PV Ablation, My Success story?

I recently had a PVAI ablation for paroxysmal Afib.  Before the procedure and after I looked for information from people who had the procedure but could only find questions or posts of people who had complications or that were not successful.  I'm sure there are people lurking here like I did looking for any personal accounts to encourage them before or after they have the same procedure.  So here is my story.

The Procedure--I arrived at the hospital about 7 am got prepped and had a TEE, then waited until after lunch for the ablation.  Finally, sometime after lunch they took me back.  I can’t say much about the procedure itself, when I had it done I was under heavy sedation; I slept through the entire thing which took about 4 hours.  I was in normal rhythm when I went in and have been in rhythm since.  I never experienced any chest pain or discomfort.  The only thing I felt was a little tightness in the chest when I would cough or yawn.  This went away after about a week.  Everything has felt normal since.  I did have an issue with the catheter insertion sites.  In recovery I started bleeding and a hematoma started to develop (you know because it really hurts).  The nurse’s applied direct pressure to stop the bleeding.   I’ll be honest, that hurt like a @#$%.  They gave me something to counter the heparin and later removed the catheters.  Again direct pressure and yes it hurt.  When I was finally able to sit up 6 hrs later I started bleeding again and yes more direct pressure.   I don’t think what happened to me is necessarily common but I don’t think is it is all that uncommon either.  Another 6 hours of lying still later and I was finally able to get up and walk—slowly.  I finally left the hospital the day after the proceedure around noon.

Post Procedure -- Everything I had heard was that most people were back to normal after a few days, not the case for me.  I had a large hematoma right under the catheter insertion points in the crease of my leg. I was told that small pea sized lumps under the catheter sites were normal and to just give it time.  These weren’t small lumps it was one long knot.   It was probably about 4 inches long and 1 ½ inches wide and VERY sore.  This really set my recovery back.  It took a good 2 weeks just to be able to walk normally again.  I was very sore for the first couple weeks and had a lot of bruising (not just on my leg).  I still have a knot in my leg though much smaller now, lot of discoloration and some soreness.  I would say I’m about 90% now (3 weeks after the procedure).  

I still can’t say for sure it was a success.  Since I have paroxysmal A Fib, I guess the only way to know if it works or not is if I get another episode, until then I’ll just assume it was a success.  After putting up with it for 9 years it’s hard to believe that I’m cured (I guess fixed is a better word).   Since my ablation I’ve had a couple instances that I think may have put me in Afib prior to the ablation and so far so good.  I really want to start working out now.  I haven’t been able to do that in years and I’m ready to drop a few pounds.  Anyone know how long after an ablation before you can start working out?

[chuparosa]

Very happy to hear that your ablation seems to be a success and that you are feeling good.

I have a couple of questions for you. Do you know how many foci you had ablated? Did you have a CT scan prior to your ablation? Are you off all drugs?

[chumley87]

He never told me how many foci I had ablated.  I did have a ct scan the day before, no big deal but not something I want to do again any time soon.  I think they had my IV in wrong and it really hurt when the dye was injected.  As for the drugs.  I'm still taking coumadin and rythmol twice a day until my follow up in a couple months at which time if I check out he said I could staop taking all the meds.  The rythmol makes everything taste funny so I'll be glad to get off of it.