Good news at last after a 12 month wait.

[Brizzy5000]

Hi all

Good news from me, I have today received a letter from the BRI at Bristol for a pre op assessment for ablation on the 24th of april, can anyone inform me of what this involves as many of you have been down this route, how long after assessment can I expect the op?

Cheers Brian

[jennydog]

My pre-op was 7 days pre-ablation. It can be up to 3 weeks I think.

It involved weight and height checks, b p and ECG. They went over my past medical history ( how had I reacted to previous anaethetic etc ) A nurse had a look to see how much shaving I would need to do ( I'm not very hairy so none was needed ) I was told what to expect and finally sent to a separate room where a technician used a swab, like a big cotton wool bud, to swab my groin area..

I had been warned that it would take 2 hrs but it was over in about 30 mins.

Good luck with it all. If it were that bad no one would ever agree to have more than one ablation. Hopefully one will do the trick for you.

[Brizzy50000 in reply to jennydog]

Thank you for the heads up jennydog, I was hoping it would not be too long between pre op and ablation

[UScore]

I had my ablation at Bristol BRI (well, the BHI which is by the BRI) a month ago. I got my pre-op date and ablation date letters at the same time. The pre op and ablation were scheduled only a week apart, but I had to have the pre-op a few weeks earlier as I was busy on their suggested date.

The pre op was just a chat with an Arrhythmia Nurse. He went into a little detail about the operation itself, although nothing too technical. Then it was mostly about the instructions for coming in on the day itself, what to expect, when I'd go home etc. And instructions on what medication to take before and afterwards.

Then they checked the groin area where they'd put the catheter in, this took seconds. And they did an ECG, blood pressure, and took my weight and height.

It was probably no more than 30 minutes as well. So very similar to Jenny above.

[Brizzy50000 in reply to UScore]

Thanks for the reply Uscore its put my mind at ease, hope thing are well with you after your ablation

[jobristol]

I had my flutter ablation at BHI last October, my pre op was just the day before the procedure and both appointments came in the same letter. Pre op lasted about 30 mins, info re procedure, an ecg, bp, blood test. Arrhythmia nurse was excellent and very reassuring. Since my procedure I’ve had a couple of times where I’ve had to contact the arrhythmia nurse by emails with ecgs from my kardia and they have answered within the hour, they’ve been brilliant. I’ve now been discharged but can still contact them any time I like. Brilliant service.

[Fastbeat]

Done last July at BHI,all the Same as above replies.Well looked after at BHI on day and after procedure.

[Octavia80]

I was due to have my ablation at the end of Feb at the BHI. I had the pre op a month before. Unfortunately they cancelled the ablation with less than 24 hours notice ( I was coming home from work when they rang) as the equipment had broken down. Then they booked me into the private Spire Bristol Hospital for 2 days later. Then the snow hit and they cancelled again. They offered me the spire again a week later but it was my father in laws funeral ( ironically we had moved the funeral back a week so I could have the original op date) so I couldn’t take it up. Eventually I had it done at the Spire 3 weeks after the planned date.

The ablation was fine and heart has been quiet until today. Unfortunately I have now been in afib for two hours and haven’t a number I can call ( does anyone have one for the BHI where I can get some advice?). I am so disappointed, hopefully this is just one of the blips that happen after the op while the heart heals.

I would give the cardiac waiting list team a call and they can give you an approximate date for your op ( they really tried hard to sort out the cancellation problems). They are very nice and do their best under a lot of pressure.

Hope it all goes smoothly.

[jobristol in reply to Octavia80]

It probably is just a blip, hopefully it has stopped by now. I’ve only just seen this but have sent you a message with the telephone number of the arrhythmia nurses at the BHI who can give you some advice, they’re brilliant.

[Octavia80 in reply to jobristol]

Thanks I will read your message.

Octavia