ablation

Is abaltion a better way than a PM for SSS? My friend had an ablation and was told that PM was cheaper easier way than the Ablation.

4 Comments

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by Tracey_E - 2013-12-21 11:12:35

A pm is the only solution for a slow heart rate, which can be caused by SSS. Ablation is a possible solution for a too-fast heart rate, drugs can also be considered. I can't think of a reason why you'd choose between ablation and pm, they do not solve the same problems. Sometimes you get an ablation AND pm, either by intent or as an unintended side effect, depending what they were trying to ablate.

OK

by 28sedan - 2013-12-22 01:12:04

My friend said he had slow heart rate dizzy spells his heart rate would not go over 100 on the tread mill. These are all the same symptoms I had. So I had to ask here to find out more than I know now. If I had the choice I would prefer not to have the PM.I Had to ask. thank you

Bad a-fib

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-22 02:12:39

I have bad a-fib. The medication I was on to control the a-fib caused an "undetermined" event. My heart rate was 20 when the EMT's got there and it stopped on the way to the hospital. Then they almost didn't get it restarted at the hospital.

They can't control my heart rhythm so they're using medication and the PM to control the rate. Medication slows the heart down so I don't go into uncontrolled a-fib and the PM keeps it beating fast enough to keep me alive.

If I get the a-fib which causes my heart to start beating faster and faster I have medication and a procedure to go through before I punch the button to go to the ER.

So I'm siting here between the proverbial rock and a hard place. If they slow down my heart to take care of the a-fib it slows down too much and kills me. If they don't control the a-fib my heart beats too fast and it kills me. My grandparents didn't swim in the wrong gene pool, they jumped into the gene sewer.

So I'm looking at ablation to stop the run away heart rate due to a-fib. If it works I'm off the medication to slow down my heart. Perhaps you are in a similar situation?

Prior to my PM implant I would have agreed with you. Keep the PM implantation off for as long as possible.

However, at this moment, I'm glad I got the PM. My heart can no longer go off willy-nilly doing anything it likes. No more missed beats, no thumps in the night while it decides whether it's going to beat or not. No chest pain from the 3/4 time while the top part tries to push blood into a closed ventricle. This is the best I've felt in over eight years. So my quality of life has improved considerably.

With the PM I'm no longer cold all the time. I don't have to gasp for air. I don't get dizzy when I stand up. Exercise makes me feel good instead of exhausting me. My mind is sharper. I'm not constantly having heart flips, thumps, flutters, etc. Food tastes good - not that I ever had any problems eating.

Surprisingly enough, living with the PM isn't as restrictive as the medical people have told me. I will go up to 95% of what I was doing before the PM. I have to give up tossing 90 pound 4x8 foot sheets of melamine around but I was getting tired of that. I have to give up sky diving, professional football, olympic weight lifting, free form rock climbing, and deep sea diving. But I wasn't doing those things anyway so I guess I won't miss them.

They are telling me I've got a good chance at making age 100. I'm looking forward to it.

Theknotguy

My ablation led me to a PM

by valley01 - 2013-12-22 05:12:18

My heart rate was 37 before the ablation (for idiopathic ventricular tachycardia) and I could function. After the ablation my heart rate dropped to 30 and I couldn't function without feeling like I was going to pass out so I had the PM put in 5 days after the ablation.

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!