Ablation?Scared?Should I Be?

[csr2009a]

Im scheduled to have a catheter ablation on the 17th of this month, I'm being treated for A-fib, I'm kinda scared of having this procedure done, should I be? I have heard that the worst part of having it done is the waiting period before you have it done. Anyone have any feedback to help reassure me?

[Mom2four85]

Wow that is great news! I'm pvc free...but I'm cheating a bit :P when mine starts they are converted into regular beats due to my pacemaker/icd they put in...now if it can just get rid of the pain and boost my energy back to normal I'll be a happy camper :P

back to your original question - Ablation?Scared?Should I Be? - was it as bad as you thought it was going to be?  

I can say the versed they gave me kept me pretty mellow; even with all the complications I had during surgery.

[ireneo]

Glad to hear you're doing so well. Isn't that great?!!

[wmac]

I have had two attempted ablations. My first was in Jan of 05 and I swore I would never do it again. Then 8 months later I was begging for another one for nsvt.. They really are not that bad. Its just the waiting and thinking the worst. However my heart decided to be good on both tries. So needless to say they were not able to induce my nsvt. I was pretty bummed. I would do it again in hopes of being fixed. If they are able to induce your arrthymia and then your fixed its very well worth it. They know what they are doing and they will give you versede to relax you. good luck

[csr2009a]

1 Month Update
  Went to doctor yesterday, did a stress test, all is well, no more a-fib. Heart is normal. Ablation Surgery was a success!

[Mom2four85]

@wisconsin2007 rotfl now I will be singing cheeseburgers in paradise like jimmy buffet during surgery :P

I don't know about them, but Red Lobster last night was delicious hehehe cheddar cheese biscuits right out of the oven....seafood, chicken, baked potato & unsweet tea doesn't get any better

I'm going in an hour so I'll let ya'll know when I get back - probably tomorrow

I have a camera phone, so I'll ask :)

[Wisconsin2007]

Lisa, you're going to fly right through it.  Not to sound like I'm a big fan of drugs, but the drugs they give you are really, really nice.  I've heard from a few people now that had the same experience I did coming off Versed - happy as a clam, can't remember much, but starving for a cheeseburger.

Here's wishing you cheeseburgers in paradise.   lol

We're pulling for you, sending good karma, praying, and rubbing the good juju doll.  With that trifecta, you can't go wrong!

Hey, can you bring a camera into the hospital?  Take some pics, would ya?  :P

[Mom2four85]

Thanks for updating! glad you're doing ok even with the complications.

Was it as tough or as hard as you thought it was going to be?  I'm going tomorrow (Wed) morning for mine, hopefully I will get over the jitters soon :)

Let us know how you're feeling.

[csr2009a]

Update: Back home now, was released on Thursday, however had a couple complications while in hospital, They had caused a valve on my heart to leak causing blood to form around the heart, they had to put a tube in, it was only in for a day. 2nd day after ablation went back into a-fib, Doctor put me on Tykosin, they were going to have to shock me to get me out of a-fib but meds began to work and a-fib went away. Had one more short instance of a-fib since I've been home, but has stopped and not come back since. Other than that, I'm finally home and all is going well so far. Will keep you all informed. Any questions? Feel free to ask! Thanks to all for your support and comments!

[Mom2four85]

Good Luck and let us know how it goes, and I agree - waiting is probably the hardest part.  I regret daily that I waited on having surgery the past weeks and should have just gotten it done and over with :P

[csr2009a]

Ok have to be at hospital at 6:00 in the morning. just want to say Thanks to all for your comments and support. I will let you know how things go after the ablation.

[Madge270]

My sister-in-law and also one of my friends had ablations for A-fib. They are both glad they had it done. My sister-in-law had hers done 7 years ago and hasn't had rhythm problems since. Same for my friend, who had her 3 years ago.

My own problem is ventricular (PVCs).  I've read that abations are more dangerous for that problem, so possibly needing it someday scares me.  (Plus, I'm very allergic to just about every IV antibiotic out there, and they usually use an antibiotic for the procedure.) Antibiotics have nearly killed me several times, because they close my throat.  At least ablation for A-fib is an easier, safer procedure. I think you'll be fine.

[ireneo]

Yes, you are correct about the size of the spots. I never thought to add it up, size wise. Now whether the 38 burns were each a different spot, I don't know. It may be that some of the burns were applied to the same area. The notes just read "x number of applications."

I've heard of people having the tilt table test but not just before an ablation. Wonder why they aren't doing it a day or so ahead. Guess they figure since you're in the hospital any way, just do it all in one trip. That makes for a very long day for you though, especially since you can't eat or drink before the ablation. Urrggh.

[Mom2four85]

ireneo, I read that too 5x3mm - thats each "burn" correct?  I think that's what I read - if you look at yours,  you've had 38 areas done, that's not a small area in relation to the heart size - roughly 4x6 inches right?  that's between 1 - 2"  glad to know others have had so many and are okay.  

What is going to help them map it quicker for me is my pvc's don't stop. From what I'm reading - since they're constant it will be easier to map and they seem to be in 1 spot, but the hard part is that spot is from the lower left ventricle

Momto3 - the nurse told me 6-7 hours also if they can map it out right away  

Has anyone else had a tilt table test done before the ablation?

This is the part I didn't understand, why did they schedule a tilt table test that takes at least 2 hours sometimes more, and ablation which can take 6-7 hours or more on the same day?  The EP's nurse called me 2 days ago and went over everything again and with a note from him - if the tilt table is positive no ablation that day :(

[ireneo]

A-fib is so different than going in for sporadic premature beats that may or may be inducible. I have premature beats (PVC's and PAC's) but they were focused on my atrial tachy (PSVT) which comes and goes as it wants. But they were able to trigger it with no problem. I can't remember reading about anyone going in for an ablation for a-fib and not able to be mapped.

I do believe they ask you to quit any anti-arrhythmic medications several days before you go in.

The "burns" sound terrible but the actually spot is mere millimeters wide and deep (something like 5 by 2), not even as large as a pencil eraser.

I hope the ablations goes quickly and you have a happy heart. Will check on you later.

irene

[Momto3]

It definitely helps for the ectopics to be occurring when they get in there, but they have medicines that can induce some arrhythmias if your heart is "quiet" on the day of the procedure.  I have heard of cases where they were not able to induce the arrhythmia, but given the number of ectopics you have, I'm thinking you won't have that problem.

My procedures were 6-7 hours each, and I only remember minutes from each one.  I had Versed and Fentynl and was comfortable for the duration.  The only discomfort I remember was at the end of the 2nd procedure when the had to apply so much pressure to close off the entry site.  I also had a headache, but that was because of something they gave me to induce tachycardia while I was in la-la land.  Other than that, I'm with Irene...the gown is the worst part : )

Keep us posted.
Connie

[Mom2four85]

Thanks :)  that's kind of what I've read  and I thought I would pass out when he said I would have around 50 burns ugh lol I'm such a baby really it sounds really scary.

Glad to see yours went well - thats one of my fears having to go through ablation over and over with so many probs.  But what  you said triggered another question.

If the arrhythmia(s) are there when they go in (mine don't go away) is that easier for them then they don't have to map as much?

My EP didn't explain alot of the actual procedure to me, other than they go in, map it and burn it then everything was fine and dandy lol I surely hope it's that easy.

[ireneo]

I do think part of the time required is dependent on how quickly they can trigger the arrhythmia and accurately map it. Then so much depends on how many times they have to apply the RF. My ablations ran from as quickly as 2 hours (my third time in) to 7 hours (my second time in). I've had a total of 38 burns if I remember correctly.

I've never had to spend the night at the hospital but mine were always scheduled for very early in the morning.

Left sided ablations and those for a-fib are more complex and will differ from mine for simple atrial arrhythmias.

[Mom2four85]

Im glad someone posted about ablation.   I got a 2nd & 3rd opinion, I HAVE to have to have it done, so I've been reading on the procedure.

Thanks for putting in what's goes on when and how it feels, I don't anything can fully prepare us for even a smaller surgery like this, but it's still surgery and dealing with the heart, which makes me very uncomfortable.

I have a quick question though - what determines how long you are in surgery? How long does it take for them to "map" out and correct things? I know I'm probably looking at 2 ablations, but I hope not.

They told me I could be in from 1-3 days but they can't be sure until they actually go in.  I have to have a tilt table test first then wait on that and then they start the ablation, anyone else had this done?  I'm having most of my problems in the left lower ventricle.

[twinbee]

I had an ablation done in 2008 for a-fib and a-flutter. The procedure took almost 8 hours. I was asleep 90% of the time. The worst part for me was the back pain from laying flat for soo long. (after the procedure I had to lay flat for another 6 hours). The nurses did give me pain medication for my back and the pain went away in a day or two. I also had some chest pain whenever I took a deep breath in, and that too went away in a day or two also. I had not pain, bleeding, or severe bruising in the groin areas. Some people do. My recovery went very well, and was very easy. But as you know, everyone is different. I was very scared waiting for the ablation, now that it is done and over with, I think "What was I soo scared of?". I would not hesitate to have another one if needed. I hope your recovery goes as well, as mine did. Talk care! Good Luck!! Wishing you well, and wishing you enough...

[ireneo]

I can't stand to go to the doctor, even for the most common things like check ups yet I've had 3 ablations. For me the worst part was taking off my clothes (hospitals always do that) and getting the IV put in (mostly because the nurses doing it weren't any good at it). The rest of the procedure went by in a blur thanks to the meds they use.

I've heard of some people having an ablation done with no meds but that seems cruel. Even if they have to go without meds to map out the trouble spots, seems they could use some happy meds when it comes time to actually ablate. Be sure to ask your cardio about that. I don't think it's the norm to do without.