I just want to say first of all how much I appreciate this forum so much as it’s very helpful.
I have my second ablation this Friday in Brighton and I have to say I am nervous as I was so poorly after the first one as had so man episodes the first days following and it generally took my a long time to recover but still don’t feel like I have in many ways fully and it’s 16 months since the last one.
my thoughts and questions were to ask is it very much the same after every ablation or is it all to do with how much gets fixed each time?
I am very grateful for my first one as it did definitely help a lot but still more to fix as I have occasionally an episode now and they make me very poorly.
Just thinking what to expect from this one as it’s hard this AF walk as I am only 44 years old and don’t smoke or drink and not overweight and keep a super health diet… so it’s all been such a mystery how it all started.
I am not fearful regarding the surgery and it’s definitely my choice that I would choose all the time but it’s more the aftermaths that I get little stressed about as I had so much inflammation in the heart after the last one.
So the question is am into expect a similar experience this time or is it very variable after each one?
Thank you so much xxx
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Sigi1
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We all do the “What ifs thinking”, the truth is none of us really know what to expect after the procedure. You have been told you can have another ablation so hopefully they feel they can improve your symptoms and quality of life. Easy said than done but try to worry and stress less about it that will help. Think positive and I am sure in the coming weeks and months you will start to see an improvement in your condition. All the very best !
I have to say I felt a lot better and less ill after the second. I felt dreadful after the first one, and even had to go to hospital in an ambulance with tachycardia.
By its nature there would likely be less trauma with the second as they’ll be touching up the leaks rather than doing the major work.
Hi , I had my second ablation early in August after my first in 2019 .I had lots of episides of AF after that one which gradually subsided to very infrequent ones and milder.
So far this time I've had one very short episode after 2 weeks and nothing since so my fingers are crossed it's worked .
Best of luck with yours
My first ablation was at age 53 with sedation only and like you, I had a pretty rough time afterwards and can remember saying to my wife that I never want to go through that again. It didn't help matters that I caught the cold and cough from hell and heart irregularities were worse than before I went in. However, time is a great healer and things improved and I regained my quality of life with only a few odd bouts which I could live with. Roll forward another 10 years and the AF broke through more persistently so in for another ablation. As you can imagine, I was very worried this time and was not looking forward to it at all. General anaesthetic this time. Hardly had any after affects, brilliant! That was 4 years ago. only little micro bouts very occasionally. So there is a possibility that your recovery will be relatively trouble free. Despite the anxiety which I went through and fully understand, I would not hesitate to have it done again as the quality of life post recovery far outweighs the procedure and recovery period. Go for it and good luck!
I shall be thinking of you on Friday. I have had three ablations so far, they were all different, waiting for my 4th now.
What i have learned is to take things very slowly. Rest up and if possible let others help you for the first couple of weeks . Read the information Bob talks about. Prepare in advance for this time. And i wish you a positive outcome. Take good care of YOU!!🌻
I ended up in the cardiac care unit for 24hrs after my first ablation as my heart rate and BP were too low. I felt like I had been hit by a train for a couple of weeks. My Afib came back within 6 months and I dreaded my second ablation but needed it done. Have to say the second was a stroll in the park in comparison.
The EP described the first one as like having the painters and decorators in and the whole place painted from top to bottom. A big job. The second was coming in to touch up the bits they’d missed and few areas that needed a second coat. I had GA both times and find it takes a week or so to get it out of my system.
Three things to remember after your ablation- rest, rest and more rest. Take it gently and make slow gentle progress everyday.
Good luck - anticipation of what could happen is often much worse than what happens in reality.
Hi good luck for Friday. As people say everyone is different. My twopence worth is I've had 3 cardioversions and 3 ablations. felt tired and bit sore but ok after each one. Each lasted about 12 mths then back into AF. Ablations can be but not necessarily a permanent fix.
I had my 4th ablation at Brighton 14 months ago and as far as success and after effects went it has been my best experience. ( I've had 2 previous ablations at Brighton and one in London ). Hopefully you will have a similar experience!
My first (cryo) ablation gave me loads of problems as my EP at that time did a poor job of it, later confirmed by the EP for my second (RF) ablation. Apparently, the first failed to ablate properly as the second EP saw no scar tissue that should have formed. My second ablation went very well and I recovered quickly. Best of luck to you, Sigi1.
I had an ablation last year and another this past March and it was night and day. Everything went so much smoother the 2nd time around, from beginning to end. And much more successful! Best of luck tomorrow!
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