electrophysiologist visit - what to expect?

[starcheckered]

I'm going to see the electrophysiologist on Friday, and I was wondering what's going to happen when I go there? I've heard that they induce the tacycardia to see where it's coming from - except I always go into tachycardia (now) when I go to see the doctor because I get so nervous ... so I know they won't have to do that. What are the other procedures?

[Cassyroach91]

I know it's be awhile but what did they do

[sweetcaramel]

hi i had the eps done on 3-14-08 i didnt feel anyting i was asleep took about 2 hrs and 4 hrs laying still to avoid bleeding. hoever its been almost a week and i still have some discomfort and slight bruising around my groin area. on aprils first week im getting the ablasion done and staying overnite. everything willl be fine. dont worry you will be fine theirs always a concern but with a prayer and faith everything will be ok we are in gods hands.

[starcheckered]

They didn't say anything about a study.. just a consult to see if I needed the ablation. I guess that means they will be doing the study though? There isn't anything else left to do...

[starcheckered]

I decided awhile ago that I didn't like the idea of ablation, I don't want to risk having a pacemaker at the age of 18! There's nothing WRONG with my heart, all of my tests came back fine. The only thing is the IST. I think I can really live with it, it's not bothering me TOO much, I just have to put some things on hold for a little while. I can climb mountains later, you know?
How long did you say it took you to get off the medication? And did you ask your doctor or did you just stop? Because I feel bad when I'm not on the meds (sometimes I wake up really late, like around 2pm when I usually take the pill around 8am) I feel worse, but I think it's because they made me take them. I didn't feel the way I do now (off the pill) before I started taking them. I don't know though. I think I might experiment because I don't think anything bad would happen if I didn't take my pill for one day. What do you think?

[sugarpea013]

Yep, I never had any problems until after my delivery.  My heart actually went wacky during delivery. I won't go into that horror story, but I pretty much had an emergency c-section with VERY little anesthesia. My heart was so erratic they couldn't put me under completely and the epidural nearly put me into cardiac arrest. ANYWHO. I actually didn't start having problems until about 9 months after delivery. I mean I had many spells of tachycardia but they were a holiday compared to whatever happened in July. Ya know...everyone thought I had re-entry too. But there was no evidence anywhere of it. I also had abnormal P waves, and sometimes ST depression/elevation. In MY opinion, and it's only my opinion...ablation should not be done for IST. There is too high of a risk for needing a pacemaker and IST is proven to find ways to come back regardless. I think the best "cure" for it is the knowledge of knowing it won't kill you, accepting you have it and not being scared of it, and giving it some time. If you would have told me a couple months ago that I would be feeling the way I do today I never would have believed you. I was in HELL. I truly  thought I was on my deathbed. They kept pushing getting a pacemaker or at least doing a modification of my SA node. I couldn't be happier that I decided to wait.

[Momto3]

If you were scheduled for an EP, I sure hope you would know it.  It is a procedure that is done in a lab, sometimes with a "twilight" medication.  Did your doctor mention a study?  Maybe a call to the office would clarify what you can expect.

Try not to worry, and if you're anxious be sure to let the doctor know.  Most of the doctors I've come across are very understanding, especially when you're young and sitting in the cardiac waiting room.  I remember feeling so out of place, not so much so any more ; )

[starcheckered]

You said that your tachycardia occured after your delivery? Well the onset of mine occured about 1 week after I found out I was pregnant. Do you think there is a correlation and maybe it will be better once my body is used to the fact that I am no longer pregnant as yours is now? I wonder...
Do you know how they can rule out IST besides the catheters? Because they weren't sure what it was from the echo, ekg & holtor - they said it was SVT but they THOUGHT it was re-entry and then decided that it was IST from the "abnormal p waves" (i believe that's what she said?) Is there a possibility that they could be wrong? Because my cardiologist said, "you are a perfect candidate for the ablation" but I thought they didn't do ablations for IST because it's unsuccessful!

[sugarpea013]

I said the SAME thing, they said they would need it to go faster. I asked them well how fast do you need it to go?! At that point I was going about 160. That was when I found out they pace it around 240 or so.

[starcheckered]

I hope it is just the consultation (because it's my first time) but it may not be because I've already done all the good stuff - the EKG, holtor monitor, and echocardiogram - but if THAT'S what they're doing, there will be no need to induce the tachycardia. I'll be having it in the waiting room.

[sugarpea013]

I was terrified leading up to the EP study. I think it's only natural. The hardest part in my opinion, is the fact that you are not going to be able to receive medication to "forget" the procedure as most people do. When you have IST they have to withold meds, as your bodies natural adrenaline will be suppressed and it will alter the results. You will have to lay very still while they thread a catheter up your femoral artery in your leg, near your groin. Yes they do induce tachycardia, for the most part over 200 bpm. For IST they will use adrenaline to apply directly to the heart and measure it's response. If they happen to find an assessory path way, which is NOT related to IST by the way, they will give you medicine to put you under so they can do an ablation. After the procedure you will have to lay very flat for about 4 hours with sandbags on your legs. This is to stop the bleeding and ensure your artery does not rupture.

All this is for the actual EP study...I'm not sure if your having that done or just a consultation.

[Momto3]

When I went for my initial visit, the doctor asked me a lot of questions and reviewed my medical history.  She listened to my herat and did an EKG, no other tests.  Some tests (echocardiogram,holter) were ordered, but nothing was done that day, except the EKG.

Good luck!

[starcheckered]

BTW this visit is for inappropriate sinus tachycardia.