I’m one week on from my ablation and I wanted to say thank you for putting the AF Association fact sheets together. I emailed it to the nurse who discharged me from hospital when she gave me a few print outs about would care and who to call in case of problems. She said “I wish I had something I could give you specifically about ablations.” “No need,” I said, “I already have something”.
As they say, being forewarned is being forearmed. I was especially grateful for the information on the ocular aura as I’ve had 3 episodes with zigzagging and blurry vision with holes in the field of vision. I found these pictures online that illustrate it well. I also wanted to say thank you to you all for your ongoing support. It’s nice to know that you are there.
I’m still pretty bruised with bilateral groin wounds, bilateral wrist wounds (my right wrist where the arterial line was placed is the worst) and then of course there were 2 IV puncture marks as well - one of which became inflamed requiring antibiotics.
I’ve had a few chest pains that make me catch my breath and daily AF episodes, the longest lasting about 2 hours. I’ve also had headaches and back pain which is related to the nerve pain I suffer post shingles. In my personal scientific study I have concluded that the general anesthetic and/or trauma associated with procedures flares the neuralgia - I’ve had 3 GAs in 5 months and had major flare ups after all of them. I’ve had a few tearful episodes but that’s mainly been whilst watching movies.
I have rested for the week, only leaving the house once to visit the pharmacy. The weather is looking lovely for the weekend so I’m hoping to take a few short walks and enjoy some fresh air.
Onwards and upwards 😉
Written by
Kaz747
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So glad it helps. A lot of people gave me input of "things nobody told me" and I managed to collate it all in a way which gained the approval of the medical board for publication. This was not easy but I'm glad to say there were only very few changes and a couple of additions which improved the read..
Interesting re the wrist line. I had one for my third ablation but not for the first two and it is quite unusual.
Hope you start to feel stronger soon. GA does take a while to leach out of the body.
Thanks Bob. You did an excellent job. One of the nurses was surprised I had so many puncture wounds in my body. I initially described myself as a voodoo doll that had been hit by a truck. I’m lucky to have an amazing, caring EP who meets all the challenges my body keeps throwing at him. The nursing staff keep telling me how wonderful he is too - nurses are the ones who know everything about who’s who and what’s what in hospitals.
Maybe a couple of weeks? They are no big deal. Just zig zaggy lights which last about 20 mins each time like a migraine but no pain. If you have not been told about it yes it could be a worry and we have heard of people thinking they were having a stroke which is why we mention it so clearly.
Those photos of yours depict migraine well, I couldn't look at them for long with fear that they would give me one!
After one of my ablations I had a short period of awful pain in my chest and was convinced that this was it, I was having a heart attack and this was the end of me! The pain went and I've not had it since and that was many years ago. How many times do we experience that fear on our journey through AF, when it feels like our heart is trying to break it's way out of our chest! Many people with AF who have not experienced that extreme type of episode, have no understanding of how just how scary it can be.
You've been through a lot lately, so it's pleasing to hear that health-wise you're on the way up. Long may that continue.
What a lot to deal with and such a lot to cope with by the sounds of it, much, much more than the ‘norm’. I had 1 wound in my groin and 1 catheter in my hand with no problems which all healed well and quite quickly.
It is reassuring when you have been prewarned about these things and I still don’t understand WHY did no-one do this before Bob pressured and then wrote it!
Hope you feel much better very soon and then all this pain will have some benefit.
Thanks CD. It’s funny, I feel like so much of this is not real, like it’s happening to someone else. I’m fit, I’m healthy, I’m strong, I’m young (okay, not as young as I used to be), I’m in control of my life. At least that’s how it was until 2 years ago. Life seems to be teaching me some tough lessons right now 😄 I need to pay attention.
I can resonate with that! Adjusting is hard and the last 4-5 years have taught me to take nothing for granted and to be thankful for every good day and for the things I have rather than to bemoan the things I have lost - which are health and fitness.
Acceptance comes with the price of pain and it is a hard road to travel but you are right, there are lessons and gifts along the way. xx
Wishing you a speedy recovery Kaz it sounds as though you've really been through it lately. Just hope living in such a wonderful place helps with your recovery and that you get to go on that walk soon. 😎x
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