EP study and ablation for atrial tach

[LynnSB]

After years of trying to find out what caused my brief but scary and lifestyle-if-not-life-threatening arrhythmias,an event recorder revealed atrial tach.I am amazed that a 2 lead recorder could reveal so much info but my doc says I have"very frequent PACS,atrial runs, non-sustained for along atrial tach, and inappropriate sinus tach, rare PVCs." In consult with an EP doc,he says the focus of the atrial tach appears to NOT be reentry but ectopic and coming from the pulmonary vein and is, they believe , amenable to an ablation.
I'm very excited about having the EP study/ablation and they think there is a "good chance" of a cure for my problem which would eliminate these horrible feelings ( the a-tach and atrial runs make me feel momentarily scared and sometimes weak).
Questions: 1.isn't a pulmonary vein focus a more difficult location for a successful ablation?
2.In general,what's the recovery time like for an ablation?
3. I live alone and just wonder what i have to avoid or watch out for afterwards.. how soon i can go back to work, etc. I know i need to talk to my docs about this and will when i see them but for now, any info in general would be greatly appreciated.

thanks so much!

Lynn

[ValerieL]

Hi Cathy,

I am scheduled to meet with my EP doctor for a consult and to schedule my ep study/ablation on Friday. However, my sister has done this procedure 3 times, once was for A fib too. She never had to take thinners like coumadin before the procedure, or after. Maybe you should post your question on the board
for the doctors to answer. I am sure there are special cases for this. In my personal opinion, I would most likely opt to have it done and be on medications in your case, since that sounds like a much more controlled situation then letting it go and passing out. I have supraventricular tach and it will make me pass out, so I do understand that feeling!

Take care and let us know how it goes!

Valerie

[Cathy7]

Hi guys,

This is SO helpful!!  I have been vacillating about having any procedure done for my AF.  I am scared that I will be the ONE who has the horrible complications that my EP doc was sure to let me know about ("we had a patient have a fatal stroke on the table" type of thing).

I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and scheduled for Oct 3rd, but couldn't have it then due to the fact that the office didn't tell me I had to be on Coumadin for a month before the procedure!

I have not heard any mention of meds from you kind folks.  That is the reason I don't want to have any procedure (tho I am DYING to have this fixed) cuz my EP doc says I have to be on heart meds and blood thinners forever after.

I am ONLY 55, active and healthy otherwise and always have horrible side effects from meds.  I've tried several of theirs to keep my AF under control, but just felt like I was doing to die!  

I have episodes now about every other day or two that last from 8 to 18 hours. After several hours I pass out.  Not good.

Question I'd like answered:
Do you all have to be on meds/blood thinners before and after the ablation?

Thanx,

Cathy

[LynnSB]

I had the procedure on Sept. 15 -- no pain meds at all. There was ABSOLUTELY NO PAIN OR DISCOMFORT.. except for when they stuck me to put in the IV line.  I am hypersensitive ( documented) to a host of medications and I had no problems at all with the sedation and no after effects..

Good luck!

Lynn

[Majestic]

Hi,

I was reading over your comments. I am also scheduled for an EP study/abbalation and am very scared. I am more frightned because I can not handle pain medication. I am allergic to most opiods.
Do you guys think it is safe to do this with just the versed?
I have not discussed this with my doctor yet. Anyone here
have the proceedure with just sedation that can tell me how it
went ? I would appreciate it SOO much. Thanks

Majestic

[LynnSB]

Hi Valerie,
Well, it has been 5 days since the EP study/Ablation. I am still having some skipped heartbeats but very few and far between -- however, when I do have them, to be honest, it still scares me. I have NOT had the bursts of what felt like fast beats though. HOORAY!

I am very, very tired but I also have had little sleep this week so I can't blame it all on the ablation -- my dog was up in the early a.m. hours barking, etc. Also, I worked yesterday and put in about 11 hours trying to make up  for the days I took off so I would probably be a bit tired anyway.

I have had no oozing or bleeding or discomfort at all from the site where they put in the catheter in my groin. Not one problem. I took a lot of vitamin C the day before the procedure and after returning home from it and I didn't even bruise at all, either.

Again, there was no pain AT ALL from the procedure with the exception of the stick when they put the IV line in my arm. I've had no after effects like fever or pain or anything else.

Please let us know how your EP study/ablation goes. Honestly, the folks that do this all the time treat it as such a routine little procedure. I know it's not --  to those of us going through it! But it is far, far from an " operation". So good luck and don't worry about it!!!

Lynn

[ValerieL]

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for sharing your experiences with me. Now I know what to expect when it is my turn within the next two weeks. Really, you have made a huge difference in my worry level! I think I might have chickened out if it wasn't for you. Thank you! And Lynn, post again to tell us how your progress is going. I will also post when I know when I go in for mine.

Thanks everyone!!!

Valerie

[Anne 35]

Hello Lynn,

I hope your head feels better.  I felt the flip flopping as well.  Mine lasted for  about two weeks, gradually getting fewer as the days past.  Don't let that worry you.  Get well soon.

Anne

[arthur]

Some PACs and/or PVCs after an ablation are very common.  It's caused by the irritation that the rf ablation procedure itself caused to tissue and nerves surrounding the area.  It is definitely "transient" and will subside with time (in my case a few weeks).  The important thing to focus on is the absence of your tachycardia. Take care.  -Arthur

[LynnSB]

The ablation itself took about 3 hours,I think... I was out of it but remember waking up several times, looking back at a nurse and announcing "my heart is beating really fast!" as if they needed me to tell them what was going on . hahahahah.. I heard a voice say, " we know.. just go back to sleep.."  I felt sleepy when I woke up but progressively better. I felt great within a few hours and went home.. no problemos.

I must say that I woke up this morning with a whopping headache and I've had some irregular heart "flip flops" all day which has depressed me a little. I talked to the EP doc this evening. He said it is common for PVCs and PACS to be worse "transiently" to use his word, after an ablation. he also said i might always have some palpitations but that my fast heart beats should be gone.He said when they gave me just a little adrenaline during the EP study, my heart rate went IMMEDIATELY up to about 210. and they zapped the right spot and looked and looked for 30 minutes for other problem areas but found none. I am trying not to be too worried about the palpitations . I am trying to be hopeful this will all be better.

But as far as the EP study/ablation itself -- I am a wuss and it was a piece of cake. No pain, nothing.. very easy.. the hardest part was getting soooo upset and nervous about it.. it really was easier than having a root canal !

[arthur]

Congratulations!  Join the club!  
I am very happy things worked out for you.  
-Arthur

[ValerieL]

That is wonderful news!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You made it easier for me to do it, thank you. I will have it done for sure now. I just got the authorization from my insurance, so in the next few weeks it will be me as well. Thanks for all of your support and help! I can't imagine life with a normal heart rhythm all the time.

Congratulations!

Valerie

[Anne 35]

That's great.  I am glad everything went so well. I am glad you are feeling good.  How long did it take?

Anne

[LynnSB]

I DID IT!  I had my EP study and an ablation for what turned out to be SV node reentry tachycardia -- my heart went up to 209..

I had no pain except the pain of getting the iv in... everything was really easy. I wasn't sick afterwards .. slightly tired. that's all ! was home by the afternoon.. just want to believe I'm "fixed".. almost scared to but SOOOO glad I did this. and can't believe I was so worried!

Lynn

[ValerieL]

Hi Lynn

I just wanted to wish you the very best for your procedure Monday! I am excited for you!! Just imagine finally feeling better! Yay! That is something to celebrate!!

Best wishes and please post again and tell us how it went!

Valerie

[arthur]

The procedure is just wires in your blood vessels, so it really doesn't take much out of you...it's just the anxiety, the lack of food (required prior to the procedure), the careful walk (to insure good healing in that sensitive groin area).  By the next morning, I was not groggy from the meds, just exhausted from the lack of sleep (lights, noises, usual hospital careless chatter).
Once at home that next day, I just took it easy getting around...and in a couple of more days got back to work.  I play soccer, so I was anxious to get back on the field...that took a few weeks more.

Take care! (and relax)  -Arthur

[LynnSB]

Well, there's absolutely no one to come stay with me so that's that. But can y'all tell me how you felt the next day? how long do you feel groggy? Are you pretty much ok the next day?

thanks so much!

Lynn

[Anne 35]

I agree with Arthur, sore and groggy sums it up.  It would be possible to be alone afterwards, it just would be easier to have someone there to  fetch things for you.(soup, water the remote, etc...)  I felt a few bumps and twinges in my heart (I assume PVC's), but nothing that caused any symptoms like my atrial flutter and afib did. Just a bump every now and then.  

Like I said, it will not be horrible afterwards, I just wish you had someone with you.  I'm sorry.  

Let us know how you do.

Anne

[LynnSB]

thanks, Arthur! I actually wish they'd let me stay at the hospital over night, but with insurance and such .. it is not to be ( barring some unforeseen complication, I guess).. so I will just plan on taking it easy around here for a few days.

Thanks again for taking the time to write and offer encouragement.

L

[arthur]

Sore (at the groin) and groggy (in my case, because there's nothing quite like a sleepover in the cardiac ward...loud monitors, lots of lights, and of course, nurses checking in on you).  I was very very glad to get out of there the next day, as I was looking forward to getting some rest (at home).

If there are foci remaining that were not isolated (or burned), then it's also likely that you will experience an increased production of arrhythmias for days/weeks due to the trauma of the procedure...although the trauma is slight, the nervous system surounding the area treated will be turned up for a while and this results in increased PACs/PVCs if there are other foci about.  In my case, the increased production lasted for months (I had and still do have some unablated foci).

I spent a few days straight (3-4) at home before going back to work...mainly because I wanted the groin catheter entry points to heal thoroughly.

I'm sure that your procedure will go smoothly.  Enjoy the adventure and the new world awaiting you.  -Arthur

[LynnSB]

Thanks, Anne. Well, I really don't have anyone to stay with me. I'm sending my son to his dad's for the night and my mom is in her 80s and my friends have their own lives.I will keep numbers of neighbors handy in case of any emergency.

what's so bad about afterwards?  I really want to grasp what this may be like... do you just feel sore or groggy or does your heart act up a lot or what?

thanks!

SB

[Anne 35]

Good luck with your procedure.  I hope you will think about having someone stay with you that first night you are home.  Especially if you come home after one day.  I hate the thought of you being alone after that.  

Good luck again, and it will be over before you know it.  You will be amazed at how much more energy you will have, and how much easier it is to breathe.  

Anne

[ValerieL]

Wow! That was so fast!! It is good to get it out of the way, less time to worry about it! I am sure you will be fine and you will probably be so happy when it is done! I am wishing you the very best. Please post back when you are done and tell us how you are doing. My thoughts will be with you!!!!!!

Valerie

[LynnSB]

I just learned my EP study/ablation is scheduled for Monday.I'm so scared.. but excited!!  Good luck with yours!

Lynn

[ValerieL]

Thanks Anne!! Your reassurance really helps me. I am not sure when they will do it. They are calling me sometime this week. My doctor said it is usually within a few weeks that they set up the appt. I am nervous about the procedure, but I feel better now that I know more about it. It looks as if complications are pretty rare too. I will let you know when I am scheduled to have it done. It will be wonderful not to have this problem anymore. I never realized that I am somewhat guarded in things I do so that I am careful not to cause an event. It has been 26 years of having this, and I will be so glad to have it gone!

Thanks so much!

Valerie