New to Club, AV NOde Ablation with Pacemaker scheduled for mid-July

dependency

by Tracey_E - 2018-06-21 08:52:13

Dependent is just a word, don't get too caught up in it. Many of us here have paced every beat for a lot of years, 20+ for me.  It's a tool to give us our lives back, a highly effective and dependable computer that's much more reliable than our wonky electrical systems. No one would choose to be paced but I consider myself lucky to have a problem with a fix, many are not so fortunate. Glass half full and all that :o) Good luck to you. 

Thanks, TraceyE

by lloyde - 2018-06-21 09:24:40

Thanks, TraceyE

AV Ablation

by AgentX86 - 2018-06-21 11:17:47

Sounds familiar.   I started down the Afib path in 2007 with a cardioversion. That, with drugs, was good for seven years. I then had another Afid episode, with a cardioversion but I was still out of breath after mild exertion. I had a heart cath that found four unstentable blockages, one 90% and two 100%, so I had a CABG at the same time they did a Maze and sutured the left atrial appendage. The Maze scarring caused aflutter. Drugs worked for a little while but caused even more damage. In the last two years I've had three ablations. All failed. Then the pauses started, so a pacemaker was no longer an option, so in February I had an AV ablation and PM implanted.

I know it's unsettling to be 100% dependent on a hunk of electronics but that's really the wrong way to look at it. Look at what you'll be able to do with it.  I'm able to walk 15 miles a day.

Thanks, AgentX86

by lloyde - 2018-06-21 17:01:25

Thanis for your reply. It's music to my ears to hear that you're walking 15 miles a day. Best of luck to you.

Walking

by AgentX86 - 2018-06-21 22:27:12

Just to be clear, I was walking that much before the PM.  I've been working up to it since my CABG in Nov '14.  I am feeling much better after the AV ablation and PM but not every day is great.  Overall it's a huge improvement, though (and I'm still seeing the green side of the grass).

Exercise

by DAVID H - 2018-06-22 23:18:48

Major improvement in quality of life for me post A-V Node ablation w/pacemaker.  I'll put aside 1.5 hours every day for exercise. Typically, 3 - 4 miles indoor walking path, 30 min. on a rowing machine and 20 minutes or so on a NuStep machine. Yeah, I get tuckered but, I know I must continue the exercise. LVEF is at 22%, blood pressure  typically 105/64 with a pulse of 74. Blood oxygenation typically 98%.  All these values have remained the same over the past 6 years. Oh yeah, in 2008 I was a 240 pound 6 footer. Typical AM weight these days is around 174 lbs.  

Reply to AgentX86 and David H

by lloyde - 2018-06-23 01:19:06

Thanks to both of you. AgentX86, until about a year ago, I was at the gym three days a week, and before that, had trained to jog a 5K. So your comment is right on target. My hope is to be able to walk farther at a time, but after both of your commentss, I realize that my expectations may be too low.

David H, glad to hear of the dramatic improvemrent in your heaalth and stamina.I'm less resistant to the procedure aand mre hopeful about the outcome.

This Monday is our 30th wedding anniversary, and a good outccome would be a fine way to celebrate.

Thanks again to you both,

Lloyd