Good morning guys and gals. I had my first (and hopefully my last 😁) ablation yesterday and wanted to thank all of you who helped with my questions on the run up and also to whomever compiled the fact sheets as the water bottle tip was very handy and the nurses were impressed as theyd rocked up with a glass tumbler and straw!
As for the experience, not the best day out I've ever had.
It was put back from 8am to 12pm but didn't actually get taken to the lab until 2.20pm by which point, my nerves were tighter than Daisy Dukes shorts. Lovely team who tried their best to put me at ease, by asking advice about their feet (I'm an advanced foot health practitioner) .....hubby said I should have taken my diary with me 😁. They were also impressed with my shaving job 😁.
Never actually clapped eyes on the consultant, only spoke to him so would have been nice to have been a bit better acquainted with someone who was going to be getting up close and personal to my nether regions (I usually require flowers and dinner first 😁).
I had as much sedation as they could give but still knew exactly what was going on (I seem.paricularly resistant to sedation). I would have preferred to be zonked out as there were times when there was a lot of discomfort (4 lots of pacing at a couple of minutes a time does not feel like hiccups Mr EP!!!) and a bit of pain. However, the consultant did tell me what was coming up at each stage so I was forewarned.
It took just over 2 hours and 2 cardioversions thrown in for good measure. As I couldn't have any more sedation, they were a joy 😁.
Back to my room with a mouth full of blood as during the last cardioversion, I had bitten my tongue on both sides. Having been given heparin during the procedure, I looked like Countess Dracula and despite this, I was told I still had to take my own Apixaban at 6pm. Needless to say, trying to eat my sandwich was a challenge and the bleeding continued for 7 hours and using half the hospital's supply of non woven gauze.
Groin bled a bit more than expected so had a nurse pressing there for a while and again when the stitches came out. Had a couple of dizzy/nauseous episodes when I stood up but they passed after a couple of minutes. I know some folk mentioned being given a % success on their discharge notes but there's no indication on mine, just that they froze all 4 PVs. They also picked up on some MR and AR on the echo and think that may be a substrate of the AF as the MR was picked up on a previous echo but consultant wasn't concerned at the time.
Got home about 9pm and did have a fairly good nights sleep. There was an interesting trip to the loo about 5am, as I looked like the love child of Quasimodo and John Wayne (The Cowboy years) trying to walk without my leg hurting and then wishing I had done yoga when trying to sit comfortably when I arrived in the bathroom.
Bit of chest discomfort this morning, bruised and sore leg, itchy DCCV branding mark, and tongue looking like something from Alien but I'm staying in bed today, apart from my hunched and bow legged loo visits. Hubby is playing Nurse Nancy, without the uniform, thank goodness and my beautiful cats are curled up next to me.......... one of them did get renamed something rude when she jumped up and landed on my groin.
So, there it is. Not quite as bad as expected so far but still not a pleasant experience. Now got to take Omeprazole for 6 weeks to prevent reflux, apparently, but I'm sure I've had it years ago and it upset my stomach so we'll see how that goes.
Will update as time progresses, assuming you can all take my inane ramblings.
Thank you again to all who give, their time, support on this brilliant group. I salute you and all who sail in you 😊.
Ps....... I don't see net underwear taking off anytime soon 🤣.
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