Looking ahead, I am researching prospective E.P's for ablation. Planning on initial Private consultation with a view to getting on a list at a chosen Consultant (currently waiting for a Cardiologist locally, but not holding my breath)
Living in North Devon U.K I would be grateful for any recommendations in the South West (if well experienced) or alternatively 'up country'........being an ex Oxfordshire girl I am looking into E.P's at the John Radcliffe in Oxford, just a little concerned about the 4/5 hour car journey home and if it's doable without too much discomfort, would anyone be able to add any comments on this? But I have no doubts reference the good old J.R 's capabilities, I would have peace of mind there.
Be so grateful for any recommendations for potential E.P's who know their stuff and good experiences from same, in South West or others/John Radclliffe
Also, Pulse Field Ablation, can anyone who's had one, describe their experience of this and success rate.
Thank you everyone
Just want to get on with my life sooner ................
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sunlovah
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There are two including Steve Podd at RD and E but I understand funding for ablations is very limited. Arrhythmia nurse is Lynne Bastable . I think David Tomlinson is still at Derriford? Bristol has quite a good reputation. I had all my treatment at Royal Brompton in London as RD and E did not have an electrophysiology section when I started my journey. Nothing worth the name at Pilton Hilton. aka NDDH.
Thanks for your reply, how was the journey home to North devon after ablation in London? Don't mind the going up to Oxford it's the return journey, if it happens.Someone said that you can opt for a private hospital (maybe Bristol)under NHS would you know if that's the case?
Welcome to the Soth West. I’m very happy with my EP Dr Lovell who practices both with NHS at RD&E and Exeter Heart (at Nuffield). I first saw him at a public talk on latest developments in treatment of arrhythmias and later booked a private consultation with him. He is knowledgeable, thorough, listens and explains well. I had complete trust in him giving my recent ablation for persistent Afib.
Yes it was my first and so far successful, though still only 7 weeks and still in blanking period. I was in persistent Afib and Dr Lovell explained I may need a second “touch up” ablation in the future.
There were long waiting lists for ablation when I was first diagnosed a year ago. Dr Lovells team, Exeter Heart, has now contracted with the NHS in order to shorten waiting lists. So although on NHS I had the ablation done in their state of the art unit at Nuffield.
Please feel free to keep asking questions! It’s a big decision to take! You could always book a one off consultation with Dr Lovell and see how you get on.
I don’t think any EP could possibly have time to keep up email consultations. It would be chaos. Thats why they have such a skilled and highly trained team working alongside them. I have been able to ring the cardio nurses any time and of course they confer with your named consultant if there are any concerns. Having said this, in the course of my 2 private consultations I did send in regular ECG readings from my iWatch and made contact with his secretaries both at Nuffield/Exeter Heart and RD&E.
It was a cryo-ablation which is a preferred method in NHS for cutting waiting times. But the skill of the EP is what counts. You could have a different type if you’re prepared to pay of course.
I’m sorry sunlovah I can’t answer this. If you call Exeter Heart the secretary there is very good and will get back to you. Dr Lovell has been practicing over 10 years full time so I know it’s a LOT of ablations he has done! I don’t think Exeter NHS have pulse field yet, but that may be changing. I should add that there are otherEPs on the Exeter team whom you may also wish to explore.
Thank you that's very helpful, advised to ensure that EP has completed hundreds of Ablations. He's on my list will ask questions like you say ,if speaking to the team. 👍☺️
When an Ablation is done, Is it identified pretty much, where the rogue cells are coming from or is it a bit hit and miss. Relatively new to all this but learning fast ....
As I understand it the rogue cells tend to cluster close to the pulmonary veins and the aim of ablation is to entirely encircle and block any potential pathways for rogue beats. I’m not sure if they are able to identify exactly where each rogue cell originates. In instances where rogue cells are situated elsewhere in the heart I heard an EP saying it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. But there’s people on this forum who are better informed than me and it’s a really interesting question- so do feel free to pose it as an open question on the forum. I shall certainly be asking it of my arrhythmia team when they call for my 3 month check up. By the way, my respect for the arrhythmia nurses at RD&E has grown and grown. They are very knowledgable and helpful and it was one of them who helped me pick a date when my consultant was operating. The wonderful thing is you can call them any time with questions and concerns and they always get back to you.
I think it depends on the procedure and it’s called mapping the rouge pathways. I’ll be having a cryoablation of the pulmonary veins as Rainfern says, I believe this is the first procedure for suitable candidates on the NHS at the moment and is not mapped. If a second procedure is needed to touch up any areas then this will be RF ablation with mapping to find the spots that need touching up. That’s my understanding as I’ve been told.
Not sure how this fits in with Pulsed Field ablation as this is not in my area yet.
Good luck with your ablation Buzby. I’m assuming you’ve read these info sheets produced by AF Association? They helped me so much both in preparation and convalescence during recent ablation.
Yes, thank you, I have been keeping a silent eye on your and others progress. Still too early to assess, keep doing the right things and hopefully it will be a success. Good luck.
no he did my cardioversion just over a week ago, still in NSR. He has a very good reputation and is very easy to talk to, not sure what ablations he does plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ha...
That’s not very good. Hasn’t he suggested anything else, such as change of medication or AV node ablation. I’ve recently had that done, a big decision but if nothing else works then depending on your circumstances, it could well be your answer. I had mine done at RD&E , Exeter.
I see Dr Matt Lovell in Exeter, I usually see him privately for Consultations but have procedures done under NHS because unfortunately my pension doesn’t stretch to those sort of figures. I’ve always been happy with Dr Lovell, he’s very approachable and explains things thoroughly.
Hi, pleased to meet you! 😁 I’ve always got on well with him, but it’s luck of the draw when it comes to procedures under NHS but fortunately I have only had one negative experience, everyone else has been great.
I first met him at a public talk he gave on latest developments in arrhythmia treatments. He’s very approachable, good listener, someone who’s “on team” with you. I have paid for a couple of consultations but the ablation and 2 CVs on NHS. I was able to choose my consultant for the ablation.
I forgot to say, I had my first ablation, 2016, done at BRI under Dr Ed Duncan - he’s very nice and very experienced. He and Dr Lovell trained together. I was living near Bristol then but also Dr Duncan was recommended by friends who were Consultants but in other fields.
Hi, re journey back, depending on anesthetics used you may need a night in hospital and you shouldn't drive for a week or so. With someone else driving, I did 4 hr car journey next day.
Thanks for your reply. Someone will be driving me home, I did think of spending a night in a hotel before traveling, if they discharged me on same day.
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