First day after first ablation some things I learned

[Sfhmgusa]

Some things learned on my first ablation

1. Read the fact sheets on this site they really help manage expectations

2. This is a routine but still complex and significant procedure.

3. Body hair is not your friend in the process and hospital shaving is.... functional. You will have big sticky pads on your front and back they work so much better and remove so much more easily off smooth skin

4. As above your “ bikini line” is worth your personal attention too

5. I chose sedation not general anaesthetic and despite being e really anxious person( aka coward😀) was glad I did

6. Nothing hurt there was some odd feelings but nothing as bad as indigestion so really don’t worry

7. As this was my first ablation I stayed overnight in the hospital and despite being desperate to get home I am glad I did. Nothing went wrong at all during the night but it was reassuring being in place if it had

8. My right leg was numb from the local anaesthetic for at least 12 hours afterwards not unpleasant just a surprise

9. Take any meds you need in their Original box not in a pill sorter or similar

10. I had a cardioinversion at the end of the process , my first! , it was rather dramatic and gave me a rather itchy superficial skin burn. This was my least favourite bit

11. In these covid times and no visitors a reserve/ recharge battery for your phone is easier than a charging wire and plug as it is more portable.

12. Think I should say that for a 60 year old male this morning I feel like I had a significant op yesterday I really do want to emphasise it was not a painful ordeal but it was not like a dental filling either I will take it really easy

13. The last time I had “ heartache” I was 17😀! But today I have a background tenderness that takes a bit of getting used to not in any way needing pain relief but just unusual

14. Veterans of hospitals will know that trying to sleep with a cannula in your arm is not easy ... I now know this too if you stay overnight ...plan to dose

15. On the dose not sleep point I downloaded a couple of audiobooks and was really glad I did

16. Finally I remember when I first joined this group with very occasional paroxysmal afib reading about ablation and thinking .... yikes!! Over time the posts here have been astonishingly helpful and made my decision a lot easier notwithstanding having a wonderful cardiologist dr Ben brown So thanks to posters thanks to the well wishers who gave me a real lift and if anyone wants to know any detail of my procedure just pm me I will do my best to reply ( ask anything I am not shy!)

Steve F

[CDreamer]

Well done - it does help others to read feedback and I think your experiences certainly mirror my own back in 2013/14.

Now for the most important bit, recovery. Rest and really listen to your body. Remember that everyone reacts differently and recovers at different rates. Expect a few lumps and bumps during the recovery period.

Best wishes for long lasting NSR and a speedy recovery. CD

[Hidden]

Very helpful, will certainly be useful to others considering having an ablation. All the best for a speedy and successful recovery.......

[jeanjeannie50]

It's great that you've given feedback here. Mine would have been much the same for all 3 of my ablations, though I don't think I felt the slightest of pains in my heart area right afterwards. The sticky pads on your chest would have been for your cardioversion. I have the most sensitive skin, but oddly despite many cardioversions I've never had any sore marks afterwards.

What I did have once was a lump come in my groin, a hematoma (lump of blood) form under the site of where they went into the groin. This was not painful and disappeared over a few weeks.

It will be interesting to hear how you get on when back home. Don't worry if you find you tire quickly for a few weeks, please do a lot of relaxing and try not to over exert yourself by walking any long distances.

Will look forward to your next update.

Best wishes.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

Thanks Steve for confirming what we tell people before. A second opinion is always helpful.

I so agree re the hair and after my first time decided that a brazilian done at home was preferable even if one does look very odd. The chest hair thing is variable as there is no acurate way of predicting where they will put the pads. Shortly after my third ablation I took part in a film about AF and when they came to cardiovert me I already had two large bald patches . lol 😁

Now rest plenty and keep reading .

Bob

[Ochg]

Thank you so much Steve for this fabulous update - it has helped me (and I am sure it will be of great help to many others who are also having an ablation), so very much- I am trying hard not to stress too much ! I will no doubt read your post quite a few times between now and Monday.

Now you take care and rest, rest and rest some more🙂.

Shirley

[Hidden]

Congratulations, and a great list.

Now it's time to play the patient and rest rest and more rest.

I wasn't given the option and had to have general anaesthetic , and I'm so glad I did, I was so scared when they wheeled me into the cath lab that I nearly got up and walked home in my paper pants 😂

I'd just like to add noise cancelling headphones to your list, I managed a couple of hours sleep with those on

[Cally53]

An interesting read Steve. I have my ablation coming up and it is always interesting to read posts about others experiences.

[Fastbeat]

Thats a good list and just how it is.

[spinningjenny]

Out of interest how long did you have to wait for your ablation?

I saw Ben Brown on Friday 13th March and he has put me on the list for my second ablation. Of course, within days everything was locked down and I am still waiting.

[Sfhmgusa in reply to spinningjenny]

I was ablated at the Alexandra hospital where Ben works on a Friday I think I asked for an ablation in Feb but My Qol was getting worse so I really sort of begged and pestered as the private hospital sector became re active so I had a weeks notice. Not sure this will help,

[spinningjenny in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Thanks. I don’t really want to go private. I’m hoping normal service will resume soon. I believe the catheter lab at Wythenshawe was brought into service as intensive care at the height of the crisis . I think if I haven’t heard by January I’ll give the hospital a ring! I don’t feel seriously unwell but I do have problems.

[Sfhmgusa in reply to spinningjenny]

I maybe wrong but I got the impression the wythenshawe hospital wait was not as long as Warwickshire let’s hope it is much sooner . I went private because I could and kid myself a bit that I did not want to enlarge the nhs queue but being honest I selfishly wanted the thing done as fast as possible

[wilsond in reply to spinningjenny]

Waiting list in Warwickshire is 12-28 months in non lockdown times ...!

[spinningjenny in reply to wilsond]

Hey ho!🙂

[Mouchkin]

Thanks for this.

I had my ablation just over a year ago. I experienced just about the same as you..but no cardioversion. I did have a mildish complication in that my phrenic nerve to my diaphragm was caught which meant breathing on one side was difficult for about nine months but is fine now.

Do rest. I rested for several months...mind you I am eighty! I am usually very energetic and I found resting rather frustrating but `I am so glad I did. I can’t tell you how much better I feel. I had been lacking in energy and feeling quite ill for a long time. Now I am like a different person.

So good luck with your recovery.

[Tux18]

Even though I've already had an ablation and a recent pacemaker implant, I think your step by step information was wise and should be helpful for a lot of others. Wish I'd had some information like that before my pacemaker, that's suppose to be "routine", but when it's you it sure doesn't seem routine!

Thanks for sharing.