Ablation imminent!

[Ecki]

Just been told that my first ablation will happen at the end of this week. Feeling scared now. Looking for advice from the old timers on here - how long does an ablation take and how long will i be in hospital? I've printed out the advice sheets on prep and recovery.

[BobD Volunteer]

I think it depends on hospitals. Mostly these days go in early on day of procedure and if all goes well out the next day. You should get more info at pre procedure appointment..

[Padayn01]

Everyone will be different, but i went in at 8am and was out 6pm same day

[BG2017]

Best wishes for your ablation- hope everything goes well for you.

Both of mine took between 4 and 5 hours and I was discharged early the following morning. Obviously there are many variables that can influence this figure, and individual experiences will vary, but it seems quite common to come home the following day and sometimes the same day.

Look after yourself and take things easy whilst you recover.

[Hidden]

I had a general aesthetic so had to stay over night.

[RobBohre]

Don't be scared! It is anything like here in the States, My EP is a specialist in which all he/she does is ablations and has done 100s if not 1,000s of them.

As far as waking up from one, the worst part is having to lie still for 5 hours for incision to heal. After that, it is is a piece of cake. Just relaxed until you are released the next day and return to normal activities.

[Ecki]

Thanks all, I've been told that I'll be sedated and kept in overnight. Got teh pre assessment on Wednesday.

[Buffafly]

Ablation takes as long as it takes but you shouldn't really notice as under sedation which can be topped up if required.

[Hidden]

If you haven’t already, read these two factsheets

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

The tell you everything you need to know, good luck, and don’t forget to let us know how you get on once you feel up to it.....

[Ianp66]

Mine took over 6.5 hours while sedated last April , I was very worried the day before and more so on the morning of the op, but can honestly say it was a very smooth process and once sedated was like having quite a few glasses of wine while a plumber and electrician movie was on the tv 😂.

If needs be I'd have another tomorrow it really was that easy, I fear the dentist more.

A few months and I'm sure you will be very pleased you did it, thankfully it's the first first Xmas this year I've had without drama or trips to hospital in afib after the op sorted it .

Best advice really, just give yourself time after the op to get over it and heal properly, it's a long slow process , but worth it in the end.

[Oldiemoldy in reply to Ianp66]

You are so right. Recovery is often longer than you expect and there can be setbacks BUT if it works, it is so worth it.

[Dawsonmackay]

It has become very routine at this point. Enjoy the sleep!

[Brad43]

Practice lying down and peeing in a urinal. You won't be able to get up and use a bathroom for several hours after the procedure. Maybe I'm the only one who had trouble with this, but if you can't do it, they'll go after it (if you know what I mean).

[Ecki in reply to Brad43]

I don't know what you mean. This is something that concerns me, as I get a lot of UTIs. Don't see how I could wee lying down.

[Buffafly in reply to Ecki]

This is when you can be glad you're a man - I'm sure a bottle is preferable to a bedpan 😬

[Ecki in reply to Buffafly]

I'm not a man!

[Buffafly in reply to Ecki]

😳 Oooops! Don't know why everyone (judging by manly chin-up replies) seems to think you are. OK, bedpan is awful but if you are desperate enough you'll manage 😫

[Brad43 in reply to Ecki]

I guess I assumed otherwise, but it can be a problem either way. The nurse who helped me said that a female patient had the same problem recently, and they used the same solution which is to use a catheter. I don't know exactly how a woman would practice for this. It's probably a good idea to not drink much before the procedure, and to empty yourself just before it.

[Madscientist16 in reply to Brad43]

I am in the US. They put in a urine catheter after I was put to sleep before the procedure. It was removed once I was able to move around on my own, after the mandatory 4 hour laying down period for the thigh wounds to heal. No bed pans for me.

[Kaz747 in reply to Madscientist16]

After my first SVT ablation I had to use a bedpan whilst trying to lay flat - I managed though it was quite comical. For my next three ablations a catheter was inserted which made life a lot easier. My first ablation was done under sedation and the other three under a general anesthetic.

[Hidden]

Hi I am sure you'll be fine, I am in process of considering it and as I am getting more attacks will likely go down that route, please let us know how you get on

Andy

[Ppiman]

Mine (last June, for flutter) took a few hours and I was home the same day, with no bad side effects from the operation except a badly bruised thigh and some throat soreness. The flutter was cured.

I felt weak and rather poorly, though, for many weeks afterwards, with many symptoms, perhaps the worst being a light head and weakness. During those weeks, a severe bout of fibrillation occurred which was corrected with bisoprolol. My heart rate and blood pressure were always low and didn’t normalise until I stopped the bisoprolol and only then, after about six weeks or so, did I begin to feel my normal self again.

Six months on my heart remains normal and although I haven’t got my vitality back, all is well. That maybe because I’m 67 - I don’t know.

Steve

[Rubymurray25]

The build up was the most stressful part for my first one but I was amazed at how OK I felt . The first was for AF and the recent second one for Flutter seemed to take very little time, I guess the power of a professional giving you sedation. I know we are all different but for me it was the apprehension after the ablation that was almost worse than the build up hoping it had worked. Keep strong and positive and you won't look back. Good luck.

[Goldfish7]

Ablations vary in how long they take. My 1st was around 3hrs my second closer to 5hrs. If you have general anaesthetic you wont be aware of this, if you have sedation generally you are unaware apart from when they need you to be more conscious for elements of the procedure. When you are more conscious you are so drugged up its fine and then you are back to oblivion again. As RobBohre said the worst thing is lying still for a few hours whilst the groin incision settles down. Bloody difficult drinking the cup of coffee they give you!!!!

The painkillers they use during the op. are great but don't do what I did which is forget to take any when you get home (operated on in afternoon home by11pm) I woke up feeling like I'd been put through a full washing machine cycle at 3am in the morning!!! Sorted with codine and paracetamol.

Best of luck - it will be over soon and just be an interesting but odd memory. Try not to do too much after the op. Unless you are superhuman the 2 week recovery period is a joke, you really need to take it easier for a far longer time re physical exercise and coping with the weird affects of your heart recovering.

[MydogBrandy]

I had GA so stayed over night. It’s a year and 4 days since mine, best thing I ever did and I was really scared. I am such a wimp even frightened of dentists good luck x

[Steve59red]

Hi Ecki I’ve had two now and both times it’s been fine they know exactly what they are doing and the staff and nurses were I felt exceptional. My advice is take it easy afterwards do not do any heavy lifting for at least two weeks or longer listen to your body do not rush back. You may get a few odd beats or even runs of AF but unless it persists for hours do not worry too much the heart needs tune to settle down as well as you as a whole! Do not worry relax you will be fine.

[Supernerogirl]

Don’t be scared although it’s natural honestly, it’s fine I have had 2 now. Nothing to it just breath mindfully be calm , and before you know it will all be over and you will say “ is that it “ good luck will be fine

[KMRobbo]

Advice is "Don't Worry" ! Worry makes everything worse and makes you tired.

I had two in a month : one afib pvi cryo left atria, then a RF a flutter ablation on the right atria. Neither a big problem. I could see most of the screen on the first one, was very interesting . I was lightly sedated. The first took several hours but time flew. The worst part is the boring bit lying still wating for the groin to heal up so I could go home. I did not stop in hospital for either. In and out the same day. I stopped drugs a few months after my ablation and have not taken any since - May 15 20018.

Best wishes for yours

[Marney]

Hello. This news of having your ablation is earth shaking fantastic. Wow , this is the beginning of the rest of your enjoyable life. I would not say it is a piece of cake ,but it is not that bad either. You may only need one ablation, like my friend, she is now 3 yrs and great. I however had to have 3 ablations over a2 yr period. The last one almost 2 yrs ago has worked, I would do it all over again to get rid of the dreaded afib and everything that goes with it.

I am so so happy for you.

Marney

[Jfarreast]

I had my 3rd ablation on a Friday and moved to Africa on the next Monday. I didn't do any heavy lifting, took it easy until the jet-lag wore off and then forgot about it and went on with my life.

Tomorrow, almost 2 years later, I see my EP again, fully expecting to have another ablation. Like someone else said, I fear the dentist more than my EP.

[Catlady5]

Hi, I had an ablation for PVCs 6 weeks ago......I was scared to death just for the fact I was going to be awake. Rest assured they keep you quite comfortable. It took 3 1/2 hours for me. I also was afraid of laying still for 4 hours and that was no where as bad as I thought either.....so try not to worry. My groin healed quickly with hardly any bruising. They didn’t give me any IV Fluids so the bathroom issue really wasn’t a factor sine I really went 10 times before my procedure because I was nervous. It’s all well worth getting your life back, that’s for sure!! Good luck

[CookieinAL]

I had mine in June of last year. It took around 3 hours (under general anesthesia) and I was home in time for lunch the next day.

[Madscientist16]

My procedure was at 8 am. It was done by 11 am. I was up and around by 4 pm. Left the hospital the next day just before noon. I was pretty nervous too, but I didn't need to be. It was really not bad at all.

[Ecki]

Thank you so much to all for your replies and advice. I'm feeling a lot better about it now. It's great to have so much support from those who've been where I am now. Had my pre assessment this morning. I'll post again after it's done to let you know how it went.

[Ecki]

Just had a call from the hospital. My ablation, scheduled for tomorrow, has been cancelled. No new date yet. Feeling really fed up now.