Laser ablation.

[Jupiter33]

Hi everyone.

I had a Laser Ablation yesterday at Blackpool Victoria. The EP told me he managed to isolate the source of the arrhythmia, near the pulmonary veins, and ablate with a laser. He considered it successful but told me I could still experience runs of AF for 3 to 4 months.

I arrived at 8am and waited for an hour in the waiting room until I was called. After answering questions about allergies etc and getting changed into hospital gowns, I was walked to the Cath lab by a nurse. Everybody in there was very friendly and reassuring and the equipment they have is very impressive.

After being prepared for the procedure, I was sedated and the EP started his work. It took just over a hour but I was away with the fairies Lol. I did wake up once when I could feel my heart pounding, but just asked for more sedation as I was feeling uncomfortable, then didn't wake up until I was back on the ward.

Overall, I can reassure people waiting to have the procedure that it wasn't a bad experience. Quite the opposite actually as I'm now back in Sinus rhythm and feeling good.

One thing I have noticed is that I seemed to have developed an aura whilst reading. I think I've read on here that it's common and temporary. I hope so anyway.

Steve

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Steve, yes having the aura is quite common and will soon disappear. I'm glad to hear that all went well, it certainly is a great feeling to be back in sinus rhythm. Lots of rest needed now, you're probably feeling really well right now, but that can sometimes change a little when tiredness can sweep over after a few days.

Jean

[Jupiter33 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean. Will take your advice and rest up for a week before I go back to work.

[F-M-C-MM in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I agree with JeanJeannie, migraine aura is very common post ablation, but don't be unduly alarmed if it doesn't disappear as soon as you would wish, mine lasted over 6 months. Apparently it is attributed to the transseptal puncture which occurs during the procedure, and may take some time to heal.

[Jupiter33 in reply to F-M-C-MM]

Thanks for that F-M-C-MM. I was a bit alarmed at first but I know not to worry now.

I think this is a great forum for information.

[Kellyjelly]

Thank you for sharing that it is so good to read your post and I’m so pleased your ablation was a success.

I have mine on Monday and it is such a comfort to read other people’s experiences as the nerves are starting to really kick in.

Hope your recovery continues to go really well. Take good care 😊

[Aus19 in reply to Kellyjelly]

Hey there Kellyjelly, I've been reading your informative posts. I'm sending good vibes from Australia for your procedure on Monday. I'm sure it's natural to be nervous. I haven't had an ablation, probably will have one in the next couple of months because my AF is worsening. And I'm chicken already! So tell those butterflies in your stomach to start flying in formation! Good luck.

[Kellyjelly in reply to Aus19]

Thank you so much for your lovely reply Aus19 😊

Good vibes all the way from Australia, how wonderful. I will hopefully be writing my story of reassurance and relief post ablation. It will be another one for you to draw courage from if you face ablation at some point.

Take good care 😊

[Jupiter33 in reply to Kellyjelly]

Thanks for your kind words Kelly. Apart from a 10 second burst of my heart beating forcefully, I didn't feel a thing. Don't be afraid to ask for more sedation if you feel you need it. They'll probably give it you anyway as they're trained to watch you for any distress.

Good luck on Monday and let us all know how you get on.

[Kellyjelly in reply to Jupiter33]

That’s the one thing I have really learned from reading everyone’s experiences, that the level of sedation can make all the difference. I’m going to tell them when I get there that I really want to be as sedated as possible! But I’m also going to really try and stay present and calm myself down.

I have a very dear friend who is mad as a box of frogs and she is super excited that I’m having such a technical procedure whilst awake. She can’t get over how lucky I am to have that option available. She said to me the other day “ imagine if you had this in the 1800’s, being a woman you would have probably been in an asylum by now 😂😂😂😂😂” she’s probably not far wrong. Her advice was, don’t freak out so much that you don’t appreciate how incredible the experience is. Wise words me thinks.

[Jupiter33 in reply to Kellyjelly]

Your mad as box of frogs friend is a wise lady. Whilst I was lying on the bed i could see all the monitors to the left of me and I really wanted to watch what was going on. The only problem was, that as I was having a Laser Ablation, i had to have a thermometer put into my nose and down the back of my throat to check the heat from the laser. Apparently, too much heat can damage something in the chest which is close to the heart. This only applies to laser ablations. Because of this I probably had a bit more sedative than would normally be required and it wasn't possible to stay alert enough to watch what was going on.

Never mind. My EP is confident that he has dealt with the arrhythmia but if I do need another ablation, to touch up the previous one, it will be an RF ablation and I should be able to watch it.

I don't want another ablation but having had one done, a second one holds no fears for me now.

[Kellyjelly in reply to Jupiter33]

This is all so good to know, thank you.

I’ve never had sedation for anything and I’m a bit scared of it. I don’t like feeling out of control, don’t like being drunk and have never been particularly interested in mind altering substances 😂 so the thought if sedation makes me feel anxious. How did it feel?

[Jupiter33 in reply to Kellyjelly]

It felt to me as if I didn't have a care in the world. I've never taken a mind altering substance either but I would imagine this is how it would feel. The EP sprayed my mouth and throat to numb it so the thermometer could go in so I probably had bit more sedative than usual, but at the time, I really didn't care Lol. As I said previously, I did want to watch what was going on but couldn't keep alert enough.

You probably won't get the same amount of sedative but you will feel relaxed and you won't feel anything. Although I have bruise in my groin, I didn't feel a thing when they put the catheters in and fed them into my heart. Apparently, veins have no nerves. Hopefully, you should feel relaxed enough but also able, as your friend said, to experience what is going on. Remember, if you do feel uncomfortable, you have the option to ask for the sedation to be increased.

Before you know it you'll be back in the ward thinking 'that wasn't so bad'.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Kellyjelly]

Best wishes for Monday 👌

[Kellyjelly in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Thank you, can’t believe it’s almost here. 🥴