Had my Ablation today

Its so good when we have real people who have had experience of ablation. I am on the waiting list for an ablation and am awaiting a date. Could you please tell us how you felt after the proceedure, how long it took to feel normal again and if you have had episodes of svt since? You are brave I hope all is well for you. Thanks.

Hi morticia

Its now just over a week and still no SVTs. Regarding the operation I walked to the theatre then proceeded to sit on the operating table where one of the nurses put a cold piece of tin foil on my back (as she giggled) this was the worst part of the whole experience, I was totally relaxed through the whole procedure which took 2 hours although feels like a lot less. I remember the main surgeon saying you are now finished and saying a succesful ablation. I then lay still for a further 15 minutes as the nurses made sure the groin and arm were not bleeding. I was then wheeled back to my room on a bed to recover and by this time I felt really good. I was now asked to lay for a further 3 hours to let things settle and then was asked to sit for a further 1/2 hour. I got out the same night I felt so well. After one week my blood pressure is up slightly and am now working to get this down. The groin where the incision is made is still slighly tender but nothing serious and no infections. I have since taken things that I dare not take in the past like chocolate and coca cola and still no SVTs. I still cannot believe after all the years I sufferd them that they are finally gone, and if they ever come back I would not hesitate in having another abalation because once you get rid of the nerves it is actually quite relaxing going through it. Hope you get your date soon but in the meantime try not worry cause there is no pain or anything when going through the RFA (radiofrequency ablation)

let me know how you get on or if you need any more info

Hi,

I would really like to have the ablation done but am terrified. How sedated are you? I have loads of one off wobbly heart beats that sometimes turn into a full SVT and sometimes not, I have just had a really bad weekend with lots of little ones, do you think an ablation will stop these happening as well?

Hi julie2

I also got little ones that felt like my heart done a somersault and most times it would start an SVT. It has only been a week simce my ablation and still I am getting litttle hits but they have came to nothing. I am told however that through time these too should disappear. Only time will tell.

With regards to being sedated they injected me with 2 mg of something and I remember saying to the nurse I dont feel that relaxed she proceeded to inject me with a further 2 mg and within minutes I was totally relaxed which was great. The 2 hours felt more like 1/2 an hour.

The worst part of the whole procedure is waiting and signing the forms.

If you go for the ablation you will not feel a thing.

let me know what you decide

Hi,

Thank you, that's really reassuring, the only other thing that worries me is when they set of an SVT during the procedure (so I have heard) so they can find the faulty pathway. Every time I have an episode I am really scared, even though I know it is quite harmless, I still panick. I can never sit still when I have an attack and have to stand or walk around and I am wondering how I will cope with this.

Hi Julie2

This was a question I used to ask before my ablation however on the day of the op they tell you they really need to start an episode so they know exactly where to ablate. By this time you will be hoping they start you of so they can find it. When they do find it they stop it again very quickly however you are basically that chilled out at this point you are not concerned. Its when they cannot start it again they know they have had a succesful ablation and this is the reassurance you want to hear. Seriously though when you are goinh through it you are very chilled out. As you lay on the table you will cope with this very easlily, plus they reasurre you that you will. be okay.

Thank you very much for all your reassurance, I have decided to go ahead with the ablation. I turned it down last year as I thought it would be too scary, you have now completely put my mind at rest and I have my first appointment to discuss it on 20th March, I don't know how long I will have to wait after that but I am hoping that by the summer all these years of missery will be behind me. If I hadn't spoke to you I might never have had the courage to go through with it.

Thank you.

I am home today from my ablation. I would just like to add to this dialogue that I also was terrified at the prospect of being awake for this procedure. But the medication they give you is excellent and takes all fear away.

I have anxiety/cryng when I have the attacks and when I started crying in the theatre they asked me what was wrong. I told them I just cry when I have these attacks - they gave me a little more meds and it was fine.

They did post tests on my heart and couldnt make it go into SVT so they are pretty sure they have fixed the problem up. I stayed in hospital overnight. My groin in tender but that is all post surgery concern I have.

All the best.