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Hi @kanaazpereira @1943
Thanks for posting the link. I clicked through but was a little disappointed that it offered very basic information. Years ago, my EP recommended this procedure which involves permanently removing the pace-making ability of your heart and replacing with a mechanical one. It is typically a last resort option and being in my early 60s then not something I wanted to consider seriously. The pacemaker he would use is something called a dual chamber Advisa DR MRI made by Medtronic. I was hoping someone on this forum has experience with this particular model. Another option for me now would be another ablation. I've already had 2 ablations (2017) which I thought worked really well but am starting to have more episodes that require cardioversions to convert. I am quite happy to go through another ablation if It will get me another couple of years. I have a particularly challenging case of left atrial flutter and the key is obviously have someone who is extremely skilled and experienced to perform the ablation. My second ablation took 11 hours, that's how difficult it was.
I still feel that I am too young to have a permanent pacemaker and would rather consider other options first. The thought of destroying the AV node just scares me -- despite all assurances that the pacemaker does a great job and is entirely safe, etc. Then there is the hope that EPs will get even better at ablations and of other medical breakthroughs.
Mary
Replies to "Hi @kanaazpereira @1943 Thanks for posting the link. I clicked through but was a little disappointed..."
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Hi Mary, i can really relate to your concern. Ive had a total of 9 Ablations and had a pacemaker also. I was not Afib bur ventricular Tachacardia. I will say i truly had 2 very successful ablations i the early years. I then due to my EP dr moving tried a new one. I still believe to this day as i found out after the ablation that i did not need that one he was convinced he could get me off my meds with another ablation. I think he was something of a Maverick and tried to do to much. Well that was 2015 and by November 2017 i did not leave the hospital until. I received my new heart in jan 2018. They tried 5 more ablations but without success and i was getting shocked so much to keep me in rythum . So what im basically saying is if you have had great success with your current dr then trust him. Im still in contact with the dr i originally had for the first 2 ablations and after the fact i was talking to him and he never would have recommended an ablation since honestly i was doing great. With me if my first dr would have suggested it i would have trusted him and he was a type to only do what was needed. I learned a lesson. So my advice is if you have a great history with your current dr go with his or hers advice. If its a new dr i would get second opinions. Btw the dr that did the third ablation is not a Mayo dr. I personally trust all of the drs at Mayo i have worked with. Good luck and were here to help.