On Wednesday I finally managed to be admitted for an ablation. I was under the impression it was to be a radio frequency ablation, but turned out to be cryo ablation as the first step.
Things worked out as expected, and I had a good chat with the anaesthetist in the daycare ward and again in the cath. lab before the start of the procedure, and then he administered a little sedative prior to the anaesthetic. The next thing that I remember was waking up back on the daycare ward.
I am very surprised at how small and clean the incision is, in the crease of my right groin. Barely 8mm long, with a bit of a raw looking place at one end. However, the bruising is spectacular! Outside a clear circle about 2cm radius from the incision there starts a bright black and blue stain spreading up to 13 cm in some directions. That's some bruise! Initially I had a slight swelling in one place within the bruise, but that soon went down again as the blood was reabsorbed. There is almost no pain associated with this injury, which surprised me.
Also surprising is a pain I did not really expect. I have a sore throat, which I did expect, from the TOE procedure which accompanies catheter ablation, but what I didn't expect is the muscle aches and tenderness around my neck. I presume that this arises from the position my neck was stretched into, to facilitate the TOE procedure, and perhaps also from the posture I was laid in afterwards until I recovered from the anaesthetic. It is not any pain I can't easily accept, and I don't need any medication for it, but it was 'not on my radar'. Hence the title of this post.
Bumps in the road are to be expected immediately after an ablation. I was to be kept in overnight, due to my later position on the list that day, and following a session of AF in the small hours the next morning, I was put onto a radio monitor, and issued with a larger dose of bisoprolol than I usually use. That seemed to have no effect, so an hour later I was given a pair of 50mg Flecainide and told to take one. Ten minutes later the AF stopped. It seems to be very effective for me.
I have now had a single dose at 50mg twice a day added to my drug regime, and managed to get discharged at tea time the second day. The journey home was in a volunteer taxi, and the ride was somewhat cavalier and rapid as he was annoyed and wanted to get home. I arrived home feeling a little the worse for the journey, and using my Kardia found I had started tachycardia at 138bpm. Another (additional) flecainide stopped this, again in less than 15 minutes, and I retired to the sofa to watch some tennis. That night, I woke up in the early hours, again in tachycardia. I took another flecainide, and again it worked rapidly and I went back to sleep.
For those worried that I am self medicating, let me explain. The initial prescription was for two 50mg pills twice a day, and this was reduced to one when it was discovered how well a single one worked. I figured later that the additional one used as a 'pill in pocket' was therefore acceptable, when necessary. I've only used it on those two occasions, as apart from a brief run of AF just prior to pill time (I brought the time forward), I've not needed them again. Yesterday, no problems at all and today I'm feeling well. More tennis watching to come though!
My only remaining concern is a persistent problem with mucus, and a resulting cough, which feels like I'm starting a cold but obviously isn't as It varies with posture. This, I think, is another result of the TOE and soreness in the deeper part of my throat. I hope it resolves soon, it's a 'pain in the neck'!
Pill in the Pocket for Parox' AF
The Story So Far
Reduction in Flecainide and PVC's - any advice please?
Persistent AF(ib) after Ablation
Ablation update 
