post ablation flutter

Hello all, f0xmulder here. I am new to the forum and this is my first post. I was born with tetralogy of fallot, and was repaired at the age of 4, i am now 38. During the past six months I have received two inappropriate shocks from my defibrillator due to atrial flutter. My EP doc tried to control the flutter with meds, but after the second shock, decided it was time for an ablation. I had my ablation done at Duke University Medical Center about 3 weeks ago. They found 2 areas that needed to be ablated, and dealt with it. My EP doc told me to get back to living life and gave me no restrictions. My EP doc also referred me to Dr. Samuel Sears at ECU, Dr. Sears is a psychologist that specializes in patients with defibrillators, and helping them cope. Dr Sears also gave me no restrictions and told me to go out and enjoy life. I am a very active person and so I did just as the doctor ordered, I felt great the first two weeks after the ablation, but this past week I have had bouts with what I believe is atrial flutter, because it feels just like it did before the ablation. Very rapid heart rate, sometimes when I'm doing absolutely nothing....just sitting in a chair. My next EP appt. is for the middle of May, so I am going to try and get that moved up. I was wondering if any one has experienced this, and can they go in and do another ablation??? I was so happy after my ablation, I truly felt like my old self, but now I am very discouraged. Thanks.

2 Comments

Hi

by Karen - 2012-04-15 07:04:36

I was born with Tretaology of fallot too. My first repair surgery was at 6. I just had my third surgery inAug. 11.2012 ? I have pacemaker not a defibrillator. They tried correcting my aflutter with pacemaker that didn't work then they tried 4 times to shock me that didn't work then they put me on Tikosyn that put me in a fatal heart rythem. So they stopped that. Then they checked my pacemaker the next day and said I was out of aflutter. Recently they switched my pacemaker modes from ddi to ddd. I forgot to ask them if I was in aflutter or not when they switch my modes. Don't get discouraged.

Ablation recovery

by turboz24 - 2012-04-16 11:04:56

It can take upto 3 months for the heart to totally recover from an ablation. I recovered pretty quickly after my first 2 ablations, but my last ablation included epicardial and endocardial approach and they ablated 21 spots on the exterior surface of my heart. This recovery has taken a lot longer....I'm finally starting to feel better, though after 2.5 months.

I will tell you that you will also probably experience some PTSD from the shocks. Mine comes from having an ablation and worrying that it will not be successful and I will have to go in and get it done yet again, so everytime I still experience feelings like I get when I go into Vtach, I get worried. Usually my core heats up, I feel a little dizzy, etc. They are nothing (I check my pulse), but still worries me a little.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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