Best EP , with Most advanced equipment / technology in NE

I know quite a few of you on this board have excellent in depth knowledge of ablation / techniques etc, I just want a view on which hospital in the NE James Cook, Freeman etc had the most advanced techniques in NE I have had the worst 3 weeks of my life with 3 seperate emergency room visits and one and two night stays with af and fast tachycardia bouts and am at my wits end with stress, I'm going to go for a private consultation asap to get this sorted, just want some advice on who has the most advanced catheter ablation equipment etc don't worry I'm not expecting any guarantees or anything just some helpful views to make my mind up, if it's worth the travel to London etc or get it done local, any help if more than appreciated, thanks in advance.

[Mejulie69]

Can’t answer that exactly, but I can tell you that the Freeman have been doing ablations since ablations were a thing, which can only be a good thing. I don’t know about the technology used, but there was a heck of a lot of it in the room, and the EP told me afterwards he could see all the pathways in my heart, so I guess that sounds positive. Also, I think the competence of the EP is more important that the technology. A good EP is said to know and be able to navigate the pathways of the heart whilst asleep.

[Hidden in reply to Mejulie69]

Contacted Dr Murray at the freeman, spoke to two or three people now and they saying the same, seems they have the latest equipment and good success rates, need this sorting as can't go on in and out of hospitial, last three weeks a has just been a nightmare, thanks for your views really appreciate it.

[Mejulie69]

They also told me that since they began doing ablations 20 years ago, they hadn’t had a single case of the “worst complication” despite the global statistic being that 1-2% of ablations can expect it.

[Hidden in reply to Mejulie69]

Was it DR Murray you were in care with Julie

[Mejulie69 in reply to Hidden]

Dr Bourke

[Roslynle]

Hi due my ablation on Friday and I’m so close to cancelling it as I’m really scared x also been told to stop my 7 . 5 bisoprolol abd wondering how I’ll cope with out them x

[Hidden in reply to Roslynle]

I know it's hard but I would take the opportunity if given it, I'm on bisoprolol and suffer tachycardia with Afib if your the same. I think the worry and fear is the worst thing about this mongrel condition and can cause symptoms on its own . Maybe contact them and ask if anyone can help with advice on relaxation or if there is anything else like diazapam you could take, I dont know as I'm no doctor but the diazapam has helped me a lot when needed with anxiety shirt term over this.

[Roslynle in reply to Hidden]

Hi thanks I have diazepam and have took one and feeling a lot better I have SVT x

[Hidden in reply to Roslynle]

I'm exactly the same and I know how you feel, our minds are an awful thing and it runs away with it an makes it often worse than it is. I usually do some deep breathing stuff as well it helps deep in hold for second then out hold for second. Just had email back they are going to make me an urgent appt so I can get abated. Honestly it's worth it rather than living like we do, it's worth the chance it can make life easier, message anytime of you need to chat I know how it feels just camr out of another 2 day stay at hospitial, honestly your doing the right thing in my opinion, and the diazapam an rest or watch a crappy movie that takes my mind off it, don't worry its just worrying, you will be fine I'm sure x

[Roslynle in reply to Hidden]

Thanks again I’ll just keeping popping the diazepam lol over next few days x hope you get sorted soon aswell yeh your right it’s a horrible way of life living with SVT I’ve had it since I was 17 now 41 so enough is enough x

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Roslynle]

I think I must be really unusual as before my first ablation I was really laid-back. I went into hospital calmly the afternoon before the procedure and that evening a friend I'd made on this forum came to see me. It was so lovely for us both to meet someone else with AF that we chatted non-stop for hours. I went down for my procedure early the next morning, so had no time to dwell on it.

The second ablation I was a little apprehensive on the day, even though I knew that going through the procedure was no big deal - both of these ablations were under sedation. I took a few weeks to recover from the first and a month or so for the second.

For my third one, under a general anaesthetic this time, I was more apprehensive as my daughter said it was wrong of me to have a third one and in my head I thought she must be having a premonition! Well, that one was a total breeze and I recovered from it within days.

You'll be fine. I'm a true coward and if ablations involved any pain I can assure you I would never have had a second or third.

Best wishes

Jean

[Roslynle in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks so much as I am a nervous wreck with it all x I’m trying to stay positive and be brave as so fed up with constant SVT attacks x

[higgy52 in reply to Roslynle]

Go for it, its not so bad as having a tooth out when i had my 2 Ablations,

you will regret it if you cancel,

good luck

[falah12345 in reply to Roslynle]

Hi Roslynle

I was feeling the same before my ablation that I just had few days ago

I cancelled it few times before !

The procedure is not as bad as I thought

Successful or not? time will tell

If you have good EP physiologist and you trust him go for it.

They stopped my bisoprolol as well before the procedure but they put me back on it now!

good luck

[Roslynle in reply to falah12345]

Hi that’s good to know it’s just st fear of the unknown I think just want it over with x

[Hidden]

Can't imagine how it feels all that time, I've had this last 5-6 years and I'm same now, enough is enough, you sound like you got it managed with diazapam, brilliant and keep me posted on how well your ablation goes, peace from it is going to be lovely for you x

[Roslynle in reply to Hidden]

Will do thanks xx

[dr1813]

I’ve first saw Dr Murray years ago when he was at James Cook. I had a cryoablation with him last September. A great guy with a good team. His nurse specialists are very helpful and approachable. My experience with the Freeman has been very positive.

Good luck

David

[Hidden in reply to dr1813]

Thanks David, that's great to hear, he's arranging to see me now so hopefully il get sorted quite quickly, heard nothing but good about him and he was honest with me 4 years ago when he said technology needed to catch up a little to be more successful, as it is doing now,

Ian.

[MarkS]

There was an excellent EP at the Freeman a few years ago, Dr Stephen Furniss, but unfortunately he has moved on. If there is someone there with an excellent reputation who does more than 150 ablations a year with a high success rate then that is worth considering. Otherwise I would travel to London.