About to Receive a Pacemaker

My diagnosis is A-Fib and flutter. I have had two ablations and several Cardioversions. I have a problem taking antiarrhythmic drugs due to the side effects. The latest one tried was Tikosyn which I started last week without severe side effects but have felt absolutely lousy since I started it. I went in Thursday for a 1 week follow-up EKG and the Doctor's office called Friday expressing concern because the pause between my heartbeats is continuing to increase in length. They do not feel the Tikosyn is working or right for me and want to do an AV Ablation and pacemaker. It is probably irrational on my part but this scares me. I have no idea what to expect and am looking for some information.

I guess I am looking for any information on what to expect.

2 Comments

It is perfectly normal to

by donr - 2015-01-24 11:01:03

...be scared of what you face. It's the unknown!!!

There are a lot of people in here who have had successful ablations for your problem, so you are not alone by any stretch.

You must have a special cause for your A-Fib if he wants to do an AV ablation. In that respect, you are fortunate. Those tend to have a higher success rate.

Our best evidence on ablations has not posted in about a week, but someone else should be by to follow up on this sketchy comment.

I wish you well.

Donr

Mostly it's positive

by Theknotguy - 2015-01-25 08:01:44

I have afib a lot. Over 200 episodes in the past year with some sessions lasting up to 24 hours. My EP has indicated ablation may not have a good success rate with my kind of afib. So they've gone a different route.

Medications have helped my afib. My PM, a Medtronic,, has a setting called APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) that's supposed to help with afib. Between medication and APP, APP, or medication, or combinations thereof, my afib sessions have been reduced. Something for which I am very happy.

I can do 99.999% of what I did before I had the PM. So the PM in and of itself hasn't been a detriment to my lifestyle. In fact, because I'm feeling better, my lifestyle has improved.

Worst case scenario is that, post PM, your lifestyle is about the same. Very rarely do we hear where the PM has made things worse. It can happen, but it's rare. Most of the comments you see here are positive to very positive.

You will have an adjustment period. That can last weeks or months. It just depends upon your heart problems and how the PM helps.

As I said before, very little negative impact on my lifestyle and a better outlook for the future.

You can always come back to the forum with questions or concerns. I've gotten some very good information from the members of the forum. In a lot of cases, much better than what I've gotten from medical people who should have known better.

Hope everything goes well for you.

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.