STILL NO PACEMAKER

Hello all from Australia..
Last time I posted message under the title of "Pacemaker here I come" I advised that I was to go through a cardioversion to see if I could put off the PM, well guess what, the cardioversion
worked at 50j and for a whole three weeks I felt great then pop back to the old problems..
Well back to the Doctor expecting to be able to have PM fitted so that I could get on with my life..No not to be,he wants me to go through a RADIO FREQUENCY ABLATION..Anyone in the PM club been through this procedure.???
Would like hear your views on this as the doctor is saying the PM is a last resort..
Good luck everyone.

4 Comments

Ablations

by gaby - 2007-06-21 06:06:01

I would say don't get the pacer unless it is absoultly necessary. I was on several drugs after I developed SVT and had bad side effects from most. I then had an Ablation in 2001 and it lasted for a while. Had to have the pacemaker put in as an emergency surgery because I nearly lost my life. I was on another drug and more side effects not serious but annoying. I had a second Ablation in 2006 and am looking at anouther one either 2007 or 2008. If drugs don't help, and the ablation doesn't help then I would say yes to the pacemaker. My Pacemaker has actually caused me to have a ton more episodes and is causeing more problems. I now really have no other options other than repeat ablations yearly and drugs that cause problems.

I have a friend who suffered from arrhythmias. Tried several drugs had the Maze Procedure and is now Pacemaker dependant and has had 100% more issues since she got the pacemaker than before she had it. She keeps telling me she wants them to take it out but they can't cause it is what is keeping her alive.

Had 2 ablations done

by sweetkozy - 2007-06-21 12:06:12

I have had 2 ablations done, 2002 and 2003. Both of my ablations were short lived also. The second one has worked better than the first, but the longer it goes the more more problems come back. Both of them were sinus node ablations.

During my first ablation, I was semi-conscious through the entire procedure. It took them about 4 hours. I remember very little during it, except throwing up. LOL That was no fun! After the procedure, I had some minor complications and was in some pain where the sites of insertion were. Usually you are out of the hospital the next day or so, but I ended up being there for 6 days. My PM was implanted on the 5th day of my stay. There is a risk of receiving a PM after the ablation. My heart began pausing for long periods of times. Maybe you will be lucky and get your PM shortly after your ablation. :) I was planning on a PM implant, but didn't expect to have one so soon. I am glad it was implanted sooner than later, because it has surely helped me and has taken away most of my symptoms.

Had another ablation because the first one just temporarily fixed my problem. This ablation I was asleep for the entire procedure. I made sure of that! It was a breeze! When I woke up, I had just slight discomfort at my sites and was ready to get going the next day. It felt like I almost had nothing done, I felt so good the next day. This ablation worked for about 2 years and now my tachycardia's are coming back and getting more frequent. Not sure if it's even worth going back in for another procedure.

I hope all goes well and if you want a PM, I hope you get one! It has done me well and I feel so much better and am not so tired all the time. Good Luck and keep us informed!

Jenny

I sure have!

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-06-21 12:06:48

Hi Ronny.

I have had 4 RF ablations, all short lived, and had to have a pacemaker implanted, after AV node ablation.
I resisted the pacemaker for the longest time, because I was misinformed about them. I got tired of spending my life in the hospital, and finally gave in.
I now wish I had done it sooner. It has changed my life for the better. Also, finding this site has taught me so much more. I am no longer pacemaker ignorant, and I have to thank all the good people, the members, who stand by you no matter what, and try to answer any questions you may have, to the best of their ability.
If getting a pacemaker as a last resort, is what is meant for you, it probably means that every other means have been tried and failed. I had the same odds.
Best of luck with your ablation, who knows, you may be the lucky one, and it may be totally successful.
Take care,

~ Dominique ~

Ablation and pacemaker

by Vai - 2007-06-22 06:06:24

Reading the comments to the post is very educational and relevant for me. My doctor had explained some of these to me and I can understand some of it now through the shared experiences. However I want to share my own experiene and the path the doctors took.

The tachycardias was driving me to av ablation and possibly followed by a pacemaker in mid 2006. The tachys were symptoms of another underlying problem - cardiomyopathy. I was also told the afibs would be progressive over time and ablations would at best be good for 1 - 2 years (which seem to match the experiences shared on this site). However my doctor suggested a different path - put in a pacemaker first and managed the arrythmia with medication plus lifestyle changes. It is really a management of the illness rather than finding a cure.

I followed that option. No ablation but a PM was implanted in Aug 2006 + medication to manage the atrial fibrillation + lifestyle changes. So far life with the PM has improved. Side effects of drugs manageable. Afib and tachy episodes hardly noticeable. Life style changes include walk away from a high stress executive job, gave up competitive & contact sports, lose weight, minimum alcohol, discipline in medication (no matter where I am), zero caffeine etc Sound like no fun but its a bliss to be alive and active enjoying life with family, loved ones and friends. This is the real joy in life.

I hope your "journey" with this illness will be a good one.


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