My Husband's PM & Future Ablation

Hi,
I've been a member here for a long time; having had a PM almost 4 years now but haven't been on lately as I have been recovering from a revised total knee surgery.

After a walking stress test where his heart rate went to 153 in about a minute on the treadmill, my Cardiologist implanted my husband with a PM the next week. He did not turn it on yet as he is going to do an ablation 3 weeks from date of the implant. My hubby's heart rate goes from 48 to 70s and then to 98 or more in just a few beats. It scared me as I watched his monitor while he was in the holding room after the implant. We knew it did that but seeing it make it real. He takes his BP and pulse each morning and sometimes gets three different pulse rates one after the other.
Question: Has anyone here had a PM implant and then an ablation to slow down the heart rate and then the PM is turned on and programmed to regulate the rate? Reason for waiting three weeks from implant was to be sure the wires are seated well and lessen the risk of infection.
I look forward to hearing from you, my friends and pacers.
Thanks.

4 Comments

YES

by pete - 2009-04-05 03:04:57

Yes, this is not uncommon. I had my pacemaker put in with 2 leads and the ablation 6 weeks later (to allow the leads to fixate) After the ablation I became 100% pacemaker dependant. That was 2 years ago.
A 3 week wait is a bit short to my mind. Best to wait a bit longer. Once you become dependant after an ablation you cant afford to have a lead move. Cheers Peter

PM & Ablation

by SMITTY - 2009-04-05 03:04:59


Hi MH,

I've been waiting to se what kind of comments you get because your Hubby's problem is so different from what is usually seen here. But so that you will not think no one has read your message or that no one cares, I'll comment. Now I'm sure I don't have to tell you that I'm no expert so what I have to say may not even be applicable. Especially since in addition to not being very knowledgeable on the subject, I do know that I do not have all the information on your Hubby that his doctor has.

Now with all those disclaimers let me say it sounds like there may be a little over kill in the treatment scheduled for your Hubby. As for your question about a PM implant and then an ablation, I haven't had an ablation but I have seen several of the members say they have had these procedures. But I don't recall anyone saying they got a pacemaker as a precursor to an ablation. My recollection is that if the ablation didn't accomplish the desired results a PM was implanted. Or, vice versa, if the PM didn't stop the problem and tha ablation followed.

As for the varying heart rate, I go through that almost daily. The only thing mine drops into the 40s as if it is taking a rest and then just as quickly it will go back to the low 70s. I don't pay any attention to the variations except when it hits the low 40s as I'll have chest pain and that calls for me stopping whatever I am doing and waiting for things to settle down. In extreme cases I'll take a nitro, but that is not necessary very often.

I have a couple of suggestions. One, is that if at all possible, get a second opinion. Especially since your are talking about an ablation. So far as I know those things do not come with a 100% guarantee. Since any heart tissue destroyed by an ablation is not reversible, to me it is one of those last resort procedures.

My other suggestion is, you posted your message on Saturday. Experience with this site has shown me that messages posted over the weekend get the fewest replies. So if you don't get the answers you are hoping for, try posting it again between Monday and Thursday.

I wish your Hubby the best.

Smitty

PS: Pete's reply was posted while I was still trying to put mine together, so it invalidates most of what I've said. Smitty

PM AND ABLATION

by MHCHAMPION - 2009-04-05 10:04:02

Thanks, Pete and Smitty,
I know that both of you are very knowledgeable in this group and I so appreciate your input.
My husband is on the maximum meds you can take now and it does not seem to help him at all.
200 mg of toprol is the limit plus he is Digoxin and another heart drug as well plus fish oil and Tricor for his tricyslerides (sp?)
For two years now he stays tired all the time and is very short winded.
He has been under a good cardiologis's caret for 4 or 5 years now. During the stress test, his cardiologist was with him and later told me that he were on that much medication he would be in the ICU. He has said the PM along won't do it alone due to his history which I have not explained fully here. Another cardiologist did the PM and will do the ablation. I will re-post tomorrow.
I do so much appreciate both your in-puts.
I'll keep you posted.

PM & ABLATION

by MHCHAMPION - 2009-04-07 10:04:14

Pete,
Have you had any problems since your PM and Ablation? Just curious.
My hubby has only one lead; I have two.
He hasn't felt well today at all; I'm thinking it is due to all the heart meds he is on. I'll be calling the cardiologist office tomorrow and talk with the RN to see if she has set his ablation date yet? He needs to get it within 3 or 4 weeks more I think. I'll be so thankful when it is over and he can get to some normalcy and get off some of the meds.
Thanks,
Margaret (MH)

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