After a couple of years Afib free the old devil came back (persistent) in September. Saw my lovely EP this morning and we had a good discussion about meds v ablation. We decided I'd go on his list but could chicken out at any time. The wait is 6 months and we have a trip to Lake Garda booked in May so he said don't cancel and they'll work around me. So I really have 7 months in which to talk myself out of it. I'll keep a strong mind and go ahead with it! He said I could definitely have GA as we decided I'd not be the best candidate for sedation owing to the fact I'm a fidgeter and non stop chatterbox. I came away feeling very positive despite him going through all the risks involved. I will now read up on all the fact sheets on here about pre and post ablation. Hppy Monday to one and all 
Only gone and got myself on the Ablat... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Only gone and got myself on the Ablation list
Good news especiall Lake Garda.
Verona and Lake Garda beautiful.I’m 20 months post ablation and was in a real state beforehand. I don’t think about it now. I’m 76 Had a GA.lots of good wishes.
I had 18 months to talk myself in/ out/ shake it all about due to the covid lockdown!See my whittering previous posts for full details but honestly should have just got on with it. I even cancelled one opportunity.
In the end common sense prevailed after 2 lengthy episodes ( 5 and 6 weeks)
As Bob says ' when the student is ready,the teacher will come'
GA is a complete bonus. I didnt get the choice probably would have been better for them,and me,as I threatened to get off table once ..haha.
I've been far better since. June 2022.
Really,my advice is to go for the chance xx
Please ignore random underlining, don't know why.
Best wishes ❤️
Ps Lake Garda is stunning, visit Sirmione and Verona if you can x
Ww are on roughly the same time line for first ablation . Going on the length of the waiting list mine should be May also. Am already mentally jumping off the table and sprinting down the corridor gown flapping in my backdraft !
Am trying to start some kind of mental preparation , learning deep relaxation etc . Good luck
I so know that feeling. The thought of having someone 'dancing around in your heart' was enough to send me running to the hills ...but...I didn't and thank goodness I went through with it ❤️
Many thanks Karendeena ! Your replies are SO helpful
Thank you ❤️ Believe me no one was more scared than me. I sat in a room crying with a nurse just before entering the cath lab but became a big brave girl and thought about how much my episodes controlled my life and how much I wanted to get on a plane to go on holiday without the constant dread of the beast waking up! 🤪As soon as I got in there and saw how many doctors and nurses would be looking after me I calmed down. In fact I said to the consultant "You've never seen me without makeup have you", he replied looking at me "I can't see, ooops I shouldn't have said that should I, I am just about to do your ablation!" 😂 That really made us all laugh!
You will be fine, best decision I ever made ❤️
Exactly ! That’s the thing that will get me there. The way this is constantly hanging over me and ruling my life , and the possibility of gaining respite from that . That all sounds quite funny ! 😊
That makes 3 of us on the same timeline, the same misgivings and & again GA proposed. Certainly an incentive to get in tip top physical shape - cutting back on sugar & carbs already but obviously not on holiday!
Good for you! If mine returns I’ll be asking to get on the waiting list again - no doubt about that - good luck
I had my ablation in March after waiting 16 months. I nearly chickened out even on the trolley going down to the cath lab, but I didn't, thank goodness. Pleased for you having a general anaesthetic, I wasn't given a choice it was sedation as no anaesthetist available, I wouldn't want to do that again, I felt it and they kept knocking me out with drugs. No AF 🤞 though since. I am just beginning to stop thinking about it because I dread it coming back and it controlled my life ❤️
I was very nervous as I waited for my ablation nearly 10 years ago. When I woke I couldn’t understand why I had been so anxious. It really did give me my life back. I was previously dominated by AF episodes which were breaking through more and more frequently. 10 years on and I still only think about AF when I look at this forum. Only 2 short episodes in 10 years.
Peter
It is natural to feel anxious in the short-term , please be reassured a catheter ablation is a highly successful procedure to offer long-term benefits to episodes of AF in the long-term! If you would like a chat or any information, our Patient Services Team are here to help; heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
You will also find lots of information available on the AF Association website: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'll park it at the back of my mind now until next year.
I love Italy so much I learned to speak Italian in 1990 for the world cup and have carried on trying to get as fluent as possible (not too successfully but I can get by enough) and we've travelled throughout but this is our first time to the lakes and really looking forward to it
Ablation on Monday!
I've Sure Got Them Old Ablation Blues!
I jinxed myself 3 months after ablation with EP Doc yesterday!
