please can anyone tell me what questions to ask the consultant re having an ablation.
I’m worried (despite reading lots of good results on here) that after the appointment I’ll be saying I should have asked this or that etc.
I’m going to make a list of questions so any help appreciated
First of all,whatever questions you have ,write them down ,with a decent space beneath to write the answers. At the end of the appointment, ask them to wait a second while you run your eye over them to check your understanding.
Questions I wished I'd asked/ known to ask :
Who decides on the level of pain relief/sedation and when?
If I have my ablation on a Friday,who is my support contact at the hospital ( given that most seem to go into warzone mode at weekends!)
What criteria do you use to define ' success?' Succesful proceedure or outcome?
There are suggestions that one should ask how many proceedures they have done,success rate etc. I found this irrelevant as I was told ( and indeed was so) that it wasn't guaranteed that my EP would be the one to perform it.
Best wishes x
Mine was present supervising and was completed by a Fellow and stated so in my discharge letter.
Hi, link to a post I replied to previously and that reply has another link to another post.
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
I took a diary of all my episodes and how long they lasted, they love information, so take all you have.
Best wishes
Yes I record mine too and I also have an Apple Watch with the info on it.
Is it a good idea then to wear your watch after ablation?
Ask if they would mind you recording your consultation on your mobile so that you can go over exactly what was said.
The first question I always ask is about how much time will I have for this consultation and can they leave a few minutes at the end in case I have some questions.
Otherwise, you may find yourself in the position where the doctor stops talking and begins to leave the room before you have a chance to answer any questions.
I have had this happen more than once.
Jim
worse thing is, it’s a telephone consultation so I’ve no chance. Ha ha.
questions:
Meds to take post ablation?
What arrythmia can I expect afterwards if any?
What to do if I go into AF in the months ahead?
How should I convalesce - rest / exercise / work?
Hope this helps and all the best 😊
Haven't had one but from reading here over the years, I would be asking whether it will be a general anaesthetic and a discussion on the pros and cons of the different types of ablation. I would also want to know the % chance of me being able to come off all meds after say 6 months of NSR.
Firstly can I ask you about the appointment.Is it one to decide if the EP thinks the Ablation is the way to go next & if you both agree to it?(mine was ).Or do you know for definite if it will be done.If it is like mine He will point out the risks & chances of success.Make you aware of other options.I.e. medication,CV after taking amioderone ,Medication only.
I had so many knock backs up to them that I spent a day making notes as to why I deserved & needed this .Mainly quality of life for me.
Worried that 10 mins was not enough time.
No props .Less than 5 mins .He told me all the above and said he would put me on urgent list.
So have a note of how the episodes affect you and how AFib affects your life.
No regrets from me at all
Thanks for this question, Macymoo. I’ve got my pre-op appointment next week, so the answers are very relevant to me too😊
I have come to learn that what matters most isn't the fibrillation of the atrium (which is the "upstairs" two chambers of the heart) during AF, but the ability of the ventricles (the "downstairs" chambers) to continue working well to maintain oxygenation of the major organs and the body. My questions to the specialist, if I were you, would be geared to what can be done to preserve the functioning of the precious ventricles over time, and especially, the left ventricle. The atria are far less important. My elderly friend, now 90, has had permanent fibrillation for very many years and keeps surprisingly well. Keeping weight, blood pressure and cholesterol low or in the normal range seem a pre-requisite for this, but also controlling any sleep apnoea and diabetes.
When the atria are quivering during an AF episode, the ventricles, by design, keep doing their job efficiently. In some people, however, this is less so and symptoms result of chest discomfort, breathlessness and fatigue, all worsened by anxiety and fear. Why some suffer more is likely related to the changes in their cardiac output during AF. Normally the heart can eject 50-65% of the blood it receives at each contraction, I gather, which is referred to as the ejection fraction or "EF". If you have already had an echocardiogram, this will have been measured. If you still haven't had one, I would be asking for one and best of all prior to the consultation, gearing my questions to what it reveals about the ventricles. Added to this is the state of the heart valves, which can be affected by the high heart rates some suffer during AF. This would be my second question.
Finally, I would ask whether an ablation or medication would be the best way to control the AF, or whether neither are needed. Of course, if you are of a certain age or have some other health conditions, an anticoagulant will have to be taken to prevent the chance of thrombosis and stroke, which increase with AF.
Steve
Hi, one of the things I've found difficult about this site are people talk about different types of ablation. I was never told what type it was, and nothing in docs letters, so could be something to find out.
Also, it seems from some comments on here that some people if ablation works and they feel well think, that they are cured and they can run a marathon in a couple of days, then they wonder why it all goes pear shaped. It seems Docs underestimate recovery time for most people.
If you are on Bisoprolol or similar when and if you stop it.
Stroke risk as a result of op, from what I've read lasts for about 30 days after op, another reason to take care and take the anticoagulants. I had ablation on 5th and stroke on 28th of same month.
That’s awful-do you know why you had a stroke? Were you still taking the anticoagulants at that point? Sorry to hear that, hope you are ok…
Thanks, yes I was and had been for 10 yrs. I never had MRI scan which I'm still trying to arrange so it possibly could have been something else. All other tests and scans were clear. Fortunately it seemed only a small stroke and I recovered quite quickly. Consultant said as I was already on anti coagulants there was nothing they could do and I just have to wait and see what happens. Pleasant thought.
I too am in the process of getting Ablation at the end of April. The questions I forgot to ask was, is the procedure an outpatient process (they made it sound like one but later reading said it could be overnight stay). The other question was, how much time should I take off work after the procedure, I work in an office and my commute is 20 mile each way and so I am not sure on whether I need to take a few days off after the process.
I’m planning on a 2 wk rest. I’ve spoken to a fitness coach re swimming and he said I’ll need to go slowly, I’ll consult him later, but I’m sure I’ll have to go really slowly as swimming is quite strenuous. They make light of this procedure! The Old GP I saw recently didn’t make light of it!
mines on 20th too!!
I was told may need 2 zaps, no unusual. Private Prof said 80% effective 90+ after 2nd zap.
I have paramoxal afib and just had my 2nd ablation procedure. Interestingly, I have been told that the stroke risk is still present even if you are not in afib. This means that ablation is only relevant where it improves quality of life. For me, it was the fear of never knowing whether I was going in to afib that drove me down the ablation route in order to improve my mental health.
Not sure of I should have an Ablation 
Should I have second cardiac ablation?
Should I have ablation for my AF !!?
