My ablation news from Barts

I had an appointment at Barts yesterday. This time I saw the most senior consultant who said that he didn’t think that my PAF burden was too high at the moment (I’ve had PAF on average once every two months since last July). He recommended coming off the waiting list, but said to get back to him if I started to get more frequent episodes (eg once a week). I had he opportunity to ask some questions about ablation. He said that it was not more dangerous to have a GA rather than sedation because with the former they could have a “good look around the heart”. He insisted that the radiation level was not of concern and that my information was out of date. Cognitive problems caused by the procedure would be short lived. He said that I should be on an anticoagulant and the risk of a significant bleed was 1 in 100 per year. The chance of having another subconjunctival haemorrhage (which I have posted about here) was no greater than for a random member of the population.Overall, this was good news-I don’t have the shadow of the ablation hanging *immediately* over my head and am considered well enough to not need it at the moment. I will have to have it at some stage however.

[BobD Volunteer]

Was this Prof Schilling? Sounds like him. Since a great deal of my knowledge has come from the prof I think this is a good result. Keep up the life style thing and enjoy life.

[wilsond]

Same advice almost given to me ..take heart ..sorry for pun! Xx

[Cecilia2020]

Hiya! I had my ablation at Barts on Friday. Just felt lucky it was not cancelled due to the virus on the news. The 3.5 hours procedure was considered a success by the consultant and I’m grateful. I founded quite uncomfortable since they held back on sedation to be able to ‘see’ ectopic beats to ablate, which otherwise disappeared when sedation was used, I was told. I’m interested on the use of GA if ever need to have it repeated. I wonder if it is an option in every case. Currently recovering slowly, resting and so on, but was unprepared for the cognitive effects, headaches, visual disturbances and feeling of floating... hopefully all temporary. I called the Arrhythmia Nurse today because at times my arms feel heavy and weak. Left message 🤞🏼

[Hidden in reply to Cecilia2020]

Glad it was successful. The cognitive effects are supposed to go after a while.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Cecilia2020]

Had you read our fact sheets first you would know about all that. Try now. heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[Cecilia2020 in reply to BobD]

I have! Thanks BobD. Very helpful. I think it is different to know it rationally than experience it.