Ablation update part 2

[Sfhmgusa]

So I have now woken up and moved through the woozy stage to a bit more normal

Got a text book ocular migraine ( zigzag line across vision) but feel relieved and whilst a little knocked around I am ok.

The catheter entry site was a little stubborn and so allows me to know with certainty that my blood is red and my heart is pumping it! To my own surprise blood never makes we squeamish but a note to those who are not keen often there is a bit of bleed action which is a bit colourful but nothing to worry about. Sort of reassured me the anticoagulants are Working

Cardiologist told me that he was happy so now I am planning a very very gentle time on myself and will give another update to those patient enough to read them in the next day or so

One final point if anyone is going in soon / considering an ablation and has any questions I will try to answer here or in a PM if you prefer

Steve

[meadfoot]

Well done, pleased you feel ok so soon after the procedure. Keep safe.

[jeanjeannie50]

Good to hear all is well Steve.

[wilsond]

Good to see your post and that all went well.

Keep up the good work and look after yourself xx

[Hidden]

Well done- was it a cryo?

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Hidden]

No pretty sure it was RF I understand this was because it was a “touch up” so smaller areas to be ablated the hospital had just got some more precise mapping kit so they were able to see more clearly where the gaps in my july ablation were

[CDreamer]

R&R now, speedy recovery.

[Georgia21]

My ablation is booked in for next Friday and I'm absolutely terrified. Any pointers ?

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Georgia21]

Yes I have firstly an anecdote,

I had my second ablation yesterday, at 2.30pm they were done. I am now sat in my kitchen having had a moderately ok night in my own bed, I have a regular heart rate and have just had breakfast, and I am obviously not certain but I can look forward with optimism to a steadily improving quality of life as the days and weeks go by. This is so different from a month ago when I was feeling weak breathless and wretched .

Should you be terrified ... well no... but I was !

We all focus on the very unusual very bad outcomes but the main thing is that ablations nearly always improve things and that is important to have front of mind

simple things like I took 1 tablet this morning as opposed to 5 a few days ago.

Try to plan for all the nice things immediately after the procedure

Plan for a week after of self indulgence and rest... get books /mags you want to read prepare a comfy char and some treats and look forward to that

Plan for a gradual emergence into normality after that gentle exercise and more treats/ things you like to do, a favourite park? , a scenic drive?

Above all for me the actual process is much much less awful than your/ my fear of it ! the staff will know you are anxious, they really do know what they are doing and the sedation/ anaesthetic that they use will really work perfectly

I know this is easy for me to say now but as a card carrying medical coward I promise you it will be fine

Good luck and have a wonderful restful week next week

Steve

[Georgia21 in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Thank you, I've opted to be awake. Have I made a mistake in this? As you are im petrified of general anesthesia

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Georgia21]

No absolutely not, I am glad I had my first ablation under sedation because

a) it is better for the EP as your heart is less snoozy,

b) it is much better if you are anxious because it is not so black and white and you don't get the sore throat of a GA

c) I don't want to be melodramatic but a GA always feels so terribly final for me, I was shaking like a leaf yesterday much to the (kind) amusement of the EP and the Anaesthetist

Sedation is a great choice and you will (I am sure) join the group who, say that the fear of the ablation is much much worse than the ablation

good luck

Steve

[Georgia21 in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Thank you, can I just ask did you have to swallow the camera?

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Georgia21]

No the catheters went in at the top of my leg there has never been any cameras down my throat in any of this

[Kn177yn0ra]

Did you have a GA?

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Kn177yn0ra]

Yes this one was under GA (I am terrified of GA!) but they suggested it because I had been under sedation for ablation #1 and really (Really!) did not like the cardio inversion at the end.

As it happened , yesterday they did not need to shock me into NSR at the end.

but despite my fears GA was actually better I think. If i were to be given choice in future I would go GA, but my EP tells me that often they prefer sedation as it makes the fibrillation a it less sleepy too and thus easier to spot and stop

[Kn177yn0ra in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Thanks for your reply; I’m having a GA next time thank goodness. Local anaesthetic didn’t work for me.

[queseyo]

Oh, thank you Sfhmgusa, I may take the "offer" offered by you because my Cardiologist is considering Ablation next "try" help...good luck for you and wait to hear more positive info re: ablation

[Sfhmgusa in reply to queseyo]

Feel free to ask anything I will do my best to answer