What to expect post-op SVT ablation surgery

[kybuddha]

OK, I am gettin ready to have ablation surgery for SVT. What should I expect post-op? I am seriously freaking out about this. I have never had SVT until 9 months ago when I took Sudafed. My doctor says that I was born with SVT and that the Sudafed just triggered it. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

[japilson]

Hey there. I'm a 20 year old female who just underwent a catheter ablation for SVT. I have always been incredibly active, and haven't dealt with any problems of this sort until a little over two years ago. I have dealt with racing heart rates up to the 300's and honestly had accepted it as a way a life. It became my life...finally two weeks ago today I underwent an EP study with catheter ablation. I was conscious for the entire study and they couldn't calm me down enough to do the ablation so they completely put me to sleep. I'm still dealing with pain, burning in my chest, fatigue, and muscle pain and weakness. I was expecting to recover more quickly, but haven't had those results. I feel better than ever in terms of my heart--there is no problem there except for occasional pain which is nothing in comparison to what it used to be. I am a dancer and dance teacher and trying to get back in the groove. Dr thinks I'm just having a longer recovery period than normal and I am okay with that as long as things improve in the long run. How has other peoples experiences been with this? And what has your recovery time been like? Thanks for the help and input!

[Smiley2000]

.Hi there,

You joined in on a VERY old post that was created 2007 and I am hoping that the folks will see your post - may want to create a new one rather?

but here it goes:

I had ablation done in 2007 to treat SVT.  I was 32yrs old at the time.  I am now cured and only had it done the one time - Electro Cardio found extra AV node and ablated it.

There is nothing to be afraid of.  

You will get a sedative that will send you off to la-la land and when you wake up you will remember nothing of the procedure.  The procedure can take up to 5 hours, but it will feel like seconds to you.  Minimal pain and a bit of pressure in groin area (both sides) and you will not be able to sit up or walk for upto 6 hours.  You will stay for the night and be discharged in the morning.  The groin area is normally a bit bruised but not very painful.  After about 7 days later you will not even know you had the procedure done.

I can remember waking up with this perfect, soft heart beat and never had SVT attacks again.  Definitely worth it!

Let us know how you are doing.  

All the best, .

[bbrodeo]

i am 18 i have svt  and, i dont know what are they going to do to me. can you help me out?

[ireneo]

I've had 3 ablations and called it quits at that point. I still have my premature beats scattered throughout the day and PSVT a few days a week. But it's so much better than it used to be before the ablations. Now when my heart takes off it typically lasts less than a minute, only rarely does it go for as long as 15 minutes. I can work around that. I'm 59 and lived with this all my life so I'm quite used to it.

I have Diltiazem that I use when I'm having a bad heart day (lots of PSVT and some chest pain). Otherwise I don't take it every day. I use it as a "pill in the pocket" method which is acceptable.

I don't know how severe your arrhythmia is. Only your EP cardio can discuss other options with you. Perhaps you could get a second opinion.

[addygirl]

Hi Areneo, I don't know if you still ever look at this site but if you do, can you tell me what dosage of Diltiazem you use as a pill in the pocket?  My doctor suggested I take it every day but it gives me a bad headache and makes me feel very tired.

[Katiebuggg]

Hi I was diagnosed with psvt when I was 13 after a loooong period of carrying around monitors everywhere with me. They tried medicine but i had some horrible side effects so I had my first ablation that year,one at 15 and  another at 17. I'm 20 now and the symptoms are all back again and I was just wondering if anyone has had more than 3 ablations??? I really don't want to take Medicine again

[Alex1966]

I am a 45 year old female. SVT for about 10 years, but only had to go to ER with it in the last year, 3 times. Had my ablation 5 days ago. It was not really painful, just uncomfortable. For me my fear of the procedure made it worse than it needed to be. If I had to have it again, I certainly wouldn't look forward to it but wouldn't be so scared. I could feel the burning of the ablation (12 shots) and it felt like a short, sharp kind of pinch with a feeling of heat in the area, but not nasty. A lot of pushing and poking in the groin are, but with local anesthetic, basically painless other than the odd quick stab of pain. It took 2 hours and I was awake the whole time, though mildly sedated. My groin ached quite badly for the first couple of hours after, but not bad enough for pain killers. Dark patchy bruising in groin in an area probably about 10cm x 10cm. Still a little tender to touch, but not lumpy. Dull ache in leg when I walk. Chest pain for first few days and a few fluttery moments now and again. Exhausted for the first 1-2 days after, but better now. Stayed overnight in hospital. Pretty good now.  I am squeamish and easily frightened by medical procedures, but in the end this was ok. Don't be afraid of having it done.