Ablation

[Heartofgold-2]

Hi, I had an ablation procedure done 3 months ago, during the process I experienced terrible chest pain like I've never experienced before, is this normal during such a procedure, has anyone else felt that too?

[wilsond]

Yes I did when they ablated the flutter . In fact I told them to stop. I heard the word fentanyl and after that was Ok. Afterwards I found I'd been given minimal pain relief and no sedation.It was on my notes that I wanted sedation

So if another is required I shall be grilling the team closely beforehand.

[BobD Volunteer]

Not normal; but all my four have been under GA

[Jalia]

I've had 5 ablations , 2 of them under GA and 3 under sedation ( lengthy procedures). I've never felt pain of any great significance , more like discomfort. If I did start to feel pain I indicated and was topped up with whatever was used!

So no, this is not normal.

[secondtry]

Recently told by experienced EP when choosing an ablation there is a 1 in 200 chance of a complication and a 1 in 1000 mortality risk 🤔.

[MikeThePike in reply to secondtry]

It is what it is.

[50568789]

Absolutely should not have happened. Did you report or query this afterwards with medical staff / practitioner?

[wilsond in reply to 50568789]

I did and they shrugged, and said judgement on pain relief /sedation is made in the cath lab based on how calm patient is! Won't be happening again to me.

[Harrisd2 in reply to wilsond]

Me too, I was heavily sedated but I screamed out in pain and all he kept saying was 'you're doing fine'. Never again

[Neoneo]

Yes, I found it very painful and worse with a Cryo. One burns, one freezes. It’s bound to hurt. I have had three plus a CV. The only option for me as I can’t have any medication.

If the ablation worked, relax and enjoy the peace.

[Speed]

I was quite awake during my first ablation under sedation and interested in watching what was going on. However, I felt pain every time they did a “burn” and as it hot more painful, I told the surgical staff at the time. They just gave a little more sedation and I drifted off - no further pain. If anyone experiences similar, it’s likely you haven’t had enough sedative so just politely mention it and they’ll give a little more. There is no reason to be in any pain.

[mike1961]

if your procedure was RF (radio frequency) and done with sedation rather than under GA, then yes, you are going to definitely feel those lesions/scars being created! The discomfort escalates the longer the ‘burn’ time for each of the 40 to 80 (typically for PVI) being created. I speak from experience in 2018 at Bordeaux (where they far prefer not to use GA).

[KenRC]

I just felt a strange tingling when he was doing the burns, I couldn’t call it pain. Someone occasionally asked me if it was hurting & if I needed pain relief - which I didn’t.

[Ossie7]

I felt awful chest , shoulder , even jaw pain during the cryoablation , it was not pleasant at all . It felt as if it was mimicking the pain of a heart attack. I was same age and sex as you too when had my first cryoablation . Since then had 2 radio frequency ablations under GA , much better !!!

[wilberwoo]

Oh, I was put out, thank God? They are burning your heart and also stumlate the arythmias to do mapping so bound to be painful. Hope you are better now!

[DawnTX]

have you let your doctor know you may very well have pericarditis. I seemed to get it after each ablation. If you don’t let it go, it’s not that big a deal. I was on a Medi medication. You take one for 30 days within a couple of days you feel the difference. It’s an inflammation around your heart. You need to ask your doctor and let him know about the pain you you are not the only one to get this just like I discovered when I had my av node done I had one of the worst headaches I have ever had. I found out more people get this than I ever knew. It’s the anesthesia usually when you know what it is it’s not as scary. It did last about a week at least it almost reminded me of an ice cream headache. Following my first ablation I woke up with a cough that would not stop. I was so bad they actually because I was disturbing other people they tried breathing treatments, etc. again nothing serious but it happens. I used to get very sick from anesthesia now they put something in it so I no longer have that happen. That’s why you need to tell the doctor they need to note these things.

also know it takes a few months to heal and when I had the pacemaker done, my doctor told me straight out it could be up to a year and he was right. It wasn’t always awful, but at least when I had the ache, etc. I knew why I think many people seem to think have the surgery and you’re suddenly cured. Number one remember there is no cure number two. If it doesn’t work, it’s not unusual. My EP told me you have a minimal chance of getting the right spot. That’s why he doesn’t believe in more than one or two it does not mean it failed It means you have a new a fib or flutter spot think of the area like a chain of Christmas lights. A bulb goes out you replace it and it stays on but later on another bulb on the other end goes out, etc. etc.. that is how I picture it if they did get it it appears that ablation is abused by many doctors because it’s a money maker and it is safe compared to other things. My doctor thinks outside the box there were times the hospital did not like him because he won’t repeat failure procedures. He wants us better he believes in quality of life. I kept saying he’s going to be famous whether he likes it or not he is I don’t even think he’s 40 the other day. He broke my heart a little bit because he is leaving me, but I can’t be selfish. He got a huge compliment and promotion he is going to be chief hospital. Hopefully the board won’t tie his hands so much that he can’t bring his forward thinking to many more people like he did me. If you never saw me on here, I will tell you he created a pacemaker for me because I was such a mess in there part of it from a previous the rest of it who knows why but there was not a pacemaker for and I was in heart failure now. Since the pacemaker I have gone from a 40 to a rate which is really good I am dealing with a few things. He reminds me not everything is the fault of the and it’s true. I can’t believe how good I feel most of the time and when I don’t, it is due to other situations that need addressing. I had just gotten cardiac clearance for a hip surgery, but I may lose it now until they find a replacement for him or I pick one. My EP is not concerned about leaving me. He is thrilled with the way I turned out. He said the only thing I will probably need will be a battery change eventually and anyone can do that. He doesn’t realize how special he is like I do and I told him. when I would wake up from a procedure, he would be standing there patting my hand and when he knew I could comprehend he would say don’t worry. I’m here for you. You’re not going anywhere. I almost did two years ago Christmas on the table, but I’m still here because of him. That was because of a cardioversion that went terribly wrong I guess. I’m not gonna dwell because I’m here. He presented my case to a hospital in Dallas and they asked him to come back to teach the of the hospital so they could save more people like me. so hard to lose him, especially because he is going where the Florida hurricane just hit. Anyway, don’t be afraid to ask questions, but please talk to your doctor and make sure if you talk to a nurse that they have a sense of these days. That’s another. I will miss is his nurse. I didn’t get to say goodbye. She is going to be a school nurse I’m sure he wanted her with him, but she has a family of her own. Anyway, make sure they pay attention and the it is attended to if it is pericarditis the fastee you are going to feel better

[Lenlec]

I also felt a lot of pain during each burn and or freeze. Very painfull