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Ablation On Friday - SCARED!

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rebecca70681
rebecca70681

I'm scheduled for my ablation on Friday morning and I'm honestly terrified!  I'm scared that my heart won't "cooperate", as this has been an issue for me my entire life.  I'll have symptoms of "something", go in and NOTHING shows up.  "Everything looks fine, go home."  UGH!  I've stopped taking my meds as of this morning, which is also terrifying!  I had a run that lasted nearly 90 minutes this weekend, for no good reason.  I nearly went to the ER as I couldn't get it to stop.  Then, all of the sudden, POOF, it was gone.  

I'm scared about being awake the entire time.  How does one just "lie still for hours" whilst wires are in your heart??!?!?  It seems inconceivable to me!!  What if I sneeze?  Will I die?  (Don't laugh, this is real concern for me.)  What if I can't take the pain?  What if. . .what if. . .what if?  I'm an over thinker, I know this, but still. . . .this seems like something one SHOULD think about, at least a littler, prior to going into it.

Any words of wisdom from someone who's been there? 

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • rickper
    rickper rebecca70681

    Posted

    Hi, just had it 9 days ago. I had all the worries you are having and didn't even sleep 5 minutes two nights before. I can honestly say it is not that bad. What meds are you on? I found getting off the metorprolol one of the hardest things, been on it 24 years and withdrawl was horrible so I didn't do such a good job wish I would have done better as I think there was still some in my system which made the triggering much harder but doc didn't give up and only got one beat which matched up and she mapped and ablated. 

    Your other concerns like sneezing and they won't trigger it, I wouldn't worry, if you just had a long episode they will be able to trigger, as far as the procedure awake and laying there and sneezing. They give you a little bit to calm you down but the sensations of the wires and speeding up the heart you get used to quickly, you don't have to be completely still when they are doing it I was moving a little and nothing will happen, basically if you can tolerate a long svt attack you can easily tolerate the procedure, I coughed several times and was no concern. When she found the spot she wanted to ablate they slipped some Propofol in my iv and the next thing I knew I was in recovery eating a turkey sandwich. I have panic disorder and have been fighting it since I was a teen, I panic the whole time I am locked in svt episode, I was able to make it thru it. You will be fine. Try and relax and get rest. If I could do it over again, I wouldn't let it scare me like it did? 

  • bob51648
    bob51648 rebecca70681

    Posted

    Hi Rebecca. First of all, I was terrified before my ablation.  The trip to the hospital was one I can recall in every detail. But, it was all for nothing. I lay on the bed, was given some medication and lay there while they did their thing. I felt little other than my heart was being tickled - or so it felt. I can’t stress this enough. DONT WORRY. The Drs are professionals. You will be fine. All the best.
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