EP Study?

[JennNIN]

My doctor isn't sure but he's thinking of recommending me a defibilator. He said that he would want me to have an EP study where they try and get your heart to have an arythmia (I have NO idea how to spell any of this stuff) to see if I would need a defib.

Has anyone had this test? Can you give me some insight on it. The thought of them trying to stop my heart kind of scares me. =/

I basically told him I wouldn't think of agreeing to it until after my next echo to see if I improved anymore. He said that was fair. My last echo showed an EF of 38%.

TIA

Jenn

[Lisa V]

Hi Jenn,
I had the test/study done and I was really scared. You are basically awake for the procedure, not really feeling anything. They will shave your inside of your legs where the wires will go into. The test itself was easy but for me coming out and having the probes removed was bad. The one probe caused some bleeding and they had to stop it so they literally had to place there bodies in the incision to stop the bleeding. It was painful and I was crying. The bruises were horrible.....................After they got the bleeding to stop you have to sit with sand bags on your legs for, I believe about 8 hours. I guess after Dr. is different and they will definitely let you know what happens. They were able to get my heart into an arthmia and they had to do an Ablachin (didnt spell that right). I wish you luck and please let me know when and if they decide to do this procedure.

[JennNIN]

I'm really hoping I don't have to go through with the test.

Thank you so much for letting me know in such detail what was involved.

[SusanD]

Hi there ! I've had an EP study and an ablation. Sounds like your Dr. is thinking you are having arhythmias called ventricular tachycardia ? My problem was for a different rhythm (supraventricular tachycardia....fast heart rate, but not a lethal rhythm.)

I checked in early on the scheduled day. They put me on a skinny table in the cardiac cath lab, shaved my groin and put a catheter in my bladder and an IV in my arm. They gave me *great* drugs that allowed me to feel sleepy and groggy but not to have to be totally sedated. My EP Dr. punctured me at least 5 times....two in the right groin (one in the femoral artery and one in the femoral vein), once in the left groin and once just under my left collar bone. Honestly, I could feel the pressure and the injection to numb the area was a little stingy, but it was not bad at all.

I was awake the whole procedure and could feel my heart rate racing a bit when he did finally find the bad electrical pathway.

I always tell my patients who are hesitant about defibrillators (also known as AICD's) that it is like carrying around a paramedic with you 24/7. They will not do anything if you don't need them. They are barely noticeable as a lump on your left chest...but they are wonderful if you DO need them, know what I mean ? I have many many patients who have had them for years and they have never been shocked.

Specifically, what rhythm problems have you been having and what symptoms ?

[momoftwoboys]

I also had an EP study done to check for the bad arythmias for a defibrillator. I was much more scared than I neeeded to be I think. The most you should feel is when they numb the groin area to insert the catheter thingy's. I can't remeber if it was just one, but I think there were several small ones which they hook up to cetain parts when inside of you (saying this in my terms of course). They did give me something to make me feel a bit sleepy or light headed, but I was pretty much awake the whole time and remember everything. I remember them doing something that made my heart feel like it was racing and then feeling like it was really slowing down. It was actually kind of neat because I got to watch the whole thing on the big computer screen. I also remember being very cold and shaky (probably mostly my nerves). I remember them having to put a lot of pressure (just with their hands though) to stop the bleeding afterwards and I had to stay there for a few hours before I could leave. They also made me walk for a while before I could leave. Needless to say, I didn't need the defibrilator. I would suggest that you don't stress yourself out over this procedure, because if you've had a baby you've been through hudreds and thousands of more pain than this procedure. It wasn't really that bad at all. Good luck, and keep us posted.

[Natasha]

I know that I must have had an EP study done, but it is during that time that I have no memory of. However, I do have an ICD, and I want to let you know that there is nothing to worry about there. It is a minor surgery and has not prevented me from doing anything at all. Like Susan said, it is not a problem if it doesn't go off and if it does go off, the alternative would have been much worse.

Good luck!

[JennNIN]

Thank you so very much for your description of the proceedure.

I don't think I'm really having any rhythm issues right now, as he said I seem to be improving according to my last echo. I think he really wants to be cautious but doesn't want to put one in unless necessary which is why he might want me to have this test.
[QUOTE=SusanD]Hi there ! I've had an EP study and an ablation. Sounds like your Dr. is thinking you are having arhythmias called ventricular tachycardia ? My problem was for a different rhythm (supraventricular tachycardia....fast heart rate, but not a lethal rhythm.)