1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Ablation do I need it?

Posted by sadee @sadee, Dec 17, 2019

Hi I had an episode of VT after I fell, not sure if it was caused by the fall or not, never had one before. I was put on Amiodarone and they want to do EP study and ablation and put in a defibrillator. I had MRI of my heart recently and everything was perfect, second opinion doctor said. The first doctor in hospital said it will happen again, which I think is very unprofessional, he scared the heck out of me and I had anxiety and stress for over a year wondering if it might happen again, couldn't sleep at all. I wore an external defibrillator for three months with no problems. So I'm going to have to have the EP study with my new doctor to be on the safe side but he said everything looks pretty good.
Anyone have any input or information? Thank you so much.

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Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Dec 17, 2019

Hello @sadee and welcome to Mayo Connect.

You are to be applauded for asking good questions and seeking a second opinion. Having the EP study does sound like a good idea, especially if you have confidence in the doctor.

You do not mention other health problems or your age. These are probably important considerations.

You wondered if the VT was a result of the fall. Did you ask your doctor if the VT could have caused the fall? That might be a good question to ask as well.

Also, you might think about what time of day the fall occurred. Were you particularly tired or stressed? Do you have a history of falls prior to this one? Have you had any fainting?

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Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Dec 18, 2019

This is an area i lived thru for about 9 years my problems started with a virus that caused my heart to get larger due to fluids i the sac around the heart and lungs. This caused my heart to get weaker and i had a pacemaker put in as a precaution. Well it was 5 years later that the pacemaker had to save my life when i had my first VT episode that it had to shock me back in rythim. Also during this period i was also on Amiodrone. Well i also had an ablation and it did improve things but my doctor suggested a second one a year later. Well that second one was very successful and i lived a pretty normal life until 2015. I took some bad advice for a new doctor and had a third. (My prior doctor had moved out of state) well that was a mistake i think but also i may have not helped my situation since i think drinking more than recommend may have damaged my heart more. So after 2015 things got progressively worse and the Aminodrone became toxic to me so i ended up with a heart transplant in Jan 2018. So my advice is yes second opinions are a great idea, Ablations do work well but also i recommend no drinking at all and i also quit smoking back in 2011. And drinking i quit in 2015. But damage was already done. Plus also if it ever gets to a point of transplant which is very unlikely you will have to quit both if you do them, in order to get a transplant . Please ask any questions you may have.

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2 replies
penn1023 | @penn1023 | Dec 19, 2019
In reply to @danab "This is an area i lived thru for about 9 years my problems started with a..." + (show)
@danab

This is an area i lived thru for about 9 years my problems started with a virus that caused my heart to get larger due to fluids i the sac around the heart and lungs. This caused my heart to get weaker and i had a pacemaker put in as a precaution. Well it was 5 years later that the pacemaker had to save my life when i had my first VT episode that it had to shock me back in rythim. Also during this period i was also on Amiodrone. Well i also had an ablation and it did improve things but my doctor suggested a second one a year later. Well that second one was very successful and i lived a pretty normal life until 2015. I took some bad advice for a new doctor and had a third. (My prior doctor had moved out of state) well that was a mistake i think but also i may have not helped my situation since i think drinking more than recommend may have damaged my heart more. So after 2015 things got progressively worse and the Aminodrone became toxic to me so i ended up with a heart transplant in Jan 2018. So my advice is yes second opinions are a great idea, Ablations do work well but also i recommend no drinking at all and i also quit smoking back in 2011. And drinking i quit in 2015. But damage was already done. Plus also if it ever gets to a point of transplant which is very unlikely you will have to quit both if you do them, in order to get a transplant . Please ask any questions you may have.

Jump to this post

Did you have it done at Mayo?

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1 reply
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Dec 21, 2019
In reply to @penn1023 "Did you have it done at Mayo?" + (show)
@penn1023

Did you have it done at Mayo?

Jump to this post

Yes

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sadee | @sadee | Dec 22, 2019
In reply to @danab "This is an area i lived thru for about 9 years my problems started with a..." + (show)
@danab

This is an area i lived thru for about 9 years my problems started with a virus that caused my heart to get larger due to fluids i the sac around the heart and lungs. This caused my heart to get weaker and i had a pacemaker put in as a precaution. Well it was 5 years later that the pacemaker had to save my life when i had my first VT episode that it had to shock me back in rythim. Also during this period i was also on Amiodrone. Well i also had an ablation and it did improve things but my doctor suggested a second one a year later. Well that second one was very successful and i lived a pretty normal life until 2015. I took some bad advice for a new doctor and had a third. (My prior doctor had moved out of state) well that was a mistake i think but also i may have not helped my situation since i think drinking more than recommend may have damaged my heart more. So after 2015 things got progressively worse and the Aminodrone became toxic to me so i ended up with a heart transplant in Jan 2018. So my advice is yes second opinions are a great idea, Ablations do work well but also i recommend no drinking at all and i also quit smoking back in 2011. And drinking i quit in 2015. But damage was already done. Plus also if it ever gets to a point of transplant which is very unlikely you will have to quit both if you do them, in order to get a transplant . Please ask any questions you may have.

Jump to this post

Thank you so much for sharing your story!! I'm so sorry about your situation, hope you're doing well and healing. I don't smoke or drink but have diabetes. Still haven't gone for EP study, have to make an appointment. Did you have a defibrillator and pacemaker?
You said it shocked you back into rhythm which sounds like a defibrillator. Nowadays I think they're combined. I have been very very concerned (scared of death) about being on the Amiodarone, it frightens me and I have been on it for a year. I saw it has a black box warning and people warn against using it, that it is very toxic. I thought I would be taken off of it but then I was afraid to, that my heart would be out of rhythm and have vt or something.

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1 reply
Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Dec 22, 2019
In reply to @sadee "Thank you so much for sharing your story!! I'm so sorry about your situation, hope you're..." + (show)
@sadee

Thank you so much for sharing your story!! I'm so sorry about your situation, hope you're doing well and healing. I don't smoke or drink but have diabetes. Still haven't gone for EP study, have to make an appointment. Did you have a defibrillator and pacemaker?
You said it shocked you back into rhythm which sounds like a defibrillator. Nowadays I think they're combined. I have been very very concerned (scared of death) about being on the Amiodarone, it frightens me and I have been on it for a year. I saw it has a black box warning and people warn against using it, that it is very toxic. I thought I would be taken off of it but then I was afraid to, that my heart would be out of rhythm and have vt or something.

Jump to this post

Yes i had a combination pacemaker difibulator but not any longer since my Heart Transplant and am doing well now. But on the Amiodrione yes it was toxic and i took it for about 9 years but it was when i needed the iv type that caused me the most problems. When my old heart got real bad i was in the hospital and on an iv version. That was when it became toxic to me.

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Mentor
Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Aug 1, 2020

@sadee Hi its been a while and I was wondering how you're doing? I remember you were concerned about Amiodarone. Did you have a chance to discuss it with your Doctor? Have a Blessed Day.
Dana

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