Pre med for 2nd ablation

[Linkj]

I had a cryoablation in August 2021 and I suspected it had not completely worked fairly early. I had a telephone pre-op today and am due for a 2nd ablation, radio frequency this time, in the next few weeks, I am waiting for the date. I found you all so supportive the first time and I feel remarkably nervous about this second one, which is not really like me. i like to think I am quite tough having been through 3 years of very aggressive cancer treatment a couple of years ago. I think i am just worn out being a patient. I would love your positive stories and support and I will post the date when I know it for hopefully your prayers and positive thoughts!!

[CDreamer]

My second worked for me whereas first made things worse. I get that you are treatment fatigued but you know you also need to give it a go. You now know the routine so and you have the easy part so lie back and remember that it’ll be much harder for the EP!

Best wishes & know we will be touting for you. 😘

[Linkj in reply to CDreamer]

Treatment fatigued is a wonderful expression, that sums it up, thank you

[DawnTX in reply to Linkj]

I agree about the treatment fatigue we are all tired of not feeling well. It seems like my life is made of doctor appointments lately but for the first time in a long time I am feeling pretty good keep that in mind that there’s light at the end of the tunnel

[stoneyrosed]

Hi, I too had cryoablation first time, I had second ablation this year in Jun which was RF, the touch up RF was so much easier than the cryo I had very little sedation and was chatting to the EP throughout the procedure. As for the recovery period I found the cryo recovery quite difficult and in the end it never really worked as soon as I came off the meds approx 5 month after the procedure I fell back in AF. This second one I have found the recovery slightly different I cannot quite put my finger on it, it seems to be a bit of a rollercoaster where I have weeks of feeling good and times when not so good. I am slightly optimistic things are improving and I can go on and have a good run AF free. That is my honest take on how things have been for me, I am sure despite your nervousness that things will eventually be much improved, you very much deserve it.

[mikeymike7]

I also had a cryoablation first time but they couldn't do all the pulmonary veins. I have an extra one! The AF came back again after about 18 months and I suffered a mini stroke as well! I was offered a RF ablation and so far it has worked! I get the odd run of ectopic beats, which can be very annoying and anxiety inducing but so far so good and that is a year and a half down the line.

[ILF1]

best of luck with your procedure. Hoping it all goes well and the outcome is good. I understand the “worn out as a patient comment” having had 6 ops for various non heart related things in the last ten years. Have an ablation tomorrow and very nervous but going with the belief that they will do their very best for me. As the AF nurse said, everyone in the room is there for you and to get the best result for you. That helps my nerves and I wish the same to you.

[Linkj in reply to ILF1]

thank you, I do wish you the very best for your ablation tomorrow

[SJ1000 in reply to ILF1]

Good luck for tomorrow. I’m 8 weeks post Cryo and so far so good. Really hope your procedure is successful and do take as much time as you need for recovery.

[LadyLawson]

my EP warned me that a second ablation is often needed to finish the job. So think of it that way and you will be fine. Ablation is a blessing and we are lucky to have it available to us - many don’t. Being positive also helps. All the very best.

[ozziebob]

Sorry I know nothing about ablations but your Post makes me want to hold you in my far away "internet arms", an imaginary human hug if you will, until you regain the belief in yourself and life we all deserve.

[Ossie7]

morning Linkj ,

I too had a cryoablation under sedation for my first ablation . Mine sounds different to the ones I’ve heard about on this forum where they were very relaxed and barely felt anything . I was the polar opposite . I felt everything , and with each ablation of the veins I could feel intense pain in my thoracic spine , L arm , chest neck , even jaw , basically the symptoms of having a heart attack . I felt it was a real ordeal . The cardiologist was talking to me throughout , asking ne questions so obviously I wasn’t supposed to be completely sedated . It lasted 8 months and back in persistent AF .

So when I was offered a second ‘ top up ‘ ablation I was petrified ! However this time it was a totally different experience . It was RF and done under anaesthetic , so I really didn’t feel a thing ! I recovered well , went about my merry way until , wham , AF back with a vengeance only 5 months later .

Gutted 😢

But the RF ablation procedure was a breeze Linkj , so try not to worry too much . Many do also work longer term . Sadly some don’t and I’m on the w/l for ablation no 3 , which my cardio thinks is definitely worth doing but ablating slightly different areas .

Best of luck

[DawnTX in reply to Ossie7]

you sound a bit like me for me it was after the third with the pulmonary veins. I have not had any relief since April and yes it felt like a heart attack on a constant basis I can’t see just how miserable I was because I don’t have the words. I don’t know why but last week I had a cardioversion and I feel like a different person. I know they don’t tend to last but I will take whatever I can have right now as far as relief. I have to say since April it is the worst I have felt since being diagnosed. Previous it wasn’t so much how I felt except for the fact that I blacked out a few times. Unfortunately it seems a fib can sometimes be very silent but still there I would love to have some day where we all wake up and feel terrific everyone that has a fib just get a break. Until then it’s 1 foot in front of the other one day at a time but having all of you here makes it easier if we all hold hands

[DKBX]

It has taken three rf ablations after the first cryoballoon ablation to calm my heart and yet I STILL have to be on metoprolol and flecainide! But so far after 8 months I’m at least in NSR. I stay clear of alcohol completely and do a lot of yoga and deep breathing along w meditation/morning prayer and long walks to keep the calming vibes coming. Good luck!

[irene75359]

Ah, you have my sympathy. I finished eighteen months of aggressive cancer treatment in March and the last time I went I passed out when they tried to insert a cannula for contrast for a scan and then threw up when I came to - what was all that about? I was so shocked after eighteen months of weekly cannulas and very few problems. CDreamer described it very well - treatment fatigued. Sending you strength and good healing.

[Linkj in reply to irene75359]

Thank you Irene and wishing you well with your continued recovery. I think cancer treatment can be very gruelling but not so keen on the alternative!!

[DawnTX]

hi. My first ablation was cryo- but it only lasted about six months. Because I have an implant loop recorder my doctor was aware almost immediately that things are not going as they should. He got me right in for the RF also and it lasted over a year and a half and I felt wonderful. What we need to remember is that the ablations do not fail. I just had my third procedure in April. This time it was a VOM as well as some other stuff. My doctor made it a point to tell me that the other ablations were holding fine. I think we all tend to think our prior surgeries have failed but we need to remember with a fib is that it is our electrical system so think of it as one just like in your house. You have a failure in one part and it gets fixed. Unfortunately you can get another failure in a different part. That is what happens to us. I don’t know if they understand why this happens. It seems like there is still so many unknowns with a fib.

I have no hesitancy about another RF ablation if needed because the relief was almost to mediate. The day of the RF part of the team told me that cryo- is just a one shot deal. As I said so many unknowns and they are still trying to work on stuff for us.

just a year ago I went through so much stress I can’t even explain it but I have a feeling that is part of why I needed another ablation. Unfortunately the VOM was not successful with me from what I can tell. Part of it must’ve been though because I had a cardioversion a little over a week ago and I am so excited to say this is the best I have felt for quite a while. When I went to sleep I had a 158 heart rate and when I woke up it was 82. It has held steady except last night for whatever reason it actually was down to 70. I am so excited hoping this will last for quite a while. I have learned to only do my oximeter a couple of times a day because it can very minute to minute.

Think positive now we know there are no cures but there are long lasting procedures. I honestly believe most of it is simply luck for us which you probably don’t want to hear but we have to be realistic with this thing take it easy don’t push yourself. You and your body will know what you should not be doing so don’t do it. You’re gonna hear from several people on here I hope that have amazing stories some who have been Successful for years with their ablation. Please let us know how you are doing

[Ossie7 in reply to DawnTX]

can you explain what a VOM procedure is please ?

[DawnTX in reply to Ossie7]

I just replied to buttafly. I am the one that had it the end of April of this year. You can read the rest of my stuff I wrote but I will tell you VOM is the pulmonary vein area behind the heart and evidently it is not paid attention to as a site for a fib as much as it should be it is a difficult area and the VOM uses alcohol to a bleach with a balloon system that has been perfected by my EP/Surgeon Miguel Valderabano of DeBakey cardiology/Houston Methodist in Houston Texas. They went through my carotid, femoral and wrist. The doctor stated it is aggressive procedure compared to others when I was feeling so poorly at my follow up. Unfortunately my ECG did not show anything that day and as we know a fib does not come up on an ECG unless you are in an event. I knew I had problems even that day as I could barely get to his office. My problem is not with the procedure as much as the fact that my doctor did not listen or addressed things with me he left it to staff members and I now have a new doctors.

The VOM did address the flutter almost immediately. I was put back into NSR a week ago Friday. I feel amazing. I have since changed my mind about the procedure because if it had not worked I would not be in NSR now. I had a cardioversion and went to sleep 158 heart rate woke up to an 82 and staying steady in fact actually went down to 70 last night. I had gone out yesterday for a brief time and I’m wondering if that little bit of exercise helped. I’m back at 82 today which I will gladly take. I don’t know how much help I can be but feel free to reach out

[Ossie7 in reply to DawnTX]

ah , I see . Thanks for that explanation Dawn . That is the procedure I am now waiting for as the cardiologist said this one’s addresses the area behind the heart . X

[DawnTX in reply to Ossie7]

yes you must have a good doctor because not many of them seem to pay attention to that area. It did stop my flutters. To this day we still don’t know what has caused all of the trouble I’m having because it appears I was fixed and did not go into NSR for some reason. I don’t know if they’ll ever figure it out. Where are you having it done? If you read it it’s really only a couple of years old and as I said my original Dr is the pioneer just like Dr. Wolf at the same DeBakey heart clinic is the one for his procedure mini maze. Perhaps I’m just one of the few preventers that things don’t always go as planned. I don’t blame my doctor for that part it was him ignoring me or he would’ve sorted this out as quickly as my new doctor. Dr. V waited until September so I had been suffering since the end of April. He was going to do the cardioversion. You can turn the clock back but I wonder if he did it right away if none of what I’ve been through would’ve happened. I really loved him until all the garbage happened. I’m glad you’re getting to try this procedure just remember I was told after a year for it to be completely healed because it is aggressive and where it is. So don’t get discouraged. If I had made it to the year without all these headaches there is a good possibility of a cure which they don’t seem to have yet. Still bumps in the road for them obviously. EPs are awesome at what they do. They are not people persons just like surgeons of other types. Perhaps they need to work with a People person as a partner. I was very lucky in Florida I had a great EP but also I had a separate Cardiologist and he was like a teddy bear although wonderful also at what he does. My EP in Houston was also my cardiologist I think that’s the problem

please keep in touch let me know how you do. It’s too late for me but maybe not. You may answer some of my questions and hopefully now I am finally on my way to being great. I am so glad you wrote about it you are really the first person I know even aware of the VOM and if you say vein of Marshall to people they are clueless. I have a GP friend of mine in Florida who actually has a fib and he did not know what it was. He is retired but it also shows how new this is because he still stays pretty much up with stuff.

Giant hugs and best of luck

[Ossie7 in reply to DawnTX]

I’m getting it done at Nottingham . My guy is also an EP and cardiologist . I’m on a long waiting list , approximately a year so time for me to get my weight down ( and keep it there this time 🤞!)

Hoping I stay in sinus rhythm 🤞

Take care

[Linkj in reply to Ossie7]

I was told the waiting time was a year but I have only waited 7 months so maybe yours will be sooner. Let us know when it happens. I heard today that mine is the 15th November

[Ossie7 in reply to Linkj]

that’s good Linkj , not long now .

Wishing you all the best 🤞

[Linkj in reply to DawnTX]

Thank you Dawn

[Jetcat]

go for it Linkj. and get it sorted. You certainly deserve a good result after all the other treatments you’ve gone through this last few years. Sending you special wishes.👍

Ron.x

[Linkj in reply to Jetcat]

thank you

[SCCDL]

I remember Roseann Rosannadana on Saturday Night Live, and her expression "it's always something." So true - but I am thankful that there are treatments now that weren't available a few decades ago. I try to take comfort in that. Hope all goes well for you!

[dedeottie]

I have a long AF history and also of treatment and procedures all of which can be read on here.

Most recently though I had a cryoablation in early July which was successful but I needed an RF ablation then to deal with tachycardia and flutter which was from a different part of the atria. This was done under light sedation and with pain relief and although it took 4 hours, was much more bearable than I was expecting. I made a much quicker recovery than when I had a GA. This was done on the 17th August. I had a blip after 6 weeks when I had a 30 hour episode of flutter but since then I have had nothing other than a normal rhythm. During this time I have had covid with a high temperature followed by a secondary chest infection and as if this wasn’t enough I tripped over a basket and broke some ribs making coughing a traumatic experience! Still no AF or tachycardia or flutter. I still have everything crossed but am cautiously optimistic.

So, all in all a positive outcome that has been a very long time coming.

I totally understand that you are worn out with treatment but compared to what you have been through, this should be much easier.

Sending hugs and good wishes. X