chronic AFIB

I was wondering if anyone out there was going through the same thing I am right now. I have had numerous ablations which resulted in two things: One... I have a complete AV block at 100%...Two.. I am 100% paced... My underlying heart deseases are Brady syndrome and PSVT.. The blood that is trapped in the bottom of my heart results in the direct symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure... Well I found out the other day that am in AFIB 2/3's of the time... The top chamber of my heart is trying to do what it did all those years ago.. now they have me on a generic of tambacore at 200 mg a day.. OMG.. I feel so sluggish and my brain feels like I have cotton in there instead of brain cells..Question.......I read about a surgery they are doing for people who are in chronic afib.. it is an alternative to taking this much medication... does anyone know what that surgery is called?

5 Comments

Not Sure...

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-28 10:01:00

I have chronic A-fib as well, and have since 1987. It was chronic, uncontrolled (high rate) A-fib. Because of this (especially the high rate), it caused cardiomyopathy with heart failure (I had on and off heart failure until the last two years when it was constant.)

In April, I had a CRT-P with an AV Node ablation to bring my heart rate down, but not to "cure" the A-Fib. It did "improve" things because of the rate coming down, and helping the chambers work better together, but my A-fib is still there. It is now considered chronic controlled A-fib vs uncontrolled since the rate is now controlled by the PM.

Could this be the surgery (procedure) you are thinking of? I've had two open heart surgeries in the past for other heart problems, but never was it mentioned that there was a surgery for A-fib.

Maybe someone else can tell you what surgery you heard about. It would be great if there is something out there, because I too, do not tolerate meds well. I was on Tambacor when it was in the experimental stage, so I know what you're talking about. They tried every other medication that is supposed improve A-fib and none of those worked either, nor did I like the side effects.

Again, the CRT-P with AV Node ablation brought down the rate, but did not fix the A-fib. This is an absolute last resort procedure, so please get numerous opinions if your cardiologist or EP doc suggests it, and make sure to do LOTS of research to educate yourself regarding the pros & cons of the procedure. You will be 100% dependent on the PM, so you really need to get all the info you can on this. I do feel better with mine, but am not always sure I made the right decision, even though I was to the point where I no longer had a choice.

Feel free to private message me if you have any questions on this procedure/surgery. There are others out here too that have had this done, so you'll probably get some other answers.

Good luck!

Thanks for all the feedback

by vphillips - 2013-01-29 01:01:25

I had 4 ablations in my early 20's. Which resulted in them removing the nodes completely. I have a total 100% av block.. I was on life support for most of the day until a team of doctors came in from Texas. I was then given the Kappa 2000 pacemaker which I was and still am 100% paced.. Now here it is 20 years later and I am in Afib 2/3's of the time. This surgery I had heard of said it was something like stints but different.. I cant find the article now.. but i do know I feel like I have cotton in my head instead of a brain on this medicine..

I agree with Tammy

by janetinak - 2013-01-29 04:01:16

as I have had AV node ablation with 100% PM now for hi rate Afib. I am not sorry as I had no choice, tried everything else. I doubt that is the procedure they are talking about. Someone in the last few here was talking about surgical removing part of the atrium. Maybe that is what they are talking about. I think it was called something like a "Atriumectomy?". Maybe if you play around with the search button (upper right this page) it may come up. I am sure I have not spelled it correctly tho.

Good luck with the search. Maybe a Goggle search?

Janet

I Saw That Too Janet

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-29 09:01:06

I believe I saw the same post you did Janet, but when I went back to find it, it was talking about taking blood thinners when you have chronic A-fib. They said there was a surgery to remove part of the atrium for anti-clotting purposes I think. Maybe I'm wrong, but that's the only thing I've seen lately. I think maybe the title of her/his post was "Blood Thinners" or something close to that, but again, I may be wrong.

I'm watching this post to see what else is out there to correct A-fib, as I too am still in it, and it continues to damage my heart after so many years.

I'm not against having the AV Node ablation per say, as I too had no choice and do feel better. I have just seen a few things out there that make me a little nervous since there is no turning back once you do it.

With it, there are quite a few new things to get used to, and with a couple of bad settings a while back, that is always in the back of my mind for in the future. Other than that, I think it's a good option for others like us that there isn't any other choice.

For anyone considering an AV Node Ablation, make sure to get multiple "second" opinions. My hospital and EP doc have a lot of criteria you must meet since it doesn't cure your problems, it is "permanent", and you must be 100% paced/dependent.

My EP doc's criteria was that I had to be in the highest level of both CHF and Cardiomyopathy. My EF had to be below 30, and there had to be several other life threatening damage to the heart as well. I also needed to meet the criteria for needing a heart transplant (less than a year to live, etc.) My EP doc waited until he felt I had 3 months, then said we must do this.

Like Janet said, if there is no choice, you need to seriously consider doing it, if not just flat out doing it like we had to do. But, please do try everything else there is first, just like Janet and I (and others in our situation) did.

Best wishes to all

Found the article & it was a few below

by janetinak - 2013-01-30 01:01:04

oorginal post for this question.And Tammy is right. I think I was confused as I my EP gave a lecture few yrs ago & said a lot of Afib's orginate in the pulmonary area where the oxygenated blood comes back to the left atrium. Oh well, amybe somebody will come up with the correct answer.

Janet

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