ABLATION POSTPONED TO JUNE 18 - WITH NO SEDATION

[Darlingorla]

Hi - spent most of yesterday at Toronto General for pre-op tests.  Met with the EP, very experienced 25 years+;  he like to do the ablation for SVT, possible AVNRT, without sedation.  He says sometimes if the heart is too sedated he cannot bring the arrhythmia on - he wants to get the best possible result for me so that I do not have to repeat the procedure or have break thru tachy.  I guess I have to go with it...  my thoughts tonight are that I will call his secretary tomorrow and question monitoring during the procedure, that if it becomes too much for me, then could I get some relief thru medication, especially during the actual ablation.  I think I can do it - he said I just have to get my head around it.  I am scared enough as it is - life ***** sometimes!

[cindy707]

I loved your last post Darlingorla....ESPECIALLY the last line......you hit the nail right on the center of the head...no we are not numbers, yes we understand if someone that is having more severe problems than ours has to be pushed ahead of us, but please.....just remember that we are important and just as important as the person you put in our place....i would willingly and happily give up my spot to another human as long as i had the assurance from the doc that i am safe to do so.....just don't treat us like our lives mean less than anyone elses' because when we are pushed back down the line we are sacrificing for another and there should at least be a thank you and accolade and ALOT of reassurance that we are safe until our date for the procedure comes up.....its called a correct bedside manner not like when you go to the deli for a sandwich and we take a number out of that red thingy and wait for our number to come up......you go girl!!!!!

[Darlingorla]

So I called the EP's nurse clinician today - she explained the procedure to me yesterday, including discussing sedation, Versed etc., and answered some of my questions.  I had to call her today to check about my meds - I obviously have to revise when I am going to stop taking Atenolol and Digoxin because I have been bumped from next Tuesday to Friday June 18 (she actually offered to put me back for Tuesday but as I have to arrange accommodation in the city, it's a bit too late now for me to change plans - makes me think it's time to get some private medical insurance because the Ontario health system is going downhill fast).  I had to give up my spot because supposedly they had some in patients who needed the procedure a.s.a.p. - that doesn't seem to be the case now - I just thought yesterday, well maybe one day I will be in that situation and hope that another will give up their spot if their need is greater than mine - I was so disappointed ... oh well ...  Anyway, so we agreed on when to stop the medications prior to next Friday's ablation.

Then of course I said - well you know that I am not having sedation for this procedure - near took her breath away.  She didn't know that the EP does not give Versed for AVNRT and immediately sought him out to confirm because she's the one telling patients about the sedation :)  So I said well I am human after all, so is there a plan B just in case I find this procedure a bit grueling and she said yes, if the EP thinks it's getting too much for me then he will give me some sedation.  He must have thought about it overnight because I went back into his office after the consultation and explained how nervous I am and that my GP has given me some Ativan as a prn to help me out - she's known me for 20 years :)

So that makes me feel a whole lot better.  I have had 4 root canals and I didn't find them that bad, so if this is easier, then I should be okay.  I know this EP is only trying to get the best outcome for me but I think at what price to my nervous system.  TGH is a teaching hospital and my EP is a research fellow - who knows whether I am just another stat to add to a list in giving no sedation this very common type of arrhythmia ablation.  Sometimes doctors have to be reminded about the human element.

[debbier]

I called my EP the day before my ablation freaked out and they told me no meds of any kind.   If you can get through labor you can do this!!!   I would rather have another ablation than a root canal, lol

[Darlingorla]

I don't think it is an option Cindy - he says no sedation which I guess means no Versed.  I did not want to hear that. Debbier says she got thru okay without any sedation.  He says quite often he can't get the arrhythmia to surface if there is sedation medication in patient's system.   However, it does not seem like I have a choice with him.  He says he wants me to be 'wired'.  

I have to take Debbier's advice that it is manageable.  Honestly he is such a sweet man I don't think he is deliberately trying to push me to the limit - just trying to get the best outcome.  I really cannot stand living with this condition, so I have to be positive and get my head around it.  I am sure my post ablation reports will be read with much interest by everyone ...

[Darlingorla]

Yes, I think I will jump off the table :) I have to remind myself that I spent 3 hours in hard labor with my last son and I survived that - I don't think anything could be worse than that!  I am going to ask them if I can take my IPod in with me, and play soothing music.

[cindy707]

You need to think about asking the doc if you can possibly get the amnesia meds that are common place during the procedure so that you will have no memory of the procedure....it does not effect the heart in any way i know if i had to go thru it as i did without anything i don't know if i would have seriously done it just due to the thought of the procedure  even tho i am a huge advocate of the ablation.....if you are given the amnesia meds you are totally awake during the procedure but have no memory what so ever of it....just thought i would toss that out there for you...............................

[Darlingorla]

Thanks for your reassurance -  I thought I remembered you saying that you didn't have any sedation.  At least I won't feel groggy for days after.  They are also going to keep me in CCU overnight to monitor me which is standard procedure for my EP - I did not complain about that!

I know he means well - he is a very thoughtful doctor, says he can't sleep at night sometimes if he has a difficult procedure to do the next day ... he just wants the best outcome for his patient.  He said the procedure should take 2 hours and he is very careful about going anywhere near the nodes.  Only had to place two PM during the last 25/30 years of doing procedure - must have trained with the best.

As you seem to be the only other person posting here who did not have sedation I will take your word for it that it is not so bad without meds.  Did you need any pain medication during the actual ablation - how did you keep calm, were the staff very reassuring?

[debbier]

I had my Ablation for afib and svt with no sedation.  I was so nervous,  it was not as bad as I thought, the worst part for me was the needle to numb my leg.   I did feel slight burning when they ablated but nothing that I would say was horrible.  I would do it again tomorrow without sedation in a minute.   Without the sedation my heart was very easily provoked into the arrythmias and my ablation took about 2 hours.    Please dont get yourself to worked up about the no sedation, if was not that bad.  

[LindaTX]

At least you are having pre-op tests. You know, everone of us facing this feel exactly the same way you do.  There's an old saying, I think it  is "Courage  is fear that has said it's prayers."  Seems appropriate. Mine will be sometime in the fall, no exact date yet.  I hope all goes well with yours. Lets definitely try to staiy in touch. I'm getting ready to trek off to a family reunion but I'll check in on you next week before yiu go in and see how you're doing. Take care.   TTYL, Linda