Hi all, just read my hospital stuff.....off to ablation Monday......it says nighties , slippers, joggers?......made me think.....with this groin, do you need loose clothes such as joggers? Yo come out of hospital with?.......I don’t have any baggy joggers, only leggings.....must you not have anything tight?.....do you have a wound dressing there?
Thanks
Sue
Yes Morzine, the wound is dressed but in my case, it was not a bulky affair. I would suggest that joggers would be more suitable for the journey home to minimise friction around the wound area. I have added a couple of AFA factsheets which you might find helpful. Please let us know how you get on, best wishes.....
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
Thanks for the fact shertsflap jack.....I will have to stop on route at a store and get some as I only have thick thermal tight leggings in the snow here ...
Morzine if you are in the UK I would suggest somewhere like Primark or ASDA where they are cheap and cheerful. If you are States side then I guess Walmart. I must admit that after my open heart surgery I just got loose and comfortable and they went to a charity shop when I recovered. Good luck for your ablation.
Could you borrow a pair from a male friend so they're nice and baggy maybe? Good luck.
They will give you paper knickers to wear during the ablation. Make sure they are the right size ie big enough.
I always wear smart polyester trousers. I had no problem with the small dressing to cover 2 puncture holes.
Hmm, I've never been given paper knickers. Strange how hospitals offer different things.
It's usually the hospitals that are too mean to supply paper knicks Jean..thats yours in Plymouth and my last one in Brighton for starters 😐
They always gave me paper knickers before the ablation.
They were always missing afterwards 😀
I had other things to think about rather than modesty.
Pete
During the ablation they had cut the paper knickers from waist to middle of right leg to gain access. Knickers stayed in place otherwise.
I got paper knickers with a hole in the back when I had my colonoscopy! As if the procedure wasn't embarrassing enough!
Lol. Honestly the humiliation we have to go through when in hospital! What's more we have to pretend we're not bothered by it - when we certainly are!
Jean, that's why I highlighted the info about the knickers.
Too true Jean!
Me too - it was the flap (like a door) that really made me laugh!
I usually wear a dress, but all my 3 ablations have been in the summer months. I wouldn't have anything snug fitting around the groin area if I were you. You just feel a bit fragile with regards to that area.
I’d wear a dress if it was summer, ....I live in snow here right now.....so I’d best get joggers in route to Lyon....I hate joggers! But dint want my groin upset
Hi Sue, one tip you may find useful while you're in hospital if your feet get cold easily is to pack a pair of extra thick socks to wear after your procedure (or even during it if necessary as the cath lab can be a little chilly, the docs don't seem to mind).
Very best wishes for Monday and for an AF-free future.
Thanks mrsg46, myfeet are always cold, then I get cramp.....thanks I will take some socks, good advice.....
I wore lovely wool socks during the proceedure- they made a huge difference!
Good luck for Monday! Take it easy afterwards and please let us know how you get on.
A good tip re the socks, the cath lab is always freezing. I'm wondering now why that is.
To keep all the equipment cool Jean
Yes the temperature in the cath lab for 6-7 hours was another reason why I found GA much more acceptable.
Pete
When I had a GA before another procedure, I was shaking with cold, so much so that I mentioned it to the anaesthetist. She told me in operating theatres the temperature is always very low and it keeps everyone working alert. So it could be nonsense when we see surgeons having their brows mopped in films!
I always wake up shaking after GA - they told me most op theatres are now kept cool by special air con type machines one reason is to mimimise risk of infection, don't know how true that is? They usually ask if you want a warm blanket - they keep them in a special warming type of cupboard especially for patients coming to after GA. I usually end up with 3!! Don't know if this applies to cath lab though - maybe different to the operating theatres?
I was so curious I googled - lots of links, many downright contradictory! Lots mentioned infection, but this explanation, which may not be correct, suited me best.
-----------------------------------
Operating rooms are often cold. Often a patient asks, "Why is it so cold in here?" And the response, almost invariably, "It helps lower the risk of infection..."
The problem is, that's completely false. In fact, operating rooms kept cold actually increase the risk of infection! Why is that the case? When a patient's body temperature cools, the risk of infection goes up.
Body Temperature and Infections
It turns out, one of the critical factors to preventing infection is the adequacy of blood flow and the supply of oxygen to tissues. When in a cold environment, the blood vessels of your skin constrict (that's why your skin turns pale in cold weather). Your body constricts blood vessels in cold environments so as not to waste heat—a process called themoregulation.
The second factor is that your immune system is actually weakened by hypothermia. Therefore, maintaining a normal body temperature during surgery will help your body fight infection.
So Why Is It So Cold in the OR?
The real reason operating rooms are kept so cool is for the comfort of OR personnel, specifically the surgeon. When wearing a sterile gown for a length of time, especially while standing under warm or lights, your surgeon can become quite hot. The room is often kept cool to keep the surgeon and the staff more comfortable.
What Can You Do?
Ask that the room be kept at a reasonable temperature.
Let the staff know when you are cold and ask for warm blankets.
Special warming devices can be used to keep you warm during surgery while not warming the entire room. Ask your anesthesiologist about using such a device.
Many people, including some operating room personnel, are surprised to learn these facts as it has been thought by many people that cold rooms prevent infection. However, as it is becoming better understood that temperature is an important factor used to prevent infection, this is being addressed. Most ORs now require specific steps, such as use of warming devices, be used for any surgical procedure over a specified length of time.
As mentioned, the best thing you can do is ask to be kept warm. While surgeons and other OR staff want to be comfortable, their priority is your comfort, and if they know you are feeling cold, they will surely take the aforementioned steps to help ensure your comfort.
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And another article said the patient being cold prevents blood clotting...!
Baggy stuff is best for the groin. Very best of luck hope it goes well
Definitely socks absolutley if your feet are warm you will be too
Knickers provided by the hospital yes always
Small dressing after procedure and I wore regular Jeans to go home
Hi again, I came out in leggings. The wound is tiny but has a dressing. I felt that wearing leggings kept the dressing in place rather than something that would move about and rub against the dressing.just be careful when you pull them up over the dressing. I am a leggings person so others might have other ideas. I wore paper knickers for op plus hospital gown , good luck x
Another vote for the leggings. I found that it kept the dressing in place. In my case, they didn't want me changing it for 48 hours. Leggings kept it in place easier.
Good luck tomorrow and wishing you a comfortable recovery. 
I think the joggers are for when you are dressing to go home. During the procedure you will most probably be given a hospital gown. As for the paper knickers??? I can't remember having any of those. When dressing for going home don't worry too much about joggers, just something loose and comfortable will be fine as long as it doesn't pull or rub on the wound. Good luck for Monday
Good luck with your ablation. I have mine in a couple of weeks and I’m terrified. I hope yours goes smoothly and I’d better get myself some joggers too lol. Thanks for your post. It’s Answered one of my questions x
Try not to be terrified. It is not as bad as you imagine.
I have had 7 ablations and would not have gone back each time if it was that bad.
I have definitely had worse experiences in the Dentist’s chair.
Pete
Ahh thank you
Great!
Comfortable sweat pants joggers
Hi everyone,
This question reminded me of a funny story ... my last ablation was for AF and SVT so was quite long. For the first part I was just sedated. Half way through I realised my bladder needed emptying (yes, I went to the loo before the procedure). I told the anaesthetist who asked if I could just hang on lol. I said ‘No!’ So with cathethers in the groin I had to push myself up with the other leg so they could slide a bed pan under my bottom. The cath-lab team all stayed in position staring intently at me over their masks. I then got stage fright so had to ask them all to turn around so I could relieve myself. They were all very nice about it. Fortunately, the pan was made of cardboard so there were no embarrassing waterfall sounds. I’m very glad I can see the funny side of that experience! The rest of the procedure ran smoothly and I was absolutely fine.
Like so many others on this forum I’m really glad I had the ablations done and I would encourage others who are nervous about it.
As for clothing - knickers that are comfortable over the crease of the groin are the important thing for your recovery. I wore a dress home both times. I think leggings would be fine.
Good luck!
Lani
Thanks lani, yourbladder sounds like mine! I am already wondering About wee ing afterwards when having to stay still fir hours.....as soon as I think about it I need to go.....
I’m just sitting here waiting for my daughter to drive me to Lyon three hours away.....in tonight, ablation in morning...feeling rather nervous, probably cos I’m goung to be away from home here and dealing with it all in french......I can’t wait to get home, even befire I’ve left......
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