Nervous about ablation

[rcslone]

I am 34 years old and have been suffering from rapid heart rate for the past 7 or 8 years. All but two episodes have happened while at work. I have been to the hospital several times and have wore a heart monitor, but they never have been able to catch it. Once it happened at work, (I work at a major retailer) and I was able to get to the pharmacy and check my pulse and blood pressure on the free monitor thing they have set up there. My heart rate was over 200 beats a minute.

My doctor has me on a couple of medications, Metoprolol 50mg and Lisinopril 10mg a day. I have took these for a few years now and they help, but are not a cure all. My doctor says I have SVT and has recommended I have the ablation done. He says it is not a life or death matter at this time, but I should go ahead and have it done while I am still young and just get it out of the way. I did see a heart specialist a couple of years ago and we discussed having the ablation done, but I have just been to darn scared to go through with it.

Well, last Monday I had another episode at work (I work in a meat department and they most always occur when working in the cooler, bending over to pick up a box seems to be a trigger). This was one of the worst and longest I have had and I went to the hospital. Of course it had stopped  by the time I got there. Well, I have had enough. I see my family doctor in two days and I am going to tell him to go ahead and get things in motion to set up the ablation. Since taking the medication, episodes have been reduced to about 3 or 4 a year, but I am tired of also being worried when one is going to strike and having to pace myself so as not to trigger another episode.

I am just scared to have such a thing done, as I have never had any kind of medical procedure outside of a colon scope and xrays done. The colon scope was due to IBS I also suffer with. I was just wondering how other people's experiences were when having this done and look for some words of encouragment from other folks who know what its like to have this.

[DeltaDawn23]

I am considering ablation and will be interested to hear how you come out.  I have a few other health issues in addition to afib, but none too serious.  Sending prayers and good wishes your way.

[MichelleP_3811]

I do not have any conditions that would have predisposed me to more complications than normal for my ablation but the procedure itself is pretty easy compared to say surgery.  I will send good healing thoughts your way this Monday.  Good luck and let us know how it went.  Take care and trust all will be fine.

[JulieTex]

I am a 45 year old woman; my SVT problems began with a Lupus flare last year, during a bout with pericarditis. (though I may have had a few episodes of SVT before, spaced years apart.)  This year again, I developed pericarditis in March, and it is just now abating- but not gone.  I am on the immunosuppressant/chemotherapy drug methotrexate, which my EP does not want me to stop, Also, prednisone, Cholcrys, and for cholesterol, Zocor.  He stopped my lopressor (50 mg 2x day) for the week prior, and I am having nearly constant flutters and HR fluctuations.   I am scheduled for an ablation on Monday, November 28.  My EP says that the procedure carries a higher risk, as do my SVT's- both "significant"- because of the lupus and pericarditis.  I assume that he is keeping me on methotrexate and Cholcrys because of the fact that my lupus is already uncontrolled.  I am doing my best to stay calm, but I am so afraid!  A year and a half ago, I was disease-free, or so I thought.  Now, I am eight months into the fight for my life, and I'm so afraid.  Please, does anyone have an experience like mine, where the ablation is complicated by illness?  Thanks so much for any support-

[tom_h]

Danielle, I think that comment by your physician was very irresponsible! Any time you walk into  a hospital to get something done carries a risk.  The EP procedure carries a risk just like any other procedure.  But, what are the odds? According to my EP, he personally had performed over 1200 procedures and lost one patient.  That patient had undisclosed complications which made the porcedure risky.  If you are reasonably healthy, the procedure carries a minimal risk.  My cardiologist (not my EP) went so far as to tell me that messing with the different antiarrhythymics to find the one that worked for me was far riskier than the procedure itself.  My SVT first occurred at the age of 6 and continued for the next 54 years.  I decided tonget it done, and for the first time in many years, I've been SVT free for 5 months. If you want to get this done, you should talk to a cardiologist and get the ball rolling.  Expect to follow a path to the EP procedure which will include certain tests and monitoring.  There are many folks on this forum who've had it done.  In fact we have a lady on here, who just had one done yesterday and is home, resting for a couple of days, and sounds very excited and happy.  Check my journals for more details on my ablation experience .  

[danielle722]

I am a 26 year old woman and i have been suffering with svt since i was 13! I cannot tell you how hard it is living with this condition. I can't play with my kids for fear of going into svtand it is very rough! I have been being shuffled around from Dr to Dr trying to get answers and i am requesting the ablation surgery but my Dr told me today thre is a chance that o might not come out of surgery which made me freak out all i have read is it is not a very hard procedure and then to hear that almost sent me into svt on the spot. I am scared but i want to be cured so i was wondering who has had this preceudre done and have they been cured of svt?

[tom_h]

I'm happy to hear that your son has a date.  Hopefully, in a few months this will all be over, and he'll be able to live a normal, active life.

[RNRita]

Were you the one who told me that they CAN give versed during an ablation?????

[c_tone]

I just came from my 15 year old sons cardiologist appointment he has spent his whole life with SVT  Up until the last couple months episodes have been 2-4 times a year but recently it is almost every time he runs..  problem is he is football and soccer player!   So we are now on track for ablation in the next 90 days.  Reading your posts answered alot of my questions.. and i am excited for him to read them as well to maybe ease any anxiety he may have!

[rcslone]

Luckily, no foley cath for me. They just told me to go to the bathroom before prepping me to take me back there. And when I was brought back to my room and had to go, they kindly brought me one of those little urinals to use. That was a real relief, in more ways then one!

[littlegreenman1]

The catheter and the laying flat for 6 hours after the procedure were the worst for me.  Catheter removal made me scream. I've had more kind things done to me down there... I'll just leave it at that.

[cindy707]

Congrats on the procedure i have been following you and tom thru this....pretty normal to have random episodes immediately after the ablation so relax there...ice is the thing for the pain in the groin area and elevating whichever leg is bugging you.....can't speak for the cath experience (thank gawd for that one no thank you) and i stayed overnite too at the hospital and was the best thing i ever did for myself.  I'm gonna enjoy reading your and toms posts you guys always put a smile on my face when i read what you post and remember we are all here for you if you have worries or questions cause as the saying goes...been there done that....

[rcslone]

I'll give you guys a detailed report about my experience when I get home tomorrow. Very sore where they put the cath in, really hurts to walk. Went into SVT very shortly after getting started. My doc keeps his ablation patients overnight in the hospital. I look foward to getting back home. Talk to you later.

[chuparosa]

Congrats! Isn't ablation incredible. A few hours and you have your health back to normal. I'm still amazed by the procedure. We are very lucky to have this available to us. Wishing you a speedy recovery.....

[itdood]

Good to hear, hope they got it.

[tom_h]

Great!  Good to hear you're back!  Give us a blow by blow when you're able.  Congrats again.

[rcslone]

In my room recovering. Have to stay overnight. Doctor easily found the problem area and ablated it. Didn't have to worry about the foley cath. Hope this fixed it. Talk to everyone later.

[rcslone]

Getting ready to head for the hospital. Stayed at the hotel last night, which was a good thing as we are really getting hammered with the snow. Fingers and toes crossed, trying to keep good thoughts and hope for the best. Will let everyone know how things go this evening.

[tom_h]

LOL! I don't know man!  Talk about humiliation! I was out when they "installed" it!  Coming out, it just felt like one heck of long garden hose! Didn't hurt much except for my pride. Talk about "shrinkage factor"!!

[rcslone]

Is that painful? I have never had the pleasure to experience that particular little medical gem before, so that is something else for me to worry about. I don't understand why that would be necessary. Can't they just bring you on of those little urinal things to use if you gotta go. I'm sure my wife would help me with that if I needed it.

[tom_h]

I forgot to mention the "dirty little secret" my hosptial failed to inform me about. Be prepared tobe catherized.....no not there......a little lower.  This was a first for me. But considering the amount of.time you have to lie still afterwards,  I guess it was for the better.  I filled a bag to near capacity during my stay.

[rcslone]

Yes, I took my last dose of meds Thursday. I've got a little more reassurance last night when I spoke with a friend of my wife's. Her father in law had this same procedure done back in July by the same doctor and has been symptom free since September. The doctor told him it would take a couple of months for the scar tissue to build up and be effective, and that seems to be the case. He had afib, which of course is something different from what I'm suffering with, but knowing of someone who went through the same thing is I am going to does ease my mind some.

[Darlingorla]

Best of luck for tomorrow. After it's over you will wonder what you worried about.  I had my procedure done 6 months ago and wished I had been able to get it done sooner;  I had AVNRT for 28 years and couldn't take any more ...

[tom_h]

By the way, have you stopped your meds? I was instructed to stop 3days prior to the procedure.

[tom_h]

Good luck on Monday.  I'm telling you, afterwards you'll say, "Piece of cake!"