No qualms in saying how terrified I felt as I first lay on the operating table. So much so I even started querying why I was getting it done. I briefly considered bailing.
Once the sedative kicked it, the procedure was a piece of cake. I think they administered me Fentanyl which is a super strength morphine. I drifted in and out of sleep for 2 hours, not really aware of what was going on. And then it was all done.
As I lie here in recovery watching my HR, I have never seen my heart beat so linearly. I appreciate that it’s early days, but it’s a good start.
Today I owe the NHS my biggest gratitude.
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Mejulie69
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I think we all experience that last minute fear as we are lying on the trolley. Is this the right thing to do we ask ourselves. I've had 3 ablations and was fearful every time. I think I was worse for my 3rd one as my daughter kept saying she didn't think I should have it done a third time. I felt sure she was having a premonition and was right. Well, I've never been so well since my third ablation and it was the only one that I felt better immediately after having. It took weeks to recover after the first two.
Arrived 0730, was on the table for 0900, finished 1100. I was lucky to be the first of the day. Currently feeling absolutely fine, initially had chest pain but that went quickly. The only issue is that every time they sit me / stand me up I go faint, so I’m not sure if I’ll get home tonight. Isn’t it your turn tomorrow?
I think the very worst thing is I was due to be discharged on the 14th Feb. So I had loads of Valentines Day / broken heart jokes that I now cannot use.
Yeah all sorted. I think the fainting was just the sedative still in my body. I went home at 7pm last night. Slept well last night, although woke up regularly. Quite sore in my groin today, but otherwise feeling good.
Congratulations, I wish you well on your road to recovery. Take it easy!!
I know exactly what you mean about the emotions that hit you when you're on that table. Due to a mix up in communication I was taken down as my wife had gone to put some more money in the pay and display, so I didn't get chance to say my goodbyes. That was really difficult. I was literally shaking on the table from nerves and very nearly walked out. I'm so glad I didn't though
Glad you made it through ok. I had a bad experience with fentanyl. It hurt like hell when they administered it to me. Don't ever want to go through that again
I live in Newcastle upon Tyne and we have a maximum wait of 3 months from the point of first seeing your EP. Unfortunately it took 4 months to get to see the EP in the first place, so a total of 7 months from first diagnosis. With hindsight, it would be easy for me to say that I should have had an ablation immediately, but I wouldn’t have been ready to commit so soon. It was only after months of seeing my AF get no better, despite adjusting my lifestyle, that I truly knew that ablation was necessary.
That seems pretty quick to me. I was referred to Cardiology back in May 17 following a trip to A&E a several hours in resus, didn't get to see the cardiologist until the Nov which resulted in a week long heart monitor and ultrasound, letter end of Jan 18 to say I now have an appointment with EP at the end of April, so that will be a journey of 11 months!
Thank you!waiting to see EP again April 6 the to decide to ablate or not,thanks for sharing this,reassuring!take care now,rest is important it seems from other posts xx
All the best for your recovery. I had a flutter ablation on February 2nd (a week ago). All went well.
My major concern in the days afterwards was that i had a persistent cough (there is a bug going around in my area). Not ablation related, to clarify.
In any case there was no way to avoid coughing. I did worry a little initially that my groin wound would open up or internally bleed. I was coughing so hard on some days that i was making myself sick!
Eleven days on, the cough has subsided, and i feel fine. Too fine in fact, that i'm having to keep reminding myself to continue to take things easy for a little longer. However i am back at work (desk job) and the bruising in my groin has already started to subside
So pleased to hear your ok and it is definitely a very emotional experience, on the day it took 2 very nice nurses to peel me from the corridor and edge me in gently just to a family room before mine last August, I got to the car park and went into a total meltdown and couldn’t put one foot in front of the other one . Had my little family not been with me I don’t think I would have gone through with it . Glad to hear your feeling good already 👍🏼 but please don’t rush into anything to quickly like exercise, the procedure has a tendency to make some people think they are instantly cured and it takes months to heal your heart. Best advice I got on here was rest and more rest , I wish you a good recovery and outcome of your ablation procedure. Well done 👍🏼
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best wishes for a speedy recovery .
When to call an ambulance? My first big nighttime Afib episode - did I over-react?
Replacement for bisoprolol but big dilemma
Update about my ablation 11 days ago 
A big hello to everyone!
