Heart Ablation - WPW Syndrome

marcelline · Silver Member Joined: 10 Aug 2002 Posts: 262

I was recently diagnosed with WPW syndrome and I was told that I have an ablation. They told me that I have to on medications for the rest of my life. This is not option for me. I was considering surgery. I don’t know if it expensive but being on meds seems more expensive. I would like to know what the risks are and is it worth it?

towe · Newbie Joined: 11 May 2006 Posts: 10

Yes there is risk as with any surgery, but I understand your concern for having the ablation. The bad news is that my husband was in 10% where the ablation failed. He had an open heart surgery, but his doctor just didn’t do it good job and It is frustrating for him, although surgery and ablation attempt has slowed his heart rate during the attacks down. Good thing is that they took him out of medicine. Well, he is live and living proof that you can live with WPW syndrome.

hopey94 · Newbie Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 1

I was diagnosed with WPW in 1994 while pregnant with my first child. I of course had to wait until after my child was born before they could do anything. Upon going to the dr. she gave me beta blockers. Beta blockers are normally supposed to make your heart rate go down or stay at a constant beat (basically anyway). The beta blockers only made my WPW worse. I went in for my first ablation in 1997. This attempt failed because of the location of my "extra pathways". I had to go to a teaching hospital that had experimental equipment where they did the ablation and I went home the same day. After the ablation I noticed skipped beats and different little fluctuations with my heart to which i chalked up to my being so "in tune" with my heart from the WPW. I don't regret the ablation and would get it again if I needed to. I do however now have another heart problem which my dr says is not related to the WPW, but I, of course, have my doubts. In 2005 on the way back from IL to SC my heart started skipping beats like crazy. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with PVC's. These are a pain in the rear and according to my dr, they are stress related in my case. Well, I have 4 children and am a full time nursing student. There is NO way for me to be stress free so I am in turn just living with the PVC's. The dr gave me some meds that help, but I still worry that the PVC's are the beginning of the WPW again because this is how it started when I was 12 yrs old. Good luck to all and I hope this helps you make some sort of decision.

Guest · Guest

[quote="towe"]
Yes there is risk as with any surgery, but I understand your concern for having the ablation. The bad news is that my husband was in 10% where the ablation failed. He had an open heart surgery, but his doctor just didn’t do it good job and It is frustrating for him, although surgery and ablation attempt has slowed his heart rate during the attacks down. Good thing is that they took him out of medicine. Well, he is live and living proof that you can live with WPW syndrome.

Hey there... i had an ablation for WPW under a week ago. im 16 and complain when i was very young abut rapid heartbeats, pain etc.. they checked on the ECG and yes found out i had WPW. Recently i decided i wanted it gone and now it is! no meds or anything, never had 2 take them. just simple day surgery, two tiny cuts in the groin area which didnt even require stitches! And will hopefully b back riding my horse wen it hits a week afta surgery.. np probs! i am experiencing sum mild chest pains which i shouldnt b but thats all getting checked out. just letting u no i think its worth it!! reguard Ella.

Guest · Guest

Just an FYI for ablation canidates. Many years my doctor told me anxiety was increasing my heart rate. Panic attacks were the cause. About 10 years. Tests from cardiologists came out fine. Echo's were fine, stress tests were fine, the 8 million EKG's were fine. So I took everything they said would fix it, switching periodically. None of them helped much, some of the beta blockers slowed me down to where the attacks were less, but I still had days of pulling over in my car on the side of the road for an hour trying everything to break these 260-300+ BPM attacks. I'd loose motor function after a half hour or so, numbness, jaw pain, dizzy (Duh), and sometimes several times a day. It got worse and worse over the 10 year period, it was literally ruining my life. It scared people around me, and I couldnt do any physical excersize without trigering these things. Although I could never get one to go for the doc's. So eventually I switched to my 4th cardiologist. This was my first expeirence at Deborah heart and Lung Center here in NJ. THey strapped on a portable heart monitor, not the lousy 48 hour one that my WPW was dodging like the plaque, it was a little credit card on with a record button. I had it for a month or so recording as many as I could and sending them. I got a call to come in the next day. I was surprised the wanted me in so fast and it made me very very nervous. THe Doctor new exactly what it was, explained it and gave me the option of medications or Ablation. I had already tried the medication and had little success, besides it slowed me down so much I felt like a tart, so I agreed on the ablation. I was insanly nervous going in, but it went smoothly, they found several pathways, fried 'em test by jazzin me with some electricity while they temporarily brought me out of the anithesia and on to recovery. BEST MOVE OF MY LIFE!! But, follow docs orders, I was rough the first few days and you can't be, do exaclty as they say. I still get runs here and there but it is possible that I'm just more aware or it then most because of the expeirence with WPW, as you all probably experience. I have not had a single attack sinse. I still get nervous and anxiety sometimes that makes me think I am going to get one, but it never happens. That was my expeirence. Take from it what you will.

emjayball · Newbie Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

I had WPW for 12 yrs misdiagnosed. Had the ablation and it was curative, ie my heart is now normal. I would highly recommend this operation (with a proven surgeon). I would hate the thought of having WPW again, and feel for those who have it.
My advice would be to find a good surgeon and have the op asap, you won't look back.

Thill · Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2007 Posts: 1

Thanks for everyone's posts! They are very helpful. Now I feel better about surgery. I couldn't say that a month ago!

I was diagnosed with WPW at birth and have always had the "episodes" and thought I would just have to live with them...and that was fine with me assuming nothing else would be wrong with me. Smile

I am on the 2nd Cardiologist who also says I need to have it done. I would like one more opinion before the ablation. With 2 small children, I worry about surgery and being away from them, but it sounds like it's the best thing in the long run!

Guest · Guest

i also have wpw. my case was severe i was born with it and was told if i didn't have the surgery i would have to be on medications for the rest of my life. so i had the surgery when i was 9 and it was successful and now i'm 20 and have no problems. so i would recommend having the surgery but do research and make sure you have one of the best doctors

butterfly22 · Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 1

I experienced "episodes" for several years. ER doctors dismissed me by saying I was having anxiety attacks. Of course by the time they actually checked my heart the "episode" had stopped. It wasn't until I was in the hospital to have my first child (in 1994) that I was diagnosed with WPW. I have only experienced attacks during pregnancy or while on oral birth control. An attempt at an ablation was unsuccessful. I was told I shouldn't have any more children. My doctor suggests that my WPW appears during times of hormone changes. I now worry that my symptoms will reappear as I approach menopause. (Which could be years away) Smile

Has anyone else experienced attacks only during pregnancy or while taking birth control? Has anyone experienced increase in frequency during menopause? I appreciate your feedback.

Heart Ablation - WPW Syndrome

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