waiting for surgery and scared

Hello Everyone, This is my first time here. I do not have a pacemaker yet but I am waiting for my surgery date any day now. I have to admit I am very scared. I am 59 and have had a 3 1/2 hour failed ablation a couple of years ago I have psvt that over the years has turned in to other complications with psvt attacks lasting 1-4 hours I had the surgery all set 3 weeks ago and they cancelled it the night before stating they wanted me to go see another ablation doctor. That doctor stated that I have a very rare case where the trigger point is under my top av node and he wanted to try what he called an aggressive ablation.. my cardiologist and I decided that didn't sound very safe and 3 surgeons have already said it can't be reached and medications either doesn't work or makes me sick. I know life is about to change for me and I'm a very active person but what it comes down to right now is the waiting for the call is really playing on my mind, sleep, thinking, nerves.. etc.. so I came across this club and from what I have read so far from everyone of you nice people that someone actually knows the mental state and fear I'm going through. plus I was in the medical field for 23 years and yes it's right we make the worst patients.

5 Comments

PSVT & pacemaker

by golden_snitch - 2015-03-18 02:03:07

It sounds as if you are getting the pacemaker because of a PSVT? Or am I missing something here? A pacemaker won't do anything about the PSVT. A pacemaker only treats bradycardia and pauses. Any type of fast arrhythmia inhibits the pacemaker.

I have had eight ablations, including one for the rare type of tachycardia that you are talking about (one that originates very close to the AV-node or in the AV-node). My pacemaker could do nothing about this tachy. I did not get the pacemaker for this arrhythmia, it had been implanted many years before after several sinus node ablations. What I needed in the end - after many, many different drugs and a careful ablation close the AV-node - was an AV-node ablation. That did the trick. Made me 100% paced in the ventricles, but the pacemaker was already in anyways.

If I were you, I'd get another ablation done. The pacemaker won't help with the PSVT. Or get the pacemaker, and then have an AV-node ablation. But only, if you have tried every medication available to stop the PSVT. AV-node ablations are a last resort therapy, and should not be done, if drugs work.

Best wishes!

welcome to the PM club

by Seabreeze - 2015-03-18 10:03:28

This site is great......It is scary when we are talking about "our engines"; I've had years of avib, meds, 2 ablations more meds and passed out one night-next thing I know I'm in the ambulance; flat lining-had a temporary PM inserted until the permanent one was ordered late the next evening.
I didn't have time to think about it like you have. I would be the same as you; thinking and thinking. There are some great avib books on amazon I just purchased. Knowledge is power; I'm writing info down to take to my next cardio appt.
I'm still having a lot of avib....that's why I'm doing some self research.
Feel free to email anytime.

Great People Here!!

by jumpercablelady - 2015-03-21 01:03:21

HI all... Thank you so much for the comments! after reading another site that was nothing but horror stories I was starting to lose it. then I found this site and so far I love the way people take the time to talk to you and help you through this scary and major change in life. I did not mention that I also have A-fib and a few other's that I can't spell..lol
I go see the cardio. Monday he has been off for 3 weeks and that was why the hold up on my surgery. so I guess I will know more Monday on what is going on with me. I have tried all the med's and nothing works or makes me very ill. I have had 3 electro cardio doctors state they do not feel it is save for a another ablation.

But why the pacemaker?

by golden_snitch - 2015-03-21 03:03:09

Again, a pacemaker is no solution for your fast arrhythmias. It cannot do anything about them. So, there's something missing here, you must be having slow heart rates or pauses, too, otherwise the pacemaker makes no sense. With the information you have shared, it's really difficult to understand why your doctor is suggesting a pacemaker. Make sure that he explains that well to you. Not that you get your hopes up, and then the pacemaker goes in, and you don't feel any better, because the tachycardia is still there.

Best wishes!

pacemaker as treatment

by tonylhoward - 2015-03-22 10:03:15

I have read about pacemakers being used to overide the fast heartbeat of psvt that hasn't responded to any other treatment. (I googled it). Maybe it will work for you. I hope u find a treatment that works and you feel better soon. You are right this is a great site for info and support. I am fairly new and dont visit very often but when i do i feel better because someone has already experienced whatever is troubling me and they seem happy to help. Glad I found PMC.

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