Ablation tomorrow

[pottypete1]

Good morning all

Tomorrow I am to have my fifth ablation.

Up until last week I was full of trepidation as whilst in scheme of things the procedure is straightforward and for me, with a General Anaesthetic hopefully not too stressful, as time has passed I have found my mind doing overtime.

However, last Wednesday I slipped into AF. This is not unusual for me as it happens every 3-4 weeks at best for between 5 and 10 hours. Normally although on regular Flecanide doses if I take an extra tablet or two I am able to return to NSR. It is now 2 years since the last time this remedy failed and since I last had a cardioversion. Unfortunately this time the extra Flecanide was a failure and I am still in AF.

I have tried all the relaxation and breathing routines also without success.

Having no success with my own remedies I contacted the hospital and emailed them an ECG showing AF that I had done at my GP surgery as in the past on such occasions after a maximum of 24 hours I have always gone to A&E and in every case they have cardioverted me.

However, as I am on the list for tomorrow I was told not to worry and that they would deal with me on Tuesday 16th when I have my ablation. It's all very well for them to tell me not to worry they don't have to be in my body.

I take my hat off to those of you who are in permanent AF.

Now from orginally approaching tomorrow with trepidation I am now counting down the hours as there seems no sign of my AF abating and I am feeling wretched, light headed and nauseous and I am actually looking forward to going to the hospital tomorrow - early start got to be there at 07:30.

I know the team induce AF when they are carrying out the ablation procedure that is if you are in NSR so that they can see the connections. Maybe this time actually arriving at hospital in AF for the first time it might add to the information they have. I am truly hoping so.

Here's to a successful conclusion.

I will try and post an update once I am back home.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer]

Pete life being what it is I can almost guarantee that you will go back to NSR just as you get ready to leave for hospital. Tomorrow is the start of the rest of your life.

[pottypete1 in reply to BobD]

Morning Bob

Yes the law of SOD has a followed me around.

Many years ago on one occasion I spent 9 hours 'Nil by mouth' on a trolley in A & E waiting for DCCV. They were just about to cardiovert my heart when hey presto back into NSR it went.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer in reply to pottypete1]

Pete spell it correctly please. It was Professor Gearhardt SodT in 1847 in Leipzig who noted that toast always fell butter side down and propounded SODT's law that whatever could go wrong WILL go wrong. We don't want people thinking we are using inappropriate language here now do we.

The corollary to this , Murphy's Law (Shamus Murphy, Dublin , 1915) is that if it is possible for something to be assembled incorrectly then it will be.

[pottypete1 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob for the correction. You are a mine of information.

Even at 69 you learn something every day. I consider myself to be reasonably literate but this word has only been handed down to me verbally and I have never seen it written.

I know about Murphy's law.

Please forgive me for inappropriate language it was unintentional.

We can't have rogue adverts and inappropriate language on the same day.

[Hidden]

Hi Pete !

I think that being in AF at the time of your ablation actually removes any lingering doubt you may have about doing the right thing. I have been in a similar position to you.Flecainide does not work for me and like you I've had multiple DCCV s.

Wishing you all the very best and look forward to hearing how you get on.

Sandra

[dedeottie]

Good luck for ablation and at least it will stop you having cold feet! X

[Finvola]

Best wishes Pete - I hope all goes well.

[PeterWh]

Good luck.

Just hope that you don't flip into NSR as you arrive at the hospital!!!!

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Yes I could do with being there right now. I am beginning to forget what NSR feels like and it has only been a few days.

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Well it's over 16 months since I was in NSR and even then i had been in NSR for less than 72 hours!!!!

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Hello Peter

Well what can I say. It is one of those things you cannot change if it won't change but all the same difficult accept. How active have you managed to be?

I guess it is possible to learn to live with permanent AF because you have to. For me despite being over the official retirement age I work a full week freelance and feel that if I have to be stuck with AF permanently (something one of the Cardiogists suggested may happen as I get older) then I am not sure that I will still have the same motivation.

I must admit there have been times in the past week when I have felt much better than other times but when the old heart starts racing at 3 times my NSR when I am just watching Gardeners' World I find it hard to cope with.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Yes I have to live with it. I am a few years off retirement age but not working (unfortunately).

I can jus be sitting down taking my HR rate reading at the table and even though I will have been sitting there for 10 mins or more the rate can fluctuate significantly - this morning was an extreme ranging from 57 to 151 (ie a difference of 94) but usually a range of about 35 to 40 !!! Even taking the resting reading in bed this morning the range was 49 to 87 so a difference of 38. That is not consistent over the two minutes because it pops up and down all over the place.

Some days I feel totally wiped but other days I can do some things but no where near as much as I used to be able to do and can do less now than 6 months ago. Before all this I was a 100mph person cramming as much in as I could in a day!!!

Thanks for asking.

[millie-becca-187 in reply to PeterWh]

Hi PeteWh,

I too have a hr that fluctuates anywhere between 60 - 170+ whether active or resting, and am in permanent AF. I'm waiting for my 1st ablation 3 month waiting list so probably December time.

I work full-time and have days where I only just scrape through with exhaustion and feeling rotten. But I do because I have to (there's only so many days you are allowed off sick). Because of the nature of the condition you never know how each day is going to be.

Hoping my ablation is going to work but not that hopeful when you read some are on their 5th!

[pottypete1 in reply to millie-becca-187]

Just because I am on my fifth attempt tomorrow don't assume it won't work for you first time. We are all different.

When thinking positively I consider that when there is such a large team of professionals doing each of these procedures and with NICE not wanting the NHS to do anything that is not cost effective they would not be listing you or trying to solve your condition for you.

Try and keep positive.

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

Some sail through first time. You are (normally) paroxysmal and the first time success rate for those in paroxysmal AF is much higher than those in persistent.

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Yes that is correct. The reason they keep trying with me is that in every other respect I am a perfectly healthy person. The last EP I was under stated that categorically when he suggested ablation No. 4.

Pete

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Hello Peter

I take it that they have tried to resolve your problem but have not had any success. Have you been told to just put up with it?

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Well I also have moderate to severe leakage in Tricuspid valve and minor leakage in Mitral valve. I also have severe dilation (enlargement) of the right atrium. When I saw EP a month after the ablation he proposed and I accepted but that was subject to seeing a heart valve specialist (at same hospital), which I did and they have been monitoring for a year. Last appointment was mid May when saw the cardiologist registrar under the heart valve consultant. He arranged for an angiogram which I had in June. His thoughts at that time was that some of the heart pain that I am getting was due to partially constricted artery / arteries and in which case they would perform triple open heart surgery (valve replacement, bypasses and surgical ablation) because it "made sense" as the way to go. However the angiogram came up as very good and so that element is removed!!! My next appointment is the first week of September.

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Ah thought it must be more complex for you.

Glad the angiogram came up very good.

When there are other complications it must make it so difficult for them to decide the best way forward. For you it is the waiting isn't it and then putting up with the issues it presents.

I do hope they can make progress for you.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

So do I. My preference is to go for ablation No 2 - I just hope that the other conditions don't rule it out.

[Rellim296]

Even if your AF disappears now, you are left in no doubt that the ablation is the way forward, and you'll be feeling you are definitely doing the right thing. All good wishes for tomorrow! We look forward to hearing whether the AF stayed or went and hope the day goes smoothly.

[frenchgoose]

I feel for you, having been there, but tomorrow will soon be here and on the road to recovery...I am three and a half weeks post ablation number three, and already my heart feels lighter!!!

Take care

Ann

[Dodie117]

Wow, 5th time. Really hope this works for you and that it lasts for many years to come.

Good luck 🍀

[jeanjeannie50]

Good luck Pete, really hope that your 5th ablation is successful - you certainly deserve it to be! Please let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

Jean

[Swale]

Good luck for tomorrow, let's hope this is the one to keep you long time NSR 👍