If you have had Tachycardia then you know what it is like to have your heart rate so high that it becomes a matter of life and death. Arrhythmia for some people is not easy.
For over 2 years, I dealt with a Tachycardia heart arrhythmia. Sometimes upon exertion or from what seems no reason, my heart would take off to about 125 beats per minute or more. The symptoms are quite severe, pounding heart, extreme shortness of breath and dizziness. Whenever and whereever it happened, I had to lie down flat on my back, and breathe until my heart returns to normal rhythm. I had a several of episodes on a hiking trail or in public places, where I got stuck awkwardly lying on my back for 5- 10 minutes. Pretty scary.
Through lots of tests, I found I have either been born with a genetic type of cardiomyopathy and/ or created with my relationship choices Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy aka “Broken Heart Syndrome.”
Whatever the reason, over time my heart has enlarged to an abnormal size and has become stiff and scarred, which they say is causing the arrhythmia. It is serious and very worrisome. I ended up with the Tachycardia being so consistent that it caused my heart to fail. My heart was very weak and my life was saved by modern medicine. I had my first Ablation in November 2017 and was sent home with a pamphlet called “Living with Heart Failure” and a big bag of pills.
For months, after being hospitalized for Heart Failure and having the first Ablation, I focused on healing myself holistically. I studied all I could find to learn about heart health. I practiced yoga, saw an acupuncturist and had regular massage. I have learned so much about hearts and love and the way emotions affect heart health. I had both amazing wonderful, healing moments of believing I can heal this without going back into the hospital and then times of being in Tachycardia for hours, unable to talk or open my eyes. Part of me says “yes! I will spontaneously heal this.” Then I was humbled by being stuck in a restroom unable to walk across a restaurant because I am too dizzy.
Whatever combination or doses of medication I was prescribed, nothing seemed to keep my heart in rhythm. For 4 months I was not able to reach a point of any cardiovascular stability, I lived in fear of when my heart will go into Tachycardia again. I decided to have a 2nd Cardiac Ablation at OHSU 6 months after Ablation #1. The ablation procedure is to help the electrical impulses in my heart fire more correctly, and hopefully make it so I do not need the meds anymore. I was hoping to return to living my life.
This 2nd time my doctor said the Ablation was really successful. I had a great summer of bike riding, walking and summer fun. In the fall, 5 months later, the tachycardia started up again.
What to expect during an Ablation? No food or water for 12 hours before the procedure. It is good to be the first one to go in the morning. They sterilized my skin and buzzed off my crotch hair. I had to put the gown on, get back in bed and stay there. Then they wheeled me down to the Cath Lab. I had a team of 10 or so people. It was like a space station. I was introduced to the anesthesia team who would be right next to me the whole time. That was reassuring. I was most afraid that I would never wake up. There were people on monitors in a control room. A cardiologist in the control room and another in the procedure room. Many people were wearing headsets. The head elctro-cardiologist was on a loud speaker. They moved me to a clear space age pillow table. there were cameras below and above me. It was very claustrophobic, with gizmos all around me. They strapped me down. Luckily then they put me out…
They inserted 2 tubes into the arteries on the groin area of my legs. Happy, I was asleep for this part. Part way through the procedure they woke me up and started talking to me. I needed to be awake for part of the procedure, I guess it helps them find the arrhythmia. They were tugging on a tubes. I could feel the gizmo inside my heart. I was so annoyed and whimpering. An angel woman rubbed my head. Then I was out again. I guess they can turn up and down the anesthesia to make the patient wake and sleep. 11 hours later, I woke up..
I have had 3 ablations. All 3 times the experience of coming back was surreal. I was altered, nauseous and in a lot of pain. Choose your hospital support wisely. It is good to have someone there who can handle crisis well and advocate for your comfort. I also had someone video all the interactions with the doctors because I could not remember anything they said.
I found it very difficult to talk or be polite as I dealt with the sensations. I took whatever drugs they offered. It was honestly pretty brutal. On my groin there were these wounds with wires coming out. I had a catheter in and squishy massagey things on my calves to keep me from getting a blood clot. It is neccessary to lay flat for a few hours after wards..I was so grumpy about this part.It is a very long time to be laying flat unable to move. I was lucky to have a friend massaging my neck and unwinding my spine from all the time of laying on the table. I found the touch really helped with the pain.
Recovery from there was pretty fast. I was able to shower the next day and went home the day after that. My legs had huge bruises on them. At home I spent about a week mostly resting and was able to cook, walk outside and drive 5- 6 days later. The mistake I made all 3 times was to start exercising too much too fast. I was so impatient to get back to my active life that I did not go slow. My advice is to really take is easy and stop before you feel you are pushing it. I ended up going off rhythm soon after my ablations and I think this was due to exerting myself too much. Lesson learn the hard way. I hope this helps shed some information for anyone who is considering or facing having a cardiac ablation.
