Have you undergone surgery for your cardiovascular condition?

I had a heart attack a few years ago that resulted in a stent. And then later I had a pacemaker implanted. I guess I didn't really know how pacemakers worked before, because I was expecting to be put under and have my chest cracked open. I was shocked when they told me I'd be awake for it! They had me drugged up a bit with an IV so I didn't feel much other than the initial prick of the local anaesthetic. I think in only took an hour or so in all, and I stayed overnight in the hospital. Overall it went well for me!

I have had several. In 2014 I was diagnosed with severe afib. I spent a week in the hospital. Thinning my blood and then a cardio version sac hocking my heart into rhythm. That lasted a week before we did it again. We shocked it again without the stay as I was on meds and blood thinners. Again I got a few days relief. Next I was setup with a radio ablation. Where they enter your heart through the large vein near your groin. Using radio frequency they destroy signals in your heart out of rhythm. This gave me a month relief. At this point I was transferred care to John Hopkins. I should say I could feel out of rhythm. I was lethargic. Difficult to breath. Weak. Not a fun way in life. Next I under went another ablation on both sides of the heart. They do the same original then a small hold inside the heart to the other side and use the same radio frequency there. This provided a couple months relief. It started up again. I was transferred toa different surgeon and underwent a hybrid ablation where the burn rings around the outside of the heart. The scar tissue traps the errant signal. The plan was to just enter between a few ribs. During the procedure my heart stopped. They cracked my chest open to save me and finish the burns. I awoke and that first breath was pure pain. They didn’t even have the breathing tube out. They informed me what happened. As I lived alone after 5 days in the hospital I went to a nursing home recovery center near home transferred by ambulance. Every pothole hurting. I spent 6 weeks there the home with therapy, home health all stopping in checking. I recovered. Moved to Minnesota where things were good for 5 years. Afib returned. First we tried just a Cardioversion . Things we’re fine for so long. Only worked 3 days. I knew my options were limited a said to do the pacemaker. I had it implanted. A few things were not passed on. First I have MS also. I used a tens unit. I could not anymore. Next you really need to be back from a microwave. I have leads on both sides of my heart. One kind of wraps around the heart before entering. About a week after returning home I started having hiccup type actions but didn’t feel exactly like hiccups. Still I help my breath, drank etc any remedy I could try the hiccups would not stop. My fiancé looking at me as I can’t hold still I’m jerking every 20-30 seconds. I portal off to all my doctors begging for help. My standard cardiologist assistant called first. She transferred me to the pacemaker techs. The leads from the heart to the pacemaker have 200 some programmable points. A couple of them were live as it crossed my heart causing extra heart pumps. I had to go into their office (85 miles) change the programming. Resolved. Next issue over the next year I never understood the fluid that can build behind a pacemaker. I continually was having issues breathing. Numerous doctors and specialist involved. I went on full time oxygen. Finally I was transferred care to the Mayo Clinic. I went in to see a Pulmonary Specialist. An overnight trip 4 hrs from home. The doctor walked in the room looked at me picked up the phone to have an ambulance take me across the street into the main hospital. I spent 10 days before Christmas 2021 in ICU removing 75 lbs of water I was literally drowning. I have congestive heart failure. They yelled at all my doctors on this. I am managed better I know how to manage mine. My pacemaker works. Acid is controlled

Hello everyone,

How are you today? 😊

Have you seen this older discussion?

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Did you undergo surgery for your cardiovascular condition? How was the procedure, and how did it affect your daily life?

Thank you for your input, it's highly appreciated!

Take care,

Somya from the Carenity team 🌼