Hello I am new here I was diagnosed with AF in April 2017 and it has continually got worse saw the Consultant last week and I am having a Cyro Balloon AF Ablation under general anaesthetic feeling very anxious just wondered if any one else may have had the same procedure?
They have said it will be before Xmas is it usually this quick?
Welcome to the forum, you will find people are very responsive and always happy to share their experiences and give support.
Not had a cryo ablation personally but people here have done and I am sure they will respond when they see your post. Waiting lists vary and the time frame you have been given is a reasonable one.
If you type cryo ablation in the search box above you will bring up posts from others who have had or are awaiting the same procedure while you await specific responses to your question.
You have done the right thing finding this forum you will get lots of support ongoing. Best wishes.
I guess the wait depends on your postcode, I think I was waiting about 9 months, and that was after a year of failed medications and cardioversions.
I had mine in April 2017 under GA, but mine was RF ablation for flutter and AF, I was under for about 4.5 hours. No pain at all.
I was scared stiff and almost got off the trolley when I was in the cath lab, so glad I didn't though, it was worth it!!
my advice is to make sure you are as healthy as possible, exercise as much as you can and try and get rid of any excess weight!
That's nice bit of seaweed , I'm just back from 2 weeks surfing in North Devon, missing the beach already (and I wouldn't have been surfing 2 years ago!!)
Hi Mike
Thanks for the reply I have only joined this group today so have quite a few questions.
I thought it may be a good idea to get some exercise in and loose some weight which is difficult to say the least.
I am little anxious about the procedure but if it helps then that's all that matters.
The seaweed is a photo I took when I was in Jersey last year I have never seen anything like that before and that was the only piece I ever came across.
My Kids are down in Cornwall for 2 weeks loving the weather, beach and surfing.
Take care and many thanks.
Hello Cappers 
welcome there is some useful information here have you found it?
Hi Cappers
I had a cryo ablationn for AF under general anaesthetic in January 2017, performed at st thomas’s Hospital in London. Best thing I could have done as it’s given me my life back, I haven’t had any of the very symptomatic AF episodes which completely floored me and have been able to come off all medications except rivaroxaban to protect from clots/stroke. I particularly wanted to stop the beta blockers as they REALLY didn’t suit me but kept my HR down. I had an overnight stay because of the general anaesthetic but was able to go home the following morning. My main immediate problem was extreme nausea from the anaesthetic but it has always affected me like that so nothing new there. The wound in my groin healed quite quickly and I was lucky that I was able to get plenty of rest once home. My advice is to read the leaflets about pre and post ablation that are on the website (not available before my procedure but I think are incredibly helpful), take some baggy jogging bottoms with you to go home in to avoid putting pressure on the groin wound and get plenty of rest when you get home. BobD advises doing nothing for the first week and not much more for the second. I took my time getting back to normal activities, not really achieved until I came off the beta blockers, and I’m convinced that taking it slowly has helped to ensure the procedure’s success. As has a healthier diet and lifestyle, no caffeine, no alcohol, cut down on processed foods, dealt with stress, exercise regularly and lost weight. And if that sounds boring I still love my music festivals, especially Glastonbury (although 2018 is a fallow year to give the farm a rest). I’m a volunteer in the recycling crew there and yes, it’s possible to enjoy it sober!
As for the AF I’m doing everything possible to prevent/delay its return but if necessary I would absolutely have another ablation.
Best of luck, Val
Hi Val
Thank you for your response it makes me feel better knowing a few things about the procedure. With regards to a fast heart beat I have only had this once and it was 200 bpm
but I do get a lot of palpitations but never a fast heart beat I did not mention this to the consultant when I went last week I presume this is still classed as AF?
Hi Cappers. I’m no expert but my understanding is that AF Is an irregular heart beat which can be fast or slow. Regular fast heart rate is something else which I’m sure others can comment on. AF episodes were irregular/erratic heart beat, often at over 200 bpm, which completely floored me. I’m so glad to be without them! Val
I had ablation in 2013 and after an initial bumpy 5 months (lots of arrhythmias etc) all settled down and I got my life back. Still AF free. I too was very nervous before and almost did a runner from the waiting room!! So all you are feeling is perfectly normal. After the op take it easy for a few months. Good luck 🍀
Hello Lallym
thank you for your response it is much appreciated. I think it is a natural feeling to be nervous and reading some of the posts we are not the only ones so fingers crossed that the procedure works and I can get back to a normal life. I work full time so will find it difficult to have to much time off work but I am sure I will cope. Many thanks.
I had a cryo-ablation back in Nov 2017 and really didn't have much pain other than where the incisions were made for the catheters. I had the procedure done on a Thursday, was able to take a leisurely walk on Saturday, and was back at work on Monday.
Hi there, I have a similar situation to you, I've had AF on and off for quite a few years, on August 2nd this year I had a stress test on a treadmill at hospital and since then the palpatations and weird feelings in my chest have been really awful. I am sure it was triggered from taking my heart to a fast rate which it's not used to as I'm normally on a betabloker, I had to stop the betabloker 2 days before the test as requested by the hospital. I'm hoping this will calm down soon... Hope you are ok and take care 👍
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