Afib still with pacemaker

I had a pacemaker implanted back on 9/6/13 because my heart was beating fast all the time and the top and bottom chambers of my heart were not working how they were supposed too, I have gone to 3 different doctors. I am 31 years old and have 5 year old daughter but was TIRED ALL the time and wore out so the options were meds which I didnt want or Pacemaker, I choose the pacemaker and they did what they called Biventricular pacemaker and now I am dependent to the pacemaker. But I am still having AFIB problems and rapid beats and found out that I have small veins around my heart. Is this all normal??? I had previously had 2 ablations done previously and had what was called JET... Now my options are meds or try another ablation for the AFIB problem???

6 Comments

Look into this..

by Duke999 - 2013-10-30 03:10:11

Hello nina2301, I just want to share with you my own experience. If I may suggest you to look into Magnesium. Magnesium is a miraculous mineral/supplement. You should research on this mineral and find wonders about it. It is needed by many parts of our body including the heart's electrical function. Originally, I was prescribed to take Flecainide after my PM put in back in March this year, but I don't like the side effects of drugs, so I researched for alternatives. The supplements I take are Magnesium Taurate and Taurine. I hope I'm steering you into the right direction to help you with your case. After you're done with your research and still have more questions, you can send me a message. I will do my best to answer them. I wish you well and find a solution soon to ease your discomfort.

Duke

AV-node ablation?

by golden_snitch - 2013-10-30 04:10:58

Hi Nina!

If they did a pacemaker for fast Afib, and told you that you're dependent on the device now, I'd guess that you had an AV-node ablation along with the pacer implant. That way, the electrical connection between atria and ventricles was cut, so that no matter what's happening in the atria, the ventricles will be pacemaker stimulated at an appropriate and steady heart rate. The pacemaker is programmed in a mode where is just ignores what's happening in the atria; it does not allow any atrial tachycardia to make the ventricles beat fast. So, technically, you should not be feeling any rapid beats coming from the atria. If the AV-node has been ablated, that is impossible, unless the pacemaker isn't programmed correctly.

Has the JET been ablated successfully? Usually, when you kill the AV-node, you'll get the JET, too, because it sits in the same area. I have had it, and my AV-node was ablated, too, and now the junctional tachycardia is gone. In case the JET is not completely gone, maybe that's where the rapid beats come from?

Another ablation for the Afib only makes sense in case the AV-node has NOT been ablated, yet. If it has been ablated, you've already had the last resort therapy for Afib.

Could you clarify whether the AV-node has been ablated? If it hasn't, then the ablations you had for Afib were Pulmonary Vein Isolations (PVIs)? Again, if the AV-node hasn't been ablated, yet, one could try another ablation.

Best

Inga

A-fib w/PM

by Many Blessings - 2013-10-30 10:10:16

Hi Nina,

This is just my experience, so it's not in all cases, but I was in chronic (permanent), uncontrolled (high rate) A-fib since 1987. I tried everything, and I mean everything, medically, medicine, cardioversions, procedures, experimental, alternative, natural & homeopathic, etc., to try and cure it for years. My A-fib stemmed from some permanent damage done during one or both of my open heart surgeries from when I was in my teens and 20's.

I had my CRT-P with AV Node ablation (and some more actual surgeries) about a year an a half ago. Before this was done, it was made very clear to me by my EP doc, surgeons, and cardio doc, that this would not cure my A-fib, but would only help the heart work more efficiently, which would lesson the severity of the A-fib since the rate would now be controlled at a much lower rate.

I am still in constant, permanent A-fib, and always will be, just like they said. I still try everything "new" that I see out there as far as nutritional, supplements, and anything else that I think might help, always without any luck unfortunately, but I will continue to try!

I know from working with my own condition for many years with medical doctors, alternative doctors, nutritionists, and everyone else that "swore they had the answer and cure", that in some cases, depending on what the underlying problem that is causing the A-fib, that sometimes, there isn't a cure at this point in time.

If it is a nutritional deficiency in magnesium, potassium, calcium, or something else causing an electrolyte imbalance, then yes, a supplement could help you. But, if your underlying issue causing the A-fib is from something else (like mine from damage to the heart from past surgeries), it will not cure you, or most likely it won't even help.

Again, I tried everything, and trust me, some of the alternative doctors, supplement programs, experimental drugs/procedures and everything else not covered by insurance, cost me a LOT of money over the years, and did not make any improvement whatsoever in the A-fib.

Do try to experiment with nutrition, cutting out or back on stimulants (including sugar, caffeine, etc.), and adding supplements including calcium, magnesium, and potassium, etc., and if they help, that would be great.

I actually used Dr. Bruce West's system (organic supplements, diet, etc., which was expensive) religiously for years, without any improvement at all. Others have had luck with it. You might give it a try, but there are a LOT of supplements that you are required to take several times a day, and you must change your diet. Again, the system is expensive (and didn't work, or even improve things for me.)

I'm assuming too, that you had the AV Node ablation as well, which would control your rate. If you haven't had the AV Node ablation, that will control the rate by bringing it down to a normal range, but still won't get rid of the A-fib. You will feel much better though, since the rate will be so much lower (like it did for me.)

I wish you the best of luck!

@ av node ablation & rest...

by nina2301 - 2013-10-30 11:10:09

The jet they didn't ablate because they say where the issue is deep in my heart and they were afraid because the last time they touched it my heArt went into block mode...but now that I am in a permanent heart block mode , I don't see the problem...I am just tired of feeling exhausted and still have the break through beats and not being able to do much....

If you have another A-Fib ablation

by PacerRep - 2013-10-30 11:10:10

Find an electrophysiologist that knows how to use a "Cryoballoon". The success rate is much higher and the procedure time is cut down by 1/3rd. You can do a google search on it if your interested. It's not widely used yet because it's still fairly new (few years). We got a guy in town here that does it and he cranks those A-fib's out faster than some guys can do a typical flutter case (usually takes 60-90minutes).

Just food for thought if you go that route.

Follow up from my previous post

by nina2301 - 2013-11-15 12:11:59

I did have my av node ablated but still I am having pvc's and svt beats....I want them to try to ablate the arrhythmia but not sure if they can with my pacemaker ..

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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