I am scheduled for an ablation on the 31st of May. I am having so many thoughts about what will be done such as:
Will someone have to shave my nether regions to put the ports in my groin?
What if I have to urinate during the hours spent on my back in recovery, or will I be catheterized?
How invasive is the TEE, or will I be out when they do it?
Does the anesthesia (US spelling) tend to make one nauseous?
Maybe I'll be getting this info from the hospital or doctor's office, but in the meantime, I'm stewing about it.
I woke up in Afib this morning, just as I was in the midst of convincing myself that maybe it wasn't so bad after all, and I could just cancel......a God wink perhaps?
Thank you to anyone who cares to respond!
BTW - My daughter was just moved to Lakenheath so am hoping to get my health sorted out so I can visit. I will by first time in Jolly England....so looking forward to it.
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joyelane
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I will add shortly two links to fact sheets on preparing for and recovering from ablation which you might find useful. Is your daughter stationed at Lakenheath ? Not much else there from memory. Went to a few parties there when I lived in Norfolk early 70s.
Thank you, BobD. My daughter works for DODEA and is loving her experience so far. She was previously in Neuremberg and had some wonderful travels during her 3 years there, but was very happy about her move.
The hospital will do the shaving unless it's unnecessary. Nausea is often a function of what anesthesia they use. The anesthesiologist would be the one to speak to here. If you have any concerns about time on your back and the need to urinate/catherization speak to the nurse before hand. However, I see you're in the United States and many of the ablation centers there they use plugs, which can significantly reduce the time on your back. Again speak to the nurse before hand and voice any concerns as protocols differ hospital to hospital.
I was told I would have some device to urinate in if I needed to whilst on my back but thankfully I didn't need it!! They let me go minutes before being wheeled in. Regarding the anesthesia, I told them I suffer from nausea and so I was given anti nausea medication and a patch behind my ear, and felt fine when I awoke. Jim answered about the shaving so no need to repeat! Good luck!
So good to know they were able to deal with the nausea! That brings me lots of relief - that mjames news about plugs! thank you for these snippets of inside information.
Hello, I had a PFA in January under general anaesthesia and it was all very straight forward, quick and no problems.I preferred to shave my groin but that was also available from a staff member. I went into theatre at 8:45am and was out by 9:45am.
My TEE was done while I was unconsious.
My groin stitch was removed after a few hours and I made sure to drink plenty of water which I believe helps me to have a quicker recovery from the GA.
No catheter was needed and I urinated with no problems.
The consultant paid me a visit where I was able to put any questions to him which I always have prepared beforehand in a notbook.
After a sandwich I was discharged at 12:30pm, picked up my prescription, and took a bus & train home with my wife.
Reading other posts my experience was probably one of the better ones but shows how easy it can be.
Morning , I had my ablation under anaesthesia 6 days ago , but not pulsed field , RF . Was a long almost 4 hour procedure and I shaved my own groin as was instructed to do so by the hospital ( had my first ever bikini wax !!) Being anxious I was peeing a lot and in spite of going just before entering the cath lab I got the urge whilst on the table . I was also worried that I would pee myself so told the anaesthetist who assured me that the anaesthetic suppresses the urination .
Given anti nausea meds so didn’t feel sick post op . Used a bed pan in the lying flat period post op so all good .
Reassuring to read your post, but lying flat and using a bedpan sounds like it could be risky. Not sure if Ossie is a male or a female. I imaging being a male might make it easier, but I have no experience in that area.....Seems like having a 'hose' might make a miss less likely?
You will find a wealth of information available on the AF Association website: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa..., BobD has kindly signposted you to the information sheets regarding ablation. You will also find the 'Treatment Options for AF' helpful ahead of the procedure too: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...
Some shaving required, you can do it in advance. Just the corner near the R leg. TEE is awake but the drug I had was an amnesiac so I didn't remember it. For urination a bedpan will be provided if necessary.
hello, I had a pulsed field ablation on Wednesday. They didn’t need to shave me at all, but inspected the area to check. I did need to pee whilst lying flat and I used a bed pan. Not the best for a woman, and some leaked up towards my back ( you did ask 😂) but the nurses rolled me and wiped me clean. The first thing I then did when I could sit up was ask for the commode. They did the echo through my groin too, so my oesophagus was spared. It was my first general anaesthetic, but I was fine , no nausea at all. I was first on the list and was home the same day. No pain except mild chest and groin discomfort first 2 days I am such very fatigued. Hope that answers your questions
Your note is very reassuring! I hadn't heard about doing the echo through the groin - good news to know that could be an option. Thank you for taking the time to respond.
I hadn’t heard of it and the doctor seemed quite proud! This was At Harefield Hospital in UK which is a specialist chest and heart hospital. Best wishes and keep us posted
Hi - Look there’s lots of things you’ll hear and lots of things that may take your thoughts for a while - what you have to focus on is: how does this bitch of a condition affect your life now: What might it be like if it was resolved. This condition all but destroyed 2 years of my life - highly symptomatic and no rate control drugs able to be taken - I had my ablation in December 2023 - bit of a rough ride for a few weeks after but since then I have no AFib and praying it stays that way but tbh even if it doesn’t I’d have it again as the relief for the past months is just fantastic - don’t be focusing on the negative thoughts and anxiety the thought of the procedure has - I had that too as I’m sure everyone does but honestly it was nothing at all compared to what I’d built it up to be before having it - best of luck to you in regaining your LIFE
What a reassuring post! Thank you. I am actually in Afib at the moment which is reminding me why I need to have this procedure. It usually occurs about once a month and toward the end of that time, I try to convince myself that it's never going to come back.
In answer to some of your questions (I'm also in the US), they do shave you; I used the restroom before the procedure, but yes, there's a long wait afterward to use it. However, you're pretty much out of it recovering from anesthesia during that time, so you're not too much aware. They do have a sort of "device" to use if necessary, as I had one in the ER about a year ago after a very bad a-fib episode where they wouldn't allow me to get out of bed to use the restroom until my numbers went down; and lastly, the anesthesia did not make me nauseous. Best wishes to you -- I hope everything goes positively!
I assume this is your first ablation. It all sounds very scary and I'm sure you're anxious. Don't forget that we're all different, with different heart functions, hereditary heart issues, poor lifestyles in the past, etc. I've had three ablations. None caused any great distress. However, my first EP didn't do a very careful job, or didn't have the equipment or training, to ablate all necessary veins. The two ablations after were much easier, though I still occasionally get a-fib episodes.
Can't help you with the pulsed ablation but do write that you get nauseated with GA. I say I always have a 'special' GA and every time get it.
2 weeks ago had a PET/CT scan and wasn't allowed to move .. after so much water the night before, 2 hours before.
I took 1 of my urologist pills the night before. A tiny pill, deep pink. .... varius. I'll need to look it up.
Do you stop your anti-co.angulant? Check.
I've had 3 operations since stroke with AF rapid and persistent. (not heart). The special GA stopped any reflux etc. No gall bladder.
You are lucky bedpans are now softer compared to the stainless steel ones in my nursing days. Yes being a male and propping up a urine bottle is so much easier! Ha ha.
I can't have an ablation as I have an abnormal heart structure and a private h/specialist finally tried me with CCB Calcium Channel Blocker Diltiazem. Such a wonder drug for rate and rythmn. 120mg best for me.
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