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.
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Brizzy5000
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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.
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?
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! 😆
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.
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.
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!
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.
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!😢
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.
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😢
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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Ablation for atrial flutter
First post ablation walk today 
Successful ablation! 
Ablation next month
