I have found posts about ablation experiences really useful before I had mine for SVT two days ago, so hopefully recounting my experience will also help others.
I had to be at Glenfield in Leicester for 11am, but didn’t go for my ablation until 2pm. I was really glad I took a book & magazines to read, to help those 3 hours pass more quickly. Hospital gown and paper pants on, I was wheeled to the Cath Lab. I’ve seen a discussion on here regarding those paper pants, and I did wonder why they bothered once they were snipped both sides and the sides ruched together with tape. Not a lot of my dignity was left covered! 😂 I was settled onto the narrow bed with my arms resting on cool gel pads (not sure why) and covered with a blue sheet. A very cold gel pad was also placed on my lower back. The staff all introduced themselves and explained what would be happening. An oxygen mask was placed over my face and a hole was cut in the blue sheet above my groin. I was then given sedation through the cannula in my arm.
I’ve read posts where people have said sedation didn’t work for them, but it definitely worked for me! The rest of the experience is a blurry memory but I do remember the feeling when they got my heart racing. That certainly woke me up and I worried that it would never stop. Lying flat on my back and having my heart jumping out of my chest made me feel in such a panic. I felt that twice so I think they ran another cycle after the first burn. I remember the consultant telling me it was all over and that it had been successful. They’d ran a 3rd cycle without SVT kicking in. I was wheeled into the recovery area and just wanted to sleep and sleep and sleep some more. The blood pressure cuff on my arm kept inflating every so often and I think my blood pressure was too low so the alarm kept going off and a nurse would wake me to sip water through a straw. I just wanted her to leave me alone, I was having wonderful dreams! 😊 At some point I was wheeled back to my room and expected to slide onto my bed without lifting my head or bending my right leg. I remember mumbling something about an extreme endurance test!! 😂 I then slept through my son arriving and sandwiches, fruit, cake and juice arriving on a tray. I think the sedation had really knocked me out. At 7pm I tried a sandwich, attempted a very wobbly walk to the loo, threw up, passed out and had to be put on oxygen with low oxygen levels and very low blood pressure. The sedation definitely worked for me; in fact I think I probably had too much! I ended up having to stay the night and came home the following morning. I’ve been on bed rest yesterday and today. Hopefully re-locating to the sofa tomorrow.
Every experience is obviously so different, I wanted to share mine. Hope it helps.
AVNRT ablation
problems post SVT ablation
What next after ablation?
Failed to induce svt for ablation
Post ablation recovery
