Questions about Tachycardia and treatments

Hi,

Hi Amby, Welcome to the heart forum, we are happy to have you.  I have had some problems with Tachycardia but nothing major and not to the extent that my cardiologist has recemmended medication for it.  I hope that one of our other members will soon post a reply to you regarding your post.  This forum here has been really slow the past month or so...just in case it takes a little bit for you to get a response.  Keep checking back and do let us know how your doing...take care

Thanks Elisha,

I'm glad you told me it could be awhile for others to respond.

The Tachy isn't very high, I just seem to get very symptomatic even with the smallest raise in bpm. Cleaning, walking, even taking a shower can make me really dizzy/lightheaded. The beta blocker has seemed to help a bit, but not enough to ignore. If you know what I mean.

Amber

Hi Amby, I'm sorry you're having these problems. I'm afraid I don't know anything about Toprol. I was wondering about the catheter ablation suggestion...please don't be put off this by some of the posts on here, including my own! It is usually very successful and uncomplicated. I was told the success rate is over 90%, so please don't discount it. It is so debilitating and frustrating having to put up with all that dizziness and weakness, I know. I hope you have a sympathetic doctor. Do let us know how things go for you.

Juliette 

Thanks Juliette,

I'm more put off by the catheter ablation because I don't know what's going on with my heart/body. The Cardio I have does seem to be sympathetic, but doesn't know for sure what's going on with me. What's actually causing my heart to beat fast and for my body to be so fatigued. They keep doing this guessing game. Test for this and that, but haven't come up with anything as of yet. If he want's to do a surgery like this, then he really is going to need to tell me with complete accuracy that this is the best option for me.

I will do almost anything to be able to do the "simple" things again without feeling as though I ran 10 miles. But I want to make sure that the risks won't make me worse. That's a big fear for me. I have small children to think about, they need me to be healthy. I feel bad that I get wiped out the way I do now, I don't want it to become worse. Sometimes I can't do it now as it is. :(

Thanks for you input..:) Did you have this surgery? I ask because you say not to be put off by your post?
Take care~

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Amber

Hello Amber,

I'm not suprised that you're being cautious about the ablation idea if you have't been told what's wrong. How awful, not to have had clear answers from your doctors. That must be hard to cope with. Are you seeing your cardio again soon? There is a lot of infomation about tachycardia on this site;maybe it would help you to formulate questions to ask him/her? (I hope that doesn't sound patronizing). It must be difficult for you with the children - they have so much energy!

I alluded my own ablations because I've had three done and they didn't work. (Highly unusual, apparently). I mentioned this in a post to RHYTHMRN yesterday. I'm waiting for another one. I don't seem to have much choice really.

Take care of yourself,

 Juliette

Hi,

I think I'm more to blame then my doctor for not understanding. My memory is so bad that even if he has told me something I may forget. I should write it down, or ask for a copy. I just can't rely on my memory that's for sure. I seem him again next month. I have blood work to do and they will do a holter moniter again. I wish it was sooner, I hate the waiting game when I feel sick all the time. But I understand they want to give the meds I'm on the chance to work.

I hope your next ablation works.
Have you had any bad side affects from having had 3 already? That's what has me worried more then anything. I read that you can get an infection, or end up needing a pace maker, then the chance you might have to get it done again? The infection part is my biggest fear I think. If there is a chance I can get an infection then I will most likley get one. I had c-sections with my kids, and they got infected each time. Any wound seems to become infected on me. :(

Thanks......take care

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Amber

Hi Amber,

yes, it's all too easy to forget what happens during consultations. (I take my husband in with me - he's got a brain the size of a planet, me, I'm just tired). I haven't had any bad side effects from the ablations in terms of my heart, they just didn't cure everything. Some of the recent postings on here have described problems arising though. The actual incision for the catheter is very small, I suppose less than half an inch, I don't know how that would affect the chances of infection?! I've never had any. I have just had incisions in the groin, the doctor couldn't get into the vein by my collar bone. I have had some pretty spectacular bruising in the leg and the wound bled once but that was easily stopped. I think how you feel after the procedure depends a lot on what drugs you have. Most people seem to have sedation and don't find it traumatic. I'm a massive control freak and have had nothing except some painkillers once. That's my problem though!