question about ablation

Speculating · Nov 27, 2003

There are risks to taking the medications too. Ones a cure and one isn't, but that's a decision that's all yours.

Havin' A Party!, ASN, RN · Nov 27, 2003

I hear ablation success rates are steadily climbing. There's a doc in Cleveland (Natale?) that's supposed to be fantastic. Maybe you can check this out as you're in OH.

As stated, some of the med's are a little scary. And he's so young. Of course you should bring this up in the initial consult.

Good luck.

sharann, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2003

Either way I wish your son well. My co-worker (an RN too) had years of recurrent PSVT in the 160-s and up, and was on Verapamil for a long time. She finally had the ablation done at UCLA (a doc we worked with at our facility) and she has been arrythmia free ever since! Go for the cure. He is so young. Of course, I would ask him (your son, since it is his life).

Good luck.

LilgirlRN, ADN, RN · Nov 27, 2003

My mom just had an ablation after suffering for years with SVT. She had one episode (she was very upset) after the ablation but it only lasted a few minutes. She no longer has to take any medication for it. She had been on several different beta blockers, calcium chnnel blockers and was even on Dig for a while. They all had terrible side effects when she was on beta blockers they kept her HR in the 40s and she couldnt function. Ca channel blockers didn't really control her symptoms and despite having a Dig level of 1.2 would still have SVT. She's happy, she's not calling me at 11 at night saying I'm having anothter one of thsoe heart things so I'm happy too. :)

time4mydream · Nov 27, 2003

Thanks for your responses. The doctor my son went to see actually taught the ablation procedure at the Cleveland Clinic. I am leaning more towards having the procedure done. My husband is concerned as his father died having a heart cath performed. I understand 100% his concern regarding the procedure. The doctor allowed us to come in after hours to explain things to my husband. If we go ahead with the ablation I am hoping he can have it done over Christmas break or at least sometime before January 20th, the day I begin my adventure in nursing school. My lifelong dream to become a nurse is finally here. :nurse:

kids · Nov 27, 2003

Originally posted by time4mydream
Thanks for your responses. The doctor my son went to see actually taught the ablation procedure at the Cleveland Clinic. I am leaning more towards having the procedure done. My husband is concerned as his father died having a heart cath performed. I understand 100% his concern regarding the procedure. The doctor allowed us to come in after hours to explain things to my husband. If we go ahead with the ablation I am hoping he can have it done over Christmas break or at least sometime before January 20th, the day I begin my adventure in nursing school. My lifelong dream to become a nurse is finally here.

I have a nurse friend in his 30s who was diagnosed with SVT in his teens. Ove a couple of years I watched him become sicker and sicker looking. I honestly thought I was watching him die.

He had the ablation done and it was amazing how fast his color and energy improved.

He said (for him) the best part was not being afraid that he was going to die.

Louisepug · Nov 28, 2003

Hi there time4mydream. I saw your post on here and had to read it because I too had a cath ablation for SVT when I was 22 (I'm 25 now.) I am also originally from Ohio, and had the precedure done at Kettering hospital by a great doctor. I was actually diagnosed with SVT when I was in 4th grade and as I got older they got worse and worse (220+ :eek: !) So, at that point my Dr. too recommended the ablation. I am not going to lie to you, I was scared out of my mind. Luckily, I had great friend and family support, so if that's one word of advice I have it's to surround your son with tons of support!!Try to stay as positive for him as you can. When I finally had the precedure, I was actually under for 6 hours. The dr. didn't even find the pathways until the last hour, so needless to say, my family was getting a little worried. If you trust this doctor and talk to him and the nurses as much as you can before the surgery, you'll feel much more confidant, as will your son. After my ablation was over I had to lie still for a few hours, which wasn't even that hard since your somewhat sedated anyway. The first thing I said when I was awake was "if I'd had known it was going to be that easy I wouldn't have gotten so worried! :) " I actually went home the very next day, rested on the couch for the day after that and the next night went to dinner and dancing at a club! I had my appendix taken out a couple years later and that was a way harder surgery to recover from! It was also painful afterwards as the ablation was not at all for me. The only thing he will have to watch, and the dr. will talk to him about it, is the cath incision. That can sometimes get infected but rarely.

All in all I would TOTALLY recommend this! Although it is a very personal chioce, but I'm glad I did it. The drug options CAN actually be pretty scary, and I am a very active person and didn't want to take drugs forever. Afther the surgery I have had a few episodes with my heart, but NOTHING like before, and they are very short. Sometimes it is hard to find all of the pathways, AND they can come back from what I understand but you want to talk to the dr. about that. I guess when it comes down to something like this, especially in someone so young, I say go for it! If you have any more :) questions please feel free to PM me! And good luck with nursing school! I too am going to n. school! Take care! Louisepug