Since being dignosed last year and the PAF hardly affecting me at all the condition over the past couple of months has gradually worsened...
The tiredness,vibrations through body ,chest back pain and breathlessness just a few of the symptoms that are now dragging me down...I am struggling at the moment to continue to manage my work.....
Saw cardiologist beginning of week referring me to an EP with a view to ablation...
Could someone tell what to expect ie will there be more tests,or a change of med or whatever....There is a six months waiting list l believe....l had hoped for a review of medication but this was not an option....
Well Bob the beget is well and truly begotten now.....cx
I'm saying nothing! Seriously this is the right way to go in my view and yes it will seem a long time but in the full scheme of th9ings it isn't. Meds obviously aren't working so ablation is the best option.. Your EP will explain all about the procedure and all the risks etc. , That is so you can't sue him if anything goes wrong. It very seldom does so don't worry.
Once you get your date you will have to be on warfarin for about three months (I think you are anyway?) A few days prior to the procedure you may have to stop this and go onto Clexane and then when you go in, you may possibly have a CT scan of your heart or MRI depending on the EP. The morning of the procedure you will have to give yourself a Brazilian probably and then you go down to the cath lab where they will either give you deep sedation or GA and with any luck when you wake up again in four or so hours it will be all over. You will have to lay flat and still for about four or five hours afterwards and then you can get up and move around gently. There will be some bruising and swelling in the groin area where they gain access to the veins which may take a few weeks to fade away and you should rest as much as possible for the first week and then do not a lot more for the second. They will not let you out alone by the way so need company for the first day or so. No driving for 48 hours minimum. You won't feel like it anyway.
You will most likely get a few funny rhythms over the next few weeks but it should settle down in three months or so..
You know where I am if you need to chat.
Bob
Thanks ever so Bob....Speak to you soon.cx
Hi caromia I found the ablation procedure totally painless.Iwas given a mild sedative to relax me which made me slightly drowsy.It can take around 2 hours depending on things and you have to stay in over night.The sedation though only slight made me personaly feel worse for the next week more than the op but now 4 months on i feel almost 100%.Good luck I know every thing will be fine think possitive argzxoni61
Thank you argzxoni61,
It is heartening and comforting to receive these positive responses to my question... However,I have to admit to being scared stiff..C
Hi caromia, I've had two ablations, and both were absolutely no problem and I will be having a third next year (hopefully) and it's honestly not something I will even give much thought to. With the first one, I was kept in for a day after the procedure because I had a slight infection in my groin wound, and with the second, I had the op in the afternoon, stayed in overnight and left mid-morning next day.
The first one I was awake but sedated, and with the second I just walked into the operating room, took my crocs off, noticed they were all wearing crocs so told them I knew which ones were mine , then they asked me to confirm my name, DoB etc, and next thing I woke up feeling fine. Two EP's came to see me and update on what they did etc. Don't know what drugs they use to put you under nowadays but they are amazing, no after-effects of any kind.
You're not allowed to drive for a week afterwards because that's the law I think. Not sure, but that's what they told me.
Good luck, hope to have mine asap and get off these &*^^&*%*&^ drugs.
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Thanks Koll for your support... Had to smile,must remember to pack my crocs...c
I have to say I'm as confused as you about this, having had a succession of drugs shoved down my throat since AF finally diagnosed just over a year ago. It seems to me a lottery which ones work....or not. After my cardiology appointment ( and getting a bar bill from Bob for explanations in plain English) and having my meds adjusted, had to go back yesterday feeling so ill, they were adjusted again. See how that goes over the weekend.
What else can you do but follow advice, even if it appears to make you feel worse???
Hi,I can see that my PAF is progressing at an alarming rate ...Chest discomfort,hearing,vision disturbances,pains in joints and limbs..
.I wonder at times if I hadn't called an ambulance that night of the attack last year how it would be without meds,Would it have just been a one off...I just feel drugged constantly...
Have to wait now to see what the EP suggests the cardiologist has recommended a view to ablation...I am so scared I cant tell you ....Of complications,slow recovery,or stroke ...
Its not like having a tooth out or tonsils were your going to feel relief after...
I never thought I was such a wimpy coward....Good to know there are others who have same fears...C..
Your certainly no coward to be scared by this. I'm your original roughy/ toughy ex regular soldier and have endured a few ups and downs in my life, but this is another story. As I have said on here before, if I can see it or understand it, I can deal with it. This AF business and the drugs dished out scares the life out of me. Cynic that I am, I'm sure half of these drugs, whilst MAYBE controlling the irregular heart beats, cause all kinds of other problems.
When I grow up I'm sure I'll look back at this.........etc, etc... !
Thank you for that affermation....l have felt much better as the day has progressed....l know in my "heart" it's to do with the support l have received from you all these last couple of days...Thank you so much...C
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Well with me at least I can be clear in that I'd MUCH rather have the drugs than either the AF or what I have now which is ecpotics, don't know what to call it so suppose it's just an arrhythmia? I was being over the top when I said &*%^&^&% drugs. I'd rather have an ablation than the drugs if at all possible.
Strangely it used to be a week not driving but last time it was only 48 hours. Not that I wanted to drive for a week or so anyway and then only took out the Micra. That felt fast! Took me a couple of weeks before I wanted to drive the Alfa.
I had ablation 2 weeks ago under general anaesthetic. It lasted over 4 hours but I was fine when I woke up. I don't know yet if it worked but like you, i was scared but it was all fine. I had no pain or after effects. If you decide to go for it good luck - and good luck with the decision making. Marie
Hi Marie,its good to hear of these successes as I know from being on this forum for quite some time now that is not always the case...So good to hear of the positives...Take care and keep well and strong.C
Good luck you will be fine don't worry x
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Frills thank you and I shall be thinking of you also during the next couple of weeks....C
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Many thanks x
c, have I said this before, not sure? But if you're scared and are having AF episodes, has your doc suggested anything to help calm you down? I know for sure that my AF starts in / is aided by my head. I'd rather have a large glass of red wine if it gets bad, but instead I have a supply of Diazepam and I can pop one when I feel my head is part of the vicious circle. It nearly always works, may not eliminate the wobbles but calms things down. Thought I was going to kick the bucket one night, really dreadful it was, and almost back to normal in 30 minutes.
They are addictive though so only take when I really need to. Maybe there's something else or no doubt you've already got this covered.
Just a thought.
Cheers
Koll
Hi,up to recently l could still manage a couple of glasses of white wine without any adverse affect on the heart but have to stop that now....Difficult hey being a "lush"could try the diazapan although a bit risky with my addictive personality..maybe a glass of warm milk or whatever..!!!!
A bad night for me last night heart leaping but pulse going so slow l thought l was going to die also...
I feel really pathetic even saying this but updated my will and emailed to solicitors...
It's like heart has come alive or has a mind of its own...listening to music,reading,conversations,laughter,sadness everything affects its.Yesterday a friend just came into my office and took me by surprise and off it went on a tangent....
I know we are all in the same boat and there is strength in numbers and l am grateful for that...
.You keep strong also as the lambing season will be here soon.C
Just been scheduled for catheter ablation myself, and expect a 4-5 month wait. I live in the Northwest of England and will be treated at the Liverpool Chest and Heart Centre in Broadgreen. The link below takes you to their web-site which sets out everything you really need to know about C/A in terms of procedures, and gives a lot of very reassuring feedback from patients who have been through the system.
Hi Mallet Head, I too am being treated at L'pool Heart & Chest, was seen at the end of Oct initially given 28.11.13 as ablation date but now it's changed to 12.12.13 wondering if this is because I've been passed from a plumber to the electrician's and needed to be admitted to L'pool Royal earlier this month for emergency cardio version. AF kicked off again the following day though, am now on Amioderone as beta blockers and flecainide etc did n't agree with me. Hate these symptoms and am wondering if it's ever going to be sorted. Has anyone out there ended up with a pace maker?? I've only been able to go to work on reduced hours for 4 weeks out of the last 6 months. Really worried and scared now, I'm only 51and usually in really good health
Hi Fussyface, I'm sorry to hear how debilitating the AF has been for you. I guess I am quite fortunate in that I don't seem to be affected by a lot of the symptoms other people report. I was originally diagnosed with it earlier this year with the main symptoms being breathlessness, and oedema in both legs and feet. I'd had some palpitations on and off for some years, but put it down previously to anxiety. I too have been put back on Amiodarone a couple of weeks ago, (along with my warfarin) following a consultation with Dr Gupta at LCHC. Was on it before in preparation for cardioversion which only improved things for about a week! I'm 65 and have been quoted a 70-80% chance of success, so your odds must be a lot higher which should be good news!
Best of luck with C/A when you have it done, let us know how you get on.
I don't know if it was coming off medication the day after or that the first improvements in my AF were immediate but I just felt amazing straight away. My family said within a week they could saw me return to the person I had been before AF struck. The change was there in my face.
I know I have a long way to go, just four weeks now since the procedure, and I know I may need another - or more, but I feel so positive.
Read as much as you can about what is going to happen so that you are well prepared. I had a local and was fascinated by everything that went on.
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, then they asked me to confirm my name, DoB etc, and next thing I woke up feeling fine. Two EP's came to see me and update on what they did etc. Don't know what drugs they use to put you under nowadays but they are amazing, no after-effects of any kind. 
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