ablation stories, and their outcomes? - Heart Disorders Message Board

shonks5 · 04-19-2006, 03:09 PM

My son is 15 and having svt's on what seems to be a regular basis. Last week he had three. I know to some of you this isn't much, but it is impacting his life. He seems to only have them (Mostly in P.E. at school) when he moves a certain way. Jumping to make a basket, swinging a hockey stick, bending down to bowl....He usually isn't doing anything stenuous though! He had one this weekend playing basketball at a friends house, and the mom got really panicked! So whenever he goes anywhere to play paintball or basketball, anywhere he is playing sports, I try to stick around the area, which can be quite hard. He is going on a field trip next week and the teacher wants me to be a chaperone, because my son's problem makes her nervous! I'm happy to go, but I sure do feel bad for my son! Anyway, the doctor is pushing us to have the surgery. He says it is a total cure. I just worry about complications that can happen. He said one rare complication is that he may end up needing a pacemaker. Why would he need a pacemaker? How do they know which electrical impulse site in the heart is the right one? Could they zap the wrong one? I'm feeling a little panicky myself right now. I would love for my son to not have these anymore, and to have a normal life, but I'm really afraid of this option! I would really love to hear anyones experience with ablation. I heard from one that their experience was a great success, and that they wonder why they waited 11 years to have it done. Anyone else?

firstgrade · 04-19-2006, 05:36 PM

I just had an ablation 2 weeks ago. I am 39. I had only 1 severe episode, but after passing out it landed me in the hospital with hr of 250 that they almost couldn't stop. I opted to have the ablation because I have 3 children and I didn't want to worry about it happening again. The ablation went fine except that they found 3 more rhythm problems. I won't have trouble with that particular rhythm problem, but I now have 3 more to worry about. I am currently wearing a holter monitor for the next 24 hours. My doctor thinks I will need another ablation, but one of the new problems is too close to my internal pacemaker and he doesn't want to risk damaging it. He wants me to go to Oklahoma if I need it done, because one of the best EP's is there. If my doctor does it he will do Cryoablation that freezes instead of burns and is reversible. Ablations are not. As far as the ablation goes don't let anyone tell you it will only be a couple of hours. My doctor practically assured me 1 to 1 1/2 hours, but it took 6. Everything on the internet said 6 to 8. Believe that. Of course, it wasn't his fault I had such a complicated heart. I have a friend whose son had this done at 15 and it was a breeze. He had his done at UAB in Alabama. His did only take 1 to 2 hours. They found his quick and it was over. He had just one problem. His doctor told him he couldn't play any sports until he had it done. I would suggest having it done if he wants to keep playing sports. I hope I have been helpful. If you have any specific questions let me know.

Kimah5202 · 04-21-2006, 09:15 AM

i was 17 when i had my abaltion. it took 7 hrs and i had two pathways...one being very close the the av node but they went ahead and ablated it. i could tell my heart was a little irritated after the procedure because it would pound a little when i would move around for a couple monthes after BUT that went away. about 3 monthes after the procedure i started getting lots pvc's...but docs say they arnt from the ablation they are hereditary. the women in my dads side of the family all have them. the only thing is they didnt start getting them until there 40's and they dont feel theres even tho they are every other beat. pvc;s are benign but i let my svt go on until one day after a 10 hr episode and an er trip it put me into afib for about another 12 hrs until finally stopping when they were about to cardiovert me with the paddles(they scared the afib out of me!). my ablation was done at balboa naval hospital in san diego, the doc that was gunna do it found out she was pregnant a couples days before the procedure so a doc flew in from texas to do mine. i would do it again....not worrying about when my next svt episode will be is great. it was so scary!! mine would go up to 250bpm, one time when i was given adenosine to stop it, it went up to 300 bpm! well good luck =] im sure everything will be ok if u go ahead with the abaltion esp given his age.
kim