I'm headed towards an AV Node Ablation not unless some other divine intervention pops up in my doc's head for me to try. I'm really trying everything except Amiodarone which I feel is just too toxic for my 33 yr old body. I'm anxious as all get out about the possibility of AV node ablation, and doc (who's a total sweetheart) isn't really excited about it either. He wishes that he had more options for me. I wish it wasn't my decision. What happens if I go through with the AV Node Ablation, am totally pacemaker dependent, and the pacer quits working.? Will I just drop dead then? Gee, that sounds like a great choice. This is the biggest decision I've ever had to make in my entire life, and probably will forever be. I just don't know what to d...

 

My husband had blood work last week to determine if he has Congestive Heart Failure and we, of course, haven't heard any results yet. Maybe tomorrow or Tuesday?

Does anyone here have CHF and if so what is being done for the condtion?

He also has atria fib but actually doesn't feel when it is happening. It shows up just about everytime he as EKG.That is how the cardiologist found it.

He has been under the cardiologist's care for 3 years now.

Thanks for your help.

Margaret (PM FOR 3 YRS NOW)

 

My EP doc and I are running out of options for my irregular heart rate. (read my post-AV Node ablation below for more info)
I appreciate immensely my doctor's willingness to try everything possible before pacemaker implant, but now he wants me to try amiodarone. Yikes! The side effects for this drug, I believe, are not worth it, and it doesn't seem like a feasible option for me. After reading the serious side effects of amiodarone, I think I would rather just go ahead with the AV node ablation. Or else, do nothing at all and just live with a constant irregular heart rate of 130+. I just turned 33.

 

Hi

Since my dual chamber PM was put in at the beginning of February for second degree heart block just at night, I have been having thousands of ectopic beats when I am resting - PVCs. My settings have been changed several times and now I am on a 'guardian angel' setting - back up VVI at 35 bpm. So I am only sensed and paced in the ventricle - nothing in the atrium. This has improved the situation but not got rid of it. When I asked if these extra beats could be dangerous, he said "well they probably won't kill you"! Very reassuring!

My EP thinks these ectopic beats can be suppressed with a calcium channel antagonist but this runs the risk of prolonging the AV delay and increasing my pacemaker requirements.
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I have had irregular heart rhythms for 8 years now. Flutter, a-fib, SVT, atrial tach, v. bigeminy...you name it. All meds I've tried over the years have failed to manage my symptoms, and I've had 3 failed ablations with the last one resulting in phrenic nerve damage. My EP doc and I are running out of options, and I fear a AV Node ablation with pacemaker implant looms in my future. This will either be the best or worst thing for me. I wish there was a sure way of telling, but I know I can't continue living the way it is now. I'm 33 years old. My dream is to run a 5K

 

- HELLO EVERYONE,

WELL ITS BE SOMETIME SINCE BECKY AND I HAVE POSTED ABOUT DAD (BOOG). WELL HE IS DOING SOOOO MUCH BETTER! WE HAVE GOTTEN IN HIS NEW ICD AND DOING SO MUCH BETTER! I CANNOT NOT THANK YA'LL ENOUGH FOR ALL THE PRAYERS AND EXSPECIAL POOKIE, HARLEY, MARRYANNE FOR ALL THE LONG TALKS! WE HAVE HAD SUCH A JOURNEY WITH DAD , BUT I THANK GOD EVERYDAY THAT BOTH BECKY AND I AND MOM WAS ABLE TO WALK WITH DAD THROUGH IT. THIS YEAR WELL TODAY FATHERS DAY WAS VERY SPECIAL, BECAUSE WE ALMOST DID NOT HAVE DAD HERE FOR IT. DADS DOCTOR TOLD US IT WAS ABOUT THE QUILTY OF LIFE FOR DAD, BUT YOU KNOW THAT IS FOR ALL OF US! EACH DAY WE ARE NOT PROMISED NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, SO IT GAVE ME A NEW MEANING ON HOW ...

 

hi everyone,my name is linda, my husband had a pacemaker and icd put in 6/21/06 he has alot of dizzy spells, also gets a upset stomach. ALOT. is this part of the meds or some thing else. we have talked to his dr. but no real help. can anyone help us ? thank you linda

 

I had the pacemaker inserted on June 4th....have my first doctor's appointment today...but at times feel out of breath after doing something....anyone have these symptoms...my pacmaker is set at 60...thanks vtlaney

 

hi there,

has anyone had experience with subclavian steal phenomenon? if so, what were your symptoms...i did find info on the internet but just wanted to talk to a real pertson who has/had it.

thank you
luckyloo

 

I recently got diagnosed with having asthma. I was wondering if anybody else has this and if it has messed with your heart from medications at all.
It is nice knowing that I am not crazy when I continue to say I am sob but it took having a big spell for a regular dr to tell me that he assumes I have had it for a while. Though, the inhaler that he gave me one of the side effects says it can raise your h.r. I was wondering if this has happened to anybody? Thanks!

Tammy

 

I had my chemical stress test today. Went OK, felt kinda wierd for awhile. After they finished my right arm was sort of numb and had a tight feeling in my chest, but they cleared up after a bit. Had a headache for several hours after but that was all. Now I have to wait for every doctor within 30 miles to read it so they can get a little of the money.

Thomas

 

well frank i only saw the doc intern in nov.this doc gave me the drug i have not seen her since.it appears the docs i see now do not want to take responsibility of the situation.this drug was given to me ,i was informed it was the only drug that will work.now i find out it is the last drug they give you if all else fails.i have read the fda report that is 27 pages on amiodarone.they still do not follow up the way i have read the directions on the drug,i should be monitered close.what a joke!!!!! I see no solution right now ,i have to figure out my options.QUICK TO GIVE ME THE DRUG.DONT HOLD MY BREATH FOR HELP ON IT.

 

in dec.i had my pacemaker put in after 2 ablations. they also said i had an anti arith.heartbeat,given amiodarone.they set my pacer at 50. i always complained about meds and being tired most of the time .that was one hospital.i happened to be near another hospital and felt pressure in my chest ,they gave ma a stress test ,i lasted 1min 22 sec..next they7 asked me why i am set for 50,i said they could not put it any higher,they asked why not .i replied i am not the doctor.they changed my pacer to 60 plus made 13 changes as far as functions. i compared with the first setting. also took me off metropolol and put me on atenenol.go figure

 

I would like to say first that I have had a pacemaker for 3 years and that I am going in for a stress test June 6. what I would like to know is.If I do this first stress test since they installed my pacemaker, and if something should go wrong, can they revive me being that I have a pacemaker?, please give your in put on this situaion..
Thanks.
Harry"O"

 

Has anyone heard about this drug. This is one of many meds. that dad takes. Seems like i have seen something about it and it was not good. Here are a list of meds. dad is taking if any red flags come up please let me know. Morning meds: Furosemide , Singular, Plavix, Prednisone, Tekturna, Advair Disc, Spiriva, Nite time meds: Vytorin, Zolft, . Please let me know if you have heard anything about these meds. Thank You! Shelley 1967

 

When I was first started on all the various meds I was put on, I went through and looked them all up and read all the side effects. I didn't stop with just one website either, because there is no telling who is sponsoring the information of any given website. I really looked and found out a couple of very interesting side effects of some regularly used drugs which no one talks about. I'm sorry that I did not note the URLs at the time for reference just keep digging though

Toperal; It can cause an arrhythmic event within 2 1/2 months plus or minus a half month. Actually the research article I read stated that IT WILL cause an event NOT MIGHT cause it. Doctors never say a word about it.

Lipitor:( the wonder drug) can ca...

 

i posted a little while ago about feeling a flutter in my chest and a number of people suggested it might be AF, well i just had my 2nd checkup and low and behold i have AF, so i wanted to send out a big thank you to those folks for their insight. I've also noticed the AF is much worse at night especially when relaxing and/or lying down.
the doctor put me on warfarin and is planning to shock my heart back into rhythm in the coming weeks-does anyone have any thoughts on this and will receiving a shock compromise my PM, i am 100% dependant in the ventricles. thanxs

 

The last time I posted, I was trying to go caffeine-free with pretty good success I must say. Well, I must admit that I’m back to drinking colas and coffee. Yes, I’m officially off the caffeine-free wagon, but before you say “get back on that wagon, Blake”, let me explain.

Last June I had an ablation and was told to stop taking my arrhythmic heart drug. Well, one of the side effects of that drug was it caused my thyroid to go hyper. I continued to take thyroid medicine. After about six months of being off my heart medicine, my thyroid decided to go back to normal, all along I was still taking my thyroid pills. This caused my thyroid to go too slow (hypo). As a result, I felt tired most of the winter and need caffeine to ju...

 

How long do people life with paroxysmal afib before it gets worse?

Does living on beta blockers prevent you from doing physical exercise as i am only 41 but i feel breathless when i do any kind of what i would class as heavy exercise - cycling or running up stairs?

Does your heart change radically in the first year after implantation?
(I wonder about this as your heart would have been stuggling with the too slow bradacardia not being oxygenated enough while you sleep then all of a sudden it has the correct amount surely that must have some reverse side (mending)effects.

I dont want to fall into the fear(lazy) trap of backing away from all forms of exercise as i am scared it will bring on the afib soon...

 

Hi,
Is it typical to have irregular heart beats with the pacemaker? I had my Medronic put in 16 months ago- been doing fine. I was at the Dr. (not cardiologist) yesterday and the nurse said my pulse was 60 (what the pacer is set at) but very irregular fast and slow. Is that because it is a natural pacing beat or? She said to let the cardiologist know, but it is always a hassle and I do not need another Dr visit.

Thanks,
Tom