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Why do you choose not to do Ablation or people that got the ablation what made you choose to do it?

Posted , 8 users are following.

rickper
rickper

I am scheduled to go in for a ablation on May 8th. I have only had one episode that took me to the ER but the constant worrying and changing my lifestyle has me more motivated to do the procedure. I postponed my last scheduled date. I just want to get a perspective on why the people here that have not done the ablation but are still suffering made the choice not to do it even though it could cure you. My biggest fear is that you are mostly awake and the doctor giving Meds and playing with the heart seems very anxiety provoking and I have to come off Metoprolol which will also be uncomfortable. I am leaning toward just doing it and hope it fixes it. What is your story on why you don't want to do it or why you did it?

0 likes, 16 replies

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  • linda90194
    linda90194 rickper

    Posted

    I stRted having frequent episodes. I would have them driving and had to stop and have an ambulance pick me up. It was causing me Not to drive for fear of having an accident. My lifestyle was being brought down by the SVT. I had the ablation and so glad I did. I was completely asleep during my ablation and was glad I was. 
    • rickper
      rickper linda90194

      Posted

      HI, My doctor told me she needs me only slightly sedated to induce what she needs to. I have never had surgery before so being put out scares me also but being awake feeling all the anxiety feelings doesn't sound fun either. Anybody that was awake that can report how it was would be great.

  • Maxine50
    Maxine50 rickper

    Posted

    Hi Linda, My name is Ken, Maxine is my wife.

    I had an Ablation just over 3 1/2 years ago, I am now nearly 79 years of age young. I decided not to have any sedation. The whole procedure took just one hour, it was for Atrial Flutter, I had no previous Symptoms and was put on Warfarin for 6 months beforehand.

    The Ablation was a complete success, but my consultant did say that it could come back as Atrial Fibrillation and it did after 2 years, shortly afterwards I had a severe stroke but my wife noticed it straight away and I was in surgery within the hour to remove a clot, I was out of Hospital after 5 days with no problems whatsoever and just continued with my life.

    By the time you read this you will have had your Ablation, you did not say if it was for A/ Flutter or A/ Fib. Whichever I hope it went well and you are much better.

    Best wishes Ken.

    • rickper
      rickper Maxine50

      Posted

      Hi, how did it feel when they started to speed up your heart and give you adrenaline. Do you feel like you are going to panic or is it feel ok?
  • rachel_51241
    rachel_51241 rickper

    Posted

    Heya! My situation is very similar to yours. I have also had one attack in January seeing me admitted to A&E with a heart rate of 220/240bmp. After I was diagnosed with SVT and recommended ablation. I have now been booked in for one on the 24th of April. I went last Thursday as I wasn’t sure I wanted it done. I spoke to a nurse and with everyone in my life (apart from my partner) telling me I should have it I have decided to do it. I’m also terrified about it for all the reasons you have stated sad. I’m so anxious about it I’m even worried I won’t be able to go through with it. 

    • rickper
      rickper rachel_51241

      Posted

      I hear you, I hope it is just not as bad as we play it up in our minds. I go back and forth all the time. The thing that is motivating me is I get short episodes to remind me it is hanging out there. The beta blocker makes me tires and dizzy and I am passing on thing I want to do like wine tasting because I worry it will induce a attack. So those are the motivating factors but I am thinking about it everyday.
    • rachel_51241
      rachel_51241 rickper

      Posted

      I hope so! 😨 it doesn’t seem to be affecting my life right now that’s why I’m so undecided, I have had two brief eps where my resting heart was 130bmp but not for long. I have been given beta blockers as a ‘pill in the pocket’ for use when I feel I need it but since Jan haven’t felt the need to so currently not taking any meds rolleyes . I’m scared to have the ablation because I don’t want it to affect my life more after getting it done then it is now. I’m also thinking about it all the time! 

  • shirl1228
    shirl1228 rickper

    Posted

    Hey Rick like you I had 1 episode when I found out I had SVT. I had an ablation done and it made my bpm rest at 52 so I elected to get a pacemaker to regulate it when necessary and I've been o the road to recovery ever since. I'm thankful and I'm back to my normal routine. Just getting used to having a device . Good luck with everything.

    • rickper
      rickper shirl1228

      Posted

      HI, my Pulse is at 49 to 52 everyday because of the Toprol XL and I exercise. Were you awake during the ablation? How was getting a pacemaker was that hard?
    • shirl1228
      shirl1228 rickper

      Posted

      Hey Rick I had general local anesthesia during my ablation and when my heart rate stayed at 52 I asked what I could do to fix this so I never have another SVT, my doctor gave me 2 options, the beta blockers or the pacemaker. I took the pacemaker because I didn't want to mess around with a whole bunch of different pills to see what would work. Having the pacemaker the recovery time is 1 week or so. Most difficult is getting used to having something in your chest. I'm can go living my life as normal including exercise etc... and not worry about going into an episode. The pacemaker will regulate it. Other than that if my heart is beating at normal rate it backs off and let's the heart work on it's own. I'm happy I made the decision. I'm only 50 and have so much more life in me to live and don't want to do it taking a bunch of prescription meds.

    • rickper
      rickper shirl1228

      Posted

      I hear you about the Meds and living with it, I am 47 and want to exercise hard and travel. At first I was thinking I could just take the Meds and live with it but I am finding it is just hanging over you everyday. My EP doctor said it just hides out and it will find a time to come out at the time you don't want it to the most.

    • shirl1228
      shirl1228 rickper

      Posted

      Exactly. I'm about to move from Pa. to the state of Florida and reinvent myself and live, travel etc.. I'm glad my EP doctor gave me an alternative. My heart muscles were strong and my arteries were clear as a bell. Had a catheter done after the ablation to check for a blockage. 1 and only SVT and no more. It takes alot outta ya

    • rickper
      rickper shirl1228

      Posted

      How did you get them to go back and check for blockage? I eat really good but  have no HDL good cholesterol so I am on statins and a Coronary Calcium score showed some calcium in there. I would like to find out the condition of the arteries also. 
  • shirl1228
    shirl1228 rickper

    Posted

    Well during my ablation he had to burn more than one vein and in the process he thought he saw a blockage, so he scheduled me foe a catheter the next day to make sure they didn't have to do a stent but I was all clear. Heart muscles were very strong valves pumping properly and arteries were clean so they didn't have to do anything.

  • Jules1977
    Jules1977 rickper

    Posted

    I think it depends how symptomatic your svt is and how much anxiety it causes. I got diagnosed last year, had a couple of very long episodes and ended up in the emergency DPT with a heart beat if up to 200 BPM. But since being diagnosed I stop drinking coffee which was a trigger, and now I know how to stop the episodes they don't really bother me. On average a get about one a week, my heart goes quite fast as I said up to 200, but now a do all the things I've been told to do (strain, cough, splash cold water on face etc) and it tends to stop after 10 mins at the most. I don't take beta blockers, but have thrm to hand just in case. Apparently SVT isn't really dangerous, just very uncomfortable. I would not get the operation unless I was really syptomatic..but then I'm 40 at the moment, who knows at 50 or 60 might be a different story. Listen to your heart (no pun intended). Do what feels right for you. Personally I wouldn't want to go to an operation and have doctors doing things to my heart, unless the condition was changing my life, making me unhappy. But it is a minor operation . Watching a documentary on the BBC about people going through heart transplants puts things in perspective for me. smile Hope that helps!

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