V-tach caused by scar tissue from PM implant??

• by JessiWay
• 2013-05-17 04:05:24
• Complications
• 1271 views
• 0 comments

Hi everyone,
I haven't been on here in quite some time. I had my PM implanted in February of 2010 for bradycardia & a 2nd degree AV block. A little background- In 2001 I had an ablation for v-tch, it would go up into the 200's & stay until I went to sleep. I hung in with it for 3 months (pregnant) & had the ablation following the birth of my boy. It went pretty well, though we aren't sure that the scar tissue caused by it wasn't the cause of the AV block that I developed. I'm 33, normal weight & optimal health according to my cardiologist.


I have been dizzy, fatigued, & light headed with chest pains for a few months. I went into the doc for a follow up appt & was informed that I've been having episodes of V-tach for quite some time, now. I was scolded for not coming in sooner & for ignoring chest pain, but I have thousands of PVC's a day & runs of them so how the heck was I to know? They wear me out & always have, but the meds make it worse so I've been dealing with it. I don't have any recollection of the episodes of v-tac that were recorded. I'm going up into the mid-200's here & there but my "norm" is racing at this point with an average resting rate of 120-160. I'm now taking Digoxin, which hasn't made a difference as of yet, but my options are limited medication wise as everything lowers BP & mine is typically 90-110/55-60. Not much room to lower. I've laso only been on it for 3 days now. Have any of you had good luck with this medication for V-tach?

Also, they are wanting to do another ablation as they're concerned about the high rates & frequency of them. I am feeling afraid of another ablation, as they've gone into check things out a few times already & I'm feeling like I'm not invincible anymore. I know I wasn't to start with, but I felt like I was. I wasn't afraid. For some reason I am afraid now more than in the past. Theyre wondering if the v-tach is from scar tissue from the leads. Have any of you experienced this after PM implantation??

Sorry if I rambled...I'm overwhelmed & confused at this time. When my PM went in, I was only pacing 11% of the time but my EP insisted on the PM saying that the 2nd degree AV block would almost surely become 3rd degree. I am now pacing nearly 30% of the time with the heart block, and only 7% for the Bradycardia which was at a higher percentage before. I have a great cardiologist, a great EP, and the medtronic reps here in Kalispell, MT are fabulous! We have a file with a copy of every interrogation report for the last 3 years & are able to pull them all out & compare. I am truly blessed to live where I do & have the docs I do. I think part of the fear is that the docs are concerned now...they've been so calm about all the other challenges I've had the last 3 years and are concerned because of the change. I have an echo Monday to be sure that no physical damage has been caused from the high rates. The doc was worried that my heart may be weakening &that's why I'm so fatigued all the time. I am totally rambling & am going to wrap up, now. Any insight or encouragement you could offer would be highly appreciated!

Also, does anybody have Dwight on their Facebook??? I'd really like to be in contact with him again. Our PM's went in around the same time.