Got my ablation date

[Bunny92]

After having PAF for almost 7 years, I have been given a date for my ablation. I have my pre-op assessment on Fri 2nd Sept, and my op is on 15th Sept. I have opted for a General so hopefully all will go well, I didnt fancy being awake whilst all that was going on, coward that I am.

[BobD Volunteer]

It will soon be here Bunny . Preparation is everything so make sure that things are in place for a slow and gentle recovery. I hope you have somebody to pamper you or if not then get plenty of freezer meals ready and sod the housework. Make sure that you do nothing for at least a week and not a lot more for the second. DO NOT as I did, expect to be dancing down the ward the next morning and don't book any hang gliding session for at least a month.

For the day itself prepare a bag with lip salve. phone. tissues etc and a sports type drinks bottle as you will have to lay flat for some hours. The GA will take AGES to leave your system (I was told six months) so be prepared for a few memory glitches. (I killed two kettles leaving them on the Aga) and you will have a few heart funnies. I'm sure they will have told you that it takes at least three months for the scar tissue which blocks the impulses to form. You may also experience strange visual disturbances (migraine aura) which they don't tell you about but this is also quite normal. Some people do some don't but they usually pass after a couple of weeks. Above all look forward to NSR as a positive approach is vital.

Do keep us posted and not that you will need it, Good luck.

Bob

[Bunny92 in reply to BobD]

Thank you for your reply Bob, it has helped a lot, and no, I wont book any hang gliding for a while lol. My hubby is well trained in caring for me and he is an excellent cook, so no worries there. As for the aura migraines, I have them regularly already so thats not a worry. Just the actual journey to hospital will be stressful, but that is only to be expected eh. I will of course let you know how I go on.

Bunny

[Dodie117]

Try not to get too anxious. I nearly did a runner on the morning of my ablation but thankfully hung in there. It was a breeze and although I had lots of arrhythmias for about 5 months they gradually decreased and am AF free for almost 3 years and no meds except anticoagulants.

Life is back to normal.

So good luck 🍀

[Bunny92 in reply to Dodie117]

Thank you, I can see me also wanting to do a runner, but I cant run that fast, they would soon catch me lol. Its good to know you are now free, and more importantly (for me) off all meds except thinners. I hate all the pills I have to take at the moment. Hopefully I will get my energy back eventually and be more active, and hopefully the weight I have gained since going on these meds will gradually reduce. So its all good, except the actual morning of the op, I am hoping they will give me a pre-med to help, fingers crossed x

[pip_pip in reply to Bunny92]

This is a re post from previous:

Hi. I was in persistent af for years before the hospital put me forward for an ablation. The EP thought I was great candidate, and the first ablation lasted 6 months. The second lasted a year, and the third so far wonderful for 2 years. If you can go for ablation, do it. Changed my life altogether for the better no end .

Phil

[Bunny92 in reply to pip_pip]

Wow, you have had 3? They cant be that bad then, eh? My EP told me if I go into persistent AF, then I wont be offered an Ablation, so this is my only chance. Thank you for your reply x

[PeterWh in reply to Bunny92]

Don't know why he said that because many EP's do carry out ablations on people in persistent AF and some people who have been in persistent AF for years have been returned to NSR.

[Bunny92 in reply to PeterWh]

I guess it is down to each hospital, its a sort of post code lottery. My EP said when you are in persistant AF the chances of a cure are very low, so he doesnt offer it. He told me if I waited, then I would need more invasive surgery than the ablation, and perhaps a pacemaker as well. So that is why he is getting me in quite quickly before I go into it full time. x

[PeterWh in reply to Bunny92]

If in persistent AF the chances of success first time are 30% and that rises after 2 or 3 ablations to almost match that for paroxysmal AF. Let's hope he beats it!!!