cyroablation

[Henry716]

I’m due to have cyroablation for paroxysmal af on Wednesday and am really anxious about the procedure due to the fact I’m scared about the anesthetic and the outcome of the procedure. I am over weight too and that worries me. Can someone share their experiences please. Appreciate your help

[BobD Volunteer]

From my personal experience it is a walk in the park I would rather have an ablation than go to the dentist. Do read out two fact sheet, links below, sso you know what to expect bother before and during recovery .

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[stoneyrosed]

Hi Henry, The waiting is the worst part, once the procedure starts to take place you will just go with the flow. A little uncomfortable in parts but if you’re having full anaesthetic and not sedation you won’t feel anything. If you’re having sedation you can tell them you’re feeling uncomfortable and they will sedate you a bit more. When done you will remain still for a few hrs in a ward where they will bring you a cuppa. Usually the next day you can go home where you will need to do nothing for a week or two and then gradually you will recover and hopefully no more AF. Think positive and you will be fine. All the best !

PS If they thought you were too overweight they would not go ahead with the procedure. Relax you will be fine.

[CDreamer]

I’ve had 2 ablations but under sedation, not GA so if it is Anaesthesia you worry about - and certainly I get that because it can be the riskiest part of the procedure for some, ask your doctor about having sedation. There was an anaesthetist present at both my procedures who controlled pain and level of consciousness. You tend to recover much more quickly after sedation.

The experience itself was fascinating and although I nearly backed out the morning of the procedure - waiting really was the worst part. Ensure you tell your team you are very nervous and have a list of questions at the ready and only go ahead when you are happy to. Remember - You are in control.

[KiwiBlake]

Hi Henry. I'm a 52 year old male. I had a cryo ablation last September. As Bob says, nothing to fear. Initially I was awake. I remember chatting to the surgical team, they numbed the groin area where the catheter was to be inserted. I didn't even realise they had inserted it and thread it up to my heart. I was awake for the first freeze, then I felt my heart pounding wildly, so they put me under. My next recollection was waking up back in the ward with my wife sitting next to me. I got discharged a couple of hours later, and I said to the wife, I need KFC. So we walked into the local KFC and had a great feed!Best of luck. Blake

[mjames1]

First, under no circumstances go to Bob's dentist

Seriously, ablation is a big procedure. Catheters are threaded through your groin. You septum is punctured. Your heart is frozen or burned and scar tissue forms.

I had my cryo ablation five weeks ago, and I'm just starting to get back into my old routine after some trying weeks. Not uncommon, I developed pericarditis (heart inflammation) and needed to be treated with anti-inflammatories.

I don't say this to scare you, but to prepare you, because if you don't feel like your old self for a week or two (or even a month or two) don't think something is wrong with you. Yes, some go back to full activity very quickly, but not everyone.

Also remember that you only have one chance to heal correctly. So even if you do feel like climbing Everest, probably better to just read a book about it Give you heart all the time needs to heal properly so that your ablation has the best chance of succeeding.

As to anesthesia, for me less is more. If you can have it under conscious sedation versus general, I would go for conscious sedation.

[Henry716 in reply to mjames1]

hi mjames1.

The thing is I would only have maybe 1-2 episodes per year and normally rectify within 12 hours, is it really worth having the cyroablation , I mean will life be any better? I also smoke and it’s really the only enjoyment I have albeit a bad one but will the fact that I smoke hinder the op? Sorry about this but my bloody anxiety levels are through the roof here

[mjames1 in reply to Henry716]

Unsolicited, I would never tell someone to cancel an ablation already scheduled, for a number of reasons, first I'm not a medic and second I don't have your full history.

However, since you're directly asking me, let me say that if I were in your situation, with only 1-2 relatively short episodes a year, I would not have an ablation at this point. And in fact I have been in your situation and at that point did not have an ablation.

Ablations are not without risk and I think your efforts would be better spent getting into a weight loss program (newer drugs now available if lifestyle doesn't work) and yes, quitting smoking. And as an ex smoker I know that is much easier said than done. More on that later.

As you seem to know, if overweight, then losing weight is arguably the single most important thing you can do not only to reduce or eliminate afib, but to ensure the succes of an ablation. So maybe you can use that as motivation now and who knows, if you lose enough weight, those afib episodes might even disappear!

Stopping smoking -- I smoked for 20 year 1-2 packs a day and finally stopped over 30 years ago. During that 20 year period, I tried stopping maybe 100 times. So, just because you haven't been able to stop, doesn't mean you can't stop, it just means you getting better each time because of practice What finally made the difference for me was a group called SmokeEnders. Don't know if they have it in the UK, but they may have similar groups. I was never a "group" person, but this is what did the trick. Sort of like an AA for smokers.

And back to the weight thing -- should you decide to have an ablation, again, losing weight will make the odds just that much better. And by then, hopefully Pulse Field Ablation (PFA) will be more widely available. It's quicker and safer than either RF or Cryo.

This is just my opinion. I'm sure if you polled this whole group, at least half would tell you to go get ablated on Wednesday and not worry about it

Good luck whatever you decide.

Jim

[Henry716 in reply to mjames1]

thanks Jim

[PrivateRyan]

I had my cryoablation under conscious sedation at the end of March, and I'd describe the experience as uncomfortable, though not painful. Only advice I can give is to rest completely for at least a week, and by the end of the second week you should be feeling a bit better. I've no idea of your current activity levels, but just take it easy getting back to normal and don't try to rush things. Good luck.

[wilsond]

Henry you would not get put forward for ablation if a)you are at risk b) they don't rate the chances of success to be good enough. It is expensive ( at least 15,000)

It is often felt that in many cases,early ablation stops the inevitable progress of AF episodes. From experience I wish I had done that instead of dithering around for years!

You may very well have only a few episodes a year NOW but,like me you may suddenly trip into full-blown persistent AF.

I had 2 x6 week continuous episodes and if you had seen me you would have no hesitation in taking this great opportunity.

Now ,you are also lucky in my opinion to have GA although recovery slightly lengthier. I had no sedation at all,only pain relief and would not go that route again.

It was a year hence from my ablation on Thursday last . I have been in NSR since,touch wood.

Let us know how you get on and rest up plenty.

Read the patient leaflet on here,reallyvreally invaluable.