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

[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