Hello all. I am scheduled to have an ablation on May 22 and I am very nervous. I have had a fib for two years and it’s really taking its toll on me. I started taking magnesium religiously about two months ago and it really has slowed down my attacks but I still have them. My cardiologist says that it has an 85% chance of working but many people have to have a Second ablation. I have read a lot of posts here and I was wondering if you could give me some information about the procedure and how you feel afterwards and how soon you got back to work or to your regular life. I have a particularly unique situation in that I’m 61 soon to be 62 and I have a 10-year-old granddaughter that I’m raising with my husband. So I’m particularly nervous about what can happen during the procedure and I guess I’m just looking for Reassurance. Thank you all
Ablation soon: Hello all. I am... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Ablation soon
Hello Horse, first read the factsheets by clicking on the links below. They explain how to prepare for and recover from an ablation. If you still have any questions, please ask. Good luck and let us know how you get on.....
Don’t worry. It’s a routine procedure. I had an ablation last June for SVT. Sadly, I was one of the 15%. I had my second ablation last week (AV node ablation and pacemaker) and , touch wood, I’m feeling much improved. I had both under GA. The first time I had some bruising around the groin femoral artery site, the second time barely any at all. I had a TOE on both occasions; the first time a slight sore throat for 24 hours, the second time also a little swollen for 48 hours. On both occasions I didn’t really sleep on the first night (in hospital) but slept very well on the second. I recommend you do as little as possible for the first week post-ablation - I’m not usually one for sitting around and I did too much after my first ablation. My heart felt a little uncomfortable for the first couple of days and it can be difficult to find a comfortable sleeping position.
All that said, I’d have no hesitation in having another ablation if needed.
I hope this helps.
All the best
Ian
Thank you for your replies. I have found something interesting about flecanaid. I ha e only taken it three times and I am only taking 25 mgs and it does the trick. 50 was too much. But what I notice is in the morning my blood pressure is super low that my machine won’t register. This morning it was 96/68. HR 71. This happened last time as welll. I have been on BP medicine for a couple of years since my AFIB began. Now that flecanaide puts my heart in efficient NSR my blood pressure is low or normal. It leads me to believe that even when I am in NSR my heart isn’t really working properly making my BP rise. I wonder if anyone else has experienced this. I am of course nervous about the ablation but I do feel better hearing from all of you that you have done well and would recommend it for sure. Thank you so much for your comments and reference. 😊
I had the same issue with low blood pressure, especially on flecanide. I switched to multaq and it did not drive my blood pressure down as much. I don't take it anymore - only for 3 months after my ablation. My father and his mother both had pace makers in their later years so I'm thinking that maybe my electrical issues in my heart are the same as theirs were. I suggest you read all of the information on affibers.org before having the ablation. Everyone talks about ablation as if it's no big deal and I for one think it is overly simplified by doctors! If you have truly tried everything else and nothing works then go ahead and do it, otherwise I would wait and take very seriously all the other health measures first. There are a wealth of practical things you can do to minimize your afib episodes. I have had to take control of my own health as my cardiologist and the doctor that performed the ablation never gave me much information about controlling afib naturally. I am 56, very healthy, don't get regular exercise but I'm working on that. I am coming up on 1 year since my ablation. I was led to believe that the ablation is a simple procedure and that it could possible be an overnight cure. But I feel like it made my heart worse than before I had the procedure. In fact, it caused me to have premature atrial contractions (pac's) - the doctors say these are harmless and won't cause clots but still....
Maybe my afib just wasn't as bad as others to begin with since I only had one prolonged episode of 150 BPM which was finally brought down with medicine - 6 hours in the ER when I was first diagnosed. Before that I just had short episodes where it felt like my heart was jumping around in my chest which I just thought were palpitations. It was scary but my GP said lots of people have palpitations. Also I had been diagnosed 7 years ago with SVTs when I was taking adderall for ADHD. I still continue to have brief episodes of afib but it is always tied to something I have done regarding my diet, sleep and stress. I have now found through the affibers web site that triggers include: sugar, carbohydrates and spiking insulin, drinking very cold water, eating too much calcium (it depletes magnesium) eating anything with MSG (Many different names for it - google it and look at the ingredients - it's even in Chick-fil-a!), too much salt, aspartame (it is a heart tissue toxin), not enough sleep, overeating, spicy foods, etc.
I don't like to write posts like this because inevitably people will shoot holes in my logic and make me feel like an idiot but I can't say enough how I wish I would have waited to have the ablation and tried watching triggers in my diet, lowering stress, getting quality sleep every night and exercise first to strengthen my heart. By the way, I was also diagnosed with sleep apnea and I totally resisted wearing the CPAP but it has really helped me to feel better and I now understand how lack of oxygen to the heart is a killer.
I was disappointed after my ablation because I still continue to have these brief episodes where my heart rate shoots up to 120 plus that last for 15 minutes and I just have to let them pass. I am more encouraged now that I have started educating myself about what effects heart tissue and I feel more in control of my health. I hope this helps - God bless you with whatever you decide.
I'm so sorry you were in the 15%. It sounds like you are on a good road at this point. You take good care 
Hi Ian. Great to hear things are improving. Did you mean “pace and ablate”? I’m a bit confused, as after this procedure, any further ablations are unnecessary. The pacemaker keeps the ventricles synchronised and in rhythm. It’s likely your atrium is still doing fast rates, but you won’t be aware of them and, if you are they won’t do any harm In any event. Were you told you might need another ablation in the future?
My ablation last year wasn’t totally successful. Last week’s exercise was a pace and ablate - firstly an AV node ablation (because that’s where the remaining rogue sources happened to be) then a pacemaker to bypass the non-functional AV node. I don’t have AF so my atria should be OK. Hopefully I’ll be OK until my battery needs changing 🤣
I had cryoablation under sedation 6 days ago and can definitely relate to how you are feeling. My initial appointment date was given over the phone and only gave me 4 days notice ..... my brain just panicked and I was an anxious crying wreck as soon as I got off the phone! The appointment was cancelled the next day, by the hospital not me, and a new date rearranged which gave me just under 3 weeks notice which really help give me time to get my head together a bit.
Read all you can and ask as many questions as you need to to mentally prepare you the best you can. I found the replies I got from the lovely people on this forum totally supportive and invaluable in the lead up to my ablation. I came on here this evening to post an update on how it went when I saw your post. I will do that soon so you may like to have a read and the updated of others too.
One thing I would add here is to make sure you have others around you who can care for you and your granddaughter whilst you recover. Read the fact sheets mentioned by FlapJack as they contain invaluable advice for both before and after.
Wishing you all the best
xx
Hi again Horse57,
Am adding a link (hopefully) to a post from a couple of weeks ago that you may find useful for preparing for your ablation.
healthunlocked.com/afassoci.......
Kaz x
Thank you for the posts. It’s kind of odd but I feel like I’m in a world all by myself when I’m around you know my friends and family. I know that’s not true it’s just they don’t experience what I experience and of course my husband and my kids are very concerned but it’s just different when you’re the one experiencing it. I’m very grateful to all of you and all the posts it’s a wonderful site and everyone is so supportive thank you all
I hope that all goes well with you and that your ablation is successful and gives you some quality of life back.
Please ensure that after the "op" you have help and support looking after your Grandchild.
Rest afterwards is very much a part of your getting better so please try not to overdo it.
Hi Horse57. I am going to have an ablation on May 27, five days after you, but this will be my THIRD. So let me offer you my reassurance that all will go well.
What helped me for my first was that I watched a few You-tubes so that I knew the procedure. Knowledge removed the fear.
If you have been given an 85% chance of working, it is unlikely you will need a second one, at least, not probably soon after. With that kind of success percentage, you are paroxysmal , I would think, so the ablation will be much easier.
As for BP, mine has been all over the place. At present, when I am in afib, my BP is lower and when I am in sinus rhythm, my BP is higher. But, I have not included on what drugs I am on at the time. It's such a balancing act -- this blood pressure and afib.
Having a tooth out is far worse, there really is nothing to it beyond any psychological worry (that is really not justified but we are all human). I felt zero pain during or after.
Awe bless you of course you are worried, think we all were.im twelve weeks now since my ablation. I was nervous about it, suddenly I started getting fears of all sorts, had a few tears when I looked at my grandkids et ......but I can assure you the days before of worries will all float away the moment you enter hospital as the system takes over, you are then in the throws of pre op checks etc and a calm comes over you.....Before you know it it’s over.......I found the overnight was a long overnight as I couldn’t sleep...the wedge in the groin was uncomfortable and I couldn’t find a position comfortable and it ached a lot, I should have asked for pain killers I’d do that straight away next time.....
The wedge is quite tight . I’m in France I presume U.K. is the same.
As the help leaflet says rest ! Rest! I’d say do nothing the first week, then second week not a lot.....I did two weeks of staying home. I think as we have gone through this it’s best to give it the best shot and let the poor heart gather it’s thoughts......it goes thru a lot......I got migraines and headaches the first couple of weeks and I never normally get headaches but it does say that’s normal......I found my energy levels have gone up and down these past months.....I was rather too confident and was walking further and git a set back where my body saud Whoah!...so I would say if you wake up some days tired don’t push yourself full steam ahead as I did.
All in all I’ve been normal, feel normal, still in tablets cardio saud while heart heals.
I’ve fekt confident enough to book long haul flights after my six months....may be jumping the gun hope not.....
Try not to worry, , all the best fir your big day, it will feel much better once you arrive at hospital and they take over.....
Sue
Hi Horse
I had my ablation March 28th for Paroxysmal AF. I'm similar age to you (59). I had a general anaesthetic.
Like everyone I was nervous and worried I was going to make things worse and feel awful afterwards as I recovered. In fact it's been a doddle. It is sensible to rest. I had 2 weeks off sick and just gently pottered at home. Returned to work last Weds (I'm part time and mainly desk based) with no issue. I had the visual aura a few times, mentioned in the fact sheets. I used to get that with migraines so it didn't bother me and I didn't get headache or sickness. So far I've had one 1-2 hour episode of frequent ectopics. I also had heartburn/indigestion so suspect linked.
Anyway to reassure you I feel well and the procedure was problem free (just a small 50p size bruise). I feel fine but am following the advice here of not rushing into all my former activities straightaway.
Keep an eye on your BP afterwards. Assuming no symptoms of lightheartedness 90mmHg is considered within normal range for systolic (top number)BP nowadays. I've copied a link
bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPr...
Our BP varies beat to beat so getting a trend is useful to see what your average is.
I do hope all goes well, let us know. Where in the UK are you?
Amanda
Thank you all very much for your comments. I am in the United States and in particular Los Angeles area. You have reassured me and the funniest thing is that it’s harder to have a tooth pulled!! I will let you know how it goes and I appreciate the links and I will watch a YouTube video. And I do have that thought what if I make things worse but I’m not sure how they could get worse at this point. I am the same as you coure. Sometimes when I’m in a fib at my blood pressure is low but when I’m not my blood pressure is high. When I take the Flecanaide Even though it’s not for blood pressure it’s for read them I find that my blood pressure drops the next morning into the 90s which is fine just interesting. Thank you all again and God bless
Hello Horse,
I can say with certainty that the procedure itself is almost certainly nothing to worry about.
I'm 37, had the procedure 6 days after my 36th birthday. Recovery was tough, I was off work for 2.5 weeks and in the end probably went back too soon. But the difference was really noticeable 4 months later.
If you've been told that there's an 85% chance, then take that with both hands!
Hi Horse57
I had RF ablation on May 2nd last year at 64
I had sedation and while it was uncomfortable at times, I was never in any pain and here we are nearly a year later and no AF, so for me it was a great success,
If the AF came back I would not hesitate to have another ablation.
I was given the same odds, and I'm now in to my third year in NSR.
I moved house the week after my ablation (not great timing) and went back to my desk job the following week.
It did take 3 months or so for my energy levels and fitness to return, but some of that is due to the Bisoprolol !
Thank you for your reassurance. I am having it on a Wednesday and want to return to work on Monday. I work in a hospital so at least I will be around medical people! I am so happy you have stayed in NSR. Awesome!!
That isn't nearly long enough. Get signed off for two weeks at the very least, give yourself a fighting chance of kicking this thing
Oh, and good luck!
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