I have my ablation on Monday morning and I was just wondering what sedation feels like? I have never been sedated before and I hate feeling out of control. I don’t like being drunk and hate anything that alters my mind, I had a horrible reaction to morphine and Couldn’t even handle gas and air when having my babies, so you can see how much of a wimp i am 😂🙄
I do completely understand that everyone is different and everyone responds differently, I’m also aware that levels of sedation are different every ablation but I was just wondering what other people’s experiences were and if anyone feared that part of the ablation like I do.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t think I have the courage to do it without, I’m just curious.
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Kellyjelly
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We are all different of course but for me sedation (not for ablation but for other occasions) was just about feeling relaxed and not caring what was going on as much as usual. It does of course depend on what they are giving you. Most also have an amnesiac component so that you don't remember anything afterwards either. It can sometimes be difficcult to tell the difference betwen sedation and GA and for example DCCVs are usually done under heavy sedation but does anybody ever notice it happening? I call it fairy juice and when it goes in your arm, off you go to play with the fairies. Relax and enjoy you will be fine.
I have had sedation a few times.As Bob said the amnesiac component means that you do not remember the experience afterwards.With two quite nasty things assoc. with my heart I was esp. concerned (not ablation) but had no awareness of having had the procedures afterwards....well only a misty vagueness that did not bother me at all.
OK so here's a summing up of my sedation. I've had various ammounts over the years - over 20 times for cardioversion, 5 times for ablations, and local aneasthetics with sedation for knee surgery.
The sedation for cardioversions is hefty but you come out of it pretty fast and don't really feel much of it remaining after an hour. My weight is over 100kg so I usually have to have a large amount.
On one occasion, where it was needing to be done sooner rather than later I was given sedation that contained Ketamine because I'd had something to eat. This keeps you more concious to reduce the risk of aspiration, but you don't remember anything. That is rubbish.
I remember plenty, it was the worse experience out of the near-30 times I've "gone under". I remember everything white before my eyes, could hear stuff, muffled but very much loud. When the white swirling settled I was in a very large booking hall like grand central station, I thought my time had come. I heard the nurse talking to her student nurse over me. I must have been totally stoned. That took me longer to sleep off/get over before they let me home. I never ever want it again. I'd sooner wait and have more orthodox sedation.
I'm sure not everyone has that reaction to it, from what I could find out it's expected sometimes and comes under "emergence syndrome" where you're aware of coming out of sedeation or anaesthesia sooner than you "should be"
The other sedation, for ablation, has been fine. Nothing like the times above as it's not full on knocking out (usually). It makes me relax, doesn't make me sleepy particularly but when the onset of chest discomfort hits from the "burning" or the stabbing in the groin gets too painful it takes the edge off it.
In my experience the sedation for ablation has been the most straightforward - though during most of the ablations I've had comments like "If i had as much sedation as you've had I'd be dead" or "you've had enough to knock out a horse" and during the last ablation they couldn't give me any more than they had over the 5 hours, and they needed an anaesthetist in to supervise something else heavier so they could cardiovert me - and he also said something along the lines of "I've never given this much as sedation"
Wow! That was such an interesting read 😊 I actually just read the ketamine experience out to my husband. That sounds absolutely terrifying, I’m not surprised you don’t want that again.
It’s so good to hear that you have had so many experiences with different levels and types. I think I might be the opposite to you and be completely zonked by a small amount, I’m so sensitive to medicine.
I've been relaxed even before the sedation for most of my ablations, primarily because I know they've kept the discomfort to a minimum. My EP said from the outset that it will be uncomfortable but if it is painful to shout up. That was how i judged how sedated I was.
There was/is a bit of aprehension that I'm going to feel pain during it, but it isn't constant and it is all for a good cause.
When I saw the EP he said that the first part of the procedure is usually uncomfortable so I’m expecting, like you say, to feel something. I just want to be able to relax enough to let them get on with what they need to do. I don’t want to let myself down by freaking out and letting panic take over.🤞
I’ve had sedation for other things and quite a few general anaesthetics....
All I know is the recovery from a general is longer and harder. Added to whatever you’re already recovering from....
So if they can do it with sedation, I say go for it!
Thank you for your lovely reply. 😊 yep, I’m definitely going to have sedation, when I met the EP he said that he wasn’t going to offer a GA because I didn’t need it, it’s harder to get over and the waiting time was really long.
How are you feeling now after your operation? Hope you’re recovering well 😊
I have had sedation for heart aangiogram + dental work. (Not had ablation) One minute you feel very sleepy next thing it's all over and you wonder why you worried about it so much!
I had sedation for a bladder exam and cortisone injections in my hip. I can't remember a thing about either procedure, just went to sleep then woke up. GA not so pleasant!
Most important (but you now this already), ask enough sedation and ask them to start the procedure only after it’s starts to get effect.
Not like me, having had the sedation and didn’t work at all and then they didn’t want to give me more, I really think they didn’t wait long enough before they started and since I was very anxious it couldn’t work, I really have no other explanation, since I too am very sensitive to every kind of medication.
Don't worry about sedation, as the name implies you are nicely relaxed and possibly asleep. The team will administer the necessary amount and increase it if needs be as it is important to be perfectly still while on the table. You can always request assistance if you are in any discomfort. You will be surrounded by a host of experts all dressed in weird looking gowns and the chances are you will wake up back in bed and not be aware of what happened.
This is a first positive step in your fight back, so be brave and I send you my sincere best wishes and will be thinking about you on Mon. When you feel ready keep us posted about your progress and experience.
Thanks for your helpful reply 😊 I think you may be getting muddled up, a GA is when you go to sleep, sedation has lots of levels and you can be very much awake and lucid and as you can see from reading this thread.
I wish I could tell you what it was like when I was sedated for my ablation but I was completely out of it, don't remember what it feels like at the start procedure , I did feel a heavy, loud pounding in my heart at one point and heard myself shout out "what the bleep was that" then nothing, must have had more sedation at that point. I don't even remember when I came round, its great. I didn't feel out of control at any time because I was completely out of it, deep sleep, away with the fairies. I understand your fear of being "out of control" as I never liked anything that alters the way I act or think but the sedation isn't like that so try not to worry. Good luck, its the best thing I have done so far and wouldn't hesitate to have another ablation.
I Had my abilation Nov 28 so far I feel amazing once sedation went in all I can remember is surgeon very busy beside me and I can't not recall anything about the procedure and I am now living my life again - hope it all goes well for u x
Sorry i can't offer any comments on sedation but i do want to wish you all the very best. Sending lots of positive thoughts all the way from Australia xx
My son whose 16 had his second ablation 10 weeks ago on the 9 th January the first time when he was 14 they gave him a general but this time it was sedation he was down there 5 hours he was scared when they told him he would be awake .
But he said it wasn’t that bad and didn’t feel like a 5 hour procedure just felt very relaxed , unfortunately he has had another svt attack 2 weeks ago we hope it could be a one off but time will tell his very upset as he wanted to join a gym soon .good luck for Monday you will be fine
Aw thank you for your lovely helpful reply. I’m sorry your son is having to deal with this horrible condition and all that goes with it, it must be hard for you too. I started with SVT when I was 17 and know how scary it can be. I think he is incredibly brave having a second ablation and it certainly puts it into perspective for me, he has had 2 and he is so young. I hope so much that the last SVT was just part of the healing process and that he will get to join the gym really soon.
Thanks for your reply his not back on his antenenol atm as it made him lose so much weight his been on them since he was 7 and as the dose went up and up his appetite went down and has now started to put on weight and less tired His clinic appointment has been bought forward to 8 th April so fingers crossed it could be a one off attack
Oh the poor wee soul, he has had a hard time with all this and from being so young. I hope so much it was s one off and he gets better and better. You take care too and let me know how he gets on. X
You will be away with the fairies, time will cease to be easily tracked and after you only remember a few moments. You also get a local anaesthetic in your groin so you wont feel anything there. An hour after the op it has worn off without all the nastiness that comes with a GA.
I was sedated for my ablation but it didn't seem to have much of an effect. I had the procedure in a private hospital and I wish I'd gone to the NHS cardiac unit instead. I was awake the whole time and I just lay there feeling very scared and very uncomfortable. The anaesthetist topped me up a couple of times but I never felt Particularly drowzy and I heard them discussing technical problems and they contemplated 'abandoning the procedure'. Near the end they started to shock my heart but hadn't warned me they were going to do it. I'm sure the good old NHS would do a better job but I would still opt for a general.if I had to have another ablation. It was a bad experience for me but lots have it done under sedation and it goes well. I think it depends where you have it. All the best to you x
Thank you for your really helpful reply, it sounds like you had quite a horrible experience. How awful for you, it must have been scary hearing them talk about technical problems and I can’t imagine having your heart shocked without warning.
Thank you Kelly I was on amiodarone when I had the ablation so was in nsr. After the ablation my heart was a quivering mess for 2-3 weeks then settled down. Unfortunately it didn't last. I'm sure that in a different hospital with a different EP I would have been fine as I'm sure you will be. Please don't be afraid to speak up if you're unhappy about anything at all.
I really feel for you, such s big decision to make and awful to have a bad experience. Do you think you would ever consider another in a different hospital? I hope you are getting good care now and you are not just struggling along.
I will definitely take your advice and if I feel I need more sedation or it’s not working I will tell someone. Thank you 😊
Yes I would definitely have it done at the NHS cardiac unit in Wythenshawe. I've had a cardioversion there and they were wonderful. They specialise in heart procedures so I would feel totally safe. I'm sure you will be. Thank you and wishing you all the best xx
My EP is based there and I have nothing but praise for Wythenshawe and its staff/care. The abandoning bit seems to be when they have trouble puncturing the septum to get into the left atrium, I was close to that on my 5th ablation.
I'm quite surprised you were awake and aware of the cardioversion though, that certainly shouldn't have happened! There have been a couple of times I've had to have cardioversion during/after ablation and 20 times I've had the cardioversion on its own...and I've never been through it "awake"
In fact I'm a total pain because I don't sucub to the sedation in the lab very well.
I'm not sure what the problem was because no one explained anything to me during the procedure. Also, my EP.told me that I should take my meds as normal after the procedure. I stayed in overnight and realised at about 11pm that I hadn't been given my meds (rivaroxaban, bisoprolol etc). I asked the nurse and she found them on the locker still in the plastic bag I'd brought in. She put the bag on my chest and said 'here you are' and walked out. I had to find them myself and take them out of the packets ( after I'd been sedated). I could have taken any amount. This would not happen at Wythenshawe or any other NHS hospital.
Like you , I am a little allergic to Morpine in that I am sick quite a bit afterwards, but as Bob said, it makes you so relaxed that it wasn't really a problem either!
It also helped me to just float in my head ( with the fairies) when having to lie flat afterwards for how ever many hours they say... Can't remember.!
Good luck, you will be in very good hands. I felt no real pain, and the results for me were well worth the sedation! Also quicker recovery time than having a GA.
I had conscious sedation but unlike some of the posters upthread, I remember my procedure quite clearly. I did go a bit deeper under at various points and at other times I was very awake and alert but totally relaxed and pretty carefree. I talked with the doctors at some points, and could tell them if I felt anything, but was never in pain. I did make sure to tell them I was very nervous before they wheeled me in and they assured me they would keep me very comfortable which they did. They lifted me onto the procedure table, I looked around and laid down and the next thing I knew, they had already inserted the catheters and were working away. So I didn’t even have the initial “pinch and burn” of the groin preparation! I learned later that they gave me propanol initially to knock me out for that part, then brought me back awake and kept me there except for when I was talking too much, then I was put under again LOL. The only discomfort was at the end, when they pulled the sheaths out, and it was just a couple seconds of pain. I found the 6 hours of lying flat afterwards far more uncomfortable than anything else. They really do everything to keep you calm and pain free.
Please let us know how you’re doing afterward. Good luck and do not worry. You will do just great!!
My EP was really honest and said that the first 30 mins most patients are quite agitated and don’t like it but then the level of sedation will be increased and I could possibly be asleep. He said at first the level will be equivalent to a couple of glasses of wine, he also said that it won’t stop me feeling anxious at first but it will as the procedure goes on. I’m going to ask if I can have a good level and tell them I’m quite scared.
I will definitely keep you all posted, can’t wait to join the after ablation club! 😊
I think that’s a great plan - tell everyone there that you are very nervous and I’m sure they’ll keep you adequately sedated and comfortable. You will do great and just think - this time tomorrow, it’ll all be over
Hi there, I know how you are feeling. I have been sedated a few times. Cardioversions many and one ablation. Honestly, I promise! You just go somewhere! And then you are woken up as if it is just the next minute of your life. Here, Gone and Back again. With a nice. Cup of tea. And they will have done all the work. Enjoy today spoil yourself relax, have a nice bath do something good. All the very best to you. Xx
I had an ablation for AFib in November under sedation. Since then I've developed flutter 😕 and just had a further ablation to try and treat that but under GA this time. The first time around I had plenty of sedative but it didn't seem too effective, I was very aware of what was going on and feeling a lot of what was going on too. I think there are parts of the procedure that I can't recall but there are certainly large parts of it I can. All I can say is it was bearable but not pleasant. The nurses told me that some people (not many, just a small minority) seem to be less susceptible to the sedative. I must be one of them. However as soon as the procedure was complete and I was back in the recovery area, I was fine, totally back to normal, with no after effects from the sedative, no discomfort. I can't say that the sedative had any after effects at all. It's as if I was either completely awake and aware of everything or I was completely out of it with no memory of what was going on.
For obvious reasons I have absolutely no memory of the latest ablation under GA, last thing I recall is the mask on my face as they were putting me under and then I woke up drunk in recovery taking rubbish to the nurses! The not knowing anything about what went on during the ablation was fantastic and personally speaking I quite enjoyed the half hour I felt stoned immediately after I came round but it has taken me a lot longer to recover from the GA, I have had various physical symptoms for 4 days, had to stay in hospital overnight, stiff site neck, shoulders, abdomen, migraine, very tired.
All I can say is when you are having the ablation, if you are finding anything too uncomfortable make sure you let them know. I did, very loudly 😬 and I think it was after that there are parts I can't recall.
I really hope it goes well for you, I understand your concerns but try and hold on to the goal of a flutter free life, won't that be wonderful!
Thank you so much for such an honest and helpful reply.
It seems, like you say, that sedation can be less effective in some people.
It’s reassuring to know that even though the sedation was hit and miss that the procedure was bearable, and the recovery sounds really good. I’m not surprised you were happier with the GA though but the recovery sounds a bit gruesome from that.
How are you feeling now? I hope your recovery is going really well. 😊
I am over the GA now and tbh, if I ever needed another ablation I would request GA again, for me the after effects were worth the being unconscious during the procedure 😂 I was out for 4 hours, and I know I couldn't have tolerated an ablation under sedation for that long, plus it meant the cardiologist could have a really good poke around in my heart without me giving him grief and putting him off.
I don't know if it's worked, I'm still getting plenty of palpitations and flutters at this point in time but apparently that is nothing unusual so I'm playing a waiting game for now, which I don't find easy. Other than that I'm fine.
I so hope all goes well for you. I physically recovered really quickly from that first ablation under sedation, was home within 4 hours of waking up with no problems other than having to be careful with the wound in my groin where the catheters went in.
When I was waiting to go in for the first ablation I was sitting with 3 women waiting to go home, who had all just had stents put in, all under sedative. All of them told me not to worry, they had all simply slept through the procedure, woken up when it was finished and had no after effects at all. Hopefully that will be you. Good luck, it will be worth it!
I’m not surprised you would go with the GA if you ever had to have another, I would be the same.
Thank you for the good wishes I hope so much that I’m like the 3 women you met 🙏🙏🙏 and I hope I recover really well like you did after the sedation. I really want to be home in my own bed tomorrow night. 😊
I just had my ablation on Friday and like you don’t particularly enjoy being drunk or out of control and I have had 3 natural births but the sedation used for my ablation was actually quite a lovely feeling. I was chatting to the nurse whilst she was administering it and I felt this lovely woozy 🥴 feeling flow through me.... was quite awesome..... 2 days post ablation and I feel great x
Thank you so much, I will let you know how it goes. Where are you having yours? I’m having mine in Sheffield at the Northern General hospital. How are you feeling about it?
I’m having mine at Glenfield in Leicester. Feeling quite anxious about it; will they be able to see where it starts from? Will it work? What will my recovery be like? All these questions constantly running through my head! Which doesn’t help my stress levels, and stress is a huge trigger for my SVT 🤪
I have had lots of happenings in The Northern General. The staff are wonderful, very kind and caring. Had my pacemaker fitted there as they had to pace and ablate me eventually. Good luck for tomorrow
I share your concerns about things which “alter the mind”. I had sedation once for a different procedure and was told that they can adjust the sedation up or down according to how comfortable/uncomfortable you are. In my case they administered sedation through a vein in the hand. I waited for a minute expecting something to happen but noticed nothing so I asked them how long the sedation would take to have effect. They said that it would take a few minutes. Nothing happened. I can remember the entire procedure clearly and am convinced that they didn’t administer any or it was at an incredibly low dose. Fortunately the procedure was unproblematic. I would ask the hospital what sort of anaesthetic they propose to give you and whether it contains an amnesiac. People often describe the experience as being “away with the fairies” but does this mean that they are just very sleepy, very relaxed but awake, daydreaming, experiencing strange psychological sensations or what? Best Wishes for the procedure.
I wonder if after reading the replies here you were one of the people that sedation doesn’t do much for? Or like you say the dose was so low that nothing happened.
I know what you mean about being away with the fairies, I understand why people use that term though. I suppose it’s very hard to describe an altered state to someone else, I don’t know if I could easily describe how it feels to be tipsy for example.
I hope away with the fairies means what it sounds like, a feeling of peace and calm and not really caring very much about anything 🤞🥴
I completely understand what you mean. I also think in my case that they didn’t give me much, because I also didn’t feel anything of the sedation. They only gave me something 1 shot of Fentanyl and Dormicum. I really am a sensitive person to meds, so I keep wondering if they tricked me with the quantity and perhaps they hoped for the placebo effect 😆.
Thats certainly possible. Or they may have judged that as you were fairly comfortable on a low dose it would not be desirable to increase the sedation as this would require more monitoring. I think that there is a lot of variation in the type of sedation which is offered at different hospitals- this accounts for the many different experiences described here. I suppose, too, that some people are more resistant to sedation in the same way that they are resistant to the effects of alcohol.
They knew I wasn’t because I told them. And when I drink one glass of wine I already feel the effect, same with light medication. 🤔I going to talk about it with my EP because it still doesn’t feel right. I lost a bit of confidence in him because of this.
Ask if you can speak to an anaesthetist about the type of sedation on offer. This is usually possible before an operation, so I don’t see why not in the case of an ablation.
Hi Kellyjelly good luck for tomorrow, I had my ablation in January and like you I was so worried about being sedated but it was absolutely fine. I cant really remember much about the procedure which for me is a good thing. Take care and try doing something nice today for yourself to help you relax a bit. Laura
I had sedation for my ablation in May last year and I can say that I never felt a thing when they numbed the groin or administered the sedation, I was awake throughout the procedure except near the end when I believe they must have upped the meds for possible cardio version, I was never informed if they did, I woke up on the way back to the ward, the good news is I can say is I never felt any pain uncomfortable at times yes and I've had no AF since.
I can’t offer any advice as I had a ga but wanted to wish you luck. What a lovely lot of helpful comments you have had. I am sure it will go smoothly and hopefully the ablation will work it’s magic.
Hi Kellyjelly - its great. I've had sedation with 2 ablations and been fine. It made me not worry at all about the procedure despite being a total coward about things going up blood vessels, never mind the rest!! I felt that I was awake for all of the procedure but definitely wasn't as they were both very long procedures and they didn't feel long at all. They did need me awake for certain points in the procedure to report back what was being felt. I felt no pain at all and if discomfort was becoming unpleasant at any point I could ask for additional painkiller which worked almost immediately.
The advantage of the sedation was that I felt fine (Better than fine really) very quickly after the procedure. The only problem being that you feel better and livelier than you physically are for a number of hours following. Last time I forgot to take pain meds before I went to bed that night and woke up in the early hours in quite a bit of pain - resolved with codine and paracetamol.
I didn't feel 'stoned' or out of control at any point during sedation, but am obviously not aware if I did any embarrassing rambling during the periods where I was not aware!! I think they used midazolam and fentanyl for sedation and pain. Unsure if anything else was in the mix.
In truth the most unpleasant part of the experience was waiting to go down for the op. and them finding a blood vessel to put the sedation/pain killer line in. And that wasn't bad at all.
Best of luck with your ablation - you will be fine and its over with very quickly as far as you will be aware. Do take it easy following and go with what your body is telling you to do rather than having preconceived ideas of how quickly or not you will recover I think its very variable between people and between ablations.
Thank you so much for such an upbeat and helpful reply 😊
I will take all your tips on board, it’s funny because lots have people have said how good they feel immediately afterwards. I’m going to take each day as it comes and I’ve got my lovely mum coming from Scotland to look after me and keep me company while I recuperate.
Someone posted a couple of days ago about making sure that you have enough sedation, and I think that is key, and your EP has taken the time to explain everything in detail to you which must be reassuring. I have been thinking about you - hasn't the date come quickly! Very best of luck for tomorrow and let us all know how you are x
I had my Ablation two weeks ago for Atrial Flutter. I was given 1 Gramme of I V Paracetamol, followed by 5 grammes of Valium. Injection of local anaesthetic into the groin prior to the insertion of the Catheters into the Femerol Vein. Then when the burning commenced ( fifteen burns in total) I was given Fentenal 75 grammes over a period of 20 minutes. I remained awake and alert throughout the whole procedure and did not experience any amnesic effects whatsoever. I remember every single bit of the entire operation. I would have found it more comfortable to have had a little more sedation, but as I was last on the list and discharged at 7.30pm I was not given anymore.
Thank you so much for your helpful reply. It would seem that light sedation really doesn’t seem to do much. Did you find the procedure distressing because you weren’t sedated very much?
Thank you for your good wishes I hope your ablation was a success and you have recovered well 😊
Yes, I would have preferred to have been a little more relaxed, 5 gms of Valium was not enough for me, 10 grammes would have been better for me. I am a trained nurse myself so understand all about what goes on in the Theatre and what can go wrong, so was concerned. But it all went very well, no unseen complications whatsoever.
If you have given birth you will go home on Monday wondering what all the fuss was about. You will probably find the hardest part is lying still while your wound in your leg sorts itself out, so take a book to read if you can.
I had me ablation in December last year, I wasn't sedated until midway through the procedure. I can honestly say even without the sedation it wasn't a bad experience, Uncomfortable at most (Felt like someone was poking me in the groin) But the nursing staff and doctors were so nice even I, A massively anxious nut, Still felt very at ease.
When they sedated me as i needed to have a cardioversion, They chatted to me a little bit and told me what was going to happen and I just responded "Yep, Ok" Closed my eyes and just acted like i was lying in bed. Just like going to bed you don't remember falling asleep, You just wake up like you do every morning, with a few nurses wheeling you out of the cath lab having a nice little chat to you.
I know its easier said than done but honestly just relax, Its the best thing you can do for yourself and for the doctors and nurses. They are exceptionally good at their jobs, and they will look after you. =)
I promise it seems far scarier now than it actually is.
Oh and as a side note I had like 75mg Fentanyl as a preventative painkiller, then Midazolam to sedate me.
That’s really interesting that you were only sedated for the cardioversion. Did you choose to not have sedation or is that just the way they do it in the hospital you were in.
I really want to try and be as relaxed as possible so that everyone can get on with what they have to do without me distracting them.
All the replies to this post are really helping.
Hope you are feel good after your ablation and you have recovered well 😊
Thank you for your helpful reply, it’s funny how everyone is different and levels of sedation seem to differ so much isn’t it. For some it’s a lights out experience and for others it doesn’t seem to have much effect. I’m hoping for the lights out effect 🥴
It is different for everone and you get differnt "stuff" for your particular condition so in all likely hood you will be no better off if you read thousands of replies. When you get your blood tested before hand you will feel a scratch, no more and that will also be used for your sedation when the times comes. It is not pleasant waiting to go to the Cath Lab, probably the wrorst part of it. When in the Cath Lab You will get an injection in the groin area, which just feels like an injection you get at the dentist. If they get it right your sedation will start before your injection, if they get the sedation right you will feel sleepy - try to sleep!
Right now you just need to keep strong, keep doing things that will take your mind off tomorrow and just think of what it will be like afterwards - JOY.
All the best for tomorrow and remember these procedures get done hundreds of times a day, these EPs really know what there doing and are experianced in doing it.
Thank you so much 😊 I know what you mean but it is really helpful. I know that none of the stories will be the same as mine just as none of the replies are the same but just hearing others experiences has been a really good distraction today. I have spent the day tidying up ( typical for me when stressed or worried) and this afternoon I’m going to read and maybe watch a film then a really early night. We have to be in Sheffield for 7am and it’s a good hour from here. I’m glad I’m first in, I think it will be happening before I realise it.
Thank you for the good wishes. How are you feeling today? Hope you’re having a good week and still recovering well 😊
Yes still recovering, getting back to normal slowly.
Just remember you have had babies, tomorrow will be a walk in the park compared to a childbirth trauma (just being in the room when our 2 were born is worst than the ablation) and when it's all over you will feel nearly just as proud.
I had sedation for a new defibrillator on Friday. I didn't know if I would be having a general or not but after meeting Registrar and having a chat he said a local would be fine. I was really worried before I arrived at.hospital but once you are there you won't worry. I was wide awake and was chatting to nurses. I had.to sit in bed for 3hrs before going.home. Whole procedure far better than I imagined. I felt the sensation of Registrar doing some of work but no pain at all. My best wishes to you for tomorrow.
I had conscious sedation ages ago for a different kind of surgery, seems I talked to the surgeon all the way through, even offered to help him solve a problem he was having with his computer. I didn’t remember a thing. Made me wonder what else I said! Lol. Had GA for 2 ablations and for vocal cord surgery. Hated the ‘coming out of it’ process for the ablation GA. The vocal cord GA was much easier. Ironically, it was the intubation for the ablation GA that damaged my vocal cords and meds to that surgery. Wishing you well tomorrow!!!
Thank you, it sounds like you kept them all entertained haha!
The good thing about sedation is the recovery I suppose, sounds like you feel back to normal pretty quickly. The vocal chord damage sounds awful, I hope you are doing well now.
True were all different when everytime I went had a procedure done I have bad allergic reaction waking up no matter how they change it up but you will be alright keep your faith strong
Nothing to worry about, I won't babble on again about mine as you already suffered enough reading my rhetoric before, but I have only ever had ablations, cardioversions and tooth extractions but I'd take former anyday over the dentist's. If you are still unsure remember how fortunate we are , in many other countries you would have to pay if your lucky as others never get a chance.Hope this helps.
Thank you, it really does help. I hate the dentist and I don’t use the word hate lightly here! I have a feeling I will be like you and probably prefer the ablation to the dentist.
Nice to be reminded of how lucky I am to have this opportunity, I mustn’t forget that. Thank you and take good care 😊
Thank you for your good wishes 😊 I met my EP 3 weeks ago for the first time and because of my history he booked me in there and then. So only 3 weeks but it has taken me rather a long time to get my referral to an EP.
I've had sedation for other procedures and it just induced relaxation without any problems. I had GA for my cryoablation this past December and seemed a bit groggy for some days and my oxygen went down to around 90 when I was coming out of it. GA seems to be what's offered in New England but it sounds like sedation may have less side effects. Best wishes for your procedure tomorrow!
Firstly good luck whatever the case know that you are in good hands!
I’ve never had sedation for ablation as they were under general but I’ve had sedation for cardioversions. Each time I’ve had lots and topped up during as I seem to fight it and remember fair bit of detail too 😬 Once it’s done though and I’m home I sleep for ages! The last time was 3 days and hubby was worried it wasn’t normal so called the hospital . Their response was ‘I’m not surprised , we gave her enough to knock out a rhino but then she’s a redhead and there the worst!! ‘
Not sure how much truth in that but whatever procedure I’ve had needing sedation I always seem to need heaps?!
Sedation don't make you dizzy or sick. just relaxed. after I was sedated they wheeled me into the procedure room for afib, seeing all the equipment, seeing the doctor putting stent in leg and waking up in recovery room(seemed like a minute). When I woke I was feeling good and wondering why I was so scared. I was scared to, but its not horrible at all. And there was a bonus I was not in afib anymore.
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GA or Sedation
Sedation 
I go to Liverpool 19th April for my first appointment to see if I am suitable for an ablation. Questions?
Deep vs conscious sedation for ablations
RF Ablation Under Sedation
