Ablation

[charlwood35]

To hospital yesterday for my cryo-ablation under a GA. Arrived at midday, procedure at 4.30 and it took about 1 hour. Came to in a resuscitation suite. Initial sensation was some discomfort in the centre of the chest, most likely from the TOE that was carried out. Felt like a bad reflux attack but not so bad that I felt I needed pain relief. Began to ease after half hour and faded away over the rest of the evening.

After 45 minutes, back to my room where the 6 hours laying flat to let the groin wound settle. Not nearly so bad as I thought it might be. I had had visions of having to lie totally horizontal and totally still but in fact, after an interval, they were happy to raise the head of the bed by 25 degrees and as long as you kept that groin leg straight and still, your other limbs were as free as they could be while lying flattish and with one leg still and straight!

Thanks to Bob and others who recommended taking in a sports water bottle. There was a bemusing moment, before the bed head was raised a little, when a glass of water appeared with a straw. Not totally impossible but surely that ends badly for most people.

Discharged from hospital this morning and home. Groin now bandage free and the wound site dry and discomfort free. No chest discomfort. No GA hangover. I am a PAF sufferer, entered the hospital in sinus and left in sinus and will see how things go from here, knowing that the degree of ablation success can take weeks or even months to emerge. I have had some ectopics since the procedure but then did before.

I have two weeks off work and will be following the instructions to do little but at this moment I feel slightly fraudulent. Things may change but at this moment I have no physical sense that anything happened yesterday.

One interesting, and to my mind reassuring, observation from yesterday. When I arrived at midday and was told I was scheduled for late afternoon I was a little surprised. I wondered if there was some sort of problem. But the reason was that the ablation team were doing 5 people that afternoon and I was told they often do 6. I wanted a high volume centre and it was nice to see that it was demonstrably so...

[wilsond]

Glad it went well,wish I was abke to go for GA but my Trust doesnt do that...??

Sending very best wishes to you...p!ease take it easy..everyone says so...I havent had mine yet but take care...xx

[BobD Volunteer]

Good result. Now rest.

[Hidden]

Sounds great! A good experience and let’s hope it works for good!

[pottypete1]

Wow

6 ablations in an afternoon.

My last one took from 08:30 until 17:00.

Hard to believe.

Pete

[charlwood35 in reply to pottypete1]

Mind you, I guess we were all being offered straightforward 60/90 min cryo-ablations. Presumably the number falls dramatically when the more complicated RF stuff is done, which sounds was the case with you. That said, 8 1/2 hours is hell of a procedure!...

[pottypete1 in reply to charlwood35]

He was very thorough 😀

[Nan1]

So pleased to hear all went well. Take care

[Beffohol]

Thank you for that....I feel sure that you have reassured many folk awaiting the procedure. Hope you enjoy your rest and notice the difference soon.

[Horse57]

So glad that you are home and resting. It sounds like you were in very good hands and all went well. REST! Keep us all posted. My best to you.

[DawnTX]

That’s a great idea for people bringing a sports bottle. I was lucky both of my hospitals supply what looks like a giant plastic beer mug with cover and straw that bends. I still use it at night.