PVC's PAC's AFIB & Blood Pressure Issues

[Docshawn]

Three weeks ago I had my second ablation surgury (last was 5 yrs ago); they had to ablate about 900 points/spots which seems to represent about 40% or more of my heart.  A week after the surgury I was readmitted as I was in Afib for about 8 hours straight (I've gone for days before the surgury) with my heart rate running in the 150's - 200.  The weird thing I noticed during this monitoring (I also have a pacemaker) period was that my blood pressure which rapidly increase or decrease (up to 150's/130's down to 80's/50's).  After checking my pacemaker a couple days ago I was told I only have had a few episodes of Afib which is normal.  The problem I'm having and which they picked up when testing my pacer is there are a lot of PVC's and PAC's (skipping beats, multiple beats) and this is regular throughout my day.  I can hardly do anything now but sit around (noise, excitement, etc.) facilitate symptoms but are not necessary as I'm in them all the time.  I have all the symptoms: infrequent stabbing pains, heart pressure feels like its going to explode, sinking feeling, lightheadedness, ears ringing, headaches, muscles twitching, feeling like vomiting.  I'm on altace and sotolol (sotolol has kept my heartrate down, only reaches 90's and 100's but mostly is in the 60's - 70's but it feel that there is a war going on a my heart wants to run faster).  One of my concerns right now is that even though I'm on altace and sotolol (both of which should decrease blood pressure) it is still continuously throughtout the day getting up to 140's/100's and just as likely down to 100/60's.  Has anyone else had problems with the rapid change in blood pressure and is there anything (or any med.) available to eliminate the PVC's and PAC's (I don't think there is).  Just to note, I'm hypersensitive to my heart changes and they reverberate throughout my body (e.g., when they try to induce tachycardia when testing my pacemaker I instantly know the first beat and it always overwhelms me - the doctors are amazed that I can even notice).   Thanks for any input.  Shawn

[Wisconsin2007]

Wow.  900 points is a lot.

I know there's a difference in sizes of ablating tools, which could result in a big difference in the amount of tissue burned over the course of 900 applications.

That military training must've hardened your mind pretty well, because it seems like you're handling all of this better than I would be.

As for the BP, I'm certainly no doctor, but depending on what's going on I can fluctuate above my normal 110's-120's over 60's-70's to 140's over 80's.  When I was a kid they suspected I had "white coat syndrome" because in the doctor's office I was regularly in the 140's over 80's.

Anyway, I hope you can find the information and medical assistance you need.  

[banglamom]

Did you feel like you had been put through a cheese grater ofter all those spot burns?  My 2nd of 3 ablations was 8 hours long with lots of spots done and nothing really to show for it.  I really struggle with my rhythms and my pressure now.  Mostly, I am hypotensive because I take dilt, coreg, lisinopril, flecainide and was never really hypertensive to start.

I've had a couple times when I felt awful and checked it and it was high.  I totally didn't get it.  If I don't take all the meds, my rate stays 160-190 and I was wearing it out they say.  I skip it lots because of how awful they make me feel but once it runs away.. I REALLY want my meds.

How long have you been having rhythm problems?  I have hardly been able to go for a walk for the last 2 years.  It's horrible.

[Docshawn]

It is a living hell.  I too can feel everything and they seem to reverberate throughout my whole body lol.  Actually for the blood pressure they are concerned about it as it wasn't a presurgery symptom and I'm on all these med. to regulate it and they just can't understand how just not doing anything (I can't drive any more I mostly just sit around) it fluctuates greatly.  As for my PVCs I have a great structural heart so they are not a death threat but they are concerned about them because I have them all day long, won't pick up on much equipment (e.g., my pacer doesn't recognize them because they are only a few beats long).  We're just going through the motions as it has them pretty stumped.  Before my recent surgery I had over 2000 afibs and 800 vtach in the past year.  I've only had a couple occurrances since the surgury which is normal except the length of time I stay in them.  I feel for you Frenchie, if I could somehow find something to desensitize myself to the irregular beats I might be able to better cope with all the fatigue/etc.

[jkfrench]

Oh wow I feel for you.  Being senstive to every beat is so annoying.  I am as well.  I can feel everything, every pvc, every pac.  I can even tell where in the heart the early beat is coming from because sometimes I feel it on the left side, sometimes on the top etc..
Did the doctors say not to worry about all the pvc and pacs?
I agree with Jerry that your blood pressure readings aren't that dramatic.
Be well
Frenchie

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry I can't help, but I'll reply to give my sympathy and best wishes...along with reading to see what help is offered.

The variations in BP don't seem to me to be critical, so I'd recommend trying to put that out of your mind for the time being, and note it only for medical analysis, not for an internal mental struggle.  I hope someone can give you something more concrete here.

Jerry