Second Ablation yesterday and took part in a new study for 3D mapping

[Dangerousdriver]

Hi all,

It's been some time since I posted on here, but I have always watched and read others posts. Anyway, I had my first RF and Cry ablation for SVT/A-Fib and A-Flutter back in 2018 and aside from a few blips here and there I was much improved, but still struggled to walk uphill at any pace without setting off ventricular bigeminy's which were really annoying despite being benign.I was getting runs of irregularities So, after consulting with the EP last year it was decided that I would have a touch up ablation so went on the waiting list and then Covid happened. This July I realised that it had been April 2020 that I had been placed on the waiting list, so contacted the cardiology department to see what a possible timeframe might be. I was then contacted by the Arrhythmia nurse who very sheepishly informed me that I had been removed from the waiting list with no reason. The EP was informed and read the admissions team the riot act and I was privy to this email he sent and yes it was certainly a rocket and he was not impressed as he was also concerned that others had been removed inadvertently.

Anyway I was given a date of the 5th August and I booked the time off work and arranged care for my mother who has dementia. I had my pre-op Covid test and a day before the ablation I was told they had to cancel the operation as there was no anaesthetist available. Frustrating was not the word, but what else could I do. I was told I was still top of the list and rebooked as soon as possible, but had no date to offer.

I was contacted by another cardiologist at Brighton Hospital who asked me if I would be interested in taking part in a study that involved 3D mapping catheter's. As it stands there are 2 types of mapping catheter used in ablation procedures. One is square shaped and the other is spherical. Basically there is no data to understand if one has an advantage over the other, but they previously would only be able to look at different patients images with each type of catheter used. So, they proposed to conduct two 3D maps of my heart using both types and then the EP would be able to see side by side on the same heart whether one or the other has any advantage over the other. I agreed to this as the outcome was likely to be better as they had a better chance of catching any rogue signals having made two scans of my heart. The only risk was that I was on the table a bit longer, which to me didn't matter a bit as I was under GA.

Then I was told that another date was provisionally booked for the 7th September, but I was not happy with provisional as it was not fair on my employer who moved heaven and Earth to get my shift covered to allow for 2 weeks recovery neither did it give me time too arrange care for my mother again. Anyway, ten days before the planned date I was told it was a go and that the procedure would go ahead.

So yesterday at 7.30am I arrived at Brighton Hospital and was told I was first on the table. I was put out for 5 hours and upon awakening I noted that I was a lot more sore this time round in both my chest and groin. Once I was bit more alert the cardiologist who was conducting the study and was present throughout the procedure came to see me and let me know that they went in "heavy duty" and that they were quite aggressive in their ablating. So, they found that 2 of the pulmonary veins had reconnected from my first ablation and that was causing the excessive ectopics and A-Flutter. They basically went round and round both affected pulmonary veins and ensured a thick scarring to help prevent reconnection of tissue.

I was discharged yesterday evening and upon waking this morning the wound had reopened and the sofa was covered in blood. The dressing was saturated and had leaked quite profusely. I wasn't concerned to be honest, but was more annoyed about the sofa!

I had to sit and apply pressure for most of the day to the wound site and yet it's still bleeding now! Well I'm off for 14 days now to recover, so lots of lying about for the next few days catching up on TV series and films.

Hope you are all well and staying strong.

[Jalia]

That's interesting! I had extensive ablation at Brighton 5 weeks ago with, I thought, 3D mapping. Lasted five and half hours under local. Ablation for AF, flutter and Atachy. Felt really well after and continue to do so. Who was the EP? I was quite impressed with the set up there . Hope the wound heals soon!

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Jalia]

Hi Jalia, I’m glad you feeling well after your Ablation. Sounds like mine as I was under for 5 1/2 hours too. Did you walk into the theatre like I did. I was too was impressed with the setup there and the amount of people present for little old me!

My EP is John Silberbauer who is really really good and well known in the ablation world apparently.

[Jalia in reply to Dangerousdriver]

Yes, walked into theatre and had a heated mattress awaiting me ! ( never had that before in 3 previous ablations). My EP is Jack McCready, have been seeing him for past 12 years and has done all my ablations, originally at Heart Hospital in London.

Let's hope this clears it up for both of us !

[jeanjeannie50]

I don't like the sound of that bleeding Dd, would you say it's just seeping out? Have you rang the hospital to seek their advice and is someone looking after you?

I have to say I'd be annoyed about the bleeding on the sofa too.

How are you feeling otherwise?

Jean

[Dangerousdriver in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hey Jean,

It wasn’t seeping earlier, more of a steady trickle. But I managed to stem it sufficiently to the point it’s seeping now.

It was like a murder scene on my sofa earlier. The blood has found its way all the round to my backside and had gone as far as my lower back!

I called the day care unit and explained I was happy to keep pressure on the wound. They said it should not be bleeding that much and to go to A&E if it persists, but I lie flat and hardly moved for most of the day.

Aside from that, minor chest discomfort but mainly the pain is coming from the groin. Surprised I’ve had no palpitations at all so far as I did last time.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Dangerousdriver]

All sounding fairly good for you with no palpitations, take care and keep us updated on your progress please.

I hope you don't have a light coloured sofa?

[Dangerousdriver in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes hopefully Jean, fingers crossed this keeps things at bay for a fair while!

And it’s a dark grey sofa, but I wanted a new one so now I have the excuse I need!

[Padayn01]

Hope it all works this time mate sounds like they really did there work to catch it

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Padayn01]

Thanks mate, let’s hope so. As you say they certainly went all out to try and eliminate any dodgy hotspots. Time will tell of course, but you have to be optimistic.

[Kaz747]

Take care and relax. Enjoy your tv watching.

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Kaz747]

Hi Kaz, long time no speak! Hope you are well? I have been run ragged with my shift pattern at work, my mum has dementia now and I am her only family so I barely get a second to myself anymore! I am certainly going to enjoy sitting around with nothing to do for a few days. I feel really groggy today strangely, like a massive hangover.

[Kaz747 in reply to Dangerousdriver]

Make the most of your time off. My mum has dementia too so I know the stress and pressure coping with that has. I have siblings who help but I'm the one coordinating everything and dealing with her doctors and appointments.

I’ve had a little blip in recent weeks - mainly ectopics we think - so I need to pace myself a bit better and not overdo things.

Hope you're feeling better soon.

Karen x

[Dangerousdriver in reply to Kaz747]

Ah I am sorry to hear that. It really is stressful isn't it! Dealing with her some days makes me want to tear my hair out, others I want to cry seeing her. The problem is my mum is a hoarder so she is not only living in junk up to her eyes, she's also now not cleaning or looking after herself. I picked her up for a hospital appointment last week and she got in my car and her jacket smelt and had stains all down it. This is the complete opposite of my mum pre-dementia. As a child she was forever cleaning etc, but then a few traumas happened and the hoarding started but despite that she still looked extremely presentable. It's horrible seeing her decline like she is. One minute she thanks me for all I do the next she is accusing me of plotting to have her sectioned! I have learned not to take it personally, but that doesn't mean it doesn't not affect you still. Unfortunately I have no one else to rely on for help. Social Services are all but useless, and in any case mum is refusing home help as she doesn't think there is anything wrong with her. She also lives two counties away also which is not ideal. It's a real difficult situation, so I wish you luck with it.

As for the ectopics I was getting a ton of them more recently, sometimes all day long which was really holding me back despite knowing they are benign, the breathing exercises never really worked despite trying them over and over again. I just realised that some days I had to take my foot off the gas and slow down and de-stress as hard as that is sometimes.

[Kaz747 in reply to Dangerousdriver]

I hear you Leon. That's what we find with mum too. She desperately needs a haircut but won't let us take her to the hairdresser. She wears the same clothes over and over. She too thanks us for all our help then gets mad because we “never tell her anything” and we’re controlling her life. She often tells the checkout operators that we are just after her millions. If only she had some 😂. She has a cleaner come in and we have some services. She is getting worse and we keep telling her that the services will help her stay in her own home.

Fun times! Balancing responsibilities and stress levels can be challenging.

[saulger]

Dangerousdriver, hope your bleeding has now stopped and you are recovering well. Wanted to write and compliment you on your bravery. Wishing you an AFib-free future. Saul

[Dangerousdriver in reply to saulger]

Thanks Saul, it looks like the bleeding has stopped and I am just aching now. I ache more from not doing anything than the actual procedure. I never have been able to sit still for more than 5 minutes at a time which I am having to do now. Fingers crossed this time they got it all!! Good luck to you too, Leon