Hi. I'm scheduled to have my ablation in two days, and I am scared to death... not so much of the procedure, but of not knowing if I will have any long-term issues as a result.
I had one episode last year at 230 that lasted for about an hour... then nothing. I had no idea what caused it, and since it seemed to be a one-off, I dismissed it. However, last month I had four days in a row of SVT. The first day, it lasted about 2 hours, and it scared me. So, I googled.... figured out that it was SVT and learned the vagal maneuvers. Second day, SVT again, but the vagal maneuvers worked after about 30 minutes. Third day, the vagal stuff did not work, but - fortunately - the SVT only lasted about an hour. My heart rate during those episodes was between 180-200. Then came day four. It started out as an arrythmia and transitioned to SVT. I went immediately to 220-240. I tried desperately to control it, but I couldn't, and by the time I "gave up", I was honestly unable to walk... so I was taken by ambulance to the ER. While in the ambulance, the paramedic assured me that the IV adenosine would straighten me out right away. Well, it didn't. It didn't convert me at all. He gave me a second dose, and that didn't work either. By this point, I'd been over 200 for 3 hours. After that second dose of adenosine, I felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest... like I was having a heart attack. I asked the guy if I was... and he said he didn't know but didn't think so. He was clearly nearly as scared as I was. I really thought I was going to die.
Six hours after this SVT began, it "stopped" in the ER... well, I was down to 125, and that felt normal by comparison. I did, however, have another 15 minute episode at 185 that afternoon.
I was discharged the next day and put on Toprol. My blood pressure plummeted routinely, and I nearly passed out while driving. AND I still had several milder (180) episodes. So, then I was changed to Cardizem. I only had one episode while on that, but it made me so very tired, and I'm normally full of energy.... and need to be with five kids and a full-time job. I also had lots of palpitations with it.
So, here I am. I want to be the way I was... so I've decided to go with the ablation, but I'm frightened. I'm normally a tough gal, but I am concerned. I am not worried about short-term palpitations or fatigue as a result of the HEALING process. I am, however, concerned about long-term issues. If I had been responsive to the adenosine, I wouldn't feel so desperate to have this procedure. But it is scary enough having 230 for 6 hours.... knowing that I'm difficult to convert only exacerbates my fear. At the same time, though, ablation is such a "permanent" thing. It's not a med that you can stop taking if it doesn't work. And the last thing I want is to feel fatigued, short of breath, etc. as a result of the ablation.
Reading so many things online, the stats seem excellent and comforting, but - more often than not - people post online about problems with things (including this procedure).... so I am hoping to find people who have been pleased with their results. I need some reassuring right about now :)