Update on ablation and follow up

[Suze43]

Rather a long time since I last posted but Wilson’s post yesterday about her delayed second ablation has prompted me to do an update.

My ablation, at the end of August 2022, went well and I received excellent care during the procedure. However, I have had very little support from the hospital since my ablation and a face to face follow up never happened at all, just a couple of unsatisfactory phone calls with a new arrhythmia nurse.

I stopped taking bisoprolol about a month after the ablation and felt SO MUCH better without it.

Thanks to information provided by the wonderful people on this forum, I was prepared for a few blips during the blanking period. I remained in NSR during September and October and had a few minor, brief, easily resolved episodes of PAF in November, December and January and also quite a lot of ectopics.

In a phone call review from my arrythmia nurse in February, because there had been a few episodes of PAF, I was presented with the option of either more medication or a repeat ablation. I did not feel either were necessary at that time but agreed to the ablation waiting list knowing it would be at least a year away and I could make the choice then.

I was very surprised to receive a letter a few days ago offering me another ablation on 22 January! This with no contact and no check ups in the previous eleven months! As far as I am aware I have been in NSR for the last 12 months and am so pleased with the improvement to my quality of life. I tried to contact my arrhythmia nurse to discuss it but, of course, there has been no response. I have now cancelled the procedure and very glad I did as it was destined to be sedation rather than GA!

I hope I’ve made the right decision.

[jeanjeannie50]

It sounds to me like you've made the right decision Suze. I can't help but say what dreadful after care you have had. I've had three ablations and every one of them involved a follow up face to face appointment with my EP, none of them cured my AF but I feel a lot better now. Did your EP not see any follow up ECG's of yours?

Jean

[Suze43 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for your reply Jean. I never encountered an EP at all until the day of the ablation! I had only ever had appointments with arrhythmia nurses. The first two nurses I had were brilliant and both were promoted. My current one appears to know a lot less about PAF than the well informed people on this forum!

I emailed plenty of readings from my kardia prior to my telephone appointment (three months post ablation) but they went astray during the department's reorganisation. I sent them again and did lots of chasing to try to get another appointment. I would leave phone messages but received no response and there were no replies to my emails. It was only after I sent an email mentioning PALS that I finally had a response six months after the ablation. Another phone call in which the nurse didn't listen to me (I felt things were settling) but insisted on either a return to beta blockers or the waiting list for another ablation.

I am thankful that I only had a few problems during the first few months post ablation and that NSR seems to have been restored for now (it didn't even appear when I had covid in October). However, if problems do arise I do not have confident in the the hospital arrhythmia team and my allocated nurse in particular. Fortunately my GP is very supportive.

I'm glad that, although your ablation didn't have the hoped for results, at least they have improved your quality of life and I know from reading your posts that you have plenty of useful techniques for managing AF and you have benefitted from adapting your lifestyle.

I have learned a lot from you Jean, thank you.

[Jalia]

I'm pretty sure you've made the right decision. Your cardiology team certainly do not inspire confidence.

Best wishes

J

[Suze43 in reply to Jalia]

Thankfully the EP who carried out the ablation and the rest of his team did know what they were doing! 🙂

[pottypete1]

totally understandable.

Pete

[ETHEL103]

Hi I'm in the dame position as yourself.I recieved a followup call 9 months after my 1st ablation and mostly felt good apart from a few hiccups etcectopics and tacky and a couple of a fibs .Then out of the blue offered another ablation before Xmas but had to pass on this as hubby is on chemo and is very poorly on it so none to look after me after said ablation.I didn't cancel though but like you I was left for months without followup and have never seen anyone from the team except on the 5 mins before my 1st ablation.All went well but it does leave you feeling a bit vulnerable.

[Suze43 in reply to ETHEL103]

There really doesn’t seem to be any consistency across different health authorities. I do feel vulnerable from the lack of support so thank goodness for this forum.

Glad you’re doing OK though and long may the NSR continue.

[ETHEL103]

Thankyou.Best wishes to you .