VT ablation

I just got back yesterday from my ablation from Boston, MA. The procedure that was performed on 4/25/08 was not viewed by my specialists down in Miami as very promising, however it was worth a shot. They were skeptical due to the type of cardiomyopothy that I have which basically is that my septum is very thick between the ventricles, and that my VT was too fast. The last two EP studies done revealed a VT that was too fast to map because it did not support a blood pressure.
Well I pressed on. I researched through the internet, Google, and other patients that have had successful ablations. The most important thing I did is I put it in God's hands, and let him guide me to the answer to my prayers.
I felt pretty confident despite the negative outlook I received from my doctors and found myself in Boston. I went in for my consultation and was told the many different ways my problem can be ablated. They use radio frequency (microwaves), cryoablation (freezing), or alcohol injected in your coronary arteries that is basically a controlled heart attack that renders the muscle where the bad circuit lives dead.
All these methods are done through the groin vessels typically. Another approach is through your diaphragm which they can hit the circuit on the outside of the surface of the heart if necessary.
My ablation lasted 9 hours. I woke up and heard the wonderful news that it went extremely well. I was in pain, it was tolerable and extremely worth it. I had a total of two circuits causing the VT and another 6 that were problematic. Most of the procedure consisting of mapping the heart and finding the problems. They used a balloon pump to keep my blood pressure up, which are typically used in Open heart procedures.
They ablated with radio frequencies and hit one of the worst ones from the outside of the heart by a percutaneous ( through the skin) approach. This procedure was developed at Mass General where I had the ablation done.
The outcome is an 8 out of a 1 to 10 scale. There are two circuits left that they left alone for they believed that they are not of significance and they did not want to damage any more of the heart then needed.
I feel pain in my groin and when I get a PVC occasionally due to the trauma that is expected with this type of procedure. I am on all of my meds but I believe they will be decreased over time.
The next step for me is to find out why I have formed this problem and if is progressive with further Echocardiograms.
Do I feel a difference? That's hard to say but I lean more to yes then no. I feel extremely confident about it. I will know as time goes by and my activity level increases.
This is my second miracle and from surviving a sudden cardiac arrest to having 28 shocks in 14 minutes and an average of 1 shock a month since my device was implanted in December of 2007, this is a drastic change events for me. I have been on several meds that didn't work and could barely walk at a normal pace.
This story is my testimony that God is real and he listens to his children's prayers. I never lost faith in all of this and I pray whoever is in the shadows of fear that they call up the name of the Lord to give them the light of hope.
I have a learned a lot about ablation, and medication options. Please look into getting your arrhythmia fixed. Devices are a "God send" however ablation can CURE the problem for many people. At the very least it will decrease or even eliminate future shocks.
I hope this finds patients, family or friends of ICD patient's well and full of hope.
Contact me with any questions and I will help you find whatever I can with the resources that are available to me.
God Bless
Ryan Townsend
Lieutenant/Paramedic 6 years

By mamayama
Posted May 16, 2009 at 10:53 pm
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Hi RYAN--
Glad to hear it went well. How did you go about researching facilities and doctors? I am about to get one at NYU Hospitals and while I love my doc, I'm wondering if this is the best place to go. I have cardiac sarcoidoisis, which complicates things. I was in VTch for 6 hours yesterday, and been in and out even though I 'm on a lidocaine drip in the hospital (and I have an ICD) I'm pretty scared and don't know what to expect.
Marcy

By fireryan
Posted May 21, 2009 at 6:25 pm
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Marcy,

I'm sorry. I know about Cardiac Sarcoidosis. I still have to rule it out. I have some questions I'll put below for you that will be of great help to me.
As far as doctors I have great news for you Marcy. I am going to lose Dr. Vivek Reddy here in Miami. The good news is that you will have him in your neck of the woods. He is the best you can see. Period. I even went to a Ventricular Cardiac Symposium here in Miami that he hosted (the only one hosted in the nation). I got to see international as well as national EP's and see information on Stem Cell research, and much more. some of it was greek to me (I'm not a M.D.) but I got a lot out of it. Reddy's dialog was impressive. He knows what he's talking about.
He will be taking over the EP program at Mt. Sinai on 5th Ave. as early as this July.
My recommendation is to see him. He will find your spots and ablate them if its possible. My procedure was 10 hours so he's not a quitter. They do not get paid by the hour, they get paid by the procedure.

People that have to travel....I did. I flew to Boston from Miami with a really sensitive heart. It was worth the gamble. I didn't feel better immediately, but as my heart healed and we adjusted the meds....I'm feeling "normal" again.
I have my last appointment June 1st

Please seek the BEST for your heart. We only have one, and depend on it. Why go with number 2 option if #1 is available.

Go to a-fib.com

God Bless you Marcy and seek the Lord for guidance on your very important decision.

Ryan

By Izzey
Posted May 27, 2009 at 12:16 am
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Hi Ryan:
I am glad that you are doing well. I also have a question regarding your research: finding a Provider that was willing to do an Ablation. I was recently diagnosed with IST. I have been to 3 Cardiologists and 2 EP's. The latest opinion is that an Ablation had a low chance of correcting my problem and that the Provider would not perform a complete SA ablation that would leave me device-dependent.
Your condition sounds much more severe than mine. What was your EP diagnosis? Were you tach with cardiomyopathy?
Like you, I am in healthcare, a CNM, FNP. The symptoms that I am having have rendered me near disabled. I can not walk to the restroom without HR 150-180 and near syncope. Much less take care of my patient population. I find it wierd that a large percentage of IST patients are healthcare workers. Why? No one knows.
Any advise, further info you have is greatly appreciated. Keep praying to the One who made it all possible for your recovery.
Izzey

By Tuffy
Posted May 27, 2009 at 12:48 pm
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Hi Ryan,
Congrats on your ablation!!! I am wanting to respond to Izzey's comment. I also have IST. iv'e had several ablations done. the last one worked for about a bit over a year. there is a 20% chance for a ablation to work, depending on where it is located. mine is a quarter size and wrapped around my diaphragm nerve. my ablation took 7 hours to complete. My heart rate does the same thing. one major reason why they don't want to make you pacemaker dependent is because the pathway of your heart is not normal. they were talking about the same with me, but because where the electrical pathway is, if they cant ablate that pathway. then the chance of making you pacemaker dependent won't work, because it's still there. my heart will still go into irregular beats. mine spikes up to 174 for 30 seconds. it did that 4 different times in March. but having an ablation, I would recommend it.
I was able to lead a normal life for almost a year and a half. There is a reason why we have what we have, I was born with a RARE arrhythmia, 10% of the population RARE. but it is common for IST to accompany it. Although it is true that healthcare workers have IST more than anyone else. They are in the midst of doing a study about it in Europe. there is a support group called the IST site, google it in, you will find people all over the world with our diagnoses. it is great to find out that your not the only one with the frustrations of what this condition does to you. Just think, the doctors call this an innocent arrhythmia. if they had it do you think they would call it innocent? thanks for reading this. Ryan I will keep you in my prayers. I pray that you will be off all medication within this year!!! God bless
Tufffy

By Izzey
Posted May 27, 2009 at 7:24 pm
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Tuffy:
Thank you for the info. I am trying to make the right decision. I am scheduled to see my EP Doc again 6-2-9 for an EP study in order to ID the exact pathway that is effected as well as aid in a more conclusive diagnosis. Thus far, my only diagnostic criteria have been a Holter and a review of symptoms. Dr L, my EP second opinion doc, told me that if he sees an area other than the SA node, he will ablate that area. He also told me not to get my hopes up...I guess that's the 20% effectiveness you referred to. Dr. L stated that he would recommend me to another Provider if the test indicates SA node involvement: if I decided to procede with SA node ablation but that he does not feel that they are effective and therefor, will not do one. Should I let him do the EP or have him refer me now? I don't want to waste anymore time or have to repeat the procedure again.
What is the name of your other arrhythmia? I hope you are doing well now. Are you in healthcare? Thanks again for letting me vent.
Izzey

By nomorelongqt
Posted May 31, 2009 at 6:57 pm
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Ryan,

Are You back home now? I'm so glad you came through the procedure safely. 9 hours--Wow! That's quite an ordeal. Were you awake the whole time, or do they give you an amnesiac like Versed, so you can still follow commands, answer questions, but won't remember anything later?

Please keep us updated through posting or E-mail. Remember we are all here for you also. That is so great you are reaching out to help others in the midst of your own health issues.

I, too, believe, I would not have survived Emilie's death, at least not sanely, if I didn't have God's help along the way. One of my favorite quotes is: "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me". Some days I still say that just to motivate getting out of bed. He does listen to our pleas. We must make them with humility and also Faith that our prayers can, and will be answered.

Another favorite since losing Emilie is:

Hebrews 11:1--"Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for, and certain of what we do not see".

I'm not extreme when it comes to my religious convictions, I just know and want to pass on what has worked for me, during a time of the worst hand you can be dealt--that of losing a child like I did.

In our case it was also made worse by the fact that though she was a "textbook picture" of LQTS--the diagnosis was missed.

I was never "angry" with God, blamed God, lost my Faith, or said, "why me",--I consider all those additional gifts from God--and additional answers to my prayers.

Now I just want to save others from losing their children and loved ones from totally "treatable" conditions like LQTS, Short QT, Brugada's Syndrome, WPW, CPVT, ARVD, etc.

I too, can help anyone who needs help in researching a mysterious death with a negative autopsy and negative toxicology, or researching other related cardiac issues with yourselves, or family members that are ongoing. I'm also an old rusty RN by education, but have kept up really well, esp. in the 11 years I was forced to come up with a cause for Emilie's untimely and tragic death.

God Bless you Ryan, and all of you reading this.

May you ALL heal and have ALL your prayers answered.

Welcome to Inspire!

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