Post WPW ablation

[Pattylb]

Had a ablation for wpw  10 days ago.  EP said it is completely gone (normal EKG)  few days after I had double heart rate that lasted about 2 min. Then went back to normal.  Im tired and get out of breath sometimes.. Heart rate also goes up when walking goes back in the 70-80s resting.  Im 62 and do take meds for high bloodpressure.  Dr. Changed my blood pressure med. to cartia xt after I had a bad svt  attack that put me in the hospital  hoping that the meds would calm my heart down (on this med. I was feeling tired and out of breath at times . ) one this meds. I had another attack-dr. Sent me to see a EP he found the problem right away.   There was a cancelation and the following week went in for the ablation. Like i said above everything went fine.  Not due to go for follow up in a month, ive talked to his head nurse and she said that it was normal for  the heart to act up after ablation, that it just takes time. But I was wondering if maybe the meds that im on is the reason that im tired and out of breath since that was going on before the ablation.?    Im just not feeling great.   Has anyone else felt this way.  I know its only been 10 days but I work 40 hours a week and feel lousy all day!

[tom_h]

So Cartia XT is the name brand for time release Diltiazem.  This is a pretty potent vasodialator so it is very effective in lowering blood pressure by relaxing the arteries, and slowing the heart rate   It has a very short half life, so unless you're taking large amounts, it's hard to acquire a buildup.  It is indicated for use in re-entrant supraventricular tachycardias, but here's an interesting fact about Diltiazem: Diltiazem may increase the ventricular rate in people with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and other accessory conduction pathways.  This is something you may want to mention to your physician when you see him.  Could it account for the way you're feeling perhaps?

[MichelleP_3811]

WPW carries a higher risk because it involves the atria and ventricles. Can I ask why you still need the meds?  My ep stated that if it is simply for svt that it isn't necessary.  It won't stop the svt just slow it down when it occurs.  It can help ease an ectopic beat issue but again may not stop them totally.  It is possible being on them for as long as you have it isn't possible to get off of them but it does sound like the svt has been corrected so maybe ask your doctor why you still need the meds. Well regardless, I still hold out a lot of hope that you will feel stronger given some time.

[Pattylb]

Thanks for the info.  I did my research before deciding on the procedure so kind of knew what might happen. But still had little concern.  Ive had two issues so far-  both was at rest.  One felt like double hear rate the other felt like svt. Both only lasted a min. Or so.  My EP said that it was a success and that he burned it twice to make sure.  Ekg is normal now.  I don't go back to him till a month.  I have an appt. with my reg. cardiologist  today for check up on the meds that he switched me on when iI had first bad attack.  To explain a little iv'e had these attacks for many years never told it was svt, was told that i had a silent heart attack at one point.  I thought that a was having panic attacks all these years . Until I had one and couldnt stop it.  Went to ER and they. Had to give me something cant remember what it was. That is when I found out it was svt.  Back to the meds.  I was on Topral for a few weeks made me really out of it . Cardiologist  changed my meds to cartia xt waited a few more weeks still felling tired and weak not my self. Was going to go back to dr. And tell him that im having the sam. Issues with this med. when i had another bad svt attack within a week saw a EP and had the ablation done the following week (he had a cancelation reason why I got in so fast)   Why I posted on this poll- I guess that I just had to vent as they say.    

[MichelleP_3811]

I had avnrt ablation 4 years ago.  It took 3 months for my heart rate to settle back to normal and another year for the ectopic activity to settle down.  I still get ectopics but have not had an svt episode since the ablation.  If you are still have the exact same symptoms of fast heart rate then there may still be some tissue that needs dealing with but considering your age it may just take a bit longer for your heart to recover so try to give it a bit more time before making any definitive assessment about how well your heart will recover.  I suspect given ample time you will get stronger again but it is a slow process so just try to not over do it and just be patient.  See where you are in 3 months.  Hang in there and feel better soon.

[tom_h]

One other little thing.  My electrophysiologist that I chose was all business, and had not much of a bedside manner.  But he had experience and credentials and that's why I chose him.  Anyway I went to see him for a followup 4 weeks after my procedure.  He pronounced me fit as a fiddle.  As I was leaving, a though came and I asked him it I could drink caffeinated  beverages again.  He looked out the window of his high rise office, "See that Starbuck's over there.  Go over and have yourself a double espresso"  Report back to me if you have any problems."  That was about as much humor as I had gotten from him the entire time.  I didn't have any problems......

[tom_h]

I'm not sure the reason of your poll, but I answered it.  I've 5 years post ablation for a kind of SVT very similar to Wolff-Parkinson-White, even down to the delta wave in the EKG.  But it was something else called Circus Movement Tachcardia, with orthodromic conduction meaning that it conducted in the normal direction.  I had mine fixed after a near lifetime of SVT episodes; from 6 to 60.  It was a self sustaining SVT that would not drop out on its own once it started up.  I had to convert it using Valsalva.  It was very effective, and it kept me out of the ER that entire time.  I just lived with it and was probably why I had it for so long.  It was part of my life.  It was only after my cardiologist decided to put a 30 day monitor on my that it got his attention, and considering my age, he thought it best to get it fixed.

So, to you problem.  10 days is WAYYY to early into the recovery period to get upset.  You're going to feel these jumps, and short runs of SVT for months to come.  Your symptoms may last for over a year.

WPW and what I have are in the AVRT family.  They are pure accessory pathways.  This errant pathway must be severed by burning or freezing, but note the word "severed".  Basically, a burn is made across the muscle fiber that is supporting conduction.  The path remains.  It just had a barricade placed across it.  If a tiny thread of conductive muscle remains, feeble or occasional conduction can occur.

I think the symptoms that you report are very normal.  I had a little fatigue, but not much.  My heart rate was elevated a little too.  What I recall having a lot of was "heart ache".  I'd double over on occasion as the ache swept over my chest.  If would fade out, and I'd be ok until the next one.  This lasted for about 2 to 3 weeks.  By then I was as active as I could be, but I wasn't 100% for about 6 to 8 weeks I think.

I remain on Metoprolol, which is what I was on prior to my ablation.  I've been on it now for nearly 10 years.  I use it now for mild hypertension, and it's extremely effective for that.  It did literally nothing to prevent SVT episodes though.  Today I still get short little runs of SVT, but they are inconsequential.  They almost always occur at rest.  I am still very active for my age, and find that I have no problems during strenuous periods of activity.  At 65, I sill climb communication towers, and of course skate.  I'll do that until they bury me!

So have patience, and be active.  Light exercise is good for you now, of course with your physician's approval.  ..... and enjoy life free of SVT.