Well I've done it and I was fine, I don't know why I was so scared. ( very easy to say after!!)
I had it under a GA and the procedure took 5 hrs.
The consultant said it was straight forward with no complications but there is a 1 in 3 chance I may need it doing again.
Everyone was so lovely and really put me at my ease. I'm a Christian and I knew that all my church were praying for me to feel peace and God's presence and I most certainly did, I had no fear and knew that everything was going to be fine.
Apart from having a migraine in the evening and some discomfort during the night I've been fine, just tired today.
So hope that this helps anyone who is facing an ablation, it's taken me 8years to talk myself into it. Denise.
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Nannadee
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Well done Denise and I won't say I told you so. Now rest-- a lot! No windsurfing or hang gliding for a month please. Make sure you get pampered and don't worry when you have the odd funny feeling. THIS IS NORMAL.
Really rest for a week till your groin is healed. Minimal walking around. I had a bleed after my first ablation as i walked around the garden on day 3. Just had my third 2 weeks ago. Still got af at mo and had some probs but hoping it will calm down again. Was af free after my 2nd for 2-3 years. Best of luck.
Glad your well!! Much better to be under GA I would think, I would hate to lay awake watching for 5. Hrs, in fact if I ever need ablation I could only do it under GA , hope you continue to improve GOD bless
Some people do seem to react quite negatively to GAs, but I've had a few ops over the years and have never had a problem and I'm absolutely fine now so guess it depends on the individual.
Glad all went well for you....I am awaiting a date for mine and I am bricking it to say the least!,, I have had 3 kids.....but this seems to fear me more than that did. I think it's the unknown. I was going to be awake but 5 hours just laid there seems daunting.....how big is the wound in the groin! Wish it would hurry up so I can get it over and done with!!!
Well done you and rest, rest and more rest.....now I am looking forward to that bit...!!
Lainey - I had sedation and just kept drifting in and out of sleep - I remember snippets but hardly anything and nothing bad! 10 mins after being back on the ward I was eating my supper, with help. GA takes much longer to recover from.
Lainy, the holes at the top of my leg were the size of ear ring piercings from what I could see ( I had to use a mirror ) I had no bruising either, and no pain.
Denise's post was so welcome. It's caring and reassuring and will help those due for their ablations this month.
Hi Lainylees. I was shocked when I saw what was pulled out of my groin, it didn't hurt being pulled out but think I was still away with the fairies. So far I've only got a small bruise, nothing to talk about, I was expecting a whopper but no. Will keep you posted.
I am waiting to be scheduled for my 2 nd abalation. The only thing that hurt me on the 1st one was when they pulled whatever it was from my groin. What was it that you saw? Thanks
Hi Salty, yes it was and I couldn't believe the size. I had no idea what was in there and that it was going to be pulled out but it didn't hurt any more than having a large plaster pulled off and definitely a lot less than waxing strips!!
The nurse was chatting away to distract me and didn't say what she was about to do so I didn't expect anything painful so am sure that helped. Denise.
Well done, the Christian side definitely helps such a comfort.
So good to hear. When, and if, I have it done though I think I'd prefer the sedation route than GA. I had a colonoscopy under sedation and you do tend to drift in and out.
Fantastic Denise that you have had the Ablation & your fine & all was good. I'm considering it !!! Was supposed to have it this month. Still working through my triggers which I know one is sugar now. The other is Alcohol which I have worked out is the Preservitives in Italy & Spain there's no Preservatives so can now have a drink with no affect which is wonderful. So all other is good but sugar is my killer.
Take care Denise. Pleased all went well for you. Your story is encouraging for when I may need to have an ablation. Take care. Rob xx
So glad all went well. Mine was good too- GA fine but groin not so good! Took what seemed like ages to heal and the thigh bruises amazing!! Not a pretty sight.
Do go very steadily though- took me several weeks , not days, to feel ok again.
I was 57 ( I'm 65 now ) when I was first offered an ablation but refused and elected to go down the drug route, but it has steadily got worse over the years to the point that I didn't really have an option if I wanted to lead a normal life.
For the posters that commented about having a problem laying awake for 5 hours during the procedure,even if they give you GA during the procedure you still have to lay flat afterwards for 4 hours or more depending on how well you are clotting so that the openings in the arteries don't reopen.
I definietly want as much sedation that they can give me......eeeer pull things from your groin??.....I love you guys and really enjoy reading all your stories but yes you have guessed it....I'm still bricking it..!!!....maybe this week I will get my date!!!.
Well done Denise .. I had 3 ablations over a 7 year period, the last one in 2011 was successful. I am still taking Warfarin but have enjoyed 5 years 'fib and flutter free'.
Hi Jomama. I sailed through the ablation and apart from just the odd ectopic, I am doing brill. The only hiccup came as I was weaned off my last heart medication, as I went into AF. I rang the AF nurse and he told me just to take 2.5mg of the Bisoprolol once a day which I'm still doing and it has done the trick.
I hope that your ablation journey is as smooth as mine was. Good luck.
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Post Ablation day 2
Post Ablation - Overview Day 1-5
Day 4 post ablation 
