I’m scheduled to have a RF cardiac ablation tomorrow for PSVT and I thought I’d create a post here. I’ve had the condition since I was in my teens and now 12 years later, I decided to opt for the ablation. The irony is I haven’t had any episodes in the last few months (I’ve had the odd flutter but nothing full blown) however this happened once before and then they came back with a vengeance so I have opted to do the procedure whilst I feel brave enough. It will be done under sedation and I’ll not lie, I do feel nervous about it but also kind of relieved. The only issue I see is that I exercise a lot and I know I won’t be able to for a while but I’m not a martyr and will listen both to what my cardiologist and my body tell me. I’ll post again after the operation as I have to say, most of the posts on the forum have been very helpful and I’d like to contribute my own story post-op for anyone who may be considering the ablation as I know it’s a scary decision. See you on the other side of the op!
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Kovus
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Good luck for tomorrow. Not sure that our cardiologists and listening to our body are necessarily the best guide to returning to work and heavy exercise. Many have followed advice, felt fine and regretted overdoing it too soon. Perhaps very fit and very active younger people like yourself recover so quickly that sitting on your hands is impossible.
Best wishes for tomorrow Kovus, hope it's a success for you.
Jean
Good luck Kovus, those of us who have had an ablation(s) know exactly how you are feeling right now. These 2 fact sheets are worth reading.....good luck.
My thoughts are with you, Kovus, it will go well, believe it. My second ablation 11/10 18, G.A this time, having the first with a local anaesthetic was trying, to say the least!. ( Didn't know it 'til later, but had dientamoeba , and took forever to recover, so this time should be better.) Good luck! Post when you can.
Hi,it's an amoeba which infests the gut, miserable thing, especially since I was in full flight a.f at the same time, really thought I was signing out!! Tomorrow looms large, whatever will be etc----. Regards, Shirley.
Thanks, just trying to get transport organised is enough to have an episode! I'm an hour's drive away from all hospital locations, and a twenty minute appointment, ( like the anaesthetic pre-op, ) took all day, ( other patients to pick up and take home.) at least this procedure won't be cancelled at the last moment because of 'unforseen circumstances,' that was a humungus pain!! Regards, Shirley.
Good luck Kovus! I'm sure everything will be fine and very much look forward to your updates afterwards. That will be very helpful to me and others who are scheduled to have an ablation soon.
Only an idiot would not be nervous - I contemplated doing a runner from the waiting room 😨 but did not 😇. That was 5 years ago and still af free. However it took 5 months for all bumps and arrhythmias to stop and a further 6 months for resting heart beat to return to normal. I would say no exercise for a couple of weeks and gentle walks for a few months. Anyway good luck 🍀
That’s the plan - going to try and return to a bit of light cardio in classes after about a month to 6 weeks if my body feels okay. Still waiting to go in at the moment but hopefully not much longer
I’m 3 week’s post ablation and wondered why I didn’t do it sooner! So far so good. My team were amazing & took good care of me. I’m a 45 yr old Mom of 2 kids, so resting isn’t easy for me, but back to work and listening to my body. Best of luck, all will go well!
I was under sedation. The worst part I can honestly say, was how cold it was in the cath lab. the stickers on my back were frigid! I did not feel a thing, I thought It was only there half hour or so, but ended up being there for 3 hours! They kept me in arrhythmia for 2 hours to map it exactly. They tried to recreate the misfire, but couldn’t. They initially bought it was AVNRT, but ended up being Atrial Tachycardia and went in on the left atrium. Recovery wasn’t bad, my suture sites were sore, but nothing out of the ordinary. I was just groggy from the sedative and no pain meds at all. I wish you well in your ablation journey!
Hey Mo, I did a follow up post. I’m still doing well - no bruising at the catheter site, bit sore whilst it’s healing though. Had a couple of little tachy runs last night but there wasn’t anywhere for it to go so stayed in normal rhythm but I knew it’s to be expected so I was fine. I’ll not lie, the op wasn’t pleasant for me BUT I wouldn’t hesitate to have it done again
Hi, did you have a flutter ablation, or the mega a.f carto variation, I wouldn't want to do it again, catheter, two vein i.vs and three arterial lines, all while I was awake, no, count me out!!
Mine was for a concealed accessory pathway but it was hard for them to find exactly where it was because it's one of the rarer ones (I believe he said he sees it in about 5% of patients) and not what they were expecting to see when they went in (they could set off my SVT but not long enough to map it consistently so they did 4 different things/drugs to try and set it off including giving me a high dose of one to get me stressed) - had four catheters in - really bad pins and needles in my hands like they were vibrating and it was quite painful and my left leg cramped really badly when they gave me one of the drugs. I was awake and only given paracetamol aside from some sedation BUT I had full confidence in the team and once they mapped it, they gave me a lot more sedation. It certainly wasn't a walk in the park but like I said, I'd have it done again if this one hasn't been successful.
Fair enough. I should have known from the echocardiogram, c.t scan and mega bloodletting that this ablation would be vastly different from the first, which was with local anaesthetic A.F carto ablation is very invasive. I had three arterial lines, and i.v's in both arms. Couldn't face it again, so much pain, and no premed analgesic.I'm disadvantaged by having so much knowledge of medical procedures, and still slipped up with this one. It's as well we don't know what's in store! At least I was unconcious throughout. Good luck with recuperating. Shirley.
I thought I’d just post an update; I’ve had no issues and I’m back to regularly exercising - fitness classes and running - without anything untoward happening
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