I was only diagnosed with AF towards the end of last year and am due to have an ablation next month. Extremely nervous about this.......Any tips?
Waiting for ablation: I was only... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Waiting for ablation
Written by
SuziElley
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
46 Replies
•
Hello Suzi, welcome to the forum.
For starters, two factsheets which will help you prepare for and recover from an ablation.
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
If you have any questions, just ask......all the best
SuziElley• in reply to
Thank you 👍
SuziElley• in reply to
Links not working?
They work for me, on my pc. All links on the forum (on my Linux system, at least) redirect to a page checking that you intended to follow the link, and then when you click on the link there, it downloads the pdf file in the background. How that works on a mobile/tablet I haven't a clue.
Your age, domestic situation and work schedule if any, will help us to tailor advice, if you feel inclined to share these.
SuziElley• in reply to
Retired, time is my own really but recently had a revisionary knee replacement. Slow recovery from this as I developed a blood clot on the lung followed by a bleed into the new knee
• in reply toSuziElley
What rotten luck. On the plus side you sound well placed to get the rest that is so important post ablation. Relaxation techniques, keeping well hydrated and perhaps magnesium supplements (subject to your GP’s approval) all recommended. And a good book or ten...
SuziElley• in reply to
lol.... my Kindle wore out - I've just had to buy a new one!
Oh my! I had problems with my total knee replacement and had to have Manipulation Under Anaesthetic about 3 months later because I couldn't get the mobility back as I should. Since then I haven't looked back. If you are still on pain killers take the full dose as it will help you stay ahead of the pain and take 20 mins before you do the exercises so that hopefully you can gain more movement from them without the pain. All the best with getting your mobility back and keep moving that knee. Hope your ablation goes well and you recover well and as quickly as possible.
Thanks. Yes, exercising every day and following that with a walk. Most of the time unaided but occasionally I need a stick. Think that's more because I've got bursitis!
Well done.
Please try again.....this has never happened before 😳
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
Cally53• in reply to
I've just tried those links Flapjack, they're definitely not working atm.
• in reply toCally53
That’s weird, I’ve just tried and they both worked fine 🧐. The only other option is to go into the AF Association webpage and find them in the factsheet section of Patient Information.......
Cally53• in reply to
For some reason they're still not working on my laptop, just tried on my mobile too and they don't work from there either. Very strange, as I've never had a problem before! I don't need them by the way, I downloaded them a year ago before I had my ablation. I only tried them because Suzi said they weren't working!
SuziElley• in reply to
One of them worked this time and I've got the leaflet about recovery from ablation
• in reply toSuziElley
I’ve added more links Suzi so I’m sorry but there is nothing more I can do. Take a look at my response to Cally because that explains another possible way of accessing them. Of the two, recovery is the more important one so you should be OK. As I said, we have never had a problem before and they have been available for around a couple of years so may be there is an issue with your pc/tablet.....good luck with the procedure
Any luck with those factsheets?
I'm retired, too. 67. I've had nearly a dozen cardioversions ... and recently had my 4th ablation. First one was for atrial flutter .... and the 3 others for AFIB.
3 ablations were around 10 years ago. They were a fairly minor procedure.
The flutter was under pill sedation. It was strange listening to the people shout commands at me to 'DON'T MOVE' while I was in a dream state with a catheter inside my heart. I resumed work almost immediately ... but was extremely tired. Mistake!
My next two AFIB ablations were done in 2011 under general anesthesia. First one, I awoke with nausea and headache. 2nd one, I told anesthetist about it ... and she adjusted for it, so I had no issues.
I always felt tired after ablations (although recent one, not as tired as past ones). Always had spiking fever that drenched sheets 2nd night sleeping in my room after procedure (that's normal for some people).
My 2011 ablations I had to lay still on my back for 8+ hours after the procedure (because the groin punctures need to heal). Never any pain though. Then, they get you up walking.
However, during my recent one the EP used collagen plugs in the puncture wounds, so I was up and walking within a couple hours of the procedure. (Not all EP's use the collagen. Ask yours if he does).
The past ablations weren't that big of a deal ..... and, with technological advancement, the recent one was an even better overall experience for me, the patient.
Additionally, don't drink coffee (or any stimulant drink or food) afterwards. Take an MP3 player or similar for entertainment. Ask for a private recovery room (if they'll allow).
I've had dental visits that were more traumatic than the ablations I've had. Your mind can overthink it ... and give the procedure all kinds of traits that are unwarranted.
So, count on tiredness ..... maybe an overnight fever spike .... for 3 or 4 months some short erratic beats .... perhaps short bursts of AFIB ... but otherwise feeling somewhat normal.
The cauterized heart tissue needs to heal. So r e l a x ........ don't worry and let mother nature take its course. Good Luck! and hope you get great results, like I've gotten.
Thank you 👍
Take it easy in the recovery phase , expect a few bumps along the way and try not to stress
Exactly what do you feel?. I was diagnosed w/AF in November. My Apple Watch sent a message to my IPhone on the Health app. But also my heart was stopping more than 5 seconds. I was feeling fine & didn’t know I had a heart issue. I had an emergency Pacemaker surgery on Election Day. Then I had the Ablation on January 6th. I feel fine & not sure what AF feels like😥
I don't have a racing pulse, but that's controlled a bit by the diltiazem. But it is constantly irregular and loads of missed beats. Feel very tired all the time and the darned heart never stops fluttering!
suz Trust me the wait is the hardest bit. Think most of us were anxious as it’s that big word The Heart...some body’s going to fiddle with my heart....but actually my worry in my point of view now I’ve had it done was I over worried. Once you walk thru the door of the hospital and the staff take over you will feel much calmer.Read the fact sheet flapjack said about.
I would like to say also the bit about two weeks do nothing is the best bit of advice.....give your heart time to recover. Listen to your body it knows best. Plus any worries, the forum is great to help answaer if they can,
Chin up!
Sue
I was put on the waiting list in November 2019, and have had cancellations twice due to Covid19 issues. However, my PAF is very random and goes long periods of no symptoms, so I'm not too bothered about deferring it, and they know that. Now I've had the vaccine (first shot so far), I _will_ have the ablation when I get another appointment, unless some other factor gets in the way
Best of luck with your ablation
I just had an ablation on March 11th. I’m on day 3 of recovery and definitely feel better than I did even yesterday. It sorta feels like you got kicked in the groin by a horse. I’m having no problems with my heart but I am back on the flecainide 2 times a day which has been a wonderful drug for me. I’ve had 3 other heart surgeries for pacemaker/icd implants and by far this recovery is the worst. Biggest advice I can give is to relax as much as you can after the procedure and do exactly what your doctor tells you. Oh and buy lots of sweatpants because real pants won’t be in the picture for awhile. Seriously. Good luck and if you want to reach out feel free!!
In many ways this is the worst time (it does get worst the day before and there day of your ablation). The ablation itself is not pleasant but it is very manageable - think root treatment at a dentist! You can read a honest and blunt record of my ablation 2 year ago by clicking on my icon and reading my posts. As far as I am concerned getting the ablation was better than winning a jackpot on the lottery but you have to go through a minor traumas both before during and after (or at least thats how I look at it - a bit of an overreaction I know). Time will pass and you will be over the moon at getting it done.
Thank you so much for your honesty. I'm not expecting it to be pleasant but it will be good to not get so tired and breathless all the time! Get some sort of life back 👍
Thank you! I'm in nothing but sweat pants at the moment having recently had a revisionary knee replacement. Followed that with a blood clot in the lung then a bleed into the new knee. Just thought I'd go for the full house! 😂
I understand completely. I was extremely nervous! Afterwards I was kicking myself. Sure, it's not like trimming your fingernails but the technology has come a long way even since 2014 when I had mine. Now it's no longer necessary to stay overnight. Do you know if you're having an RF or Cryo ablation?
Try very hard to look forward to it I’ve had three plus pacemaker in the last 4 years, & for the last year no AF at all which has been wonderful done it all on my own no family.Which was the hardest bit
I had a double ablation in October and it’s the best thing I ever did! No AF now, feel much more confident about life generally and getting fit again. The op was by local anaesthetic but I don’t recall anything at all of it even though it was 3 hours long! No side effects after the op. I’m female, 57 yrs old with no other issues.
Hi Tilly. Thank you for this. I'm looking forward to the results and telling myself the actual procedure will be fine. I'm going to Bristol next month 👍
The one thing I will say is, you will be fine. The guys on here were brilliant for me as I got myself into a right tizzy. Happy to tell you anything you want to know about my story - but I won’t bore you half to death unless you ask. 😘 Take it easy.
I was the same. The thought of the operating theatre, I convinced myself they would need to chop my legs off or something? I re wrote my Will - checked my pension beneficiary the works. But a couple of hours after the procedure I was laughing with the cardiac nurse. I was sore but perfectly fine. I had my water bottle, lip balm etc all recommended by the guys on here. People deal with these things in different ways. Which ever way you are - just know you will end up on the comfy sofa with the rest of us. 😋
Had RF catheter ablation done one month ago and not in UK. As far as I understand the procedure is pretty much the same everywhere (atleast in Europe).
Was fully awake, procedure took about an hour. Catheters were inserted from right side of my groin. I did not feel the insertion or movement of catheters in my body. There are no nerves in your veins or arteries. I also didnt feel anything when they went from one atria to another. First time I felt anything was when they started stimulating different parts of the heart muscle. That feels like bad arrythmia episode but no need to worry or be afraid because they can keep your heart going even if anything should happen which is very very unlikely. They search for the parts that trigger your arrythmia and this can take a while.
I felt pain couple of times when they started the ablation procedure on triggering spots. But it was managable and you should not worry about that. If you feel like it, you can always tell if there is too much pain, they are allowed to give you small dosages of medications through IV. I felt really exhausted right after the procedure, like I had exercised alot. Weight was put on the insertion spot (its a small bag that fits in your palm) and was told not to move for hours. I slept most of the evening and started to have palpitations/ectopic heart beats the same evening already so don't worry about that, your heart is irritated which is normal. I now have had several arrythmia episodes since but thankfully they are becoming less frequent, atleast it seems like it. This forum helped me to realise I might have to wait for 3-6 months to fully heal.
I was really nervous about the procedure, counting days, then hours and finally minutes. But it turns out its not as bad as you think.
Hope that helps. Good luck!
Thank you. Everyone is being really kind and putting me completely in the picture so I know what to expect. I think the worst part is having a canula inserted for IV. I have a condition called Dercum's Disease and have multiple lipomas. The last time I was hospitalised they ended up sending for a specialist team who use a mini scanner to follow possible veins. I was told the screen looked like something from outer space! Think I need to warn Bristol what to expect in my arms 🤔
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Waiting for ablation
Hi
Just wondering of those who have had ablation for paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation..... was the...
Waiting for ablation
I started in Afib June 2022 after covid, was diagnosed in August and put on Edoxaban and bisoprolol...
Waiting time for ablation
I have been referred to Harefield hospital to see doctor / consultant Innez ? by my cardio/ EP ? Dr...
Waiting for cryo ablation
Would just like to know of anyone's experience of having ablation done at Bristol BRI ?
Waiting for ablation date
Had cardioversion 10 weeks ago still in N R I got a call from hospital 3 weeks ago .The nurse had...
Ablation waiting list
Ablation waiting lists
Ablation waiting time 
Ablation waiting times
NHS waiting time for an ablation 
