I’ve got my second ablation tomorrow and I’m not feeling great about it. I had my first one about a year ago which gave me 3 months of NSR after a cardioversion a couple of weeks after the procedure.
I’ve gone private for this one and will be ablated by my own cardiologist.
I don’t know why but I just feel nervous, I’m sure many of you can relate.
Ok so you are normal. No shame there then.
We all worry before an ablation and no words can stop those thoughts going around in your head. No matter whatever number ablation it is. We tell ourselves right up to the last minute that we can still pull out and say we don't want it, but we never do.
Good luck for tomorrow, will look forward to hearing how it all went.
Jean
Thank you Jean. I’ll make sure I update when I come around
I think I’d be worried about paying the bill when it’s all over 😉. Good luck, you will be fine just remember to take it easy for as long as possible and please let us know how you get on…..👍
Thank you!
I was so nervous about my second I managed to somatise physical symptoms of a cold the morning of giving me an excuse to back out - but the nose/throat swab on arrival at hospital which my OH made me attend proved otherwise.
Hope all goes well for you.
Very understandable to be nervous, it always happened to me.
My wife is having a total knee replacement tomorrow and I think I am every bit as worried as she is.
Best wishes for a positive outcome.
Pete
👍🤞👍
How did your wife get on?
It is very kind of you to ask. The operation went well as far as I can work out. Needless to say it has been difficult for her in hospital as most of us here know only too well.
I am hoping that my wife will be able to come home tomorrow but she has to do a lot of work today to assure them that she can be mobile particularly on stairs.
How did your ablation go. I have had 7 so I think I know how you must be feeling right now.
Take care
Pete
I’m not feeling great now to be honest
Oh that is not good. However it is very early days and every day you will get better. An ablation is a real assault on your heart with multiple burns imagine if this was done on your skin.
Hope things improve soon the most important thing is to rest in these early days and to not do too much too soon.
Pete
Good luck. Heres to a successful ablation. Please let us know how it goes. X
Thank you!
Take it slow when you come home. That seems to make a difference. The anxiety us probably because you really want it to work this time. I'd be the same.
Are you having it done at the Spire in Washington? (Just a guess based on your user name).I had an ablation at the Freeman on Friday; very positive experience and home by 4pm.
I hope your second tomorrow goes as smoothly as my first!
No I don’t live in the North East but the Freeman has a very good reputation. Are you enjoying being back in normal sinus rythym?
I've actually been in nsr since my cardioversion in October 2020 - but with a slowly increasing burden of ectopics, which was the pattern before I went into Persistent AF last time.As is often said on here, cardioversion is a temporary solution which is considered a good indicator of how successful an ablation is likely to be.
The cardiologist was of the opinion that I was a very good candidate with an excellent chance of success, and the fact that I've gone over a year without AF breaking through would seem to support his view.
Also, ablation is best done on a heart in nsr.
I decided to crack on and 'mend the roof while the sun is shining' rather then delay, go back to the back of the queue, very probably go back into Persistent AF and have to suffer the whole process again.
So you support Sunderland from afar?
Or does safc mean something else?
I can relate, the dissapointment of the 1st one not really working gives you doubts as to why would the 2nd one work? I hear people say on here that often the 2nd one is the important one because it fills in the gaps that the first one missed. Are you having RF as opposed to the cryabloon this time? My EP told me the RF one is where they do the mapping as to really find out where to completely isolate the pulmonary veins. Please try to think positive and go at it full steam ahead and keep our fingers crossed that this time it will work for you. As you know I too am on the waiting list for my 2nd one so I do know how nervous your feeling. Deep breaths and in we go once again 😁. All the best !!
Thank you! Yes it was RF and everything you say is what the consultant told me. He did. Just a matter of time to see how well it works. I hope you don’t have to wait too long. Hopefully you get a short notice cancellation so there’s less time to stress!
Totally understand!
See if this is something that may help you. carrafibdietinfo.com/
Thank you for that! I do believe vitamin d deficiency is bad for you and I’ll give that a proper read when I’m home
Blulla, I've asked this before but could you summarise the Carr method please? I find the information in that link, which is posted on here regularly, too wordy and long winded.I just want to know what he actually does in a bullet-point list.
All I can surmise is that he eats cranberries (but no mention of how many, whether they're fresh or dried) and mushrooms (no mention of quantity, type, etc).
That can't be it surely! I already eat those and they make no discernable difference.
I'll try a summary, but it's best to slowly digest all he's written, but for now:
1. Get a prescription for a blood test from your doctor so it's covered by insurance. Your doctor should give this to you since you have a chronic condition of AF and/or ectopics.
2. This test should most importantly test serum Vit D levels and blood calcium. Carr say Vit D should optimally be 160 nmol/L level (64 ng/mL) and Calcium should be in the middle of recommended levels.
3. Vit D helps to absorb Calcium, so as you raise your serum Vit D level, you must remove large sources of Ca in your diet, primarily dairy, i.e. milk, white milk products, yogurt, kefir, cheeses, etc. Butter is not white, so it is ok. He cites medical literature for the fact that calcium is a major culprit in heart rhythm irregularities, plaque buildup, osteoporosis, etc.
4. The major part of the whole thing is getting serum Vit D to 160 nmol/L level (64 ng/mL) and reducing Ca intake to less than 500 mg/day. Such a Vit D level promotes optimal calcium absorption even at very low levels of dietary calcium, so there will be no deficiency. A hidden source of calcium for me, which created problems until I figured it out, was my tap water. The local company adds lime to our water supply to make it less acidic. Lime is Calcium and magnesium carbonate. This additional calcium put my levels over the top and prevented success with his protocol. Once I got a good water filter, I felt better within days. Also, stay away from calcium added to food products, so you will have to read ingredient labels and the amount of calcium in there.
5. Cranberries and dried plums(prunes) are also very helpful. I buy the fresh kind and freeze them until I am ready to cook a batch. I eat a couple cups a day or so.
Forgot one thing - high quality protein. He eats 3-4 eggs a day as well as lean meats and mushrooms. I probably have 2-3 eggs. Of course your intake levels will vary with activity levels.
You've done a great job getting those points down so clearly, and I'm very grateful that you've taken the time and thought to do so; well done!When my AF became persistent I was dairy-free and outside every day in shorts, which does make me think my calcium had to be pretty low and VitD pretty high; BUT I do drink a lot of tap water; my levels have never been measured and I wasn't eating cranberries or prunes!
I'll see where this takes me, thanks again sincerely.
It's perfectly normal to feel anxious. Just think how good you'll feel after recovery, able to do the many things you weren't able to do, or afraid to do, previously. Sending positive vibes to you!
Thanks Snowgirl! I’m not really symptomatic apart from needing a snooze in the afternoons but taking my pulse and getting a normal rythym is a truly great feeling
Here's to a successful recovery!
the 2nd one is far more likely to work as its 'mapped' electronically so they can knock out the specific areas causing the faulty messages. my second one worked for around 3yrs - just had a third one a couple of days ago so still a bit sore re. groin and chest but heart is doing OK so far - fingers crossed it stays that way. I was pretty wound up prior to the procedure and so relieved when it was over! my only advice is to think yourself forward to how you will feel when its all over with and you have returned home. I'm guessing you are going to the Freeman Hospital - they are very good.
Ablation
Ablation tomorrow!
Ablation tomorrow-finally!
First Ablation 
