Ablation today: Well what can I say... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,305 members38,577 posts

Ablation today

Brizzy5000 profile image
38 Replies

Well what can I say, whoever said on here it was no worse that going to the dentist, let's just say I'm glad your dentist is not my dentist. I was awake throughout the procedure and while it doesn't really hurt it was definitely uncomfortable, in the end i had to have afib and atrial flutter ablation, and I think although not been confirmed yet, I was giving a general anaesthetic right at the end as they had to shock my heart back into sinus rythem.

But at least it's over now and at the moment NSR Has been restored, complete rest for 2 weeks and a steady introduction to walking and mild exercise for the next 3 months, it's a good job I'm retired.

Thanks for all the advise, good and bad stories, I will not desert the site and keep you all informed of my progress.

Written by
Brizzy5000 profile image
Brizzy5000
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
38 Replies
glenpointe profile image
glenpointe

Great Job Brizzy. I had mine done three days ago and don't want to go through the same procedure again. They corrected both flutter and fibrillation and I'm in sinus since Monday. Hope you're doing well.

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday in reply toglenpointe

Good for you!!! I do hope you don’t need to have a repeat and all stays well!! Lots to look forward to! Will you continue on any medications since that’s done now?

glenpointe profile image
glenpointe in reply toAprilbday

I am on Eliquis twice a day. My EP will decide 6 weeks from today if I can be off medications.

Brizzy5000 profile image
Brizzy5000 in reply toAprilbday

At the moment I'm still on flecinide and 1.25mg bisiprolol as per instructions, hopefully in the future I can be drug free.

perkman profile image
perkman

I am surprised you were awake. I had sedation but slept through the whole thing.

The worst is over and hopefully so is your AFIB.

Best Wishes

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday

I’m happy that part is over. Good for you for getting it done. You have a lot of positive things ahead now that your flutter and A-Fib are fixed. Dilly-dilly! Yay! 😆

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

It certainly wasn't me said that and I had a GA! Anyway hope it is successful and you recover quickly 💕

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

It's good to hear that you're back in normal rhythm Brizzy, but not nice to hear that you found it uncomfortable. I've had two long ablations under sedation and was out of it most of the time. As soon as I showed signs of coming to, the amount of sedation was increased. A nurse sat watching me and would alert the person administering it. The procedures weren't painful at any time. My third was under a general anaesthetic and I knew nothing about it at all. Should you ever need another ablation I'd ask for that next time.

Wishing you well.

Jean

Brizzy5000 profile image
Brizzy5000 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean feeling much better this morning chest a bit sore but a few pain killers has sorted that, will definitely be asking for full sedation if there is a next time but hopefully not.

fifitb profile image
fifitb in reply tojeanjeannie50

My atrial flutter ablation last July was so uncomfortable and I had to ask them to stop at one point! My second ablation is now on 31 May and is for atrial fibrillation. This cardiologist said it should have been done alongside the other one last year, I am with a different hospital, up at the Royal Brompton in London this time! I was dreading needing another one, and I do, but, this time it is under general anaesthetic. It is scary but I just hope it is all worth it and not like last time, when things seemed to be even worse afterwards!

AllyAF profile image
AllyAF in reply tojeanjeannie50

Awake for my cryoablation - uncomfortable at times - but great not to have a general anathestic. Out of the hospital in 5 hours once I proved I could walk up and down the ward without falling over. Hopefully will not need another one but would go for the awake approach again. You just have to stay calm, breathe slowly, and try to relax.

trtoothdr profile image
trtoothdr in reply toAllyAF

Why is it great not to have GA?

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Good luck, I hope all goes well and look forward to hearing your updates over the coming months.

falah12345 profile image
falah12345

Sorry to hear about what you went throgh while doing the ablation

I am glad its over and you back in SR hope this will last forever

take it easy

Doris2010 profile image
Doris2010

I would much rather visit my dentist! Had an ablation 1yr ago & still suffering the effects “mentally” whilst I appear cured of my SVT the psychological trauma of being awake while that was happening to me lives with me everyday here’s hoping time is the greatest healer!😢

Brizzy5000 profile image
Brizzy5000 in reply toDoris2010

Thanks Doris sorry to hear yours was such an ordeal for you and I'm feeling much better this morning.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toDoris2010

Hi Doris, I agree with you about the psychological trauma of an ablation under sedation. We never talk about that on this forum and I think it's time that we did. Although I had no pain with the procedure, the thought of what they were doing mentally disturbed me greatly and stayed with me for a very long time. One of my ablations under sedation lasted for almost 6 hours and the person who was meant to be after me had theirs cancelled and my family were sick with worry as to why it was taking so long.

Jean

Doris2010 profile image
Doris2010 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Hi Jean gosh 6hrs must have been complex? How are you now?

Yes I agree we tend to only hear the positive stories, I’m trying really hard to be just that “positive” but I honestly feel like it’s changed me, yes I’ve had no episodes of SVT so should be dancing & feeling grateful but I’m not, the fear/anxiety it’s left me with is crippling, I’m having counselling & taking each day as it comes but it’s so hard I’ve lost so much weight my chest is sore & hurts constantly from being tense doc says I’m now suffering from a condition called costochondritis! Swap one thing for another I really don’t think it was worth it & unless you have nerves of steel I would never recommend to anyone😢

AllyAF profile image
AllyAF in reply toDoris2010

So sorry this happened to you Doris - I was fine and my consultant was very reassuring. It is a bit scary but I just watched the screens which was quite fascinating. It's wonderful what they can do nowadays without being too invasive. I do hope you improve and the counselling helps. It is good to share bad experiences as well as good - then people know what to expect.

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday in reply toDoris2010

I am very VERY grateful for your honesty.

I am prayerful for your continued strength and for joy to soon return. 💕🌸

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996

Morning brizxy5000 well done for getting thru!! I’m defo with you on this one I had my Ablation for flutter done 2 weeks ago it was worse than childbirth that’s all I can say they were going to abandon it but I insisted now they started to carry on it was the thought of going through everything again all be it they would’ve had me again under GA. when I have AFib done I think it will be GA I will be asking!!! I can’t go thru that pain again it was horrendous. Tbh i would rather go dentist!! And give birth at the same time than go thru that again!!

But glad youbin SR for now keep up the good work and rest rest and more rest! All the best and keep us posted on your recovery

Brizzy5000 profile image
Brizzy5000 in reply toBabyr1996

Thank you babyr2 sorry to hear yours was so bad, if needed again definitely a GA for me as well.

fifitb profile image
fifitb in reply toBabyr1996

I agree. The pain wasn't as bad as childbirth, but the scariness of it was!!!

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Well done and glad you have the message about rest.

wilsond profile image
wilsond

Thank yiu for sharing and hope you recover well.Best wishes

rosyG profile image
rosyG

well done look after yourself

fifitb profile image
fifitb

Yes, it is an uncomfortable procedure. Glad it is over for you now, and hope you stay in sinus rhythm! It would be good to know if you still need to take medication!! Hope all is a success and that you have no more episodes! I have my re-scheduled date for my second ablation, this time with anaesthetic, on 31 May.

SimplySimonUK profile image
SimplySimonUK

Hi! I had my ablation last Friday and agree that it is certainly talked down in terms of the discomfort. I understand that in the US, they are mostly done under GA, whereas the NHS prefers conscious sedation, as it’s one less thing to go wrong...

The sheath insertion into the groin was the worst bit. I let out a couple of very strong expletives then apologised, to which the surgeon replied “it’s alright, that’s a normal reaction”.

I was conscious and aware of the freezing and the ‘hiccups’. I know the cardioversion is done under sedation too, as the surgeon asked me afterwards if I remembered the electric shock. I have a vague recollection of a jolt, but fortunately the sedative has blanked the rest from my memory.

My heart rhythm is still all over the place, but that’s normal apparently and it can take a couple of months to return to NSR. I was back at work yesterday, but I only work behind a desk, so I’m still able to take it easy.

sjanee11 profile image
sjanee11 in reply toSimplySimonUK

US here, I had my ablation in February and was put under GA. I'm honestly really glad they did. My procedure was 5 hours long and I have really bad anxiety because of SVT in the first place. I imagine I would have been extremely traumatized by the ablation process had I been awake.

SimplySimonUK profile image
SimplySimonUK in reply tosjanee11

My op was about three hours, of which I can remember about half quite clearly. As a result, I’m in no hurry to repeat the experience!

barabas profile image
barabas in reply tosjanee11

US here also, two ablations (Flutter and Fib) in March ...same thing GA, no pain and recovery after pretty mild. Was exercising and playing golf a week later, as approved by MD. Perhaps has to do with US apparently using RF heat rather than cryo for most ablations?

Know patient who had flutter only ablation at Cleveland Clinic which is one of top heart hospitals in US, and he was not under GA, but said procedure also essentially pain free - not sure if his was cryo or RF heat.

Gracey23 profile image
Gracey23

Best of luck for a full recovery!

KipperJohn profile image
KipperJohn

Well done and I hope you make good progress. Don’t be surprised or put off if you have bouts of AF - each of us are different but it can take a long time for the heart to heal. I had two ablations in 2015 and 2016, one under sedation the other under GA - the latter was definitely preferable. It took a good six months after the last one to be AF free but I’m still on Metoprolol, Apixaban and other meds. All the very best.

ijan profile image
ijan

Good to be out the other side, just like the dentist!

Know what you mean about discomfort.

Now's the time for rest, rest and more rest.

bellchu profile image
bellchu

You'll be fine. When I had mine, I was awake as well, there were several huge monitors and I watched the tubes swimming in my body, for 4 hours, I won't forget it until I die. I had PVCs in the first week after the ablation. But after that, everything became normal, I picked up my running habit after 6 months, and now I'm strong and active again. The hard part was to wean off the medication, it took me almost 6 months to wean off Bisoprolol.

emilyboom profile image
emilyboom

Rest, rest, rest. Glad you are doing well. Post 92 days for me. :.)

checkmypulse profile image
checkmypulse

Just proves how different we all are, I woke during my second procedure, spoke to the EP who was just about to 'burn' and I felt 3 or 4 just twinges which I can't say hurt, i just felt them. I had time to take in the monitors which I found fascinating before they turned up the sleepy juice and I was out again. My two procedures were relatively pain free with mainly discomfort from the groin wound. The three other patients in the ward (2nd time) did have varying amounts of pain, from what they told me, they all had different doctors. I don't know if that was significant!

Becksagogo profile image
Becksagogo

Hope you continue to recover. There is so much positivity on this site!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

6hr Ablation.. Check

Well had the ablation 9.30am at Freeman Newcastle today and all I can say is wow . Had Stephen...
Ianp66 profile image

1 year today

Hi all It was a year ago today I went in for my ablation for AF and Atrial Flutter and I'm happy...
Brizzy5000 profile image

Ablation today!

Hi all have my ablation this afternoon. Trying not to think about it too much. At Castle Hill near...
carolannkg profile image

Ablation today

I'm on my way to the clinic for my ablation and would you believe it, I had AF last night for the...
Griffin9 profile image

6 weeks today, post ablation

Hi all, Thought I would check in and let you all know how I'm getting on as it's been six weeks to...
joebob profile image

Moderation team

See all
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.