Newbie Discouraged

Greetings, all! I spent a few hours yesterday perusing this forum and decided to join. I'm discouraged and confused.

I've had afib and tachycardia for most of the last 20 years. It came to a head with CHF in December 2005. I came out of the hospital with lots of drugs.

It came back with a vengeance in January 2006, and the VA did a radio frequency ablation on me. I felt great for about a month, and the afib/tachy came back again. I went back in for another ablation, but supposedly the EP said I had so many bad circuits that that could not fix them, and if they did it would just grow back right away.

I spent the next several years trying out various afib drugs, starting with the beta blockers and ending up with propafenone and diltiazam. Early in this time frame, I tried Lisinopril (made me cough 24/7) and metoprolol (which made me even more exhausted than my fibro did).

The afib/tachy came back with a vengeance a few weeks ago, and I was admitted to the VA. My heart rate was all over the board (Thankfully, I do NOT have mypertension!). Nothing, even by IV, would stabilize my heart rate or afib. They tried me on Multaq, and even THAT didn't do any good. We were out of drug options.

They decided to put me on a bi-ventricular pacemaker and cut the AV node. That was supposed to stop the afib/tachy, and let the ventricles do the heart pumping work. I was fine with that.

Thankfully, I had no complications. However, I was surprised that one of the cardiologists prescribed Metoprolol for afib/tachy AFTER the procedure. I had already told them I'd rather die than take that any more, it made me so sick.

Now I'm really confused. The way it was explained to me, cutting the AV node would stop the afib. The pacer would keep the tachy in check and ensure proper pumping, and I would be pacer-dependent.

Did they not properly cut the AV node? Don't they check the "circuits" before they finish the operation? I've read of instances here where the afib/tachy does go away after a while. Is this normal? Is it a good thing that the AV node wasn't completely severed, so that I am not 100% dependent on the pacer?

I'm asking these questions at the VA, but still waiting on call-backs. I appreciate any information you can give me.

Thanks,

Jayne

4 Comments

afib

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-14 03:04:09

With an av node ablation, your atria is still doing what it was doing before, but the signal isn't getting through to the ventricles so your heart rate is kept normal. You're probably still fibrillating, you're just not feeling it anymore.

I had awful side effects on metoprolol, it was like being drunk- tired,dizzy, brain in a fog. I switched to atenolol and other than being a little tired, I am not getting any side effects from it. I either doze or have some coffee after lunch, it's nothing I can't deal with.

????????

by pete - 2010-04-14 04:04:12

Distroying the AV node does not cut the AFIb. You will still have that. But you should not, repeat not be getting any Vtach as you should be 100% dependant . Sounds like you need a more competant EP Doctor as they have not properly taken out your AV node. It is possible for the circuits to re establish themselves but it is extremely unlikely and more likely to be a failure on behalf of the medics. I have an AV node ablation and a biventricular pacemaker and I still have chronic AF. After having a pacemaker and before I had an AV node ablation I had Vtach. I am doing fine. Check your pulse , it should be steady under complete control of the pacemaker. I only take 250mcg digoxin and 2mg perindopril. I could manage without the perindopril I think. Cheers Peter

afib and tachychardia

by Pacerwolf - 2010-04-14 08:04:34

Thanks for the replies! I'm sorry that I wasn't clear on the tachycardia. My ventricles are fine, it was just the atria a-racing and a-fluttering.

I sure could feel the afib before! Racing, weak beat with a peculiar headache and fog of its own. Now I don't get that, am just tired. But, after all, it WAS surgery and I am still recovering.

I got a voice-mail from the cardio nurse-practitioner this afternoon. A different cardiologist than the metoprolol-prescribing one said to continue with the diltiazam 360 mg that I was taking before the pacer. It didn't do much to control the heart rate before the pacer, but may help out now that the rate is pacer-controlled. I'm willing to give it a try, as I have not had negative side effects from it. (That I know of.)

Thanks again,

Jayne

Jayne

by LS - 2010-04-14 09:04:45

It might just take some time for your body to adjust to the meds also.
Good luck to you.
Liz

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