Ablation for AF

[Dottilind]

How many people on this site have had catheter ablation and is it worth the pain etc, I am due to have mine done on the 14th April and I am quite nervous. I have a pace maker in but they still want me ro have this done. I could not have it done before as heartrate was 40 now with pacemaker it wont go any lower than 60 so I am now suitable.

[BobD Volunteer]

I have had three for AF up to 2008 when my AF was stopped plus one for atrial tachycardia and would have another if needed anytime. I always say root canal treatment is far worse. Just read our fact sheets before and after.

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[Madscientist16]

I did not have any pain really. My thighs were sore for a few days from the catheters. I had some chest pressure when taking a deep breath for about a week or so. I had a lot of ectopics for weeks (PACs, PVCs, runs of palpitations and tachycardia).

[Lizty]

Mine was very straightforward... no real pain, just a week or so with a bit of chest discomfort and slightly sore throat. I went from afib and aflutter every three days to minimal problems. Still managing after 4 years. Would have another tomorrow if it became necessary again.

[Frances123]

I had a cryoablation 18 months ago and RF ablation 4.5 months ago. Never had root canal and never ever will as couldn’t tolerate it. Ablation? Would always have another one if ever needed it. Any discomfort was soon sorted with rest and paracetamol. Was given codeine to come home with last time but never needed to take one. Good luck with your one and let us know how you get on. X

[pottypete1]

I am a bit of an unusual case but for complex reasons I have had 7 ablations.

Since my last ablation 3 ½ years ago I have been very stable and episodes of AF occur very rarely.

Ablation isn’t a cure for AF as such but there is no doubt having one improved QOL significantly for the majority.

After the procedure I recommend that you rest for at least 2 weeks and only gradually return to normal living gradually.

If I had to have another ablation I would not hesitate.

Pete

[CDreamer]

I don’t remember any pain but recovery took much longer than I expected, especially after the second. The procedure itself I remember little of as I drifted in and out of sleep. I remember being sore for a few days and some pain in the middle of my back but nothing much more than you would get after gardening too hard.

My overall memory is of being quite scared enough in the days leading up to the procedure to want to cancel as I had talked myself out of needing it. Probably would have to as I presented with flu like symptoms on the morning of the procedure and if hadn’t been for my husband telling me to get into the car and get tested at the hospital I’d have stayed in bed. I was tested and all symptoms were psychosomatic.

I do think that you need to feel positive about this and not just go ahead because someone still wants you to get this done.

Put aside the fear of the procedure itself - do you think it will be a good idea? What would happen do you think if you continued as you are?

Best wishes

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello Dottilind, Please do not hesitate to visit our website for information regarding the ablation procedure : heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... visit our patient resources booklets and please join our 'Virtual Patients Educational Platform' for a variety of presentations by world leading HCP's re conditions and treatment options Patients Day - Arrhythmia Alliance Group (heartrhythmalliance.org)

[PapaDon]

I have had 4 ablations done and can't really say that I had any pain after, just take the medical advice regarding rest etc, good luck and I'm sure the op will go well.

[Sfhmgusa]

I have had two and it was not a painful experience, much less than say dentistry The recovery notes on ablations in this forum are absolutely essential reading bur worries about the procedure (Even for a wimp like me) are unfounded

good luck

Steve

[Adiepie]

I’ve had two for AF, one cryo one radio. Some discomfort but would have another if needed. Fascinating to watch by the way......

[KMRobbo]

I have had a PVI Cryo ablation, the pain on freezing manifests as brain freeze like when you bite into a very cold ice cream on a hot day. It is in your head. Four occasions for each of the pulmonary veins. No pain in my chest during. I did have an issue after the last vein where I did get a pain which feels like some thing large you have swallowed gets stuck on the way down. It was painful but i had a glass of water when I got out of the lab and 90% of the pain went. An hour later I was happily eating chicken and stuffing sandwiches in the recovery ward!I have also had a right atria RF ablation for reentrant atrial flutter. The pain for this again was not in the chest but was felt in the right shoulder area. It was a bit worse than the ice cream but not much. In both cases i had light sedation through the arm which could have been increased had I requested it. I did not need to. There is also a wound in the groin where the catheter is inserted. This was done with a local anaesthetic and I felt nothing at all. I had no problems in the groin after either despite having two ablations in a month through the same area.

I have had worse pain in the dentist than either. I would definitely have another ablation tomorrow afternoon if afib returned tomorrow morning. I have been afib free for over three years since the ablation and have not taken any drugs for nearly as long. I was 57.5 years old when I had the ablations , I was quite fit and had no other co morbitities.

Best wishes.

[MissTia123]

There is no pain just some recovery time after. You are asleep.

[Snowgirl65]

I had my first in 2019 and didn't experience actual pain, but what I'd call discomfort. I had backache after I came home (but not anything worse than a day in the garden) and it also felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest, but I wouldn't call that pain. That lasted a couple of week, gradually lessening each day. However, if I lifted anything over 10 lbs. as my instructions said not to, the chest discomfort would return. I'm having my second ablation on April 7th and will heed my own warning about lifting for at least a month after! I hope this helps, and wish you good luck.

[Bigwavedave]

I was set to have a catheter ablation for persistent atrial flutter that was rapidly getting much worse since initial diagnosis few months before. On my "routine" echocardiogram as a preparatory step for the ablation it was discovered that I actually had a quite significant aortic aneurysm which needed urgent open heart surgery to fix. The electrophysiologist I had been seeing for the ablation and my cardiac surgeon then worked closely together to plan a series of ablation sites and some other clever techniques to address the arrhythmia which were done together with my valve and aorta job while my chest was open. 8 weeks later (today), I'm feeling pretty confident that this part of the surgery has been a success and I'm already able to much more than I could when suffering with debilitating atrial flutter.

I was also feeling anxious about the prospect of a catheter ablation even though it was somewhat overtaken by events into something more invasive (which happened so fast I didn't really get time to worry over). But, it has made such a difference I'd almost go so far to say that if the only way these problems could be fixed was open heart surgery, it would be worth having. I hope that when you look back you feel the same way about your catheter ablation. I'm sure you're in good hands, don't worry....

[Oldiemoldy]

Yes - I had one 4/2019 and I had a difficult recovery. But I’d do it again. AFib attacks lessened dramatically.

[Cat04]

Very painful when I came round from general anaesthetic after 5 hour procedure, so painful I have to be given i/v fentanyl. I had pericarditis and oesophagus caused by the RF burning. 5 days in hosp on 2 hourly morphine home for 2 days then readmitted for further 6 days. Pain reduced over about one year but my oesophagus has never really recovered since and restricts the amount & type of foods that I can eat. On a positive note, no AF since the ablation.

[Ecki]

I was terrified before my ablation but the hospital staff were understanding and so reassuring. I was sedated for the procedure, but don't remember much, I felt some of the burning and when I said it hurt they put more morphine in, I also remember at one point they all shouted don't move, so I guess I was about to! I was told I've had some chest pain after and some AF during the blanking period and I did, but it wasn't severe, more like an ache. I also had about 2 weeks of the visual disturbances and was very tired for a long time, which slowly improved. Didn't have any groin pain or bruising. This was 15 months ago and I'm so much better than I was before the procedure, I'm so glad I had it done and I would absolutely definitely have another if needed.

[Swedish]

Go for it. It can only get better . I did not feel any pain on surgery i was in Sleep 2 ablations 2018+2019

[Dottilind in reply to Swedish]

Thank you for your feedback.