Was so together focused and calm then....

[Trilby8]

I happened upon a thread re Ablation procedures that had all sorts of problems -allergic drug reactions graphically described -punctured lungs. I know that ablation is on the cards for me this year as my PAF is increasing and I'm not tolerating the medications I've been prescribed up till now. Anxiety along with Vagally triggered episodes with the mechanics of eating are my nemesis. Now after a busy busy Christmas and tiredness my anxiety is cranked right up again and so I'm now in the AF begats AF trap again -I so want to get back to the sensible calm head I had before Christmas and reading those scary scary stories. Hey ho ..... Cathy

[BobD Volunteer]

As I said in another post we only see the bad comments most often as those who have successful ablations don't need to come back here. Of course there are risks in everything but the risk is really quite small and these incidents very rare. What will be will be and as I always think you have more chance of being hit by space debris but then my middle name is chicken licken. lol

[Trilby8 in reply to BobD]

Bless you Bob - until very recently I'd be saying just the same as you when reassuring someone versing the worries I'm experiencing at present - not sure the fact that I'm a retired nurse from General Practice is any help I think it's a little bit of knowledge is not always a good thing !!!! I've gained a lot of help from a course of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy - I haven't seen my hypnotherapist for A few weeks now as I was so settled - I've an appointment with her this week which I hope will get me back on the calmer more settled track. I'm also having a repeat fitting of the 7 day ECG monitor on Wednesday.

[Trilby8]

Jo Thankyou so much just the sensible rational calming words I need. I know that as the anxiety settles I'm so much better all round it is definetly my biggest enemy - be great if we could turn a tap and the adrenalin would pour out to a tolerable level wouldn't it!!! ☺️

[Sharon1234567 in reply to Trilby8]

I had my cryo ablation 3 weeks ago and like yourself was very worried about the procedure. With the support of this forum and the mainly positive outcomes of ablation on this site I decided to bite the bullet and go ahead. My daughter is an ICU nurse and said I should go for it if there was any chance of a better quality of life and she was correct. The procedure was not as bad as I expected and the recovery has been very quick with no adverse side effects. I feel great long may it continue.

[jennydog]

What a brilliant post from HappyJo. There does become a stage in the AF journey when you are very grateful to be offered an ablation. It's a £15,000 procedure and they don't do it for fun!

My 7 day monitor comes off on Wednesday. I am so glad that it's winter as the itchiness is no fun but it's worth persevering to get a fair picture. So far I've only had one short episode that I recognise.

Good luck with the monitor.

[Hidden]

Just going to say the same as Bob. Forums are great, especially this one, but most people are on them because they had or have a problem so you have to take that into account. I didn't even think of looking for a forum till my AF came back a couple of years ago, it was off my radar totally.

I've had two ablations, although they gave up on the second one because my AF had disappeared on the table. I'd gladly have a third. I had no problems at all with either. I felt great after both after being groggy for a day, was back working, gently, within days. I came off drugs straight away and stayed off them for 8 years, got my life back totally, 100% normal after having really debilitating AF.

Koll

[Trilby8 in reply to Hidden]

Koll - Thankyou so much for your 'solid' words - I'm feeling much stronger about the whole situation today following the support from this forum - Thankyou Cathy

[iris1205]

agree fully with all of the above and I too have had a few! The procedure is much more frightening conceptually. In fact the day flys by. The insurance would not allow such procedures if there wasn't a sufficient success rate to warrant doing the procedure.

It all comes down to your feeling it is time for you. I wish I'd done it sooner as my AF had become overwhelmingly resistant to meds. Just get all your questions answered so you can go in with confidance.

Keep posting - it helps!

[Trilby8 in reply to iris1205]

Yes iris1205 I'm unable to do anything concerning my health blindly always questioning and reading even though I can scare myself rigid at times - I often wish I could be more relaxed about everything as my AF just loves the adrenalin my anxiety delivers to keep it fuelled. But thankfully since yesterday and the reassurances I've received from this forum things seem to be much quieter in the 'ticker' department. I need now to get busy again and get AF back into the background as it was prior to Christmas - then deal with it logically as need be avoiding unnecessary anxiety if possible.

[RobM]

Again I agree with all of the above. After trying Flecainide (and getting worse) I was referred to an EP in Apr 13. Back then the timing wasn't right, family illness, so I decided not to proceed as I had enough to cope with.

I agree that you need to be comfortable in your own mind that it's right and I eventually had an ablation in Nov 14. I feel a lot better for it, especially getting off beta-blockers and would have another if needs be.

Talk to an EP, they can help you to get an idea of pros and cons. My EP is brilliant and within 10 mins of meeting him I was confident it was right for me.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[iris1205]

The one thing which has improved in the last year is how I approach the AF. We can't always have an immediate impact on the AF, but we can choose how we react to it... easier said than done. I am really bad at meditating, but once I realized most people are, I got better at it, less judgmental regarding my meditations, and have actually come to enjoy them.... 3 min -30 minutes whatever ... it is all helpful

If it is drawing, walking, planting -- whatever takes you off the AF anxiety treadmill. You'll get there, and until then - we are here with you!