Due to have my 1st af ablation on the 11th Jan 2022 (FEEL STRESSED :()

[dave152248]

I feel a little stressed having my 1st ablation on the 11th Jan. Any advice and what to expect before and after would be very much appreciated. I'm 57 and i'm worried it could make my AF even worse after the opp instead of fixing the problem.

Thanks

[Paulbounce]

I don't blame you Dave - I would feel stressed too.

Have you read the 'what to expect' with ablation on this site ? It's in the pinned posts but I can't find it now - I sure others will post a link.

Here's my take - it won't half as bad as you think. In fact you might find it will help no end and certainly not make things worse. You'll see - bet I'm right

Paul

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Dave

Worrying about having an ablation is perfectly normal and it's not until afterwards that you realise there was nothing much to worry about. In your head you'll be asking yourself if you should cancel the appointment and you'll be that way right up to the time you get to the hospital for the procedure.

There are some documents that have been created by members of this forum giving you information about before and after the ablation. I'll find you a link and post it here.

Here it is:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci.........

Jean

[BlueINR]

I had no discomfort after ablation. And though I've had a few bouts of afib since the ablation, they are a lot less than before, and, I'm hoping the ablation eventually will eliminate them.

[Morzine]

Honestly Dave once you walk thru the door of the hospital and get whisked along with their care and professionalism and care all the fretting will stop. I was you and I look back and see it wasn’t needed all that worry. I’ve had one, some have had three I’d certainly go again and a third.....it’s given me that cloud lifted ease that I never had before with AFIB......that confidence in your heart again, and if I’m honest I neverthink much about AFIB ....I went to Australia long haul seven months after ablation and did a huge road trip that’s how it changed my perception on the worry of an AFIB attack.....yes it may come back but I’d be straight to the cardio asking for another.....I’d stop worrying now have a good xmas.....

Sue

[Billiam54]

Morning Dave, I am four weeks post ablation. Like yourself I was concerned that the procedure may make me feel worse should it fail. The arrhythmia nurse told me that in the worse case I would feel the same as I did before the procedure. As it turns out I need not have worried. My heart rate has been virtually steady since the op and I am improving on a weekly basis, walking fair distances and playing golf. I don't sleep brilliantly all of the time but when I get a good night I wake up feeling like someone has changed my batteries and that's a feeling I've not had for a long time. My thoughts were, "well if the worse that can happen is that I'm going to feel the same after the op as I did before what have I got to lose?" Answer. Nothing. Good luck Dave, I hope that it is a positive step for you. All the best. Bill

[Mouchkin]

I am three years down the line since my ablation. I am elderly so I was grateful that I was offered the ablation. Like you I was nervous. Honestly I have no regrets at all. On the day I just had sedation and strong pain killers which were topped up regularity. I was very well cared for all the time and knew what was going on and was actually interested.Afterwards I did need quite a long time to recover as I was very tired and rather bruised, so I rested a lot.

Honestly it made a HUGE difference to my life. My heart became quiet ,my chest felt calm…terrific. I would never hesitate to have it done again .

[dave152248]

Thanks you all so much for the comments, It's really put my mind to rest Have a great Christmas all X

[NYCgal22]

I am also having my first ablation done on January 11! And also like you very worried about it. The posts to this question have made me feel better. I am 68 and this is my only health issue. I've never had to take any meds before except for an occasional antibiotic. I don't seem to do well on long term drugs and have had break through Afib episodes anyway which convinced me to get ablation. Trying to think more about Christmas but thoughts of ablation do creep in. Now if I could stop worrying about getting Covid especially before my ablation....

[Bennera513]

Similar to others, I was a wreck leading up to my ablation 10 weeks ago. I was in and out of afib and throwing ectopics constantly, suffering from anxiety and attempting to come off my meds for the procedure. I nearly had a panic attack during check-in and while walking to the ward. From there, it turned into what I can only describe as an overwhelmingly good experience. I look back on it fondly, actually. I felt great trepidation the first few nights at home. I was initially upset as I was in significant ectopic storms for the first 4 weeks, and had a 6 hour episode 5 days after. I was up and down both sides with meds trying to find something that would curtail symptoms. Most days I simply wrapped in a blanket and sat on the coach. I realized I had to stay busy and distracted so I returned to work from home status after 1.5 weeks and was already doing slow walking day one and was up to 3 miles before two weeks. I did over do it on occasion and might have expected too much too soon.

Here I am at week 10 and I am on absolutely no medications, not even blood thinner. Do I feel great? Well, I'm relieved and the ectopics are nearly non-existent now. However, I feel to my core an overall nervous system remodeling. How can I explain? Everything just feels different. It's not that I'm back to my 'young' self, it's that I have totally new set points and reactions. My heart rate is much higher and responds in spiky fashion, sometimes going 35 points above what I'd expect (all sinus rhythm though). My breath, while exercising just feels odd. And I fatigue easily and alarmingly quick, from one second to the next. My digestion and daily bathroom habits are changed. Sleep is different and not necessarily better. I have complete faith that this is all normal and part of the recovery/remodeling process. Also, I had been on beta blockers for many years and I believe you sometimes get worse before you get better where weaning is concerned. Let's also not forget that anxiety/depression can take a while to unspool, seeing as how that had become crisis level and the norm during times of stress related to my arrhythmia.

Bottom line the procedure is generally safe and a cake walk for most. The immediate recovery was fine too with some attention to detail and 'being a good patient',...groin incisions healed nicely. The longer term recovery can be rough and your rebound is going to be very individual to your physiology and mind set. But, it's most definitely worth it and a door I'd gladly walk through again. I've already seen enough of a metamorphosis in the past 2 months to know that where I'm at now is not necessarily where I will be in another two months. My new mantra during this process is..."Trust your body!". Not something I'm used to doing given our condition...

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

NZ My friend had his at Auckland Hospital. He was on 4 meds. Now a pill in the pocket affair.

He is singing the praises.

I daren't tell him 'early days'.

It appears stomach and A.F went together.

Now he has water and lemon juice several times per day.

A.F is caused by different things aftervit gets out of wonk.

Some food and digestion, some sleep apnea, some like me thyroid - mine cancer.

You wud think it would return to normal. Will no not in my case.

JOY