My EP Study Experience

[chuparosa]

Just thought I would share what happened to me during my EP Study.

When I arrived at the EP Lab, quite a few electrodes where attached to my upper body. Two large sticky patches were placed on me – one on my lower back on one on my left side. I also had an IV line inserted in my left arm.

Once in the lab, drapes were put all over me. The nurses were very kind to put a cap on my head as it was freezing cold in the room and I was shivering. I was administered some drugs to relax me but I most certainly did not feel relaxed. The room itself is like a command center. It's very high tech and has huge monitors just over the side of the table.

I was fully awake for the whole procedure. I did not feel any pain where the catheters were inserted but I did feel the catheter in my heart. I did have some chest discomfort. While the study was being performed, it was really frightening feeling my heart flip flop. Hearing the beeps of the heart monitor when my heart was beating oddly and fast only made me more anxious and freaked out.

After about two hours the test was completed and I was told the situation was more serious than they thought and that I would have to come back for an ablation.

I was wheeled into recovery where I stayed for about 2 hours and then I was discharged. In recovery I was given a small soda and some graham crackers but even though I took only a tiny bite of the crackers and a tiny sip of the soda, I got very queasy. I felt really unstable when released and was hanging onto my husband when I was walking so I didn't fall over.

Overall I would say this procedure is no joke and quite frightening. I still don't really know my diagnosis and I am really dreading having to go back for the ablation. I was told to follow up with the doctor is one month.

[Mom2four85]

wow 5 icd's?  what happened? I don't want to highjack someone else's thread so pm me if you feel I'm doing that.

I had Versed during my Ablation and Cardiac Cath, but can't remember what they gave me for my PM/ICD implant.  Had to have it installed due to vfib also; did they use paddles to resuscitate you?  My dr was interested in seeing if I would do it again, and I did twice more.

[kevk]

I was also told by my EP that he wanted to know my symptoms during the test. My test only lasted 20 minutes do to instant v-fib. I ques that I didn`t need sedation my heart did it for me. I was implanted with an icd two days later, Than had to do the test again to see if the icd was working. They gave me valium to keep me calm test started and I went out again, the icd did it`s job.
Five ICD`s later good so far.  Chuparosa that was a very good description of everything I remember. I was told that I had a serious electrical problem that could not be corrected.

[itdood]

I think the sedation thing might have something to do with them wanting to see how the sympathetic nervous system is reacting.  Under sedation this will be muted.    This is a complete guess on my part.

[BobRBob]

Chuparosa, thanks for the report. It's certainly of interest to those of us who have yet to have any of these EP procedures performed on us. Interesting, also, that they did no sedation. Practices seem to vary on this point.

Hope you are feeling better soon and best of luck with your ablation if such is required.