symptomatic af with pacemaker

I had a medtronic dual lead pacemaker and av node ablation a year ago.  Just recently I feel as though I am in af, feeling very symtomatic.  No meds other than warfarin.  I assume that this can happen do I cross my fingers and wait for it to pass - stupidly I am abroad and have left my pacemaker monitor behind in London - not returning to UK for another three weeks and am fairly certain that the little island I am on will be way out of their depth.  Just advice or reassurance would be a help.  Thank you.

3 Comments

AF after AV ablation?

by AgentX86 - 2019-04-15 21:20:47

While it's possible for the AV node ablation to fail after a year, I wouldn't bet on it.  Since my AV node ablation, I've been getting PVC bigeminy fairly often.  I would bet on that sort of arrhythmia, over the AV node repairing itself.  Are you still on an anticoagulant?  If so, there really isn't anything to worry about.  Both can be a RPITA but they're not dangerous in themselves. If you aren't on an anticagulant, you'd better reconsider help from the locals.

af with pacemaker

by Annaelizabeth - 2019-04-15 21:56:58

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I think you are spot on with the arrhythmia and yes it is a pain in the bottom!  Just makes one feel so rotten.  I hope all will pass and will sort itself out in the next 24 hours.  I was told to expect some bad days, just find it all so hard to accept, the  seemingly constant reminders dont help,  Thank you for the reassurance, it really does help.  And yes I am coagulated and no I dont think there is a cat in hells chance that the AV node has repaired.  What I will do when back in London is to go to the pacing clinic and see if they can tweek the pacemake a bit.

 

Pacing clinic

by AgentX86 - 2019-04-15 22:50:54

They might be able to help.  They cranked mine up to 80bpm to try to scare the bigeminy away.  It seems to work, sometimes.  I still get the PVCs but not as often.  I didn't want them to change my night time rate (still 50bpm) so I could still sleep.  The bigemeny wakes me up once in a while but a heartbeat of 80 at night will keep me awake every night.

You know you're wired when...

Your license plate reads “Pacer4Life”.

Member Quotes

I finished 29th in London in 2 hours 20 minutes 30 seconds which is my fastest with or without a device so clearly it didn’t slow me down ! I had no problems apart from some slight chaffing on my scar - more Vaseline next time.