Survived My Heart Ablation Procedure

[lowpasskid]

so good to hear Wayne!

[440_Magnum]

Nearly 5 hours long, they did the trick. Now a few days taking it real easy with a pretty sore groin (that's where they put the machine in that goes up to your heart) and I should be on the way to total recovery!

Good news, thanks for sharing! I don't know your specific issue, but I've had a handful of episodes of A-fib. The first one happened on the morning of my 49th (not 50th) birthday, after about 2 years of insane stress. Every time it has happened, its either reverted on its own within 48 hours, or with meds. Well, ONE time they shocked me back in to sinus rhythm... It tended to happen about every two years for a while, and then my cardiologist put me on a pair meds that have prevented it for almost 5 years now (knock wood).

The point of relating all that is because when it first happened all those years ago, the first thing I asked was "can they fix this with ablation like they can other arrythmias?" The short answer was "yes, but because of where they have do the ablation on the heart muscle, there are some ugly potential side effects. But they're getting better and better every year at this particular one, so the longer we wait, the better it'll be." So I'm guessing it will be in my future at some point... but not yet!

[AAFO_WSagar]

Good news, thanks for sharing! I don't know your specific issue, but I've had a handful of episodes of A-fib. The first one happened on the morning of my 49th (not 50th) birthday, after about 2 years of insane stress. Every time it has happened, its either reverted on its own within 48 hours, or with meds. Well, ONE time they shocked me back in to sinus rhythm... It tended to happen about every two years for a while, and then my cardiologist put me on a pair meds that have prevented it for almost 5 years now (knock wood).

The point of relating all that is because when it first happened all those years ago, the first thing I asked was "can they fix this with ablation like they can other arrythmias?" The short answer was "yes, but because of where they have do the ablation on the heart muscle, there are some ugly potential side effects. But they're getting better and better every year at this particular one, so the longer we wait, the better it'll be." So I'm guessing it will be in my future at some point... but not yet!

Believe you me! I was nervous as could be! Made out a will, told my best buddies (BeerNazi and BiggerAl- AKA Allen Sprague) a bunch of stuff including the passwords to the server to send to Markers (Pylon1_Mark) in case he and Rad2ltr had to decide what to do with the server and this site!

I was aware that I could potentially die as well as a bunch of other chit that might happen. MY HEART BEATS NORMALLY NOW!!

Before procedure, I'd walk to my shop 150' or so away from and maybe 20' lower in elevation than the lower floor of BN and my house... I'd be sore legs and just about ready to pass out! Now I can go back and forth without any real stress except for leg burn from the climb.. good for me!

PS: by edit..

As for what caused it, could be apnea which initial test shows I'm moderate to severe and need a new overnight in clinic to decide what to do with me..

W H E T E V E R caused it or what type it is/was.. it was pretty much the worst kind in that my heart repeatedly STOPPED for up to 5 seconds after an afib episode..

Now to get my aging body back somewhat in shape!!

[flyingjibus]

HAPPY TO SEE THIS!

[440_Magnum]

Believe you me! I was nervous as could be! Made out a will, told my best buddies (BeerNazi and BiggerAl- AKA Allen Sprague) a bunch of stuff including the passwords to the server to send to Markers (Pylon1_Mark) in case he and Rad2ltr had to decide what to do with the server and this site!

I was aware that I could potentially die as well as a bunch of other chit that might happen. MY HEART BEATS NORMALLY NOW!!

Before procedure, I'd walk to my shop 150' or so away from and maybe 20' lower in elevation than the lower floor of BN and my house... I'd be sore legs and just about ready to pass out! Now I can go back and forth without any real stress except for leg burn from the climb.. good for me!

PS: by edit..

As for what caused it, could be apnea which initial test shows I'm moderate to severe and need a new overnight in clinic to decide what to do with me..

W H E T E V E R caused it or what type it is/was.. it was pretty much the worst kind in that my heart repeatedly STOPPED for up to 5 seconds after an afib episode..

Now to get my aging body back somewhat in shape!!

Mine was likely brought on by untreated apnea as well. I had *none* of the usual symptoms (tired during the day, nodding off to sleep, repeatedly waking at night, etc.) but when I had a sleep test done, they woke me up and put me on a mask within the first hour. Blood O2 saturation dropped below 70%, and I never had a clue. I absafragginlutely HATE wearing a CPAP, but I've made peace with it and it does work. I use a mask that fits under the nose and has soft, flat tubes that go up to the top of my head so the hose attaches there (Philips Dreamwear), and I can roll over without wrapping the hose around my neck.

Congrats on the "engine rebuild" and hope you continue to feel better!

[TarDevil]

Awesome news, Wayne!

[GeeBeeZ1931]

Nearly 5 hours long, they did the trick. Now a few days taking it real easy with a pretty sore groin (that's where they put the machine in that goes up to your heart) and I should be on the way to total recovery!

HALLELUJAH! God is good. Great news air boss.

[AAFO_WSagar]

The down side... Not sure what's going on.. First few days after procedure, I felt much stronger and less fatigued. So day before yesterday. I'm only changing two cat boxes litter and I can barely breathe... Yesterday went to store unloaded my cart, missed my wallet (had two jackets on) so had to unload cashier ramp back to cart to head home and get my wallet. I'd felt it pretty hard to breathe the whole time I'm in the store, I am wearing a mask... I race home, find the wallet IN MY POCKET.... race back to finish checking out..

I felt really light headed the entire time doing the recheck, sticky sweaty.. on way to car, felt like I might vomit.. managed to unload cart to trunk, sat down in the car and I had to sit there for probably 5-10 mins with the AC blowing on me to be able to shake the urgent feeling of nausea...

I've been paying a lot of attention to my pulse lately and it appears that it's still stopping... AFIB is not apparent but damn sure feels like it's still pausing.

Gotta feel a lot better tomorrow or I"m headed to ER..... **** I'm tired of this~~!!

[Lockheed Bob]

Hang in there Wayne we need you. Pros & cons the Pacemaker is working for me as they have it set for 60 Pulse Rate & all is OK. I take a blood thinner called Rivaroxaban (20mg) blood thinner & that is also working for me. Prayers are with you. Keep us posted.

[AAFO_WSagar]

Had two appointments today, one I drove into Beaverton to the Orthopedic guys and got feel good shots in my knees, which have been absolutely agonizing for months while I focused on getting the heart thing worked out. One good news today, knee shots worked like magic, still have to be careful kneeling and such but not feeling crippled, I could not bend down without falling from the pain..

Anyway, second was with Cardio doc in Astoria, when they went in for the second endoscopy last week (they actually stretched the 50% blockage they were supposed to do first time round), they did not like what they saw on my EKG during the procedure, and just prior... almost didn't do it!

Long story short.. first ablation eaaah!!!..... worked magic for a few days... got rid of a lot of the afib, now I'm in something like afib only sounds more like flutter fib... I know that's not it but danged if I can remember what he called it... Going in for second ASAP