Checks before an ablation

I haven’t yet received my appointment for an ablation, but it is impending. I was told that a week before I must attend a preliminary appointment where a number of checks will be made, presumably to establish whether it is safe to go ahead with the ablation. Does any one know what these are? I presume it’s basic stuff like blood pressure and so on. Of course, I am not yet decided when I will have this procedure-I May defer the initial appointment.

[Hidden]

mine was blood tests, ecg and a chat about the procedure asked to confirm that I had not missed any anticoagulant and sign all the forms once the risks had been discussed.

Was also given some nasal cream and antibacterial shower gel to use before my admission

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the info.

[heartmatters1]

Hi Samazeuilh. The appointment will probably be for your pre-procedure assessment, where they check your weight, blood pressure etc. Also they will go over the procedure with you, so you know what to expect & for you to ask any questions you may have.

Good luck & best wishes

Ally

[Hidden in reply to heartmatters1]

Many thanks

[jeanjeannie50]

As the hospital I went to for my ablations is 30 miles away. I'd go in the day before and stay there. For my third one, when I was given just a few days warning before having the procedure, I had to go in very early morning and had it done the same day as my ablation.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

In one way, it’s better to be told out of the blue that the procedure is a few days away- then you have less worry time. Mine will

be in about 7 weeks, although I wil probably defer it.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean. I had to make a snap decision the third time. My youngest daughter kept saying you shouldn't have another one. Of course I thought this was a sign and I'd have a stroke or die. Honestly, the things that go through our heads. Instead it was the one that helped most of all and I felt better almost instantly.

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I think it’s rarely a once only a procedure. I suppose the first one is the most anxiety-provoking.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

I was quite blase about my first ablation and honestly not worried about it at all. I really thought it was going to be an instant cure. On my admittance to hospital for the ablation next day, a friend I had made on this site came to see me, it was the first time we had met and we talked non stop. She had been a nurse at the hospital and then moved to work for PALS. She had met the EP who would be doing my ablation and had a high opinion of him. I had been given a room to myself with an en-suite. When my new friend went and I was asked to give up my room and go onto a ward because someone who was very poorly needed it and of course I willing agreed to move. The wards were all modern and extremely clean. I went down to the cath lab next day without a care in my head. I am genuinely not a worrier and don't believe in wasting time that way. If something needs doing, well worry wont change a thing. That was my first ablation.

For the second I wasn't quite so cocky, but still didn't waste time on worry, what good would that do?

For my third ablation, I wasn't sure that I was doing the right thing and my daughter telling me not to have it, which she'd never done before did make me wonder!

So all in all I would say I had my first without a worry, second perhaps I was a little more cautious and the third not sure what I thought about it all. So if I have to use the word worry, I would say it increased a little with each procedure.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Well, I worry about every aspect of it- the procedure itself and the period afterwards. I think if it was just a one-off risk and afterwards you are completely cured then it would be better- but so many of the procedures fail and have to be repeated. It must be very hard to suddenly get a run of AF when you thought you were rid of it.

[Padayn01]

Wow, i never had any of that until the day of the Op

[Buffafly in reply to Padayn01]

'Risk talk' was while I was waiting outside the theatre - bit late to back out then!

I think it depends on how far away from the hospital you live, also I had a cancellation slot.

[Hidden in reply to Padayn01]

It’s a bit much to leave it to the very last moment-I suppose they think it’s less likely someone will pull out. I don’t know what percentage of people do actually pull out at the last minute.