I've been to the John Radcliffe in Oxford for the pre-admission assessment for my ablation next month.The info I received about the procedure differed somewhat from previous conversations. I was told that I won't be given anything to induce AF on the day (I'm in normal sinus rhythm and have been since a cardioversion last summer). It will be a general anaesthetic with cryo balloon ablation and an automatic booking for a second go should I go back into AF.
I'm assuming that's all standard practice, just not quite what I was anticipating. I am quite worried about the procedure, not helped by feeling OK at the moment and expecting to feel rough afterwards. I'm sure I'm in safe hands and it's for long term good, fingers crossed!
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JoDogBlue
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Hi, my understanding is that cryoablation of the 4 pulmonary veins is done without mapping to completely isolate that area where most AF is started from (Pulmonary Vein Isolation). For 60% ish of patients that can stop AF episodes with no further intervention (for now). If you still have episodes after the blanking period then a revisit for RF ablation with mapping may be required to ablate smaller areas where the rogue pulses are starting from as tracked with mapping. In my area cryo is done under sedation and RF under General Anaesthetic. I had cryo in December and have my review next week, I keep an update on my bio in my profile.
Totally understand your feelings and they’re perfectly normal, you will be well looked after and I hope you find it as positive an experience as I did.
We all have/had those feelings prior to ablation, and as you said, it's exacerbated by feeling OK at the moment.
All you can really do is to plan to do as little as possible after the procedure. Recovery from ablation is a strange one. Some people sail through it, whilst others suffer for a little longer.
Just keep in touch with the people on this forum for support throughout your journey with this.
Hi John. I had the Cryo ablation of the 4 pulmonary veins September 2022. Naturally I was a little nervous going into Theatre, but the staff were great, and I chatted with the nurses and anaesthetist which put me at ease. I was conscious initially when they did the first freeze, but got a real cold sensation and started feeling uncomfortable, so they put me under for the rest of the op. Mine was a day procedure, they discharged me late afternoon. I was able to get up and walk around, although as the anaesthesia wore off, I started to feel the puncture site in the groin where the catheter was inserted.
My wife and I booked an airBnB approx 10 minutes from the hospital, stayed there 2 nights (night before and night after), as we live out of town, and we're told to stay close in case of complications in the 24 hours post procedure.
In terms of recovery, I couldn't feel any effects in terms of my heart, but I was very concious of not over doing things. I was in NSR. The puncture site in the groin was a bit sore and swollen for about a week. I took it very carefully at home for the next couple of weeks, avoiding lifting, and anything that would get the heart rate racing.
i am having PFA next month. I haven’t had afib since November. The nurse said I will be given something to induce afib, and if it doesn’t work I’ll have a standard PVI …I am uncertain if there are different protocols depending on the procedure but that is what I was told…
Wishing you good luck with your ablation. I’m one of the people for whom recovery took a bit longer. This was partly due to the heart taking time to settle, but mostly due to choice. I decided prior to ablation, based on sound advice from this forum and the AF information pages, that I should rest up for a few weeks and let the healing do its work. I don’t think I cooked a meal for 3 weeks, stayed in bed a week, short walks only after 2 weeks. I allowed a very gradual return to normal activities and believe this has helped in the longer term, still in NSR after 5months and feeling great. The break gave me time to build up a good breathing and meditation practice too!
Thank you. I'm planning on taking it as easy as I can just need those around me to pitch in with the things I normally do if needed. I'm looking forward to getting back to normal.
Hi Rainfern, Great response. While I salute you - the approach you took, post your ablation, that was a little more extremely, (sensible), than my own and I do count myself as one of the luckier ones.Chemically averted AF aside, I was very fit before the ablation and after the procedure I couldn't wait, (more than 10 days anyway), before I was leaving the recovery with gentle walking behind me and was back on my bike cycling again.
I was very fit before my AF started but went straight into a low level persistent form. I had a year in which breathlessness and higher than normal heart rate set me back a bit, therefore I had some catching up to do!
Hi Rainfern, I found your reply very reassuring, and intend to follow your lead and take it very easy after my ablation next week. Not sure I can manage a week in bed, but I’m fully prepared for a ‘duvet week’ on the sofa. Thankfully my partner will be here for the first fortnight, and is prepared to cook and shop as needed and, following excellent advice given on this forum, I’ve been busy freezing all our leftovers for the past few weeks so we probably have a weeks worth of dinners in there. It’s really good to know you’re now feeling great five months on, and gives me hope that I can recover well too if I take it easy.
That sounds perfect! Wishing you a successful procedure and speedy recovery. Another tip - it sounds daft but I actually talked (silently) to my heart, giving it reassurance and comfort. This certainly calmed the nervous system and kept me thinking positive even through the rough and bumpy patches in the first 3 or 4 weeks. And anything that makes us smile has to be good!
Hi JoDogBlue, I was in a very similar position to yours leading up to an ablation on 8th Feb this year. I count myself as one of the luckier ones - leading a very fit and healthy lifestyle.The only way I got over my anxiety beforehand was to basically have faith in these guys, who are fantastic and believe that I am not in the otherwise higher risk category.
Thousands of athletes are back training within days of the procedure and even I am now back cycling 100s of miles a week.
As someone fresh out of ablation, I can share my experience. I had a cryo ablation done just a week ago.
Diagnosed on October'23, put on meds, changed my lifestyle and been afib episode free from early December'23 so just like you I had my doubts about ablation because I was feeling ok with no episodes. But what pushed me to go ahead with the ablation was a combination of well known facts that even if I'm feeling ok now, the episodes would probably become more and more frequent. Another thing is that the statistics show ablation to be most successful if done early in afib diagnose, especially in younger patients (I'm 41). And lastly, although I changed my lifestyle for the better, I still had a few short reccuring episodes in Decemeber even though I was on daily meds, so that showed me that meds are not a 100% protection and the idea that I will need to take them for the rest of my life really made me feel bad.
Finally, the devil for me was the anticipation of the procedure. The morning I checked into hospital I was already a bit better. Nervous of course but somewhat more in a mindset 'let's do this'.
It was cryo ablation PVI under sedation but I was out like a light as soon as they gave me sedation. Basically woke up when they finished just under 2 hours later. I had a sore chest and a sore entrance in the groin but nothing really painful. I've been at home for the last 7 days resting. There is a big bruising in my groin and a lump from hematoma but that is all expected. My groin is still a bit painful but just a bit and my chest is mainly feeling normal.
Bottom line, I was naturally scared, but for now everything is alright and if it comes to the point that I need RF ablation after this, I will do it. Just will insist to put enough of sedation again so I fall asleep again.
Hi , hope everything goes well. I’m just curious . How long did you have to wait to get the ablation ? My husband had one in 2017 which failed at some point . He wasn’t on thinners so had a stroke last July . I think the cardiologist wants him to have another one in the future . He is in persistent AF or permanent can remember when he s in it all the time . He had a failed cardio version last Nov . His ablation went well at the time . I do remember the surgeon saying it’s not always permanent and he proved to be right . My husband is asymptomatic so didn’t realise he had a heart rate of of 164. If you read my posts you’ll see what happened leading up to it . Take care
Hi, at the time of my referral the waiting list was 8 months and thats pretty much proved to be the wait. I was referred on the basis that I'd responded well to, and felt better after, cardioversion. I was in amiodarone prior to and for 3 months after the cardioversion. As far as I can tell I've been in sinus rhythm since then.. just based on feeling my pulse and how I feel. ECG was normal at the pre admission clinic. I was told its standard practice at the JR to go on the list for a second ablation straight away due the success rate first time round.
Ok thank you . My husband said he didn’t feel any different when he went into sinus rhythm for four days after cardio version , so I’m not sure what they’ll do .
Hi JoDogBlue, that’s not very reassuring, if the JR are effectively saying you’re likely to need a second ablation, before you e even had your first! I’m in the same boat as you, awaiting cryoablation under GA next week at the JR - but nobody told me that! Like you, I’ve decided to go ahead with the procedure, even though my AF has been taking a back seat for the past couple of months. Up until January this year, I was having symptomatic episodes once a fortnight. But since finally getting a date for my surgery, it’s been suspiciously quiet. Typical!
I was told about being lined up for a second one by the nurse.. I haven't spoken to a consultant at the JR yet (referred from GWH). As there id about a 60% success rate first time round in my situation they put you on the list in case yours doesn't work, I guess so they can do the second one as quickly as possible which makes sense.Hope yours goes well!
One more thing, perhaps worth mentioning, is that leading up to the ablation I read about yet another rare but fatal risk, that either hadn't been mentioned to me, or I had missed. But as it seemed to be the only completely "random" condition, I mentioned this to the surgeon just before the procedure which he acknowledged and prescribed a 6 week preventative course of the antacid lansoprazole. I don't know whether or not this would have been prescribed anyway, but it certainly reassured me at the time.
I’m 3 wks on from ablation , everything went well, just a horrendously sore throat and massive bruise in my groin, which had gone quickly as I arnica gel. So far ok, weaning off my Dronedarone, I got virtually no advice just bare minimum but I’ve read 3 month recovery , slowly slowly. Book appointment with consultant for a 7 day monitor in May. Paid privately as out in list b4 Christmas told 3 months and still waiting 🤷🏼♀️
Is it normal procedure to have ablation if you’re in NSR following CV? I had cardioversion at St Richard’s hospital two days ago. (Have had AF since Nov approx). That reset my heart rhythm for now. Have had very little info beyond the NHS leaflet. Maybe I’ll learn more at a follow up in 4 to 6 weeks?
In my case I was referred on for ablation after the post-cardioversion follow up. I was still in normal rhythm and feeling much better since the cardioversion (despite being on amiodarone). I guess the decision is based on whether you responded well, age, fitness etc. Others will be able to give a more informed response. Hope all goes well for you.
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