5 days post ablation : odd plumbing.

[jennydog]

Perhaps I should start by saying that 5 days post -ablation I have had no pain, no bruising and, amazingly, I have not felt my heart once. NOT ONCE. My only problem is an awful chesty cough.

I have had AF for about 6 years. It comes and goes. I had nothing in the month before the ablation but a very bad run of attacks in May and June. My EP suspected that I was fibrillating more than I realised and a 7 day ECG monitor showed one episode of 36 hrs.

The cryo ablation was to be done by Dr Todd at Liverpool. There was a teenager emergency which Dr Todd had to attend so I was allocated to Dr Richard Snowdon. I was assured that they had similar results and that Dr Snowdon was known to be meticulous about details. I liked him immediately. He explained that it would be ordinary ablation, not cryo. WHY? He linked cryo to sedation and I was to have GA.

He explained that there would be 3 entry points in my groin. These turned out to be tiny, not much more than ear lobe piercing. 12 hours later the plaster covering the 3 points had a gauze which was about 1" square.

The ablation took 3 hrs and I had to lie down for 6 hrs, including 1hr in recovery.

Dr Snowdon came to see me. The ablation had gone well. There was a 50 % chance of success but in view of the findings a second ablatio would not be an option. The mapping system had been seen by Dr Todd who was present latterly. My heart had fibrillates during the ablation and they had had to shock it.

In view if my history they were surprised to find an enlarged left atria with scarring. One pulmanory vein was so scarred that it didn't need abating. There were 2 veins from a single source and 2 veins were conjoined so there was a large entry hole instead of 2 small ones. Had it been cryo ablation then the cryo balloon would have been too small to deal with this large hole.

In the circumstances I have been very lucky. Dr Richard Snowdon is an absolute star!!

If this ablation is not successful in the long term then Dr Todd will consider a pacemaker.

I have had a change of medication and anticoagulant and will pos separately about that after I have seen my GP on Tuesday.

[fallingtopieces]

Thank you for all the details of your case Jennydog. It sounds like you were in top hands there.

For someone like me who has not yet had an ablation, these reported cases are such welcome reading, with the different methods and scenarios etc. I'm someone who likes to know the details, it makes me more confident for when my time comes.

I hope yours has done its job ; )

Pat.

[BobD Volunteer]

Thanks for the positive input Jenny. I know of the team there and have spoken to Derek Todd on a couple of occasions so am sure that everything that could be done has been. Isn't it strange how we are all different inside regardless of the same function. This and the mongrel that is AF makes these guys real stars in my eyes.

Rest now and take things easy for a while. You know it will take three months for the heart to heal so no running marathons or anything!

Take care

Bob

[Hidden]

Same here Jenny. I couldn't feel my heart at all after my first ablation 10 years ago. Gradually, over a period of years I did get to feel it again. My AF was round the clock with no breaks we could find, so it was simply an amazing experience.

Good news.

Koll

[Loo53]

Thanks for the update Jennydog I pleased you've had such a positive result from your ablation and had a welcome relief from AF. I wish I could say the same about my heart I've had a few dodgy moments but Dr Gupta said to expect these things so I'm not too bothered and putting my faith in him as he also has an outstanding reputation as part of the LHCH team. I just had very muscular pulmonary veins which were problematic to ablate as you know but they got done. I don't know how much you had GA but its taken me 10 days to get over it. At least you have a much better picture now of your current cardiac status and under a great team giving optimum care it must be a measure of relief to know all the options. Great news !

[rosyG]

Good to hear your heart is doing well- I hope your chest clears soon. Take care!

[wpw62]

Good to read of your progress and success. X take care

[Hidden]

So glad to hear you're doing well - rest up and take care! x

[Finvola]

Thank you jennydog for telling us about your experience - it means a lot to someone who may need to go through it in the future.

I hope that cough clears up quickly - it's great that the ablation is over with minimum of discomfort for you.

Take care. xxx

[jennydog]

Thank you all for you kind responses. Your friendship and help has meant a great deal. I may have some more interesting news about medication to post tomorrow.

I did laugh yesterday whilst explaining to a friend about the three tiny holes in my groin, she said "But you thought it was going to be a huge hole." Indeed I did - at least big enough to accommodate a hose pipe!!!

[Loo53]

HAHAHA me too! It just looks like three tiny pinpricks jennyD it goes to show how fine and delicate the tubes are! I was expecting a big cut!