Ablation reassurance

[Happygoluckyme]

I am having an ablation on the 11th April and getting really nervous now. It will take up to 4 hours under general anaesthetic. Can anybody give me some reassurance please. It would help me. Thank-you.

[Kaz747]

I’ve had 4 ablations (2 for SVT, 1 for Atrial flutter and AFib another for just AFib) and all were around 4 hours, the first with sedation and the last three with general anaesthetic. My last ablation was 9 days ago and I feel better than I have in a couple of years. Sinus rhythm is amazing. Don’t worry, the medical team will take good care of you. All the best.

[BobD Volunteer]

I found root canal dentistry far more daunting than ablation. Read our fact sheets on Preparing for Ablayion and Recovering From Ablation and I am sure you will find them very useful. There are pinned posts to your right and you can follow the links to the files.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

I have always felt most surgery that came my way was easier and less traumatic than the 2 root canals I've had. This includes my ablation.

[Hidden]

Direct links to the two factsheets

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

You will be fine, we rarely, if ever hear from anyone wishing they had never had their ablation.....let us know how you get on.....

[KazDD]

I feel your anxiety, I am booked in for the 15th and am also feeling very nervous. I think I would be feeling a whole lot calmer if I were having it under general anaesthetic, I was only offered sedation.

Wishing you all the best for the procedure and a uneventful, restful recovery!

[Hidden in reply to KazDD]

I had my ablation (with pacemaker) under local with sedation. Just before starting while on the table I said " I would like to have enough sedation for pain but also to not remember very much of what goes on."

I don't know what they gave me but it worked. Ask and you shall receive! xx irina

[pottypete1]

It is natural to feel anxious with such an unknown procedure planned.

I have had 7 ablations the longest lasted over 6 hours. I was always anxious in the days before I think it is only natural to feel this way.

The thing to bear in mind is that with GA once they have put you to sleep it doesn’t matter if it is one hour or 4 you will know nothing about it.

You will find the team are very professional and in my experience do their utmost to ensure it is as stress free as possible.

All being well it will be a successful ablation and providing you rest well after you should eventually feel a lot better.

Pete

[val757]

I had cryoablation under general anaesthetic just over two years ago very successfully, and am off all medication with the exception of anticoagulants. It’s natural to be anxious, I know I was. The actual ablation was ok, I knew nothing about it, and had an overnight stay in hospital afterwards. The worst bit for me was the nausea, after effect of the anaesthetic, but it’s always affected me like that, most people aren’t affected to that extent. I’m now two years without the debilitating episodes of very fast AF, but would have another ablation in a heartbeat(!) if it were needed. Best wishes.

[Dawsonmackay]

It's normal to be nervous especially when others are going to be working on your heart. However, it's very routine and the risks are also quite low. I've had three and have had zero complications. The first two procedures lasted 5.5 hours and the the third was 8 hours due to further mapping. If your doc feels that you need it, now's the time to get it done. If you stay in NSR, you will not believe the quality of life difference. It's worth it.

[Paulbounce]

@HGLM.

You`ll be fine - honest. How do I know this ??

Well I don`t ! However it`s on the cards for me somewhere down the line. Am I worried about it - nah not one bit.

The worrying about it all is the worse part. You won`t know anything about it. You`ll be in the land of ZZZ`s and won`t feel a thing. The worse part is the anxiety before you have it done - you`ll look back and wonder what the fuss was about. Trust me - you`ll be OK 100%

These things are NEVER as bad as you think. I know it`s daunting but you`ll wake up and have a nice cup of tea.

You`ll see. Don`t worry - you`ll be just fine.

Expect to be on edge but don`t worry. It won`t be half as bad as you think.

I`ll make you that promise.

Best,

Paul

[Hidden]

Also the doctors want you well sedated and comfortable. They do not want to perform any surgery -let alone something as precise as an ablation- on an uncomfortable, moving, restless patient.

And length of time means nothing. Think of it like a car trip. Some people make the same drive in under an hour. Someone else drives slower,more carefully, and avoids problems.

x irina

[AIW58]

I had mine under GA 10 days ago I was nervous, that's only natural, but it was fine. I was told it would be 4 hours but that also includes the getting you settled and so on. It also depends on what the EP finds when they are working. I woke up in recovery (think it was 3 hours), spent a night on the ward and was discharged home next morning at 9.30. You have to lie flat for 4-5hrs because of the access via your groin, I thought I'd be desperate to be up but I wasn't - chatted with recovery nurse for a couple of hours (my ward bed wasn't ready) 2 hours on the ward listening to the world go by and managed to drink a cup of tea horizontal! I managed to hold on til I was allowed up so didn't need a bed pan!! It really was a doddle and I hope yours goes well too. Where are you having it?

Oh and some practical advice my o/night bag was too small because I dozily forgot the clothes & shoes I was wearing when I arrived would need to go in same bag when I changed into theatre gown! Take some headphones so you can listen to things if you are bored or wake in the night. Take some nibbles in case you don't like the hospital issue. I requested a 2 week sick note too as they usually say a week is enough and then you self certificate. I feel fine and would probably be OK to return to work this week as I am generally office based and work part time but having 'permission' for 2 weeks off is better.

all the best

Amanda

[AmbieBambie in reply to AIW58]

Hi, my cardiologist just sent in my referral for Ablation today, since I had bad side effects of the medicine to treat my SVT & VTach. The days after your Ablation did you feel any pain in your heart? Or any other side effects?

[AIW58 in reply to AmbieBambie]

Hi possibly a bit of discomfort not pain for a few mins. The main after effect has been the visual aura/blotchy sight. I've had about 4 episodes. Lasts about half an hour. I've suffered migraines in the past so I'm used to it and as it's not accompanied by sickness and awful headache it's fine. Hopefully will resolve before I go back to work in a week.

I am taking Flecainide for a further 2-3 months so have had no other post ablation issues. Mine was for paroxysmal AF rather than SVT.

I hope you don't have too long a wait.

Good luck

Amanda

[Lockefm]

I have an issue with the sedation meds, extreme nausea so had my ablation with very light medication. It was uncomfortable at times, but watching them on the huge monitor was an experience I won't forget. They did give me a lot of anti nausea medication and more sedation towards the end as after 3 hours I had had enough lol but it really wasn't that bad. I'm sure yours will be fine, and it gave me nearly 18 months symptom free.

[Hidden]

I know how you feel, I went through that too.

My ablation was 4.5 hours under GA.

I had no pain from the procedure when I woke up, or during my recovery.

I have been NSR now for almost two years.

It was the best thing I could have done. If I needed another I would jump at the opportunity.

Good luck

[DerekMcAvoy]

Hi

See my post from Saturday.

I had a cryoablation under GA last Thursday. Worst part for me was that afterwards, I stayed awake from 17:00 when I came to in recovery until 14:00 the next day when I got home and went to my own bed. There’s really nothing to get anxious about.

[avma]

Hey Happy,

I will have mine under GA April 26th. Technically, it will be my second one.

I had one before on March 14th, but they didn’t ablate (didn’t burn) because during the EP exam they saw it was another arrhythmia then they initially thought. I had sedation during that procedure, but that didn’t work because I was so stressed 😫 and very scared. The problem was that when they went in my groin they touched a nerve and that was really painful also went they went up with the catheters it was very painful too, it was as if they were everywhere in my body. But ofcourse since I was so nervous they could easily trigger my arrhythmia and then saw it was another one. Afterwards my groin was black and blue for 2 weeks and of course, the waiting now in between the procedures isn’t nice, because I want to get rid of the problem asap.

I must say that I was very pleased that my EP said that I can have GA this time. Also because this time they have to map my atria’s completely to find the focal point in the atria which causes my tachycardia p, so it can take up to 4 hours to map and ablate and I have to lay completely still.

I worry of course about the fact that they perhaps can’t trigger my SVT under GA or that they find it to be in a difficult spot where they cannot ablate it, due to too risky.

But I must say, setting aside the fact that I hate this condition, I’m soooo happy that I can do it under GA instead of being fully awake.

It will be in and out for us. Time will be non-existent that is really fabulous about the invention of GA, isn’t?

For which condition will you be treated?

[Dodie117]

You tell yourself you can always back out. I was threatening to do a runner even whilst in the waiting room!! (Only in my head).

I did not.

I had it under GA and all fine. Easy peasy. Expect lots of bumps and arrhythmias. Mine lasted for 5 months. Also raised resting heartbeat. REST REST REST.

That was November 2013 and I am still AF free. Yippee!!

Good luck 🍀

[kathie659]

Had the ablation, no afib for over a year. If need be I'd have another without hesitation. I had GA, only things that were uncomfortable were, a slightly sore throat and having to urinate post procedure....if you're in USA? Take an extension cord (for phone charger) ear buds and sleep mask to drown out noise and light.

[Haymaker42]

I am 11 weeks post Ablation done under general anaesthetic, I would not hesitate to have it done again. I was very nervous before the procedure as well. Stay positive, get plenty of rest afterwards and give your heart time to heal. I finally have my quality of life back and you will too. All the best!❤️

[grandmadogs]

I had a five hour ablation under general anaesthetic last September and can’t believe how much better I feel now. I would recommend it to anyone. I had no pain afterwards although I did get a chest infection. The bruising on my leg was quite impressive all the way down to my knee bit completely painless. Possibly made worse as they had me walking around

to help my chest. I hope your experience is as positive as mine was. Take care and relax. They know what they are doing.

[Snowball66]

Hi my son whose 16has had 2 ablations one under general the last one under sedation3 months ago both 5 hours long unfortunately he had another attack 8 weeks post surgery we have just come back from royal Brompton today and now back on the waiting list for a 3 rd ablation he said he needs it gone and will keep trying till it’s successful he says under sedation isn’t that bad good luck with yours it will be fine x

[MydogBrandy]

Hey there, had mine on January 3rd, best thing I ever did, was scared stiff, don’t even manage a clean at dentist without crying lol.

They take care of you, good luck, xx

[Bob002]

I was scared to death when I had mine, but it turned out it was a very simple procedure. Believe me when I say after it is done you will wonder why you were even scared and you will feel good. I remember thinking WOW! That was easy and I could do it again if I needed to. Worst part is waiting and worrying.

[exbcmc]

I’ve had two...natural to be nervous for the first. Honest, piece of cake.👌

[AmbieBambie]

Oh wow, I’ve had migraines with aura as well since I was 20. I wonder why it brings on a aura. But that is so relieving that you don’t get the sickness & pain.

Were you taking Flecainide prior to your Ablation?

[AIW58]

Hope all goes smoothly tomorrow. All the best.

Amanda