Had my First and hopefully only Cardi... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Had my First and hopefully only Cardiac Ablation

RiderontheStorm profile image
15 Replies

Everything went well and I hurt everywhere on my body. Was totally out for about 5 hours and they went in thru my groin area with two catheters either side of my groin to facilitate the ablation plus one for urinary, ouch.

Had to spend the night in hospital. Not as traumatic as I was expecting. In rhythm without issue but hard to take a full breath right now, for a while I am thinking. Pulse and sinus rhythm is normal. Have to take it easy for a few days. No lifting.

Just a bit of discomfort everywhere from throat to groin. I don't care about all the bruising as I know that is temporary. Hope this was one and done!

Only hard part is breathing a full breath - hard taking a full breath.

Hospital support was great... Seems I was putting this ablation off for so long and now it is done. Only gonna think positive now going forward. Can't hardly wait to get back to normal again. Need to stay on Pradaxa blood thinner for a few months and heartburn meds for a month. Thanks for all the previous support heading up to this point. smile.

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RiderontheStorm
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15 Replies
pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1

Welcome to the ablation club.

Hope you recover well.

Best wishes

Pete

Someone's going to say it, so it might as well be me.....do nowt for the first week and if poss, less for the second......let's hope that it will be a great start to the New Year......best wishes

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Do nothing for the first week and not a lot more for the second. Don't worry if you have some flutter etc as this is normal. It takes at least three to six months for the heart to recover.

Well done bet you wished you had done it years ago.,

PattiJay profile image
PattiJay

Yes I agree with Bob, Flapjack and Pete! First congrats it's over! You are brave! Rest Rest Rest! You earned it and your heart will thank you, and your groin blood vessels will thank you too! Take it easy, no need to hustle it's New Year's anyway, Happy New Year! You Bit the Bullet and you are now One of Us! All will be WELL! We are rooting for you...Keep us posted on your recovery! Bob is right...I had no idea it would take me about 3-6 months roughly on and off to recover and it's true, so give your heart (and body) a break! Good JOB!

RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm in reply to PattiJay

Thanks Pattijay... I am now one of you indeed. It was also my first time ever to spend a night in hospital. Thanks for the rah rah cheer!

tibetan36 profile image
tibetan36

Fantastic!

Let's hope that you need only the one ablation!

As I'm a realist don't be too concerned if you have to go back for another........I was told the success rate was 80% however I fell into the 20% twice.

Ended up with AV Node ablation which has sorted out everything! No antiarythmic drugs thank goodness as side effect were worse than what the drugs were designed for.

I will be on Apixiban for life.

Happy New Year to you! 😊

rosie321 profile image
rosie321

Thank you for writing on here post ablation. Is there any reason that it took 5 hours as i have been told 2 hours? I have a pre assessment next Tuesday, for my ablation. I am very scared, as others that have read my posts will know, but reading about your ablation is helpful to me and others in the same position. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and i wish you a restful and speedy recovery.

RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm in reply to rosie321

Hi Rosie, don't know why it took so long as the EP said he did not dally whilst inside with the catheter gear. I imagine it was setting up and poking and prodding me with all the catherters and testing I would guess but I was indeed out for 5+ hours.

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1 in reply to rosie321

Rosie

I have had 5 ablations.

Longest procedure 6 ½ hours shortest 4 ½ hours.

Still here to tell the tale.

Don't worry it rarely takes less time.

Pete

rosie321 profile image
rosie321 in reply to pottypete1

Hi Pete, I'm glad to hear that you are still here to tell the tale...I didn't realise that it was such a long procedure. 5 ablations sounds like a lot, didn't the first 4 work or has it been over a long period of time?

Between68and148 profile image
Between68and148 in reply to rosie321

From

What I remember the operations is only 3 hours, but with all the pre operation and recovery you are looking at around 5 hours. I had a GA so was out for the time. Just remember to take it easy for the first couple of weeks. I stayed in bed / house for the first week. It can take up to 3 months before you see any difference.

Jomama profile image
Jomama

Glad all went well. I am scheduled for my ablation on Feb. 8th, and although I am anxious and scared, I just can't wait for it to be over. Just scheduling the ablation makes me feel better tho. Just want to (hopefully) put this behind me. Happy healing and Happy New Year to you!

RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm in reply to Jomama

Yup, been there and done that. Like everyone it is a relief when it is finally over. I was scared. It's natural to be - but so is being hopeful and positive going forward.

*This year has been very very hard me as it also included my first knee surgery a few months back that has left me limping and now this Ablation. I am twice removed from the formerly senior competitive athlete with bragging rights trying to make a come back. Adapt, improvise and overcome is now my mantra.

Thanks all for your supporting comments. :^)

I've had one ablation -- I was out for 6 hours. I went into afib while in the hospital, felt like horses kicking me in the chest. Went on Amiodorone for about 3 months, which calmed me down, and then was able to come off that and all was well with no afib for several months. It started to come back, much weaker, and shorter episodes, not very often. But it has progressed enough that I'm back on flecainide, and last time I couldn't convert on my own (it took a cardio-version to get me out of it), so now I'm looking at doing a second ablation. Which I'm told is not unusual. Not looking forward to it, but I think I'm getting my head around the idea that I need to do it.

RiderontheStorm profile image
RiderontheStorm in reply to

So sorry to hear that you may have to redo it.. I loath to do it again. I feel like I have been hit by a truck the way it is.

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