one week after av node ablation

Hey guys! It's been a week since my AV node ablation and so far I'm feeling great! I do feel a little strange sometimes with my "new heartbeats", but way better than I used to! After 7 ablations, and 2 different pacemakers, I'm finally starting to feel like a person. Hope it lasts...

I was wondering, now that I'm 100% PM dependent, is there any additional precaution I should take? I've had my pacemaker for about three years, but since I didn't depend on it, I never gave it much thought. Now I'm a little bit more conscious about it. I'm 27 and wishing to live a full life, but safely! What do you think?

Meredith

7 Comments

Nothing to worry about!

by SaraTB - 2011-03-04 06:03:10

Congratulations on feeling so good. I don't think you should worry about being 100% paced, any more than you did previously.

I, too, am 100% paced after an ablation (unintentional damage, but, hey, I'm alive!) and I still don't give it any thought. Make sure you get the checks done when you're supposed to, so that the battery life can be well monitored.

One thing that I found helpful was learning that many people have an "escape rhythm", meaning that without the pacemaker, they still maintain a heartbeat, albeit a slow one. Enough to allow you to get safely to hospital, for example. My nurse practitioner turned my PM off for a few seconds to prove to me that I'd be OK: turns out I have an escape rhythm of 30 bpm, which was reassuring, but frankly,the likelihood of your pacemaker stopping is extremely, extremely small.

I'm so glad you're feeling so much better.

Great News

by tinac - 2011-03-05 03:03:02

So glad you are feeling better. You had 7 ablations??
You have been through alot. I have had 4 though that was alot but 7?
Anyway, glad you are feeling better.

wonderful

by veronika - 2011-03-05 04:03:52

great that you feel so good. I had an ablation 6 months ago and am paced 100%. sometimes I wonder if I am safe, since my first PM malfunctioned (the leads were faulty after 5 month). But I try to be optimistic. my heartbeat without a PM is 28-30 and that will keep me alive til help comes - I think.???!!!!
again, I am happy you feel great.

Dependent

by tcrabtree85 - 2011-03-05 10:03:27

Hi,
I have had multiple ablations and have no SA Node left which is the main pacer of the heart. I have had my pacer stop working completely on me and have a hard time believing that doesn't happen very often when I have heard more complaints about malfunctions.
The thing to know is that you are dependent now but that doesn't mean that you can't survive without the pacer. We have a back up beat that you should ask your Dr to explain in detail to you.
I am pacer dependent but had to have the pacer removed for two days, I wasn't functioning or able to stay awake but my heart was beating still just very low.
I don't worry about the words dependent so much. I don't think you should either. I'm 25 so pretty close to your age and realize that it is hard to deal with those words being young and wanting to live life to the fullest. I just say keep your head up and don't worry about what the pacer is doing. (Only on check ups and what not.)
Keep your head up and continue to feel better.

Blessings,
Tammy

Ah, I see!

by SaraTB - 2011-03-06 07:03:28

OK, to be honest, I don't think there's anything you can do particularly to preserve the life of the battery, without possibly reducing the efficiency of the PM - the important thing is to have it working the best way it can for your personal needs. Longevity is less important than feeling as normal as possible.

My first PM, with 100% pacing, last 6 years - which means I got the latest technology when it was replaced.

espace rhythm

by mereiriz - 2011-03-06 09:03:36

Thanks for your responses. You've been really kind! I just wanted to make something clear. I understand what you all say about the escape rhythm that can save our lives and can take us safely to a hospital. I also understand about the SA node and AV node function because I'm a med student and, as a matter of fact, I'm interested in doing cardiology. But when I talk about additional precautions I say it not because I'm worried that I could die if my PM malfunctions, but because I'm trying to make it as long-lasting as possible! I know that it can be replaced with no problem, but I don't want it to be replaced because of some mistake that could've been avoided.

In my case, I can't actually survive for long without the pacer because I don't have SA node nor AV node. Both of them were ablated. Also, because I had so many ablations for accessory pathways, my whole nerve conduction in the heart is really messed up. The doctor said that I have too many scars in both atria and that without a pacer my heart won't be able to pump adequately.

But it's true that if you start thinking about what you have and what could happen, then you can't live. That's why I keep going with my life, with my studies and everything. I'm planning to have my first baby next year (maybe) and I'm trying to be at my best for that moment! Again, thank you all for your comments!

Meredith

Hello

by atp8783 - 2011-03-09 08:03:35

I'm happy to hear you're doing great, I'm going in for my AV node ablation and pacemaker in about 2 weeks. I'm 27 as well, so I'm happy to hear from someone else thats in my shoes! I just joined the site so I'm hoping to get some good support here :)

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