av node ablation

I have had a PVI and AV node ablation. I had the AV node ablation this past Dec. I had A fib and A flutter. Since having the last ablation, I have felt horrible. Some days are better than others but this past week has been terrible. I can't walk any distance 15 feet without feeling short of breath, heaviness in my chest and very fatigued. I had a pace maker adjustment
two weeks ago but it has not improved matters, if anything they are getting worse. Has anyone had the same symptoms, and is there any hope for me. I am only 57 and I feel like I am 90.

Thanks
Cindi

2 Comments

Stress

by Theknotguy - 2014-02-20 08:02:00

Cindi:

Other than the a-fib / a-flutter have you been under a lot of stress? Have you had an echocardiogram recently?

Your symptoms (in my non-professional, layman's opinion) sound like broken heart syndrome. Of course I could be 100% wrong, so take that into consideration too.

Don't get concerned, it's a curable condition, just give your cardio a call and see if they can rule that out.

Do you have a pacemaker that has APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) or a similar setting? That may help. Worth another call to your cardio person.

Hope I've given you some help.

Theknotguy

Right ventricular pacing

by golden_snitch - 2014-02-21 03:02:08

Hi Cindi!

It could be that the symptoms you are experiencing are brought on by the 100% right ventricular pacing that you have ever since the AV-node was ablated. In some patients what happens is that due to the right ventricular pacing, the right ventricle pumps a little earlier than the left, and this dissychrony leads to heart failure. If that's the case, an echo (ultrasound of the heart) should show, and the QRS-complex in your ECG would be wider than usual.

Theknotguy, a broken heart syndrome is symptom-wise much like a heart attack, and it usually appears all of a sudden and hits really hard. Many doctors mistake it for a heart attack. Since Cindi has been having symptoms since December, it's unlikely that it's a broken heart syndrome.

Also, APP in someone with permanent Afib doesn't work. How should it? The atria are fibrillating. To overrun Afib, the APP would need to pace at more than 400bpm. Medtronic: "Atrial Preference Pacing (APP) is designed to maximize atrial pacing percentage to reduce the incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias. When enabled, it can be programmed to provide continuous pacing that slightly exceeds the intrinsic sinus rate whenever the patient is not in an atrial tachyarrhythmia." There is no intrinsic sinus rate in Cindi's case, her atria are in permanent afib.

Best wishes

Inga

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.