Ablation done: Had my first and... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Ablation done

stoneyrosed profile image
38 Replies

Had my first and hopefully only cryoablation done yesterday, now sat at home in recovery. Was a very very long day, arrived at 9.30 but did not go in the lab until around 3.30, the procedure took around an hour at a guess but cannot be sure as i was not really with it when i was moved back to the ward. Can anyone explain to me what the thumping process is about during the procedure ? I could hear the EP count down fom10 on a number of occasions but i could not really understand what was going on.

Apparently it went well and i will be having a phone call app in 6 weeks. Anyone got some sound advice also for my recovery thanks?

Ps. The groin wound appears to be healing really well.

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stoneyrosed
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38 Replies
Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13

Pleased to hear all went well,I had mine a week ago. I read the fact sheets which are on here. I listened to advice took the first week resting.

The EP did tell me about the thump but unfortunately cannot remember!

I have my follow up telephone appointment in June.

Wishing you a quick recovery take care

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toMaisiemay13

Thanks June, Not the most pleasant of experiences but would do it again if i felt it would improve my quality of life. Good luck to you on your recovery June. We will have to get to the bottom of the thumping, i am glad i did not dream it 😁

Well done, I think the thumping is when they effectively do a cardioversion to get you back in to NSR. Take it easy......👍

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply to

Ah ok thanks flapjack, do they induce afib to detect the bad pathways ?

in reply tostoneyrosed

👍

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Assuming that you have the fact sheets just follow them and rest. When that is over rest some more.

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toBobD

Thanks Bob, In the last 30 mins whilst watching tv i have noticed a prism of lights from the bottom corner of my right eye, is this a symptom of the ablation Bob do you know?

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tostoneyrosed

Have you read the fact sheet? heartrhythmalliance.org/res.... Migraine aura is commn post ablation yes. All explained.

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toBobD

Yes i read the fact sheet, i did not have a migraine it was a visual disturbance that lasted around 20 mins. I phoned the ward of the hospital for some advice and told her i read on the forum it seems to be quite common. She told me not to read forums as everyone is different and if i feel unwell come down to A&E. I feel ok and the visual disturbance has gone but the nurse now has me feeling a bit anxious, though i have decided to stay home.

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13 in reply tostoneyrosed

I had something similar for two days only lasted a short time

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toMaisiemay13

Yes mine passed after about 20 mins, i thought at first i must have been staring at a light but then it just seemed to keep going and getting larger but it went in a flash. The more i think about what they do in the procedure the more amazed i get, From the trained staff down to the EP all do a remarkable job and i cannot thank them enough.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply tostoneyrosed

It's common after an ablation, I had the aura. It's like migraine without the headache, so just the blurred vision. You may get it again over the next few days.

Glad all went well. Lots of rest now to let your heart heal. Here if you need any support. Having had ablations a lot of us here know just what it's like. I bet the nurse you spoke to hasn't had one.

Jean

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jeanie, I think iget on Bob D ‘s nerves sometimes when i seem to be asking for the same info 😁. You can never try to obtain enough information with this condition in my opinion . The nurse i spoke to seemed to be in a bit of a panic which spooked me somewhat but i put my trust in Bob and decided to rest it off. Woke up this morning and fingers crossed all is ok. Thanks so much for replying to me Jeannie x

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply tojeanjeannie50

Do you know if this aura is just after cryo ablation Jean?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toJalia

Mine was after a RF one.

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply tojeanjeannie50

Yes I thought you had RF ones. I assumed the migraines came from the freezing effect....obviously wrong ! After speaking to EP I've now decided to stop dithering and go fir 4th ablation . Its now 8 years since my last one so relearning !!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toJalia

Quite a few people on this forum have had a 4th ablation and it's been successful. Not sure if both Hidden and BobD have, also jedimasterlincoln and certainly pottypete . I don't know if the migraines only come on after the septum is pierced to get from one side of the heart to the other. Think I may have seen Bob say that.

in reply tojeanjeannie50

Just two for me and no migraines......fortunately!

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toJalia

All ablations for some people. As explain in the fact sheet it is caused by the transeptal puncture. One may assume that flutter ablations, being in the right atrium may not cause the aura.

Jalia profile image
Jalia in reply toBobD

Thanks Bob...I remember now! I must look at fact sheets and bring myself up to date.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply tostoneyrosed

Ahhh......but the nurse doesn’t know OUR forum!

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tostoneyrosed

That is what we explain. It is known as migraine aura.

bassets profile image
bassets

Thanks all. I'm booked for a cryo ablation sometime in the next months and just started to panic a bit about it, although I realise lots of us have had one >

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply tobassets

My aura episodes didn't last long, can't remember much about them really, but don't think they lasted longer that 15 minutes at the most, did have a few episodes though. They really are nothing to worry about and I'm not just saying that so that you don't worry.

Jean

bassets profile image
bassets in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean :)

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply tobassets

Hi Bassets, I think one of the worst things about the ablation is the worry before it. The actual ablation is very methodical you will be put on a trolley type bed and the trained staff will make you feel at ease, and they just get on with it, before you really know anything its done. Your taken back to your ward put to bed, you will sleep for an hour or two. Personally I woke up a little nauseous but the nurse popped me a little anti sickness pill and an hour later i was sat up chatting. People’s experience may be slightly different but for me that was it in a nutshell. I changed my mindset into feeling “excited” about the procedure instead of worry, it really helped me a lot. Good luck

KMRobbo profile image
KMRobbo in reply tostoneyrosed

"EXCITED" that is a great description.

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toKMRobbo

I meant it in the sense of what it could mean to your quality of life afterwards of course 😁

KMRobbo profile image
KMRobbo in reply tostoneyrosed

How I interpreted it: excited to move forward to improve things for you but via a quite unknown ( to you) process.

RajaRua profile image
RajaRua in reply tostoneyrosed

That's very reassuring thanks Stoney!

bassets profile image
bassets

Thank you for your reassurance. I suppose it's natural to worry but that doesn't stop it does it? I'll try your method !

Tantaanna profile image
Tantaanna

I have had four ablations - no migraines or aura after procedure. But I have had the aura before just not after an ablation.7 months since my last ablation- having high hopes for more months being AF free

All my best for you

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toTantaanna

Thank you and the same to you

RajaRua profile image
RajaRua

Would you mind if I ask if it hurt? Either in the heart itself or in your groin?

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toRajaRua

The ultimate question isnt it? Well everyone has a different threshold of pain RajaRua, i would be lying if i said it was a breeze. It is more uncomfortable than any real pain to be fair, it doesnt last that long and of course you will be sedated. The fear of the fear is the worst part, you will be just fine 👍

RajaRua profile image
RajaRua in reply tostoneyrosed

And it might never happen!! Thank you Stoney. I've heard of people being on the table for 5 hours so an hour for you wasn't too bad. I have a low pain threshold and i get pretty panicy so I truely am hoping to never have to have an ablation. But there are whisterings about it in the past year. .... Well done you and I hope the results are the best they can be for you.

Lynnvh profile image
Lynnvh

Visual "lights" in peripheral vision seem to be a fairly common post op experience. I was freaked out by mine until i read the forum. Mine were off and on for a week or two. Nothing ling term (now 3 months post ablation and feeling great)

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed in reply toLynnvh

Great to hear your feeling good. Yeah it is a strange experience if you havent had the aura before, i wasn’t particularly concerned at first as i felt ok, it was only when i spoke to a nurse on the phone that caused me a bit of anxiety, she wanted me to dash down to a& e. I had only been out of hospital a few hrs after the ablation so I certainly didnt feel up to sitting in a&e for a few hrs. Anyway not had one since and yeah it seems to be a common event after cryoablation. 🤞

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