Pre-ablation question

[sueinns]

I am scheduled to have an ablation this Thursday.  When I got the call, I was told to come in the day before for a 2 to 4 hour work-up.  I asked what was involved in this and was told "The doctors and nurses will be there to answer any questions you may have".  Why would there be such a long workup?  I'm in Canada by the way so not sure if it's the same in the U.S.

The Cardizem stopped being as effective the end of November and December was a difficult month with respect to the PVC's and moreso the SVT's (exertional dizziness was bad).  Just before I got the call last week about the ablation, the SVT's settled down.  Go figure!!!   I can't believe I'm saying this but hopefully these next few days being totally off the med will bring it back on.  Being symptomatic on the day of the procedure means there is a greater likelihood that it will work.  

Wish me luck and thank you all for this wonderfully informative forum.  I have learned so much about something I had no idea affected so many.  

[clarehudson]

Thank you for that! I think its just when I'm sat on my own thinking about it!
My mum rang my consultant as she was a bit worried with the side effects I was having from coming off the medication and he's said I just start to feel a tad better every hour.
I can't imagin how I will feel the morning I go in! I thought I was coping with it but these last few days have made me realise I don't think I'm actually coping I think I'm just putting off the inevertable!
Clare x

[Barbmag]

Clare, I have been where you are and I wish I could put you at ease but that is easier said than done. I would just say to try to think positive thoughts...just try so hard to focus on the things that make you happy in life..call friends or family members, or read or clean house or do whatever it is that you can do to try to shift gears till Wed. The doctors will take good care of you and this time next week, it will be over and you will feel like a million bucks!!! You are young and have your whole life ahead of you....here is a cyber hug for you and remember that we are all here for you!!
:)B

[clarehudson]

Hey There

Just thought I'd send a mesg to let you no this is my first day off my medication and I'm due in for an ablation on Weds. I'm frightned to death and while I'm sat here typing this I have to admit I'm really scared my SVT is going to set off again, so I'm really on edge.
I'm so scared now I'm crying evey night as I'm scared that I would have a Cardiac Arrest or something when they increase my heart rate to find the electrical problem, is there anyway this could actually happen or is my mind just going into overdrive? I no all this seem stupid but I just can't stop thinking about it! I could cry now!
Any feedback would be great!

Thanks
Clare

[lene808]

good luck. I have PV Ablation on 11/08/2007 and my work up include a 3D scan of the heart, internal echo (had to swallow), lab work, chest xray, etc. It's no biggie. Also and interesting, I did not come off any of my meds when I had the procedure. I was so unstable, they didnt want to risk me coming off. Anyways, they were ablating everything that the could. I'm 8.5 weeks out and things are getting better. Unfortunately, I've now determined that I have SVT and that too will need to be corrected around the 16 week post my surgery. I will say that immeidately post surgery, my PVCs and PACs where at an all time high. I've been placed on (3) different meds while I'm healing to try and keep most of the symptoms at bay --- amiodorone, cardizem and corgard. good luck. I'm still glad I had teh procedure. I'm very excited about having life-changing results when it's all said and done. oh yeah, my ablation was for A-fib only.

[sueinns]

Thanks so much everyone.  To be honest, it all feels surreal right now.  I'll probably be a wreck the night before.  

A friend of mine, who had ablation for atrial fib,  had a preop CT scan done but I think they would have told me about that.  The thing I'm most nervous about is not having symptoms, despite being given drugs to create them and they won't find where the electrical problems are located (I've been told that it's in more than one spot). It's only day two from stopping the Cardizem but I've been in sinus rhythm all day today - longest in weeks.  

[Momto3]

If you're worried, you might want to call ahead.  Two to four hours is not really that long considering you will probably move in and about the office, the lab and probably radiology (they usually do a chest xray).  I have had two ablations and the pre-work-up was a piece of cake.  Try not to worry.

  

[Thinline]

I was also told to come in a day before and it turned out they wanted to do a TEE (Trans Eusophogeal Echo - scuse the spelling there).  Good thing I had it done because it turned out I had blood clots growing all over my pacemaker leads and if they had gone ahead with the ablation at that time there would have been a very good chance of me having a stroke!  Good thing they decided to get me in for the pre-ablation tests!

[Barbmag]

More good luck wishes!!! I had this in '93 and was on pins and needles before but it was really not bad at all. I was exercising a couple of days after. Let us know how it goes!
B

[Momto3]

Hi and good luck with the ablation!!  I had the same thing happen -- a few days before the procedure, the PVC's settle way down!!  I could NOT believe it!  I asked the doctor if I should stay on the schedule and she said, "yes, they'll probably be back."  She was right.  

The pre-procedure "work-up" may include an EKG, blood work (they check your electrolytes and blood counts to be sure you're in good physical condition for the procedure), paperwork, waiting, more paperwork and a time for you to ask questions.  This will eliminate having to get everything done right before your procedure.  

Good luck!!!

connie