After awhile, the BB didn't work so well so I eventually started taking it only as needed (that worked at the time).
When I had CM, the doctors did put me on antiarrythmics, but because I would have to stay on them and the side effects were crummy, I pursued ablation(s). In my situation, it was a good decision. However, for benign pvcs, I think I prefer your doctor's approach. Is he willing to try another BB?
connie
hi
i too had pvcs that went into svt runs and was on meds for 2 mths when offered the ablation i jumped at it.i sure u will find loads of people here who have had ablation for pvcs and it worked.it all depends how u feel-- if you can live with them and they are benign you might feel better not to have it ,but it is not as bad as it sounds the ablation that is.i may have to go for a second one cause mine is a little more tricky but i would much rather it than being stuck on meds for life.i know lots of people have it done in outpatients and are back to work the next day or so your leg maybe a little sore for a few days where the wires go in but it is all micro surgery--you should talk to your family about it and your doctor again but try not to worry about it .it is good to know what options and treatments are there for you.
keep posted
i too had pvcs that went into svt runs and was on meds for 2 mths when offered the ablation i jumped at it.i sure u will find loads of people here who have had ablation for pvcs and it worked.it all depends how u feel-- if you can live with them and they are benign you might feel better not to have it ,but it is not as bad as it sounds the ablation that is.i may have to go for a second one cause mine is a little more tricky but i would much rather it than being stuck on meds for life.i know lots of people have it done in outpatients and are back to work the next day or so your leg maybe a little sore for a few days where the wires go in but it is all micro surgery--you should talk to your family about it and your doctor again but try not to worry about it .it is good to know what options and treatments are there for you.
keep posted
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