Scared about Ablation

[aquamarine_moon]

I am new here, but am looking for a place to turn.  I was recently diagnosed with SVT and PVCs (arrythmias).  The SVT became debilitating, ending me up in the ER.  Laying or sitting, my heart rate was 70 - upon standing up and taking a step, it jumped to 180...then the PVCs started.  
At any rate, the docs have me on Metropolol (controlling the SVT, but not the PVCs), so they are thinking about doing ablation.  
Holy crap!  WHAT??  A couple of weeks ago, I was a normal girl just living my life and now I have a diagnosed heart problem that they want to do surgery on?  
I am so scared.  Can someone out there share their experience with ablation?  Should I do it?
Thanks so much...

[tom_h]

Good luck!  I was 60 when I had mine done for AVRT SVT and I was fine. I had it done on a Thursday, and was back to work the following Tuesday. I was under general anesthesia, and remember nothing of the procedure after getting up on the lab table.  I find the anesthesia used today, such as propofol is extremely pleasant compared to the stuff I received back 20 or 30 years ago.  I asked for something before going down to the lab and was rewarded with a syring of vallium in my IV drip line.  I doesn't hurt to ask if you're feeling anxious.  The gurney ride to the lab was quite literally a blur.  Let us know how it goes.

[snooksiamtoo]

OH my, I can't thank you enough for your post here.  I am 64 and going in on thursday for the procedure.  I was totally freaked out until I read this.  Gracious, gracious thanks for your encouraging words.  ; )

[MichelleP_3811]

Do you have spikes of a high heart rate?  Tachycardia is a general term for fast heart rate.  There are different types of fast heart rates.  Mine was avnrt which presents episodes of a beat over 200.  Wpw has a slower rate around 150 so more likely what you have.  Well regardless, the procedure is not that big a deal.  I was awake but sedated as well.  The anticipation leading up to the procedure was worse than the procedure itself.  Some wind up having long procedures if there is some trouble finding where to ablate but mine went really easy.  They found mine on the first try so I was in and out in 2 hours.  Take care and I will think good thoughts for you tomorrow.

[squittenssecret]

They said I will be awake but sedated.  I really don't want to go to sleep.  I think that's the part that is freaking me out the most.  I am getting it because my heart constanstly beats around 130 all the time.  I know there are a lot of people whose hearts will beat normal most of the time and then spike up really high but mine does it consistently all the time.  So they wanted to get me in asap to get it fixed.  I guess it's called tachycardia?  And it gives me really bad anxiety attacks as well so I'm hoping those will go away after this procedure as well.  Well I have less than 12 hours to go before my surgery.  Not sure how I'm going to sleep tonight.  :(  Will let the board know how it goes.  Thanks again to everyone.  

[littlegreenman1]

The worst part is laying flat for so long.  I was on my back for 15 hours. My procedure was 7.5 hours though.

Don't be scared. You're probably in as much danger driving home from the procedure.

[MichelleP_3811]

I had an ablation in September and it was easier than any medical thing I have ever had done.  The ablation itself was the only real discomfort I felt but over all not bad at all.  Good luck and let us know how it went.