Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

You're very welcome.

Hi. I am 65 and was born with tetralogy of fallot which was repaired at age 5. I had my first VT episode at age 40 and have had an ICD since then. After years of relatively stable heart health I am now facing a ventricular ablation due to a recent increase in VT episodes and a switch to a dual chamber ICD. I am nervous and re-learning about all this.

Hi my name is Catherine Lewis I am 38 years old, and on nov 2009 I was diagnosted with supper ventrical tachacarida, and braddy cardia. I am on medicine to keep my SVT under control now, but now the problem I am having is: my blood pressure keeps going extremely high on the top, and the bottom number is normal, and everytime my pressure goes up I get extreme chest pains that go into my neck, left jaw, and down my left arm, but the hospital tells me all the time that my EKG is totally normal.

hi i have afib. and it has been a struggle

Glad to meet you. There are things docs do that can help counteract AFIBs, but not all work.

Do what you can to stay healthy, walk a bit, rest a bit, eat only what you need to feel ok, try to figure out what is stressing you. But the big thing is , you have come to the right place for support.

Any heart condition is a struggle, but with guidance you can learn to live with it and even have a good support network here.

My problem is PVCs, pre-ventrical contractions. I track them using a little ECG monitor my cardiologist advised me to get so I could see if they are worse or about the same following the ablation I had to try to terminate them. Mayo clinic has finally realized they are far more dangerous than AFIBs, but so little studies have been done.

Wellcome to the chat.

Welcome to the group. Mayo Clinic Connect is a great place to learn what others are going through, what treatments are available and how they work. Also it is a wonderful place to find support and bond with others with the same condition. I was diagnosed with A-Fib about 20 years ago and after a few ups and downs, treatment changes and lastly the Watchman implant, I'm doing well. What are your struggles and are you under a doctor's care?

Tresjur

Is your implant an ICD?

Hello Eileena,

No, the implant is not an ICD. The Watchman does not affect the abnormal heart pumping, but rather acts as a dam to permanently close of the Left Atrial Appendage (LLA), Closing off the LLA can prevent a blood clot from blocking blood supply to the brain. I was on Warfarin for 14 years for A-Fib until my body could no longer tolerate it; the following 3 years on aspirin only and the Watchman implanted 14 months ago.

Tresjur

I will need to go get info on this as I never heard of it. Sounds like part of your heart is not in use due to this devise.

Hi @eileena,

I though you might be interested in reading this discussion started by @tresjur, Watchman Implant for A-Fib https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/watchman-implant-for-a-fib/ where she and others have shared some incredible insights and experiences.