I had a surgery date set for 2/11/08 which is now canceled. I have had Atrial Fibbrillation since 4/13/07. As part of the follow up I have been getting EKG's done every 2 months since last April. He discovered that I now have a heart flutter on the last EKG. The doctor said the I can not be put under Anesthesia in this condition and need to cancel the Lap-Band surgery. On 2/15/08 the Cardiologist is doing a procedure called an Ablation to correct the flutter. If it works I can have the surgery 7 to 10 days later. Only 1 small problem, my Surgeon does not have any open dates until the end of March

I was wondering if anyone has experienced a similar problem or if anyone has had an Abalation done?

I was born with a condition called Wolfe Parkinsons White Syndrome (sp?) and had an ablation procedure done back in 1999 to help correct the problems I was having related to the WPW, everything was fine up until December of last year when I started having episodes again and had to go back to the Doctor who had me on an event monitor to catch the episodes and go from there and come to find out that I have to have another ablation done. When they did my first one they went in thru the femoral artery with a catheter up to the heart and sealed a couple of bypasses that were causing issues. I was only in the hospital overnight that time and was back to normal a couple days after that. My surgery this time is going to be done at the Cleveland Clinic sometime in April. My cardiologist is actually the one who referred me to a weight loss surgeon to look into lap band and I have just started that journey but before anything else is the surgery to go in and correct whatever is wrong again this time.

I've had atrial fibrilation since 2003 and have had 2 ablations. The first ablation helped quite a bit for about 2 years (I still had them, but not as regular) and then they came back more frequently. I had a 2nd ablation in September of 2006. This again lessed the frequency of my episodes but did not clear up my problem. With the last ablation, I had the procedure performed on a Monday morning and wasn't released until Thursday night. The doctor also felt that bariatric surgery would be beneficial. My surgeon was aware of my problem and told me that as long as I wasn't having an episode at the time of surgery that there wouldn't be a problem. I normally go 3-4 weeks inbetween episodes and we scheduled it about 1 week after one. Things went fine.

I've concluded that my atrial fibrilation is just something that I'll have to live with. Which many people do. It can be very frustrating. When I have an episode it lasts anywhere from four to fourteen hours in length. I just try and relax and stay down till it passes.

Good luck with both your lapband and your atrial fibrilation.

Atrial Fib Can be tricky. And it is not always the same with all people. For instance I see one person said that they sit down until the episode passes. My episodes never pass. I always have to be cardio verted. I too had an ablation and had no problem for three years. I am not typically a big drinker but over indulged one time and went out of rythym. I am sure well almost sure it was from the alcohol. Ablations are statistically 70 percent effective (with a touch up). The ablations are not extremely painful but terribly draining. I was just banded on thursday and I would tell you not to schedule banding just 10 days afterward. Too much TOOOO soon. This banding is not a piece of cake either. The pain is not too bad but the gas is terrible. Oh for a simple bowel movement! The little things in life are suddenly important!

amwell

Thanks for the info. I too was reffered for Lap-Band procedure from my Cardiac Specialists. He attempted an Electro-Cardioversion procedure in Sept. He jolted me three times and it was not successful. He told me of the last 2000 (approx.) patients he had preformed this procedure on I was the only one where it didn't work. That was comforting to know. He said I needed to get down to to around 300 pds and he would try it again. In Sept of 2006 he recommended me for Lap-band surgery. Also My Afibb is constant with a heart rate of a steady 110 bpm. I do have some episodes when the heart rate goes up between 175 to 200 bpm.

I understand that the flutter needs to be corrected before the Lap-Band surgery is done, it is just frustrating to me. Seems like every step you take is harder than the last. My wife has been wonderful keeping me focused on the task at hand and not letting me get down on myself. She was worried I would get discouraged at this latest set back and give up. I let her know it was only a setback and we were staying focused. I am determined tp get my life back and be free of as many of the meds as possible.

You're right that we're all different in how atrial fib affects us. With me, none of the medications have helped and I believed I've tried them all. They say that for alot of people medication is all they need. No such luck with me. I also haven't had luck with electro-cardioversion. It didn't work and I never want to try that again. Good luck with your journey.

I didn't have a medical cancellation, so sorry you did, but my doctor had to reschedule, almost a month later, i was so disappointed.

Hugs!

Yea Nip, I am not looking forward to having the cardioversion a second time either. I was not prepared for the 4 burns I recieved. There wasn't any mention that I would recieve burns the shape and size of the defib patches. I had 1 on my back and 3 on my chest where they moved the pad around for each try.

Also as far as medication goes, I take Amiodarone which has lowered my heart rate considerably but hasn't gotten back to normal. I went into the hospital at a steady 225 bpm and left the hospital 8 days later at 110 bpm.

Here is an update on my Ablation. I went in yesterday for my scheduled Ablation. The Doctor did the procedure and it was a success. I now have a normal heart rhythm. I was pumped to see the heart monitor reading of 72 bpm. Before the procedure the heart rate was averaging about 115 bpm.

My Doctor was pleased that the Ablation went so quickly and successfully.

It did not come with out setbacks. When they drew the blood for the INR numbers (clotting factor) it was not within the range required to procede with the Ablation. The Physicians asst had me stop my Coumadin Wed. I questioned this because it did not seem like this was a sufficient amount of time to "thicken" my blood. The Cath Lab Charge Nurse told me that the procedure would not be done due the high INR (5.57) numbers. I should have stopped taking the Coumadin no later than Monday she said.

I was not a happy camper. I had followed my pre-op instructions to a "T".

I explained about my upcoming Lap-Band surgery and how I had to have the Ablation first. She said there was nothing she could do. I asked her to consult with my Cardiologist before cancelling the procedure. 2 hours later my Doctor paid me a visit. My Doctor came and told me they were giving me a high dose of Vitamin K to reverse the affects of Coumadin and test the levels again. Needless to say, everything worked itself out. The Ablation went fine and I am back to a normal heart rhythm.

Oh yeah, when I got home I had a wonderful phone message waiting for me.

The Nurse Coordinator had left me a phone message late Friday while I was at the hospital. She said I would be having my Lap-Band surgery Monday On 2-25-08. I could not have been more excited at the news.

Life is good! I'm ready to continue my journey!

Wha-hoo for you, bigunc!!!!! That's a week from Monday--best wishes:tongue:!!!

Congratulations on a successful ablation and on getting your surgery scheduled. I had ablation for an AN nodal re-entry rhythm and now only have occasional episodes. Make sure the surgeon knows you're on coumadin because you'll need to stop it before he operates. He might also opt to have you give yourself heparin prior to surgery.

Thanks make22 & Elizabethsew. I'm pretty excited.

When we had to cancel my original surgery, I had to wait for an opening to reschedule. The phone message I had waiting for me today about the new date could not have made me happier.

Elizabethsew, My Lap-Band Nurse Coordinator contacted my Cardiologist and discussed my case and decided on a plan for my Surgery. I am to stop the Coumadin 5 days before surgery and start taking injections of Lovenox. The day of surgery they will do another INR check to see if I need to continue the Lovenox after surgery or start the Coumadin again.

I said it in some of my earlier posts, the Lap-Band Nurse is top notch. She has kept everything in order and me in line thru the whole process.

Congratulations...

I had my first a-fib episode on Dec 1 of 2007...I've had flutters since then, but no more full blown episodes...The first one I passed out into the bathroom and slammed my head into the toilet and tub. CRAZY!!! Unfortunately, my 3 year old witnessed the entire thing. ---they have put me on metoprolol and gave me something to put me back into rhythm if that happens again... No reason for it to have happened...so frustrating

The whole thing is sucky and scary and I'm sorry you are going through it...but am glad your ablation worked.

Best of luck with your banding. I've loved it and hope you have similar feelings!!!

Rain

My episodes actually began March 2007. I had quite a few spells of dizziness and spells of being lightheaded. I also had some serious problems keeping my legs under me. I fell numerous occasions before the Afibb was diagnosed. The last straw was the time I fell at work. I hit my head on a support column and was knocked out .

I too take Metoprolol (100mg). I also take Amiodarone (200mg) each twice daily for the Afibb.

Bigunc - Just a suggestion for when you take the Lovenox. First those injections can be really painful so ice down the area on the stomach where you plan to inject it. The first time I had to do them no one told me this. I tried this on my 2nd round and it helped quite a bit.

I also take Metoprolol (100mg) and coumadin daily. My doctor just started me on the Metroprolol again. It didn't help th first go around. I'm one who has an episode about once a month of a-fib. It lasts around 12-18 hours and then just clears up. Two ablations helped somewhat, but I'm one who has to learn to live with it. The hope is that medication will lower the heart rate during each episode enough to maintain normal activities while I'm in a-fib. So far no such luck. They say that if this can't be done, then they'll have to completely ablate the heart and put in a pacemaker. My father has this. His heart won't beat at all without his pacemaker. I don't really want to have this.

Good luck to everyone with their a-fib and the lapband.

Big Unc,

congratulations on your ablation. Go 4 it dude. The lap band in my opinion is less taxing that the ablation. So it is all down hill from here