Catheter Ablation

[stoneyrosed]

So my amazing AF journey continues, today was released from hospital and was told i can have a catheter ablation although the waiting list is a few mths. Start anticoagulants tomorrow. Apparently my meds have basically lasted their course so ablation it is. I suppose excitement and terror are my emotions at this moment in time. Can anyone give me some good positive feedback on having this procedure so i can maybe slightly relax about having this done. Thank you 😊

[BobD Volunteer]

Best read our two fact sheets on preparing for and recovering from ablation plus go to AF Association website and read booklet on ablation. I've had four and would rather have another than root canal dentistry.

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res....

[stoneyrosed in reply to BobD]

Downloaded the sheets Bob thanks so much. Yes i have had root canal and recently had a sigmoindoscopy which was very unpleasant so hopefully those experiences will put me in good stead 😁. Thanks so much for taking the time out to help a fellow afibber much appreciated 👍

[Hidden]

I was absolutely terrified and nearly walked out of the cath lab when they were plugging me in.

I had it done under GA, operation was 4.5 hours for fib and flutter.

No pain (worst part was having the urinary catheter removed 😲) recovery took about 3 months to get pre ablation fitness levels back.

Three and a half years later I am still in NSR and so glad that I have got my live back, it was well worth it and I would have it done again if I ever need it

[val757]

Hi stoneyrosed

I don’t check into this site very much these days for reasons that will be clear.

I was where you are now four years ago, waiting for ablation, nervous and wondering if I was doing the right thing. I had few but very symptomatic episodes of very fast AF resulting in two visits to A&E via ambulance after collapsing. I didn’t tolerate medication very well so I was referred to Professor Gill at Guys and St Thomas’s in. London.

I had cryoablation under general anaesthetic in January 2017. The procedure was OK but the worst bit for me was the effect of the anaesthetic which I also don’t tolerate well. After an overnight stay I went home the following morning.

I took my time recuperating- please don’t try to do too much too soon - read the booklets BobD has recommended (he helped write them!) - and rest. I’ve heard it said that although you don’t have a big zip down your chest, your heart has nevertheless gone through trauma and needs time and care to recover.

Almost four years since my ablation and I’ve been off the dreaded beta blockers for over three years now although I still take anticoagulant (for life). I’ve overhauled my diet, cut out alcohol and caffeine and take regular exercise. I have had what I think were two very short and minor episodes of AF in that time, too short to be able to monitor or confirm them but nothing for more than a year.

I am so very grateful to Professor Gill and his team for giving me my life back. I would certainly do it again in a heartbeat (pun intended!) if needed.

I know it doesn’t work so well for everyone but there are more of us out there for whom ablation has been a godsend than you think. I’m too well and too busy getting on with life to check into the forum regularly these days but will forever be grateful for the advice and support I’ve received.

Sending you my very best wishes for a smooth recovery.

Val

[stoneyrosed in reply to val757]

Thanks Val, yes you have been through a lot i feel for you but so glad your feeling so much better, i hope i will get a good outcome from the ablation and will take yours and everyones advice on taking it easy afterwards. Much love to you x

[Jalia in reply to val757]

Great to hear your story Val ! I'm sure it will be welcomed by those ' pondering '.

Good luck to you !

[stoneyrosed in reply to val757]

I keep reading your post Val, the intensity and the thought you put into it gives me hope and confidence, its emotional and as i live alone i have no one to talk to apart from the cardiologist who most of the time understandably is too busy to take my calls. Thanks so much, god bless you. X

[Dodie117]

Hi. Mine too was in St Thomas’ in 2013. Took about 5 months for all arrhythmias to stop and almost a year before resting heartbeat returned to pre ablation levels. However, no issues, no pain and took everything slowly. I’m still in NSR. No meds except apixaban. So listen to advice on here and good luck.

PS. I too was terrified and almost did a runner from the waiting room. Just keep telling yourself you can always cancel it (don’t!) and you will get there. Good luck 🍀

[barbara2]

In 2016 my life was totally turned upside down by afib. Every day was a day where I no longer could live as I had before. New meds added to more life changes, all of which were unpleasant. Over eight months time, the a fib continued to accelerate miserably to the point where I looked forward to having and ablation. Of course I was frightened of the ablation itself, but In the end, it was life-changing and brought me back to normalcy again. It has been a blessing many times over.

[stoneyrosed in reply to barbara2]

Oh Barbara thats great news and just what i like to read, i am at exactly the point you had got to, my life is very difficult as i have had to give up seeing friends because i keep putting off invitations out due to the symptoms. Large parts of what i love doing like cycling going to the gym and nights out with friends have all stopped. I hope i get a similar outcome as you. Thanks so much for your positive post, good luck x

[barbara2 in reply to stoneyrosed]

All the best to you. Will put you in my prayers for healing and resolutions to a-fib. God bless.

[Yourflowergirl]

I just had a catheter ablation July 14th. I’m 51 years old and just started having the afib in May. My life changed in May and I was going into afib multiple times a day as noted by the heart monitor I wore for three weeks. I couldn’t leave the house as I was in panic mode and terrified of blacking out. My anxiety was through the roof and the medication wasn’t helping. As my doctor stated “I’d unleashed the beast”. The procedure wasn’t that bad. I was scared prior to it because the thought of someone going near my heart is terrifying. It was an out patient procedure and I was under anesthesia and totally out so I didn’t feel a thing. It was hard though waking up in recovery and having to lay still for about four hours. It’s really hard on the lower back and very uncomfortable. The next couple days my chest felt heavy and a bit of discomfort as to be expected but not painful. I rested for a week and took it very easy as i was told to do and by the second week I started feeling better, still tired but normal again. My inner thighs were tender for a few weeks from where they went in with the catheter but that is normal and to be expected. I’m feeling even better six weeks down the line and even stated exercising again. I’m hopeful that I’m in the 70% of the population that doesn’t have to do a second ablation. I do not think I’ve gone into afib since my procedure and I’m so grateful. I would definitely recommend doing it.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Yourflowergirl]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience, it gives me hope. Spoke to my cardio yesterday and he says my ablation could take up to six months which is a bit disappointing.

The meds i am taking dont seem to work very well either, so it is a case of holding on and coping as well as i can with all the palpitations etc. Thank you so much for your comments it really is appreciated , and hope your recovery continues to go well x

[mobradley]

Had an ablation a year ago after about 10 years of AF and having gone through all the meds. Had it done at Papworth under sedation and it took an hour. In hospital for the day only. No problem, a really easy procedure although rather spooky in the cath lab with all the computers. Only bit of discomfort in the procedure is when they pump your heart periodically during the procedure but it doesnt hurt its just a peculiar feeling. It is a very routine procedure today and lots of people in Papwoth that day having it. After the op I asked for a paracetemol as had a little pain but that soon disappeared and I was allowed home. I did have indigestion for a couple of weeks after but was told that was normal. Took about 10 days to feel fine again and had my energy back to full in about a month. Best thing I have ever done. Able to come off all the meds except anticoagulants which I think I will stay on for life although my consultant said I could drop if they bothered me but he advised to stay on. Never felt better. Back to jogging and have loads of energy again. I am 71 and have no other health problems and I am not overweight. My consultant has signed me off with three pieces of advice....to keep the weight down.......to exercise regularly and........dont over indulge in alcohol. Good luck and dont worry about it, as Bob says, better than a visit to the dentist.

[jan-ran in reply to mobradley]

Hi, thank you for that positive post Mobradley. I have had paroxysmal af for 20 years, with varying degrees of severity over the years. I’m in a good phase at the moment, getting af once a month only. My cardiologist has decided that it’s time I had an ablation, however. ( I’m 78, so I guess he’d rather get it done now!) so I’m on the waiting list. And feeling quite nervous. I will keep referring to your post for comfort.

While I’m here I would like to ask you, and others, if you ever noticed any weight loss after an episode of af. I usually get af at night, lasting between 2 and 8 hours. If I check my weight after a night of long lasting af, I find I have lost 3 or 4 pounds in weight! I know I have to go to the loo more often in af, but 3-4 pounds seems excessive!

Has anyone else noticed this (welcome) side effect?

[mobradley in reply to jan-ran]

I cannot say I noticed weight loss but I dont weigh myself so perhaps I did. I usually check weight by assessing if my trousers are tight! sounds like a great side affect. Hope the ablation goes well.

[David1958]

I was 52 when I had my ablation done. I had been on Flecanide and Metoprolol for a couple of years and did not like the side effects one bit. The thought of increasing the dosages of those drugs terrified me. My older brother had an ablation done 2 years prior to mine and was doing fine with no meds. I decided to take the plunge and had my ablation done in February 2011. I actually stayed in a hotel room next to the hospital another night just in case I needed to be readmitted. It was not necessary and we went home the next day. I was totally out of it under anesthesia and the operation lasted 4 hours. I remember that the operating room had a suite of 9 video screens on the left side of the table and 4 to the right for the anesthesiologist. I took it easy at home and did not lift anything for at least a month or two. I am 9 and a half years out from that operation cycling 15 miles every other night and walking with my wife for almost 3 miles every night. My brother had to have another ablation 10 years to the day of his first one. He is doing well since his second ablation. I am hoping that won't be necessary for me. I know what my triggers are and stay away from them as much as possible. Lifestyle and dietary changes are a good idea if you want this ablation to work for you. I hope your ablation goes well.

[stoneyrosed]

Thanks David, glad all is well it must be terrific to be able to do all those fitness regimes once again, i long for the day i can get back out on my bike. I will take on board the diet change and thanks for your contribution it means a lot 👍

[jan-ran]

Thank you happy jo and MoBradley for your replies. This weight loss is a mystery, but it doesn’t last! Back on in a couple of days. I hadn’t thought of the heart racing being the cause, but it makes sense, maybe boosting the metabolism. Good thought!

[thumpthump]

Hi, I had my catheter cryoablation end of Jan this year. I was fine right up until being wheeled into the cath lab, top tip if you feel shaky - take whatever pre med the anaesthetist is offering, I believe it was Midazolam. Helps

The reality, nothing to worry about - these days it’s a fairy routine and safe operation with several being done daily. I was one of many having the operation that day, my EP was pretty much doing them back to back with a short break and cup of tea in between!

For me, I massively underestimated the recovery and how long it would take to get back to normal fitness. Before you worry, it’s not a terrible recovery but you need to factor it in - it takes time!

I’m almost 8 months post op and the last few runs of bumpy beats / flutters are subsiding. I was 38 at the time of my op, gym fit, 50bpm resting HR, perfect BP, didn’t drink or smoke, none of this counted for much during recovery, I was wiped out for the first few weeks. I now know this is normal but didn’t feel like it at the time.

You will have up and down days, feel tired for no good reason, feel very low at times (don’t mind admitting I was close to tears) - just go with it, rest when you need to and don’t try and do too much. Listen to your body.

You are likely to get small runs of AF, ectopics etc - I kept a colour coded diary in excel to track how I was feeling - red for AF, orange for strong ectopics/ flutter, light blue for mild ectopics/ flutter and green for no heart symptoms - this was useful to show my consultant in follow up appointments. As of September I’ve had the longest run of green days since the operation, so I guess I’m coming out the other side of it...hopefully.

The fact sheets Bob mentions in his post are essential to read (read and read them again during your recovery).

You may get aura / migraine symptoms the first few weeks, I had these - they feel weird but do stop.

Your resting heart rate maybe high - mine shot to 80bpm+ for a long time. Now into low 60s and levelling our.

Would I do it again - absolutely, it’s not that bad and well worth it to get your life back.

Good luck and keep us all posted!

[stoneyrosed]

Thank you for that. Yes the alternative of taking meds for the rest of my life that dont even work is not on my agenda i know i have to have this ablation, just more worried about covid Holding up my procedure. Take all your advice on board and keep you posted 👍