Afib ablation

[larry200zx]

Hi...First I'd like to say thanks to the 3 responses I received when I asked about left side ablation which I was set straight on that's how afib is ablated. I feel very behind on the learning curve here. A little background on me...I'm 55, good shape, I'm a steel worker (welder) very physical job. I started getting the HR issues in Feb 2010 and they weren't very frequent also found out I had high blood pressure and was put on lisinopril. Over the next year HR issues became more frequent and episodes would last as long as 8 or 9 hrs but always subsided.
Fast forward to Jan 2011 had EP study and thought I would be ablated at the same time but was told it was much more complex because it was found to be Afib. Was put on Metropolol, flecanide, and Pradaxa.Now I'm researching the ablation procedure for Afib and getting very overwelmed. I've also had some issues with getting light headed lately and that has me kinda scared. Sorry a little long winded here...Thanks.

[cindy707]

I found what worked best for me was that when i had to take meds of any type i put them next to my toothbrush so that i would take them at the same time every day and from what i understand its best to take any med at the same time each day for max. performance.  If your doc told you tho to take them at various times thru out the day we have to always listen to what they tell us because they have our best interests at heart so to speak.................

[DeltaDawn23]

Both of my recent episodes of Afib happened when I had missed a dose of my meds.  Setting an alarm helps, whatever you have to do.

[cindy707]

Hi Larry....yes i was sort of "out" for the procedure and was given a med called Versed...i laugh about it now because its an amnesia type of med that you aren't actually "out" you are what is called in a twighlight state meaning that you don't remember a thing and trust me you don't...shoot for two days after i think i was still in Oz from it...it does not effect your heart at all and from everything that i understand there is absolutely no benefit to being awake during the procedure to the doc other than to maybe scare the bejesus out of us..i personally never would have considered being awake...i have better things to do with my life then to be extra scared days before the ablation knowing someone would be talking to me...telling me what they are doing, what they are gonna do..OMG if someone had said to me that "okay now you will feel a little pinch as the catheter is inserted into your heart....or now you will feel a little pain while we............" oh heck no...call me a baby or whatever but not in my lifetime .....and now i am really confused because ablations i believe for originally developed for the sole purpose of atrial fibrillation and is the most common ablation...and why the heck is the doc telling you that he sees you on a pacemaker someday?  Do we have the whole story here?  A pacemaker is implanted when the brain of the heart can no longer talk to the rest of it and tell it how to beat properly to sustain life...with ablations the only time one would be required from what i understand is if that doc "accidently" hit the AV.Sinus node of the heart which is basically the brain....and that my friend is the definate "no fly zone" of the heart that the docs stay far far away from because it basically shorts out the electrical of it and blows the fuse so to speak permanently.  Sometimes when people have things like bradycardia or a super slow heart beat the heart needs a little more help and if its serious enough they will implant a pacemaker to help you out but i would be looking at every option i had before going down this road especially a second opinion that you have done your research on completely to ensure that their ducks are all in a row.  And yes you don't want to suddenly miss a dose of any beta blocker because many of us have been there done that one and also had to be converted.  With beta blockers you have to be weaned off of them when the time comes and a doc says yes or you experience something called rebound where the issues can come back X3...i went thru it too and deserved every single suffering i went thru with the conversion because i wasn't listening to my doc .Geez Larry 65 ablations....oh no no no no no......my criteria was that my doc had to have done over 1500 of them and he had and he was totally amazing and literally saved my life.  You should have some very specific criteria that he/she has to meet before you let them go at your heart because we only get one chance.  For me my doc had to meet 12 different areas of accomplishments before i chose...i interviewed a couple of docs before i found mine who met all of it and i chose well trust me.  If you want message me and i will look up my list and give them to you and write them down and check it out.  You want the doc to have enough experience to handle anything that pops up with you alone...a second opinion yes...rethinking a doc that has only done 65 yes.....research yes......take care of you Larry in this life we only have one shot so choose wisely................:)

[larry200zx]

Thanks Cindy...I do have a few questions. Were you out for the procedure? My EP wants me awake. He also says I may need a second ablation and he sees me having a pacemaker someday. The meds he has me on seems to be controlling my problem but I missed a dose and the next day went into atrial flutter until they shocked me out of it after 16 hrs. I now set alarms on my phone so it doesn't happen again. My EP has done 65 of these procedures and he seems very knowledgeable and careful but I'm starting to wonder if I should seek a second opinion. How do you research these guys? Thanks everyone

[cindy707]

Same age group had the ablation...ask away....i had a single one done...for atrial fib and some other stuff...ksig nailed it on the description its a no brainer procedure if you do the boilerplate ablation...easier then a root canal trust me.....we're here for you.....

[ksig]

Hi, larry200zx

I understand your feeling of being overwhelmed as far as left side ablations go. I have had two .  The procedure is a long one; mine lasting 7-8 hours apiece. I am sure you have read about the actual things that go on in the procedure so I will not cover that.  Once it it over, you will be required to lay flat for6 hours and you will spend the night in the hospital.  Both of my procedures had me out of the hospital by noon.  You do feel a bit beat up for a day or two and do have to take it easy for a week or so. You may have a bruise or ache in your groin where the catheters were placed but that heals quickly.   I went back to work four days after my procedures.  At the time I was a junior high principal and was on the go.  Four days was enough time for me to recoop.  

If there is anything else you wish to know about the left side ablation, please ask.  Many people on this board have experienced ablations.
ksig