Ablation Monday 11/26

[dmacd74]

I am still scheduled for RF ablation Monday and as luck would have it, very few pvcs for the last 2 days after 3 and a half years of near constant arrhythmia.  That is fine with me as I am looking forward to a Thanksgiving without the thumping in my chest.  By the weekend I intend to "live badly" to see if I can self induce.  I'm going to have a cocktail or two, eat chocolate and drink coffee - all things I have been avoiding for 4 years (which has done squat to alleviate these darn little monsters btw).  My doctor said he could induce them with adrenaline on the table, but I think this reprieve is not going to last.  I had an echo last week but have not heard the results.  Every other echo I've ever had was ok, so I am assuming that no news is good news.  I am averaging about 8K pvcs/day for the last year or so, so I am happy to have a break for Thanksgiving, but of course it is making me judge whether I should be doing this or not.  I don't think there is any other physical affliction that messes with your head more than arrhythmia!  I am worried about the ablation causing another type of arrhythmia, or a stroke, or something worse! (death, maybe??).  Wish I could get my anxiety under control.  It would be nice to live like a normal person and not have to feel my crazy heartbeat all the time.  I also have runs of something that don't feel like regular pvcs strung together.  My breathing gets screwed up too when this happens, feels like I can't catch my breath.  My heart rate goes up, not over 100, but close to 100.  Anyways, I hope everything is evident during the ablation.  I'll be interested to see if the evil chocolate and coffee can bring them on.  I don't think so though because when I was in Spain and France I drank that insanely delicious cafe they serve and not one pvc or pac!!!  On the plane home - oh yeah!  Debbie

[dmacd74]

Thank you so much for all the encouragement.  Tell you what, if I win Powerball tonight, you each get 1 Million!!  I have a couple of questions if you don't mind.  Last night and also the first night I woke up with severe throbbing pain in both groins.  It's hot to touch too, but yesterday it subsided.  It's too early now to tell if it will improve today.  I was told only to take Tylenol which doesn't help.  Also still having some short bursts of chest twinges.  When I was on the table I had chest pain which I told them about.  They said it was just probes, not heart attack or anything.  Seems like the twinges are coming from the same place, left side kind of under the arm, but still considered the chest I guess.  Also, so tired, is that normal?  But guess what Friends!?!??  No clicking!  No clacking!  No SOB!!!  Loving it!!  Dying for coffee, but I'm going to wait a few weeks and then I will test very carefully and slowly.

[dolphin8808]

Such wonderful and amazing news! So very very happy for you, you truly give us fellow suffers light at the end of the tunnel. So proud of you too :)

[tom_h]

Wonderful news, Deb!  You should feel thrilled and brave.  It's certainly an event to remember.  I hope you feel better soon.  Let us know how you progress.  I knew you could do it!

[dmacd74]

Dear Friends,  I am back from the ablation, resting in bed. It's hard to believe that I was strapped to a table in a cold operating room just 24 hours ago.  I feel tired and have lots of groin pain, but - NOT ONE PVC SINCE YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  First day for 15 years (except for 4 days in September).  I have been feeling what they call atrial flutter (maybe a PAC), about one every minute.  Doctor said that lots of patients get some sort of flutter after all the poking around.  He said most get better right away but one patient had atrial flutter for six months before it got better.  I can live with it, it feels like a light brush stroke inside the chest.  I thought of you all too, and was anxious to report back.  Claytex, how was your procedure yesterday?  Thought of you too.  There were lots of times yesterday I thought, "oh I've got to tell the group this, or that".  I am going to write a status report later.  I am thrilled and feel brave that I went through with it.  Awake throughout, which was important, but not a good thing.  Details in status report.  Deb

[horseluver4]

Meant any prior Ablations? And are you on meds now to help control the skips? And do you have to come off them prior to surgery? :(

[horseluver4]

Was wondering did you have an ablation? How was it if you did?

[tom_h]

Debbie, for 54 years I though I was the one who suffered from SVT.  I never met another soul ti share stories with.  Then I found this group, and realized that I was far from being alone.  If all goes well, Tuesday you'll begin a restart of your life.  If it doesn't work, at least you gave it a shot.  But, the odds are in your favor.

I too  have experiencing vanishing posts.  Lately I've been making them and copying them to the buffer in case it does'nt post.  JUst CTRL V and you can restore the entire post.  Emily the moderator reports that it is supposedly fixed.

[dmacd74]

Geesh!!!  I was quite the writer this morning lying in bed on my phone, writing a completely BRILLIANT response to all of you!  But, poof, it disappeared into thin air!!  So instead of getting my brilliant, amazing, grateful response, you are now getting my second effort.  Where do these emails go?  I guess the same place all my husbands socks go.  Anyways, thank you all who wrote.  This is such a great group and I am glad I belong.  I have been a faithful lurker, but now always a faithful participant.  I think I disappeared this past year because I was living a nightmare with the skips and just got sick of the whole thing.  I tend to participate less when I am feeling bad.  I have felt like such a burden to my husband and kids over the years.  I remember when my son came home from middle school years ago and would walk in the door and gauge my face for how I was feeling.  Not to mention how many walks with my husband have ended because I was in bigeminy.  I get the hard thumping bigeminy too, not the light flutters.  I have had to endure them straight, every day (except for 4 days in September for NO apparent reason!!) since April.  That means that I was thumping for Easter, Mother's Day, my daughter's college graduation, and my CA friend's annual visit in August - which is crazy and lots of fun.  I did all of this with skipping heart that feels like my chest houses a popcorn machine.  Anyways, it is not cancer, I realize and sometimes it's valuable to put it into perspective, but crap, is it an annoying affliction that can really undermine your happiness!

[claytex]

Hey tom thats great.. mine wont miss a beat but it will feel fluttery if i drink alcohol or have too much caffine... My be all in my mind... I just dont want that danged afib coming back.....life is too good now with out it!!!!!  Claytex

[achillea]

P.S.:  You, too, tom_h!

[achillea]

Thanks for that very helpful, complete, and cheerful report on your procedure.  It's very reassuring to those of us who might be facing ablation someday.

[tom_h]

I remember as I was being released from care at my 1 month follow up, I asked my electrophysiologist if this meant I could enjoy caffeinated drinks again.  This guy's usually all business,, but he dryly said to me, "Go across the street to Starbuck's and get a double espresso.... and have one for me".  So that was it, and I was on my way.  Today, caffeine has no affect on my heart, and I sometimes go nuts on Cherry Coke Zero; no problem.....  Alcoholic beverages like wine, and beer will raise my heart rate as I think it does with everyone, but no arrhythmia to speak of.

[claytex]

MsDMac..I forgot to mention one thing.. you were mentioning the caffine, chocolate and alcohol.. well I will tell you this.. even after my ablations if i eat chocolate, caffine or have alcohol... my heart will not miss beats.. but it will feel like its going to once in a while.. I can drink a half cup of beer.. and it will get a fluttery feeling.. sooooo I leave em alone and all is fine.. Claytex

[claytex]

Well Ms.Mac... Ive had two ablations. The first was for Afib and the second for pvcs and pacs that developed 2 years after the first ablation. I had afib for 12-13 years before getting the first ablation about 3 years ago.. I have  been shocked back into regular rhythm  somewhere between 12-15 times.. until I had the ablation and it stopped the afib... havent had it since and that was 3 years ago... since having the ablation for pvcs one year ago.. I dont have them anymore.. my ole ticker just ticks along real constant at about 65 ticks per minute...well any way... The doctor was unable to induce afib or pvcs during either ablation and both ablations worked... He told me each type of arrythma comes from different or specific areas of the heart most of the time.. so if they have done lots of ablations, they know where to ablate for the specific kinds of arrythmas... so dont sweat it kid... no need to get up tight.. just go in there monday morning and tell em to get the show on the road that your ready to get rid of those pesky arrythmas...I will add that it takes at least 3 months for ones heart to  heal.  Personally I think it takes 6-8 months for your heart to finally get to completely healed or to know how your heart is going to be permanently ...if that makes sense.... oh you will be fine much sooner...but i really feel it takes a few months to get all of the dents and pings out.. hope that makes sense... and I hope my goofy comments were helpful.. and I hope everything goes just great for you.. but again.. no need to be nervous or up thight.. theres really not much to it... just go in there and get it done... and get back to your regular routine... Claytex

[ireneo]

Usually the doctors trigger the arrhythmias during the procedure with medication. That way they can find the troubled areas and remove them. My heart was quiet before my ablations but when they got in there and fiddled around, my doctor said it was like the 4th of July (fireworks). But I have several different types of arrhythmias plus they found one extra we didn't know about yet.  LOL  Everything worked out well for me and I hope it works out well for you.

For me coffee would trigger my heart so I don't drink it. Even a bit too much chocolate will do it so I limit myself. Each person reacts differently. You're fortunate to enjoy the finer things in life.  :-)

[dolphin8808]

I really hope they pop up for you again! Isn't that strange how that happens?  I have heard of many people who have had ablation with great success. The docs really know what they are doing and there is not a better place to have an abnormal beat then on the table with your EP there.

Here is to a nice quiet Thanksgiving and a very successful ablation!