AV node ablation recovery

would any of you who have had SSS and AV node ablation tell me approx how long does it take after to be really alive again - to be able to go for a brisk walk and play golf. Many thanks

4 Comments

Just a few days

by golden_snitch - 2013-02-07 05:02:07

Hi!

I started running two weeks after AV-node ablation. Walked for 30-60 minutes already one or two days after the ablation. I have had 8 ablations, but never needed much time to recover, just days, not even a week.

Thought you were having your AV-node ablated, then read that you suffer from SSS. If you have sinus tachycardia, and are going for an AV-node ablation, it can be a problem for the pacemaker to differentiate between "good" and "bad" atrial rhythms afterwards. It will probably not interpret sinus tachycardia as an arrhythmia, so it will just track that rhythm --> make your ventricles beat at the same rate your sinus node is firing at. What it detects an as arrhythmia very well is atrial flutter and fibrillation, but slow tachycardias are a problem. Unless you program the upper rate limit very low, below the rate your sinus tachycardia runs at. That might in return limit your ability to exercise. Or you have to program the pacer into VVIR mode which means: it ignores what's going on in the atria and just paces the ventricles. That can lead to your atria and ventricles beating out of sync, both in their own rhythm. Very much like in a pacemaker syndrome. I have had that, and do not tolerate it at all.

Or are you going to have both ablated, AV and SA node? For sinus tachycardia I'd always try modifying the SA-node first, without touching the AV-node. I know that it often doesn't work, but before having this very radical approach of ablating just everything, I'd give it a try. If there is a slight chance of ending up being paced 100% in the atria OR ventricles, instead of 100% in all chambers, you should take it!

Best
Inga

AV Node Ablation

by Many Blessings - 2013-02-07 09:02:10

Hi!

I had a CRT-P with AV-node ablation. I had chronic, high rate A-fib, cardiomyopathy with heart failure. All in the highest (worst) levels, along with other heart problems since birth. I'm 52.

If you haven't already had the AV node ablation, do take your time in trying everything else first. Do you homework, get LOTS of second opionions, and only do it as a last option. You will be (or are) 100% paced, and 100% dependent on your device forever. There is no turning back. I'm not sure about the SA node.

If you've already had it done (AV Node) it might take a couple of weeks. It took me a total of 3 weeks before I was really out there doing things. I was in the hospital a week, then stayed home from work a couple of weeks after I came home. After that, I was back to going back to my normal routine. I started my exercise videos at a slower pace before hitting the harder routines. I'm still in A-fib and have all of my other issues that I had before my CRT-P, but my heart rate is now at 80-150 instead of MUCH higher. That does help a LOT.

I think the recovery is different for everyone. I had issues with the drugs they gave me, both in the hospital and those they gave me to use to sleep when I got home. There were some setting changes that weren't comfortable at first either, but after a couple of weeks, that was under control as well. I think it just depends on what they did, how easy it went, how long you're in the hospital, and how your body responds to everything.

Good luck!

Have you already had your surgery yet?

Inga

by Many Blessings - 2013-02-07 09:02:24

Hi,

Yes, I had everything done and put in at once. You're right, that should help mtulau's recovery go faster and easier. I'll keep watching to see how it goes for him/her.

Take care!

Tammy

by golden_snitch - 2013-02-07 11:02:36

Hey!

Tammy, I think mtulau's pacemaker is already in, so recovery should be much faster. I can imagine that it was more difficult for you since you seem to have had the ablation and pacemaker implant at the same time, didn't you?

Inga

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