hi all just in the recovery room at bmi Coventry
The procedure took over 3 half hours
Was so painful. I felt every burn and the groin site hurt. The ep 3d mapped the area. 3 of the 4. PV has reconnected. Even 1 that he rf ablated on the 2nd.
Ep said it went well and in his words he hammered them. Fingers crossed now. I feel worse on this one than the other 2. Maybe cus it took longer and they did lots of work.
OK now rest.
Odd that you felt the burns, it sounds like you didn't have enough sedation. My first two ablations were with sedation and all the time they were going on a nurse watched me and indicated when I needed more. Third one was with a GA and far better.
Wising you a speedy recovery to a calm heart.
Jean
Thx. Thats it for me now. I’m done with ablations
I also felt every single burn on my first cryoablation and it was hideous . Felt like it was stimulating a heart attack with pain up to my jaw, back of neck , upper back as well as the common brain freeze . He had to redo one so I had 5 of those awful painful episodes . Then when they stimulated the diaphragm , we’ll talk about violent hiccups , felt like I was jumping off the table !
I will never forget it !!!
My next 2 have been GA and so much better . Best wishes for a speedy , AF free recovery
Amanda
Same with me Jean at UCHW. Only when I threatened to get off the table ( unlikely) did I get sufficient. Odd.
The ep said. If you ever need another procedure they will do it under GA
The PVI cryo-ablation that I had back in 2018 was done under GA, which I was pleased about. I am located in Canada and it is my understanding that ALL cardiac ablations carried out in Canada are done under GA.
I have had 2, 2nd took 3 hrs and the EP said he was confident he got them all. Definitely under GA as with the first, just how they do it. And I stayed on the Flecanide for about a year.
They should have done that under GA if it was a Radio Frequency ablation I would have thought. What an unpleasant experience for you ( the sort that puts people considering an ablation off having one).Really hope third time lucky for you!
I was taken off all meds immediately with my ablation and my heart went a bit bonkers. I agree with Bob that staying on meds is probably a good idea during the first 3 months if your dr agrees of course .
Thanks. Yeah I won’t have another on sedation. No chance. The ep said no meds just apixaban and the omeprozol for 6 weeks
So all 3 of yours were Cryoablation? That's unusual. I think most EPs use it for the first and concentrate on the PVs. But if a second one is needed then they usually do an RF ablation. But maybe all your problems were coming from the PVs? Also I think the waiting list is shorter for Cryoablation.
No. My 1st was cryo. 2md and 3rd rf
Good heavens so you had sedation only for the 2 RF ablations. No wonder it was so uncomfortable. (Unless there is a medical reason ?).Best of luck for a full recovery.
No reason. The ep said if I have to have a 4th he will do GA
Perhaps it was to go faster - the waiting list is longer for RF ablations .Anyway well done for not giving up!
I had mine at UHCW and I felt mine too, I screamed out but still no more pain relief given....never again
Hi Harrisd2, I totally get what you said, on my second ablation I sedation and drifted off to sleep, but half way through I was aware of the procedure and felt the burning pain, so they stopped it and consequently the job was only half done. So if I need another I’m pushing hard for a GA. Stay well 😊
Wishing you a good recovery and hopefully a lasting result. Would you mind telling me how long you were on the waiting list, please? I'm also waiting for an ablation at the same trust and have been unable to track where I am on the waiting list. TIA
About 11 months I waited
Holy ****. I'm waiting on my next EP appointment at end of Feb when I think he will be confirming to go for an ablation. I was thinking maybe 4 months.
I waited 18 months at UCHW
I would 'like' this, but it doesn't feel appropriate...
😆. Ask to go on the cancellation list. To be fair,they are cracking on a bit with the lists,using the Meriden private hospital on site to do so.Hopefully you'll get 'zapped' soon. Worth it for me x
I rang this morning and discovered I wasn't even on the list! This is despite me receiving a message earlier in the month asking if I still needed the procedure and the NHS app showing I am the wait list. I've no idea really what has happened but they rang me back and said they'll get the referral from Worcester and see if I can fast track as the waiting list is now a year from actually going on the list. Apparently Worcester can do the procedure so I don't know why I was passed on to UCHW!! Thanks for your help. I'd made a request to UCHW a couple of weeks ago but got nowhere, now I know why.
Ridiculous. Similar story fir daughter in law,awaiting follow up from spinal consultant. Huh
I'll get the number for you tomorrow for waiting list enquiries. It's off main cardiology area.
Thanks, I was told 8 months and I'm at 4 months now. I'm more than happy to go at short notice but I can't even find out who my consultant is there. I was referred from Worcester as they don't do the ablation that I need there. I'm coping OK but I'm on a huge dose of bisoprolol + digoxin and It definitely slows me down although it seems to deal well with my flutter most of the time.
Here you go Cardiology Secretary number 02476965668.You may have to leave a message but they are very helpful. You'll need you nhs number to hand.
Proff Osman is the lead consultant for Electrophysiology, but there are several others in his team
Ah bless you Len. Over and done now rest up. Sorry you felt it so much shame they couldn't offer more pain relief (?)Fingers knees and elbows crossed for you xx
I can sympathise my first two ablations were fine under sedation but the 3rd one was so painful I felt everything as well and I also think I was undersedated I felt I was in a trance and no-one listened when I asked for more sedation it took a while to forget it.Wouldn't put me off another though but I'd make it very clear beforehand that I want maximum sedation
glad you got through alright. I had 3 ablations at Norwich, 2 under sedation and 1 GA. Also an internal cardioversion when they went in the groin like an ablation. I cant remember any of them.
Good luck and lets hope this works. 🤞🤞🤞
Good luck and a good recovery . I only ever had the one, told successful but shortly afterwards said I needed a pacemaker so not offered any further ablation(s)
Rest easy now and as others have said take it easy for first couple of months. Can you tell me how is the 3D mapping done, XRay, CT or MRI
Thanks. I’m not sure I’ve got an my notes here I’ll take a look it should say ??
It says with 3d mapping left waca + rupa soca what ever all that means
Wow that sounds detailed. The reason I ask is I’ve seen there’s a new system, developed by Imracor yet to be approved that uses live MRI guided catheters which will surpass current technology. I’m hanging in there and hopefully it’s approved in the next year or so and I’ll hopefully have ablation then. At the moment my AF is in hibernation due to diet and drugs.
Hope this works. .On the waiting list for second ablation. Same Hospital. The 1st one was painful and they did up the sedation . So reluctant to try again. Let us know how your recovery goes.
Good luck with your recovery. Sounds similar to my first ablation where I felt the burns. "Give him some more happy juice" came the response. Out of it for the rest of the procedure. Second ablation was GA - much better.
my second one was under GA. I had massive bruising in the groin that looked like I’d been in a car crash. Chest pain for about 3 weeks after. Still getting occasional twinges 6 weeks in. Recommend complete rest for a few weeks if you can. Best of luck.
Thanks yeah my chest is really right today
I don't know your age but had a colonoscopy last year and, like you felt every single thing as though I'd not had sedation at all. I wrote to the consultant who confirmed what the nurse told me which was that because I'm over 70 the guidelines state that I was on the maximum sedation allowed. However, in certain circumstances this can be overidden by the consultant.
The next one I had was with very slightly increased sedation and I didn't know a thing about it.
I'm wondering if this 'sedation age limit' applies to ablation procedures as well.
Maybe worth putting something in writing? You don't want to be worried about possibly going through that in the future if it can be prevented.
Xx Moy
Get well soon Len. Make sure you rest.
I too felt every burn though It was bearable for me. Certainly sounds like your pain management wasn't handled well at all! Sorry you had such a bad experience. Mine took 3.5 hours as well but sedation made it seem like just a fraction of the time. Best wishes on your journey.
Hope its successful this time. You didn’t get the pulse field one then.
Thanks. No the rf one they did
Wishing you the very best of good luck- third time lucky
I can't say that mine (cryo) actually hurt -- I did feel twinges but only mild discomfort. What really got my attention was the cardioversion they performed part way through. It felt like my innards were sloshing around, tipping back and forth, like I was in a giant washer-dryer. I said aloud: "What is that? It's so strange!" Someone did answer me but I don't remember what they said, and it stopped. Later the EP told me that that was cardioversion and I was not supposed to be awake; they thought I was under. They couldn't give me any more drugs because I'd had the maximum already, which should have knocked me out but didn't. Oh well. All of that was less traumatic than a nurse pressing down on the groin wound every 15min to stop bleeding. That HURT!
Really hope it worked for you this time.
Same here the nurse had to do it 3 times. My wound kept bleeding
sorry to hear of the painful experience you have just had.
It is sad that the medical profession do not yet have a discerning process for being able to assess the suitability of a patient for repeat procedure with AF. Just an EP’s experience. They are moving the rules i believe, but very slowly.
In years to come you might be offered a surgical epicardial ablation (on the outside of the heart) for the second ablation . Incredible success rates for difficult cases and done under a GA so no pain at the time, but with plenty of follow up considerations, so not for the squeamish.
It is not a procedure offered much at all at the moment, certainly many EP’s and cardiologists are against it because the peer review data isn’t substantial enough in their view, but this will change in time
Hope it’s “3rd time lucky!” fir you.
yes I had lots of painful burning feelings. The worse one was in the top right of my chest nowhere near my heart. Occasionally and 5 years on I still get that burning feeling
Rest now and personally with experience (not a doctor) I would carry on with the medication for at least 3 months then wean off it to allow your heart to heal without giving it more work
All the best and sorry you had a bad time
Yeah I had bad pain in my upper left shoulder all through it. Wierd.
I’m not on any meds at all. So the ep said don’t need to start flecanide or beta blockers??? Just apixaban for a month or so
feet up time now mate.👍
I had exactly the same, after telling them I wanted to be out of it . intense burning feeling then like the feeling you get if you accidentally swallow a hard sweet times 10. If I need another one it'll have to be a GA
3rd Ablation
