I went in for my first ablation yesterday. Back when scheduled, it was to be a radiofrequency ablation, but in the months that have passed, the EP unit has switched to pulsed field ablation. The nice surprise did not do much to calm my angst - my pre-procedural blood pressures yesterday morning were something like 185/110!!!! I hadn't experienced any noticeable periods of afib for about 6 weeks and was asking myself what I was doing there. There was a quick thought of just walking out (which, decades ago, I actually did before a surgery -- for different reasons, but still boiled down to my fears -- at a hospital in Paris)!
But, this time, I stayed the course. I know the medical team at UCHealth - Anschutz Campus did their best and am hoping my heart shows due appreciation for their efforts. Time will tell. Now, I am going to water a few recent transplants in the garden before another siesta.
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Desertflowerchild
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I suffer from similar angst and have blood pressure like that just visiting the cardiologist ( normally low). Impressed that you are up and watering the garden. I have signed up for PFA but no date yet and know there are several others in same situation . It would be really helpful if you could share some of your experience as you sound quite chipper . I have visions of myself jumping off the table and legging it mid procedure ( impossible I know )
If you have any specific questions, I would be happy to respond but I'm not sure what information could be useful? My blood pressure was down to 106/79 the next morning, probably the lowest reading I've gotten in a health care setting for some time. I regularly get low readings at home.
Thank you that is very kind . How long did the procedure take? I find the idea of being on the table for 3+ hours very daunting , that’s the time line I have heard.
How awake were you ?
Was all the time you were on the table ablating ? Or are they mapping or whatever for part of the time ?I really know very little about the process from the patients point of view
I had an ablation just over a year ago. When I was being taken down to the Catheter Lab, I felt like jumping off the table and running away ! 🤣 , but I’m glad I didn’t. I was sedated and had pain killers and the time went very quickly.You have to keep still though. The EP told me what he was going to do and warned me when I might feel it a bit, but that was only a few times and I really didn't feel much. They looked after me well. The worst thing is having to stay still in bed afterwards for several hours. Good luck with your ablation. It’s the waiting for it, that’s the worst. I’m sure you’ll be fine on the day.
Thank you . I cannot tell you how grateful I am for your reply. The idea of someone furtling about inside my heart makes me want to sprint in the opposite direction. But I want rid of this more . Very kind x
I am not sure . My referral is just being completed . I spoke to the EPs PA and she said the wait was about 7 months. I said I would be available for a cancellation at short notice . Believe it or not I packed my hospital bag yesterday 🤣 I just thought when the time comes I will be in a flap so better get it all nicely organised so nothing is forgotten
I had an 18 month wait for mine. This is in Leicester.
When I had AFib, the first time, I didn’t know what it was and I was suffering from a very bad virus as well, so I called 111 and they sent an ambulance and they took me to A &E, as my heart rate and blood pressure soared and the hospital Doctors said, if I get it again, I needed to go in, so I that’s what I did and so, I kept a large handbag , just for a short stay, with the most important thing —- a phone charger and plug and also, a book to read, a puzzle book, cash and my tablets in it and a little pack of biscuits and bottle of drink and a few other things. I also kept an overnight bag, as on the odd occasion, they took me to the local heart unit at another hospital and my husband could just pick it up and bring it to me. I’ve still got them packed, but hoping I’ll not need them again. I suppose I could unpack them, but don’t want to tempt fate. !!
You are a woman after my own heart ( if you pardon the expression.) I am going to Liverpool Heart and Chest and I am happy to go there. Thank you I have just ordered two more phone charger cables and plugs because you are absolutely right that is the most important item. I have had to go in the three times because mine doesn’t respond to the drugs at home or in hospital really and is fast 187bpm they have kept me overnight each time . I will add in biscuits and a bottle of water . I have packed headphones because I listen to audio books and podcasts on my phone. I think after these experiences I will be keeping a bag packed permanently as well because you never know ! All top tips gratefully received, thank you x
Don’t worry! I was apprehensive when I went in on Tuesday (at Liverpool Heart & Chest) - I wasn’t keen on the thought of sedation & local anaesthetic, but I hardly felt a thing, only slight sensations, no pain whatsoever. The procedure was quite long, but passed quickly from where I was lying! The staff are friendly & reassuring, absolutely brilliant! Big thank you to Dr Borbas & his team. They really look after you well. Despite all this bad press about the NHS, in my opinion, it definitely doesn’t apply to LH&C, they are excellent. & now I’m home I feel great, just trying to stop myself from overdoing things (like I did last time) - I hate sitting about!
We are lucky to have such great hospitals Ken . I have confidence in them, it’s confidence in me that’s lacking !! Thank you for responding, that’s very reassuring , thank you for the detail . Now please be patient and take it easy , short term pain, long term gain !
Wouldn’t be without my mobile. Don’t know how we ever managed without them now. Wish they’d been invented many years ago, especially, when the older cars I had then, occasionally broke down. !!!
Yes, that was me just over a month ago -- I had mine on 2 September. I was getting nervous for the same reason you stated (I'm not usually anxious, but...heart surgery!). My coping strategy was to avoid my usual inclination to read everything I could find about the procedure, which I anticipated would only fuel overthinking and keep me awake at night. I read enough to understand the basics and looked up the credentials of the (new) cardiologist who was to perform my procedure. Then I decided to let him and the team do their job, and managed to stick to it. A year of medication while on the waiting list has had a major deleterious effect on my life. I wanted to get this done so that I had a chance of going drug-free for a few years.
It helped that two people I know have had an ablation in the past two years, and they are both walking around mostly AF-free, although their baseline health before the ablation was much worse than mine.
I was not up and walking around for several days afterwards, but it was relatively minor. The groin wound (where the catheter went in) was more painful than my chest. As surgery goes, I would rate this as less scary and painful than a tooth extraction/root canal.
I'm having an 'interesting' blanking period, but for three weeks after the ablation I was in NSR for the first time in 18 months, so I am hopeful.
Thank you that is so helpful . Unfortunately I do have anxiety, especially about anything heart related. Good advice to not read too much about the technical part, after all as you say, I won’t be performing it, and trust the doctors. The EP is the lead for the north west and I will have to trust him. What stopped you being up and around for the first week ?
I am a veteran of root canal and dental implant but still inclined to think I would prefer the dentist over this. Very glad you are improving despite having some firings off during the blanking period and hope very much your improvement continues
What stopped me getting up and around: the drug hangover, general tiredness (it didn't help that I did not sleep the night before the procedure), some soreness (as I said, mostly from the groin wound). Probably also a sense of 'Whew! I am so glad that's over!' I worked quite hard at being brave, but the 'exhale' afterwards was massive.
Strangely, I was more stressed out before I had my first ever cardioversion earlier this year. I realised that the main source of my fear was the general anaesthetic -- I last had GE when I was only 3 (tonsillectomy) and I was struggling with the idea of being totally knocked out, not-present, erased. (On the day it was fine, helped by a brilliant team.) Knowing that I would have the ablation under sedative + local anaesthetic somehow made it easier. As if I still had the option to say 'no' at the very last minute? I'm not sure.
I deliberately took off my glasses and left them on the ward when I went in for the op. I did not want to see what was happening. On the table in theatre, there were two big translucent balloon-type things obstructing my view anyway -- I don't know if that was their purpose. I knew where I was and what was happening, but it was all rather fuzzy and far away (fine with me!). The anaesthetist introduced herself and told me I could ask for more drugs, or more or less heat (the theatre was freezing but I was semi-wrapped in a cocoon-type surgical blanket, very comfy, like an electric blanket with temperature control).
It was all very reassuring. And no horrible drilling or smell like the dentist.
Thank you very much for that . I can understand that . I am knocked out for a good week after one of my AF episodes. This last one I didn’t get any sleep for 42 hours. And anxiety and stress also leave me completely wiped out so I would anticipate being the same . You are going through a trauma .
Funnily enough I would much prefer a GA ( it’s not on offer) so I could miss the whole thing . Drugs never agree with me . I know some people watch but I don’t want to see either .
I had a colonoscopy without sedation , and also a bcc removed from my face with just local , but because it’s my heart this feels a whole lot worse . Thank you so much for your kindness in sharing some detail and your experience it really does help enormously . Keep recovering well x
Thank you for the kind words, and good luck. When I get fast AF it doesn't respond to drugs either. I just have to wait it out. I'm waiting out a breakthrough episode right now.
If you want to read or use a device while on the ward, be sure to ask if the cannula can go into the arm on the opposite side from your dominant hand. Last time I went into hospital, I was prepared (brought my Kindle, phone charger, water, etc.), but was almost helpless because the cannula was put in my right arm and I'm right handed. It was very uncomfortable to bend my arm or pick up anything heavier than a handkerchief.
So sorry you are sitting through an episode . It’s not nice . Is it as fast as pre ablation ? Or has it slowed it down at all ? AF is like a spiders web that doesn’t want to let you escape. Again more good advice , thanks for tip . I decidedly find audio books more distracting and easier to focus on when I am stressed .
The other thing when I was in hospital last week some of the places didn’t have decaf . Must put that in. Will be arriving with a Pickford van !
For me the sore throat has been more painful than the groin wounds. . . so far. I hope you will be celebrating a successful one year anniversary on 02 Sept 2025!
I was under general anesthesia for the actual procedure, so that part is a black hole. I was in the pre-procedure room from about 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. That is when my blood pressure measured so high. While in the pre-procedure room, an IV port was placed; blood samples taken several times; and, separately, the anesthesiologist, his team and my EP met with me to ask and answer questions. The anesthesialogist told me the "new technology" ablation time was 2-3 hours and the old tended to run 3-5 hours. That was my first clue that I would be getting a pulsed field ablation. Part of the time, in either case, would be mapping. It was when I met with my EP shortly before my procedure was to begin that the pulsed field ablation was confirmed. My procedure had been scheduled for 1 pm, but was delayed due to unscheduled emergency cases tying up rooms ; The place was quite chaotic that day - all the health care workers were remarking on how crazy the day was. I was finally rolled down to the procedure room at about 2:30 pm and it was around 5:10 pm when I was rolled into my recovery room where my daughter was waiting. My EP came in a few minutes later to tell me the PVI ablation had gone well and she had also eliminated an area causing atrial flutter.
A nurse tried to have me walk around the hall, perhaps around 7:30pm, but I felt dizzy and unbalanced at that point (but, in addition to coming out of general anesthesia, I had neither eaten nor drunk any fluids all day). The next morning, a nurse took me on a briskly paced walk around the halls and discharge orders were soon issued. Probably, had my procedure started at 1 pm (or earlier), I would have been discharged the day of the procedure.
I have had a pretty bad sore throat and I don't know whether that is from breathing tubes or transesophagial echocardiagram or both.
Thank you for that the detail is great . I wish I could have a GA and miss the whole thing ! Very envious 🤣 I don’t do well without food or drink either . Thanks for telling me how you felt afterwards also . I hope your recovery continues to be so good !
I was so relieved to be spared intubation (I don't think I could cope with that while conscious) and anything transesophagial. I hope your ablation was successful and you go for years without having to do it again.
Thank you. I hope so too. I'm only too glad to not have been aware during my procedure. I must have asked for confirmation at least 4x while in the pre-procedure room whether I would be knocked out with a general anesthesia.
Thanks. I may have done a bit too much the first day, but I felt fine until in the evening I was suddenly exhausted. Put a lot more rest into my day today.
I did read it. Yes, discharge orders limited me to 5 pounds lifting for 1 week, so I am not dragging full water hoses around the property the way I normally do.
Best wishes for your recovery. Lots of TLC and no vigorous exertion. I relived your your anxiety when l read your words, so well done for your courage. You did it. 👍
I had anxiety, on and off,for a long time. It started off in the 1970’s, when my 2nd baby was taken seriously ill and had 5 operations and nearly died twice. Ever since then, if anything happened, that I had no control over, it started off the anxiety again. (The start of Covid was a good example, with all the doom and gloom.) I discovered Hypnotherapy and found it really did help me and my anxiety levels did decrease. Not sure if I could have gone through the ablation without having had Hypnotherapy in the past.I found CBT and other “talking” therapies, didn’t help. Touch Wood, she did such a good job, that I haven’t been anxious for about 3 years now. I had several sessions with her. It cost £65 a session then, but for me, it was worth every penny.! Don’t ask me how it works, but for me, it did.
You are definitely in good hands at UC health. And PFA is definitely the way to go now for your first ablation. All the best moving forward. Just take it even a little easier for the next few weeks then you think you should. I was pretty much in the house for the first couple of weeks with brief 5 to 10 minute easy walks.
Yesterday's schedule was mainly sleep punctuated with slow brief walks and healthy meals. Living in a multistory house on the side of the hill, my repeated brief walks involve going up and down stairs and slopes, so I keep them very slow. I found myself so tired the evening of my first day home that I definitely slowed things down on day 2.
The only advice I have is listen to your body and sleep as needed. Don't rush back to normal there is plenty time to get there. Enjoy nsr. Stop the walking. It's too soon. Literally chill in front of the TV or with a book. Your heart has to heal without the benefits of air or burn cream, please give it time. Rushing to get back to normal isn't a good idea.
No TV available and, on the other hand, holding up a book for any length of time seems to strenuous. And if that seems strenuous to me, you can rest assured that my walks are very limited. My discharge orders say it is important to walk multiple times during the day. . . just short, short walks, but a little more than just walking to the toilet, to flex the calf muscles a few times a day (I imagine that's the goal). I was enjoying NSR for about 97% of the time before the procedure -- I'm not sure my stats are that good yet post-procedure, but hoping they will be better in due course. It is hard taking it easy, but I am doing so - mostly listening to meditation sessions between drifting in and out of sleep. I was originally scheduled for October 15 and my garden could have really used those two extra weeks. Now I can't even lift the pots of plants that still need to be planted. I hoping that I can at least get the bulbs in the ground in a couple of weeks.
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