Failed ablation

[honey1958]

Hello all

Went today for 2nd ablation . Doctor got as far as getting wire into my heart but think said was unable to get through into other side due to scar tissue from 1st procedure?

Been re booked for 20th October under general anaesthetic with a TOE

So upset as I have been so anxious and now today's procedure had to be abandoned . Discharged home but am in pain and bleeding from groin. Walking like John Wayne!

My mental health has deteriorated recently

Dont want to scare anyone waiting for an ablation but I did have pain. Last time I had sedation and morphine. Now only morphine despite me asking for more. Can't understand why you aren't knocked out.

Each time things get worse I feel pushed back and the older you get the harder it is to bounce back

Thankyou for listening

[stoneyrosed]

Please don’t despair, your booked in for Oct 20th which is only just over 3 weeks. This time it will be painless. I know it is not ideal having it cancelled under those circumstances but it was for the best. Most of us here have gone through pain and anxiety, the thing is we get through it because we have to there is no other choice but it will pass it always does. The thing is to think positive no matter what we have to put up with you have to relax your mind and think positive. Look forward to your recovery in just a few short weeks. All the best !

[honey1958 in reply to stoneyrosed]

Thankyou stoneyrosed yes on the positive side I did get a new date straight away and its close

Negative side is v painful groin with nothing to show for it!

Sometimes AF seems a never ending journey but you're right no choice but to be positive.

[Megams]

~Thinking of you honey1958 - not the ideal at all but better to be safe than sorry. With your next ablation you will not be aware of anything which is far better for all concerned so that EP & other medical staff can concentrate on the job in hand knowing their patient is under a g.a.

Comforting virtual hugs sent your way for 20th Oct - you will be a new gal

[honey1958 in reply to Megams]

Thanks Megams for your thoughts and virtual hugs are always welcome!

[Ppiman]

This is bad news for you and must be hard to cope with. What stresses and strains we go through with this ruddy complaint, eh? But it's temporary, so you'll get there and come out a whole lot better. My son's colleague has had several ablations and has just started with atrial flutter, poor chap - but he's coping well. He can't have any more because of the scar tissue from those others.

Steve

[wilsond in reply to Ppiman]

Picking up on this,is his flutter occurring in the left side? If on right side should not be a problem as they do not go through the septum.

[Ppiman in reply to wilsond]

Thanks for that WD! I’ll ask him. I think you might be right. My AFl was sorted well in 2019. He is a great bloke and had his first ablation many years ago.

Steve

[honey1958 in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve yes it certainly is a ruddy complaint isnt it!

Well done to your sons colleague for coping. Sounds like he has been through a lot.

I think the you get less resilient with age. Various bits of the body seem to be falling apart and there's an awareness that most of your life is behind rather than in front of you

[Ppiman in reply to honey1958]

You’ve said it perfectly. On top of ageing, family tragedies can cause a kind of PTSD I’ve come to think, too, which adds to the burden. Such is life. But - the sun still shines often enough, thankfully.

Steve

[wilsond]

Put this behind you now,will be much nicer under GA and very soon. I too had no sedation and at one point unbearable pain until pumped with something nice. If I have another,would prefer GA or guaranteed sedation.

Hope ypu heal soon xxx

[honey1958]

Thankyou Wilsond yes the bit of the problem they did this time was sadly painful

Have just seen about your god daughters cancellation on the other thread. Im so sorry and hope she is sorted out soon.

Do let us know what happens xx

[irene75359]

I think there are certain people for whom sedation and painkillers fail to have an effect and I think you are in this category, I know I am. Most people describe having a colonoscopy as painless and really interesting so when I went for mine I was not in the least bit nervous. In the event I was thrashing about in absolute agony and I remembered everything in spite of also being given the drug that affects memory. When I had a follow-up appointment with the lead consultant, I told him what had happened, he was most sympathetic and told me I could have had more fentanyl. Now if I have a procedure under sedation I make a point of telling the team that the normal dose isn't enough.

[honey1958 in reply to irene75359]

Hi Irene

My first ablation was with the sedaive medazolam and think I slept through alot of it. Certainly didnt recall the awful pain and pressure on groin.

This time I asked more than once for the sedative but they kept saying I could have it later! I had also discussed wanting maximum meds before the procedure so felt a bit let down to be honest

Incidentally have also had a colonoscopy and that was almost painfree. Sorry about your bad experience

[irene75359 in reply to honey1958]

I would have felt let down too, especially as you were letting them know about the pain. However, if you have a GA it should be much better.

[Offcut]

So sorry to hear of your experience. I was diagnosed in 1992 with AF and I have had 3 Ablations and been awake for all of them. My second one was for 8 hours. I am a complicated soul and have many comorbidities that have joined my AF journey one of which is life limiting. I have found that a Positive Mental Attitude is the way to deal with all of this? I also use Distraction and Mindfulness Techniques. It does not cure the problem but make it less of a worry.

[honey1958 in reply to Offcut]

Thankyou Offcut

Admire you for being awake 8 hours for ablation!

So sorry to hear of your other illness but looks like challenging your mental attitude is working for you.

My daughter said I have the wrong mindset.

I will certainly look at the things you mentioned thankyou

[Offcut in reply to honey1958]

It does work I first learnt about Mindfulness and Distraction when I was asked to take part in an Opioid removal course for the NHS. I was maxing out on Tramadol I now rarely take Paracetamol for pain and nothing else. As a result, I now live without the fog of Opioids and my pain is no worse than before! Be Well

[Billybobjo1234]

I feel your pain! My hubby has had 2 failed. Furst 5 hours with sedation that didnt work. 2nd had TOE under general and of course there was a clot so they abandoned. We had prepared for weeks for it and were so disappointed! Never mind the need for his heart to be fixed so he can undergo the removal of a kidney! 8 weekd wait for anothet TOE with no aneasthesia (he has refused) so now await and answer on what they plan next! Ive complained via PALS and that got us nowhere.

[honey1958 in reply to Billybobjo1234]

Oh dear doesn't sound pleasant.

I did ask electrophysiologist yesterday why all ablations aren't done under GA and he said its because of a shortage of anaesthetists.

Fully understand hubby refusing TOE without anaesthetic I've been there done that got T shirt.

Just can't believe the difference between 2 ablations. I was happy to have another after positive first experience now never again without GA. Worst aspect was the fact I was ignored when I was in pain. Really good for mental health not!

Sadly I think this is becoming the norm for NHS now. You said you got nowhere with PALS. Down to limited resources I suppose. Not acceptable in 1st world country.

Wish you and your husband all the best x