AV Node

I am scheduled for AV node ablation in April. I have had a pacemaker since 2009, had ablations done 6/2012 and12/2012. Both procedures failed to help and symptoms are worse. My latest was over 600 events on the pacemaker in less than 24 hours. My afib causes ventricular tachycardia and I can no longer work. Is anyone aware of other options than the AV node ablation? Meds have been exhausted. How will this help my quality of life? I am in bed most of the time now. Activity set it off.
Thanks
Ty

2 Comments

I had an AV node ablation in 2000

by janetinak - 2013-03-14 03:03:43

with insertion of a PM at the same time. Actually had it done twice (Oct 2000 & Jan 2001) PM with the 1st one. I woke up from slight sedation after the 1st w/o any SOB & extremer fatigue. Well you know how it feels. Had the 2nd one as my Afib was over-riding the PM. That got fixed after #2. Continue to feel great., active & on my 3 rd PM. It is a major change in my life & for the better. I will remain ion Coumadin the rest of my life but small price to pay to be able to ignore my Afib & live life to fullest.

Hope that helps,

Janet

I Had One Too...

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-14 09:03:08

I also had an AV Node ablation. We tried everything possible for the last 26 years to stop the A-fib and other problems damaging my heart (I'm 52 and was born with a bad heart, but the A-fib didn't start until 1987). For me, there were no other options. I waited as long as possible for the AV Node ablation. Please make sure there are absolutely NO other options for you as well.

My surgeon would not do it until I was in a life threatening situation. It was a last ditch effort short of a heart transplant. There were strict guidelines I had to fall under. I had to be in the highest level of heart failure & cardiomyopathy, I had to be bad enough that they believed I would not survive a year without the procedure (they believed less), my EF had to be below 30, and I had to have tried absolutely every medication or procedure possible to improve my situation (I was in uncontrolled, chronic, high rate A-fib the entire time, along with other heart problems.)

Please take your decision very seriously. It cannot be reversed once it is done. You will be 100% paced and 100% dependent, and my A-fib is still there (still chronic, but now at a controlled rate from the CRT-P/procedure). I was told before I had my device, procedure, and surgery that it would NOT cure my A-fib. Again, it didn't. Please make sure you are clear on what this procedure will and won't do for you and decide if it's worth it for you.

I am doing better. I haven't been in the hospital once since my procedure (my CHF was constantly causing me problems before) and my EF is now above 30. I just did my first big, real hike last weekend (the first in 2 years)! I did great during the hike, but had problems afterwards (I probably should have tried a smaller one first) but it was still worth it!

Am I glad I had the AV Node ablation/CRT-P? Sometimes, yes... Sometimes, no. I am extremely active, work full time, and enjoy life and everything in it. So, if this makes me stay in this life a little bit longer, I am grateful! I just have to remind myself of that sometimes when I have setting or other PM issues. In fact, I'm going in today for an issue. LOL!

Feel free to private message me if you have any other questions.

PS: I had mine done last April! :)

Good luck with your decision!

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.