Well, had my cryoablation on Thursday, was just relieved when the smiling porter wheeled me in to the ablation suite. Music was playing, (I would walk 500 miles,) Oh how I wish . The array of screens was fascinating. It was to be done under sedation, Midazolam and Fentanyl. They started with half dose to see how I tolerated it, everything was explained as the EP started inserting the lines into my groin, initially a bit sore but I told them and drugs were increased and despite wanting to see everything I soon drifted off, I was aware of sensations but hazy on detail, lost time too, no idea how long this went on for , I do remember the hiccuppy bit, very violent but strangely reassuring. Then at some stage I felt a crushing pain in my chest across the top of my chest, I was obviously awake enough to ask if it was normal, it was horrendous. I think at that point more drugs were administered and I had vague memories of being asked to stretch my arm out, more pain in my wrist but then off to sleep again. Later , no idea how long, I roused again to be introduced to a cardiologist at my wrist, I’m the emergency plumber, great sense of humour, He said he had done an Angiogram and I had beautiful arteries! At that point Hallelujah was now playing, very apt. And then it was over, the EP was very happy with the ablation, I had got a BOGOF with the bonus angiogram but everything was fine. He explained how AF might recur for a few months but didn't mean a fail. I was still dozy and next woke in the ward.
The next few hours, flat on my back consisted of lots of Obs being done, several ECG and an attempt after four hours to remove the pneumatic wrist dressing, not overly successful so that went back on for another two hours. I had violent prisms of flashing visual disturbances but they only lasted a few hours. By the time I came to properly the two EP who did the procedure were back home but I asked the night sister why the angiogram. She went to see and said the ECG was showing inverted T Waves or something during the ablation and it might be a heart attack and she thought that might be the reason for the angio. But it was the middle of the night and there were no doctors around. The surprise overnighters (I had not expected to stay overnight) in my ward, me included , had to depart by 0730 as there were new occupants due in at eight! Got handed a bundle of do’s and don’ts and was escorted off the premises.
Got home doing Olympic burping, some pain in groin , not a lot of bruising, but otherwise just very tired. Reread my guidelines and am following to the letter, had breakfast in bed. Still in bed now .Checked my heart rate readings from my Withings watch and my rate is now averaging NSR 64, previously I was 48 so happy with that. Even overnight for last two nights it never dropped below 57, 42 used to be my norm .
I wish there had been a chance to speak to the EP when not drugged up, i've lots of questions. I will get a post op check in 12 weeks where I can ask questions meanwhile I may have to come back here to the collective mind.
Written by
Dovelady
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Glad alls well that ended well and you are home settling down. Take it easy ! Perhaps contact the team to ask what that was all about with the cardiologist?Best wishes xx
My sympathies re the wrist. I had an angiogram that way in 2017 and not had a pulse that side since due to scarring in artery. No problem except that hand gets colder in winter as only one artery supplying blood. I had similar (but worse) problems with wrist band as once removed as I was getting dressed to leave it burst open . Very messy!
As well as anything the hospital gave you please make sure you read the following. heartrhythmalliance.org/res.... Now rest and make sure you are well looked after.
Thanks Bob, hopefully my hands will be OK, I have enough issues with cold hands as it is. I wish I had taken your advice five years ago but at the time the idea of an ablation terrified me, its no fun but certainly not as awful as I thought. The link you posted didn't seem to work but I had printed off the AF factsheets previously, my go to info. Is that what it was? Thank you for your expertise and help.
Got to have before surgery. I told him I'd had enough of them shoving stuff in every orifice and they were now going to open me up, so I'd rather try the CT first time 😁.
What a great detailed description, I’ve no idea if I will be offered an ablation but it’s good to know all the details (in my locality) just in case. I suspect that if recommended then I would go for one, as I don’t feel that great on dronedarone. OK, but not firing on all cylinders. I’m more than happy to continue with anticoagulants, I feel very reassured by them, but reducing other medications would be wonderful. (I know I’m not on that many different drugs, and could well be advised on more of course!)Wishing you well in your recovery.
Hi, I was on Dronederone and it didn't suit me at all so ablation was next step after that. I had tried Flecainide and was to go onto Amiodarone but it was contraindicated. I am only on anticoagulants , they don't fix AF but prevent complications. I am so glad I did it, the idea is quite scary but the EP are the experts, the equipment is state of the art and I found the Edinburgh team, radiographers , nurses etc really lovely, great atmosphere, friendly, funny at times but very professional. I just wish I had not waited so long to have one, when first offered my episodes were every few months, AF does progress and by last week I had had 18 episodes this month. It was destroying my quality of life. If recommended , if it feels right, go for it. Good luck .
Thank you! I have only had one more episode since the first diagnosed one in February, but reckon it was happening before it was recognised. Trouble is that it lasted 8 days, which worried me.I really don’t like the sound of Amiodarone, though I’ve not been tried on Flecainide. I think Dronedarone was chosen due to my low resting heart rate, but it has still made that lower.
I guess that I just need to be patient - cardiology clinic in July, so it doesn’t feel quite as distant now!
I'm pleased to hear that all went well. Hearing your story brought back a memory of my first ablation. When I arrived in the cath lab a male nurse, about my age, asked if my groin had been shaved, when I said no he apologised and said he'd have to do it. Life is full of embarrassments isn't it!
Make sure you get plenty of rest now and let your heart start healing from the trauma it's had. When you start doing little walks, be aware that you may find the walk to wherever you're going easy, but I used to feel I'd have enough then and had no energy to walk back.
Sounds good for you. Such a relief when it is over isn’t it.
Remember to really take it very easy for at least the next 2 weeks and even then I suggest you ease yourself back into normal living.
I had a similar contraption on my groin because it wouldn’t stop bleeding I think they called it a “Femstop”.
Glad having it done with sedation worked for you. I had my first three ablations with sedation but it became intolerable for me and the last four ablations I had were done under General Anaesthetic. For me it was much better but I am a self confessed wimp at heart.
I know that I am a bit of an exception to the rule with multiple ablations and that the likelihood will be that if you are now kind to your heart it should now settle down and soon it will all be just a bad memory.
Remember the majority of successful ablation patients don’t hang around such forums as this because they just get on with their lives.
Pete, what was the toughest part of the ablation? Pain in your chest when they are creating scar tissue with cryoblation? I will be facing that in the future when I finally get off of Amiodarone. One of the worst side effects meds ever
You say the first three ablations then say the last four - did you really have 7 ablations!!!!? Wow in what time period and what’s the state of play now? Are you fixed? I’ve had two and possibly need another, like you the sedation wasn’t too effective
This was over about a ten year period 2007 - 2017.
Since the last ablation my heart has progressively got better and I have only had one short episode in the past 9 months.
I blame Southampton Football Club because I was watching one of their rare TV broadcasts. I am now banned from watching or attending Southampton play football. 🙂. Seriously!!
I do however have heart block and Bradycardia due I am told to more than 30 years of suffering AF.
The ablations were worth it as my QOL is significantly better now despite the Bradycardia.
I live in the north and fortunately for the next few years until husband retires I have Bupa cover so trying to get get fixed till that ends. We do have a cardiac centre at one of the hospitals but it depends if the GP would refer to out of area - that’s not the case now so not stressing but glad to know that it is possible to have moreHave they not fitted a pacemaker for the bradycardia?
I should also point out that after 3 ablations with one very eminent EP he told me there was nothing more he could do and that I had to accept that sooner or later I would be in Permanent AF.
About a year later after more than one Cardioversion I was in the A&E department when the Emergency Cardiologist came to see me. He told me that the eminent EP had now retired from the NHS and that he had spoken to his successor at the hospital. The new man came to see me and said he felt that there was more they could do for me if I was willing to undergo another ablation.
I agreed. As you will be aware that that was not the end of my story because that EP left to go to another hospital and ultimately I was put under the care of a new Consultant who had worked with Dr Schilling at Barts for some years.
The result was that following a protracted period of Atrial Tachycardia in 2017 I was given my last and 7th ablation.
Since then I have progressively got better and now my quality of life is significantly better.
That is the case isn’t it - I ended up at A/E at a different hospital different Drs who didn’t know my case and I left there with absolutely no faith in the hospital or it’s Drs.I’m pinning everything on this current EP - just wish we could all be text book so we’d know when they do this or that the result is XYZ. I have had 2 ablations and recently a cardioversion. Hope all continues well for you and that I too get a positive outcome whatever they decide is best! Thanks again much appreciated
An interesting read. Sounds a bit scary. I thought RF ablations were done under GA?Anyway from your more recent posts it seems you are making a very good recovery!
RF often done undr sedation- my first was. Actually I don't recommend it but discuss with your EP as sometimes they prefer it. In my case since I have a lowish BMI I was up to my limit of analgesic and still wiggling even after I'd drifted off. Had my second under GA.
Hi, yes the EP confirmed it is being done under GA. with a CT scan before to check for any existing clots. I thought and dreaded it might be a TOE oofff
I explained to the EP that the TOE frightened me more than the ablation and he said they prefer CT. If so much as a drop of water goes the wrong way it provokes an asthma attack in me never mind having to swallow a camera . But that is just me - I know many people on here found it a doddle so my opinion is just personal and shouldn't worry others having one.
I gag brushing my teeth so I knew it wasn't going to be great. But, it was a necessary evil as mine was to check my mitral valve function from another angle to my echo so dont think they could have done that by scan, unfortunately.
They started to sedate me but within a couple of seconds, my O2 sat dropped from 95 into the 70s. He said if he continued, I would have stopped breathing so that was that.After all that, their thought that there was a issue was correct and now I have to have surgery to repair. They will do a Cox IV maze at the same time to hopefully get rid of the AF once and for all.
The Cox Maze is what the mini maze is patterned after but the Cox IV Maze is only done in open heart surgery if they are in there to do something else anyway which is the case with Ducky with the mitral valve repair.
I’m so glad to hear you will have the Cox Maze. I guess sometimes bad things can be good! Good luck with your surgery!! It will be a one and done. Yay!
I wish I wasn't having the Cox 😁. They had been planning the Hybrid Convergent Ablation before they discovered the valve issue....... that was going to be bad enough 🤣.70% success rate, the surgeon reckons.
🤞for you! ( Your next film title will be "Carry on Cox"😅) More seriously really hope things get sorted for you - you deserve a break. You do make us all chuckle with your posts 🙂
Really? Only 70% on the maze? That is surprising. Well, I’m confident you willBe in that 70%. Prayers for a brand new heart and life after this is done!💕
I’ve just been put on the waiting list for an ablation. I’m worried about it, but reading these posts helps a bit. I have a long time to worry about it,as the waiting time is a year.!
Try not to worry, that’s a given. I was on a 12-18 month list in December but then I got more and more episodes went on urgent in March and three months later thats me done. Read what you can, but not obsessively, lots of great information here, all really helpful.
Well I have also booked mine ( beginning of July) and sometimes wonder whether I should go through with it . Then this afternoon at 5.30 ( 4h30 UK time) I went into the kitchen had a large glass of water and a handful of walnuts and walked upstairs . Boum! Went into Afib. Still in it. Then I remembered why I was having an ablation 😊 So hope you don't change your mind as long the dr's think it's needed. My Afib has suddenly progressed from twice a month to 12 to 14 times a month with no identifiable triggers ( even bending sometimes triggers it - how ridiculous 🤔)Take care
That’s the trouble with AF, you just don’t know when it’s going to start. My husband won’t book cruises now, because of this. I go into hospital when I get an episode, as it’s quite symptomatic and my blood pressure goes very high. Wouldn’t dare stay home with it.
All the more reason to go ahead with ablation then. Does that mean you don't self-convert? What meds are you on? Surely if you are so symptomatic they could bring the ablation forward as they did for Dovelady?
I contacted my AF Nurse and asked her if they could discuss my case at the Weekly Team meeting and as a result went up a category of need which hastened the date.
I’ve usually been put on a drip of some sort. Last time I was given a saline drip and then they said to take my Sotalol early. I had been in A&E a few hours by then. About an hour after taking the Sotalol, I went back into SR.I had my 1st bout of AF during a nasty coughing virus in 1984, I caught it from someone, at my sons wedding. Then I had 2 more bouts, in 2017 and 2019, then I had 3 closer together, in Nov last year and 1 at beginning and 1 at end of January this year, which is worrying. They have increased my Sotalol, but don’t know if it will help. I try not to lie on my left side, as 4 out of the 6 bouts of AF, occurred when I was in bed.
I have at least 12 episodes a month and having been fairly symptomless am starting to get light headed and a bit faint now as the heart slows trying to convert then off it goes again fairly fast but ok. I think it's time to try something else apart from medication. 🙂
Thanks for sharing and really happy to hear your home and starting to see improvements in NSR. I’m waiting for my first ablation and to be honest I’m very anxious about it so your account of tour while experience was great to read. Hope that you recover speedily and are able to find out what about the BOGOF Angio. Take care.
To be honest the strength of the hiccupy bit was far more intense than I had ever imagined, but glad I knew it would happen otherwise I would have been pretty scared. This resting goes against the grain though, finding it hard, only on day three and i’m itching to do stuff…but i’m not going to..there is no way I am going to undo the work that has been done .
This is during the ablation procedure and I am sure someone who knows more than me will explain. I was told and read too in pre op info you have the sensation of hiccups at some stage. As I wasn't expecting them to be quite so violent I had just assumed, hiccups, I can cope with that. I did of course but would be interested to know more. I think I read somewhere something to do with the stimulation of the phrenic nerve but no idea why . Since the ablation I have had no further hiccups .
Well done and glad your back at home safely xx I am on the waiting list as previously mentioned for an ablation under GA I am dreading it, but the thought of me being under is much better for me than being awake, I have had previous procedure under sedation and I didn’t like them. I prefer to be asleep, especially if it could take hours. Rest up, good luck with your recovery xx
Thank you and good luck when your ablation happens. Just need to learn how to rest and do as i’m told now…apparently. My OH is ex military and is doing things to the letter for post procedure recovery 😊👍
What a wonderfully concise description of a procedure that a lot of people will be scared of going through. Thank you for putting so many peoples minds at rest. My ablation was 5 years ago so all memory has faded which is strange as I can remember childbirth 40 years ago!
I too am from a military family 👪 so understand what you will be going through. Make the most of it!
So glad all went well for you - I know the feeling of waking from the sedation mid ablation - I also once on the mend thought I could walk further than I actually could on a couple of occasions and thought ok I’ve got to walk back also - pace yourself slowly 😊
Top tip thanks. got caught out on the walking too far before the ablation many times, leave the house feeling great so you walk and walk and then you realize you have yo get back. I t was for that reason my husband built a bench seat and with a local farmers permission plonked it at the side of a barley field about fifteen minutes from home. He put a plaque on it… Jills Rest and Be Thankful.😃
Haha think we’re twins, I just got some old cast iron bench arms/legs with a cast iron decorative back - got my son to carry them and my husband said what rubbish have you got there - some pieces for a bench I’m going to paint them (I’ve decorated the fancy back of grapes and ivy. As I’d been so ill with the AF recently and felt like I’d had it, I joked that he could keep it as my memorial bench - he said I have to stick around to finish it or it’ll be on the tip - I’ve agreed
Hi Dovelady.. thank here for this very detailed information! What is this a PVI ablation?I don’t understand the differences… I know people hear that I’ve had ablations for permanent aphib and it never is PVI. It’s just day surgery…
PVI are usually the longer more involved ones I think? (The kind I need)
Anyway… I’m surprised They use Fantinel there because They it here in Canada and quite honestly I’d prefer general anaesthesia – especially since reading your notes.
I asked the EP here who did my ablation study… He said that the recovery time was faster and they could usually send you home the same day if they didn’t use general anesthesia.
(They could put 2 vs 1 person through a procedure in a day that way he said. )
Boston where I hood to go used general anesthesia.
I’m sorry about your complication but I’m sure you will be fine. Not great that you have a sore arm as well as leg though.
Keep us updated. And rest.
We’re you in permanent AFib? I didn’t have time to read all your notes sorry….
Hi Chrissy, I had paroxysmal AF, to begin with it was one episode every few months but over five years the episode became more frequent until this month I had about 18 episodes! I had Cryoablation , My EP prefers to use the sedation as its less risky than a GA , recovery time is quicker. He also said with current NHS waiting lists ( UK) spare anaesthetists were hard to come by! I am glad I had sedation, it was just unfortunate I had the complication of the Angiogram being thrown in. Still resting, feeling quite tired today but was expecting the day three slump .
Glad you’re feeling better. Every day you should get stronger from what I hear…
Interesting.. I thought that when they use fentanyl here.. it was more when you “are not fully asleep” (not typical general anesthesia where you don’t wake up or feel anything at all)
Most times it puts you to sleep .. but as I understand it (and as you have noted) .. not fully asleep.
I’m still trying to find out what the different types of ablation are… so curious I must make another post. Perhaps it’s just me but.. I’m confused over the types… of ablation.
I’m no expert but I think posting a question separately would get some good responses, I only know about Cryoablation but i'm sure others can tell us more. Look forward to it. Rest Rest Rest..my new mantra.
I did not like the hiccup bit at all. He had described it as a hiccup sensation but I told him afterwards, if he experienced hiccups like that, he should see his own doctor!!! They call it pacing as they are checking the phrenic nerve. Apparently, the more violent the jumping, the stronger your nerve is. Mine must be made of bloomin steel 😁.Here's to a swift and successful recovery for you.
Thanks for that explanation, to me it was like a jackhammer under my ribs. I’m sure I felt like I was leaping up from the table.Like you I must have very strong nerves. Yes I’m hoping for a good recovery but having had it drummed into me to rest rest , rest I will, I would hate to jeopardise the amazing procedure. Also as a young 70 year old I guess age might be a factor.
Thank you .Best advice ever, but its hard. Having had no AF since Thursday this is the longest break for months. I want to do so much , busy time in the garden too, but once allowed its going to be brilliant to plant some stuff without the worry of an enforced stop.
It is hard, especially this time of year for gardeners! Hope you can do some gentle gardening soon. I still have to stop frequently when it’s a warm day. But at least my heart doesn’t go wacky when I’m in the garden. Heal well!
Great news thanks for the full description of what it's like to have an ablation. Very informative for thiose like me who are considering goping down that road, maybe in a while., I hope it all works out well for you. God bless x
Thank you Ruby, I hope it didn’t put the fear of god into you. It would seem no two ablations are the same after reading up here. I just know if I need to have a second one I would be better prepared. But hopefully that was my one shot, so far all is well.
I remember ZERO from mine, Wednesday, 5/18, completely out for the whole 4-hour affair. I was pretty miserable until Friday, two days ago. I've been in sinus rhythm since 11:30 p.m (ish) Friday. I feel MUCH better! I almost didn't take my normal dose of Flecainide this morning but being, 'non-compliant' has always been an issue for me 🙄!! So, take it easy, DO NOT eat big meals, and don't sit in a position that rolls your chest over your diaphragm. The pressure was a problem for me.
I'm positive what, and how much, I was eating was a big issue the first week or so. I'm eating meat only for the time being to keep bloating at a minimum.
I wish I remembered nothing. Burping is still an issue after food so have cutdown quantities and will take onboard your comments. I have been in NSR since waking up on Thursday, procedure day , such a great feeling. Day four now.
Hi thanks for the run down of your cyro abalation experience...I am also on the waiting list for one just its over 12 months off yet..they asked if i prefer GA or sedation I said GA but would be ok with any really...so any insight into people's experiences is really appreciated, wishing you a full and speedy recovery all the best andy.
I should say I don’t think mine was typical, in all the stuff I read I hadn't heard the angiogram being thrown in too. But to be honest it wasn't great but its just a short time really in the great scheme of things. The fact that I am now on day 4 of no AF makes me hopeful that all the crap was worth it. With good sedation most folk don't really remember the procedure anyway. But if I do need a second one I would have it again in a heartbeat..as it were. Thanks Andy .
Can I ask what medication you were on if any before the abaltion...I've just been put on flecanide 2 months ago and its working very well for me at the moment..I just hope it lasts till the abalation as I was having episodes every other day until I was put on this drug..
I had been on no medication, was on Flecainide for several years until they noticed some potentially not so good ECG changes, then onto Dronedarone which upset my gut and was due to start Amiodarone but it was contraindicated as I am mostly in bradycardia. So another reason to hasten me up the list. Only on Apixaban at time of procedure.
Yes that is one thing that worries me about the flecainide is the risk of heart changes or other arrhythmias occurring, but at the moment having no afib is really nice.. im just keeping fingers crossed everything stays OK till my abalation and that goes OK as well....all the best to you and take care..
Having no AFib is like winning the lottery right now for me right now, I know its only Day 4 but its brilliant. Hope you get your ablation soon, its a game changer
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
24 Hours post ablation 
Post ablation 
Day 5 post Ablation 
5 days post ablation : odd plumbing.
ablation update as promised 
