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Ablation causing internal artery bleed

Tobypussie profile image
41 Replies

hello all you lovely people. I need some re assurance please. I’m a 68 female in NZ.

I had cryo ablation 12th January for flutter after waiting for a year. It was easier than I’d imagined and came home feeling better than expected. Over the next day my abdomen became sore and bloated, painful. I kept moving, walking around the house periodically. By the evening of the 14th I was in agony, in so much pain I collapsed. My bp was 42/ 34 my poor husband called an ambulance. Ito cut a long story short the cryo ablation had severed an artery which was leaking into my abdomen. Back in hospital my artery was fixed with intervention radiology, I watched the procedure on screen, they placed dye into my blood stream found the leaking culprit and stopped the bleeding with “coils”.. more days in hospital having 4 units of blood etc. I came home 17th truly exhausted. My abdomen is swollen, I’m told it will take months to go back to it normal size, from thighs to below chest I’m black blue and purple very sore looking 6 mths pregnant, I have shocking brain fog and feel so weak. I’m normally a fit person , walking everyday, always busy.

Any advice or similar experiences would be so welcome. Thankyou

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Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie
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41 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

My goodness that's some story Tobypussie, my heart goes out to you. What a dreadful experience you've had. I've not heard of this happening before.

Sending you a big healing hug and wishing you a speedy recovery.

Jean xxx

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply tojeanjeannie50

thank you jeanjeanie50, enjoying your healing hug xxx

stoneyrosed profile image
stoneyrosed

Wow poor you, count myself lucky after having two ablations I only had a sore groin with bruising. At least they have sorted you out, now you need to rest and get well soon. Thinking of you x

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie

thank you Stoneyrosed grateful for your sympathy ❤️‍🩹

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

You certainly have had a very unusual complication which I have never heard of before so all I can do is send best wishes for speedy recovery and a warning - expect a slow, steady recovery - go slow and steady and remember your body is far wiser than your mind so as much as you want to be fit and healthy again, if you feel tired - rest, then rest some more and manage that parrot on your shoulder telling you that you ‘should’ be doing more. Much easier said than done but I’ve a track record in ruining recovery because I’ve overdone things and it has always ended up taking much longer to recover then.

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toCDreamer

thank you so much for your kind words…I too have a parrot 🦜 on my shoulder knagging me into action but I’m not listening to him. Thankyou

dedeottie profile image
dedeottie

My goodness, what a nightmare you have had.Never heard of that particular complication before so you have been really unlucky. I’m glad you have been fixed but sounds like a slow recovery ahead. Wishing you everything good from now on. X

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply todedeottie

Thankyou dedeottie. Much love to you !

Gumbie_Cat profile image
Gumbie_Cat

What a horrible experience! The best of luck with your recovery, and keeping that parrot quiet too.

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toGumbie_Cat

xxx

Lilypocket profile image
Lilypocket

Good heavens what a terrible thing to have happened. Wishing you a speedy recovery from your injury xx

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toLilypocket

thank You Lilypocket for your good wishes ❤️‍🩹

wilsond profile image
wilsond

How awful for you,and scary for you both.Thankfully repaired now.

I think I would take the opportunity with enforced resting to perhaps indulge myself with things I am normally often too busy to enjoy, such as reading, watching films etc and not feel guilty for dedicating myself to 'me time!'

If its not time now for total self care when is! Pamper yourself if you can,perhaps treatments such as a head/ foot massage. Many come out to your home now.

Wishing you all the best. Xx

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply towilsond

Thank you for your advice which I’m following ! Much love x

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply toTobypussie

Take care now xxx

ETHEL103 profile image
ETHEL103

Very sorry to hear you had this experience. TRULY UNLUCKY.X

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toETHEL103

agree, these thing do happen x

Tapanac profile image
Tapanac

despite hearing all the good things re ablation, my experience has not been so good. Apparently the cardiologist thinks I have a PFO hole on the heart between the two atria and dilated left atrium possibly caused through the ablation. That on top of pulmonary hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, leaking mitral and triscupid valves, I don’t feel too happy.

However you sound as if you have had a bad time so I sincerely wish you well and a full recovery as soon as possible. Rest and be lazy watching those films and catching up on your good books

Also as you’re in NZ I’m guessing you have good sunny weather so enjoy

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toTapanac

Thank you ! Wishing you well take care of yourself !

frazeej profile image
frazeej

I don't think doctors appreciate how invasive an ablation or angiogram really is, and this carefree attitude is passed on to the patients. These procedures are NOT the "Ho hum" "Wham bam" operations they are portrayed to be.

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply tofrazeej

You are spot on I totally agree.thankyou

Leggylady profile image
Leggylady

So very sorry you’ve been through this; it must have been very frightening. My cryoablation was 10 weeks ago and apart from extreme tiredness I’ve been fine so I don’t have any real help to offer. All I can do is send my love and gentle hugs to you, and wish you all the very best. This too will pass. Lyn x

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toLeggylady

Thanks Lyn it’s so lovely to get your message x

MikeThePike profile image
MikeThePike

Of course, like everyone else here I wish you a full and speedy recovery but I'm absolutely shocked by your experience. HOW THE HELL WAS THIS ALLOWED TO HAPPEN? A cryoablation should not puncture a coronary artery and if it did it should have been detected sooner. I'm so glad that they were able to rectify the problem but one concern is the extra radiation you were exposed to. I'm fully aware that ablations carry risks but this sounds like negligence plain and simple. Kindly tell us which hospital performed your ablation so we can add it to our unofficial list of institutions to avoid. Please accept my very best wishes for your recovery.

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toMikeThePike

Hello Mike this happened in Hamilton NZ

SCCDL profile image
SCCDL

Good grief! I am glad I have already had an ablation without incident. This is certainly a cautionary tale. I hope you are on the mend and kudos for your husband's quick action. Your doc certainly has some 'splainin' to do!

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toSCCDL

Thank you. My husband is being excellent! Im slightly better today Thankyou

fairgo45 profile image
fairgo45

Hi fellow KiwiWhat a horrible experience you've had.

Where in NZ did you have this cryoblation done?

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply tofairgo45

Hello fairgo45! The cryo ablation was done in Waikato Hospital. T his experience has rocked my world and not sure just how long it will take to recover, feeling rotten today. Thankfully the sun is shining. I just want to be out here living my life!

fairgo45 profile image
fairgo45 in reply toTobypussie

Coincidentally I've had 3 ablations done at the Waikato but not a cryoblation though I imagine there similar I'm going to message you as I also had a bad experience with 2nd ablation .

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply tofairgo45

oh that sound terrible. How do you want to message me? I’ve followed you will that work or do you need another avenue?

fairgo45 profile image
fairgo45 in reply toTobypussie

I've messaged you using the chat arrow above your name you can reply the same way

irene75359 profile image
irene75359

I really shocked; hoping you recover well and sending good wishes.

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toirene75359

thank you Irene for your good wishes xxx

Megams profile image
Megams

~So terribly sorry reading of your nightmare experience in the extreme not to mention the added recovery time to your original cryo-ablation.

From one fellow Kiwi to another (Auckland) sending virtual healing hugs & abundant blessings in the hope that with each passing day you will feel better & stronger :) :)

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toMegams

thanks Megams ! Exhausted today, reckon it’s going to be a while to recover from this ! 😘

Megams profile image
Megams in reply toTobypussie

~The added heat of this wonderful summer will be adding to your fatigue no doubt - bask in the healing sun if you can tolerate albeit briefly :) :)

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toMegams

Well it’s raining down here today…I’m cold ! Hurry back sunshine☀️

Lyndylan profile image
Lyndylan

sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds like you were lucky to catch it in time. I would talk to a lawyer as soon as you are feeling better, as it sounds negligent. Anyway rest up and you will soon feel better, I hope.

Afibflipper profile image
Afibflipper

Hi Tobypussie, I’m so relieved for you getting through this ok - how scary. I found out only last year that (15 years on) that during my initial 2ablations my heart had been punctured leaving blood in the pericardial sac on two areas - at the time I’d returned in excruciating pain but was told I had a “burn blister” and it would settle from an ultrasound!!! That was found 15 years later on MRI for returning AF!

Little did I know that they’d probably seen the bleeding had stopped by then and never informed me of the reality!!! Only now seeing your report do I think how lucky I was back then! I considered negligence but the surgeon is no longer alive but thankfully I am - still battling health issues

I wish you a complete, speedy, safe & successful recovery without further incident 🤗

Tobypussie profile image
Tobypussie in reply toAfibflipper

Thankyou Afibflipper. What a terrible experience for you too. I feel things are moving very slowly and patience isn’t easy, I’m trying to be positive. You take care ☺️

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