catheter ablation or pacemaker

Hi I was wondering if anyone could give me some good advice. I am a 40 year old female with arrythmias, sinus tachycardia my heart rate at rest is 110 I am scheduled to see an electrophysiologist on the 8 of july I think after everything I read I would rather have a pacemaker than a catheter ablation what do you think? I can not take beta blockers because of my blood pressure being too low and I need to get my heart slowed down because I have a rare lung disease and for me to have the open lung bypass my heart must be fixed first. Can anyone help me make a decision on what to do.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Have you had an EKG or any type of holter monitor that has documented an arrhythmia? Your comment regarding "an irregular" heart rate...has that been confirmed? A pacemaker is something that is implanted to help with slow rhythms (bradycardia) or after ablation procedures fail to treat very fast atrial arrhythmias. An AV-Node ablation with pacemaker implant is then done. Pacemakers are not first line treatment. I have been through 5 ablation procedures and have, at all cost, been trying to avoid having a pacemaker implanted.

As for an ICD...this is for people who suffer from serious ventricular arrhtyhmias ie. Vent. Tach and for those who have heart disease coupled with ventricular arrhythmias. I hope that you have a reputable EP Dr who will advise you in the appropriate treatment for whatever arrhythmia you are suffering with. :)

[jennyfi1234]

wow, I am sorry to hear about your struggle. I dont have any advice, as I am new here myself, but I didnt want you to feel ignored. I am sure soon someone with some knowlege will comment. I have zero medical training, and never had an ablation, but from my reading I too feel similar to you in that my gut says go with the pacemaker. My brother has a pacemaker. He had it at age 21. He is awaiting a new one -now 10 years later, but he has done amazing! The part of the ablation that concerns me is how many say the develop other electrical issues. Again, I am not very informed on this.

[jennyfi1234]

One more thing. Why would you consider a pacemaker? Pacemakers are for slow heart rates. It keeps them from dropping too low. Unless something has changed about them since my brothers.

[kelly444]

thanks for the response I don't know why I would consider that I guess because my problem isn't only a fast heartbeat but it is also very irregular, that is why I was asking I am not sure if either of these procedures will help me when I push a sweeper or mop or carry my granddaughter my heart goes so fast and irregular and I get so dizzy everything seems like it is spinning and I feel like I am going to pass out so that is why I asked if anyone knew if a pacemaker could help me to regulate the heartrate. I am really scared to have the ablation and I have read nothing but horror stories about that procedure. I hope this helps you to understand why I asked and all advice is appreciated

[jennyfi1234]

I thought they did an ICD for fast or dangerous heart stuff, but I am not sure. I know a guy who has both a pacemaker and an ICD. Hes been that way for years and he seems fine. I hope someone with knowledge will answer you soon! Hang in there.

[kelly444]

I am sorry I don't know much about this stuff don't think I am stupid but what is an ICD?

[kelly444]

Hi I just looked up an ICD yeah that is like what I was talking about so I will definately ask my doctor because I don't want my heart ablated

[jennyfi1234]

I hope things go well for you!

[kelly444]

thank you I will keep you informed I appreciate your information

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

Have you had an EKG or any type of holter monitor that has documented an arrhythmia? Your comment regarding "an irregular" heart rate...has that been confirmed? A pacemaker is something that is implanted to help with slow rhythms (bradycardia) or after ablation procedures fail to treat very fast atrial arrhythmias. An AV-Node ablation with pacemaker implant is then done. Pacemakers are not first line treatment. I have been through 5 ablation procedures and have, at all cost, been trying to avoid having a pacemaker implanted.

As for an ICD...this is for people who suffer from serious ventricular arrhtyhmias ie. Vent. Tach and for those who have heart disease coupled with ventricular arrhythmias. I hope that you have a reputable EP Dr who will advise you in the appropriate treatment for whatever arrhythmia you are suffering with. :)

[kelly444]

Yes I have had all those test I am pretty much in the dark of what I have. I was going to see if the doc would put that three day holter on me so he can really see what is going on. I have to take into consideration that I also have a lung disease in which my lung doctor thinks is what they call LAMS disease but he can not do my open lung biopsy until my heart is corrected he says it would be too risky now. I am not sure if the lung disease has anything to do with the heart yet but I know I am very short of breath and at times feel like I can't get any air but also the lung doc says it is my heart causing that because my o2 level is always 99% and I passed all my lung function test, he said the lung disease has not progressed enough to hurt me yet. The cardiopulmonary stress test I just had pushed my lung doctor to send me to the cardio vascular doctor. So I am not sure but I thought I would ask on here to see any information I could before my appointment.

[kelly444]

oh yeah the twent four hour holter showed 768 pvc's which are nothing and sinus tach for a total of three hours and something about a q something about a double one back to back

[Brooke_38]

Hi Kelly...

From what I understand with LAMS disease, treatment is focused on hormone replacement therapy ie. Progesterone ,Tamoxifen ,Synthetic luteinizing hormone-releasing hormones (Leuprolide, Lupron) are you currently taking any of these?

An O2 Sat of 99%...that's great! It doesn't get any better than that. :) Regarding your holter, you are right...768 PVC's in a 24 hr period is not a significant finding. Sinus Tach is usally a secondary finding, meaning that there is something underlying that is driving your heart to a tachy point. Treatment for this should be focused on finding the underlying disease or disturbance. I'm not sure what to say about the "q something" without all the information surrounding what the report stated.

My advice is that if the cardiologist suggests an EPS (Electro Physiology Study) I would go for that. During this the Dr is able to determine if in fact there is an electrical disturbance occuring somewhere in your heart. If it is found, it can then be ablated. As I mentioned in my above comment, I've been through this 5 times and would not be recommeding something that I hadn't already been through. Being as young as we are, early 40's, a pacemaker should be the very last resort as far as treatment. Keep us posted with news after your appt. and best of luck!