Is an ablation scary? What happens afterward? Do you hava to take tests before?
Dear Betty, I has my first cryogenic ablation two weeks ago at 51 years old. I was scared before hand, but everything went fine and thank goodness two weeks on I feel no side effects from the procedure. I would say however take a few days off afterwards to get back to complete strength and normality.
What is cryogenic ablation? Are there different kinds.? How do you know you really need it?
Hi Betty. I had a cryo ablation in december. Took me 3 weeks to recover. It was about 80% successful and im going back in early June for a further short procedure to aim to sort me fully. The consultant decided which process would be best suited to me. You should have a full range of tests beforehand which might include things such as a 24 or 48hr or 7day monitor, probably an echo or mri scan or similar tests to confirm your diagnosis. If ablation has been recommended, you need to discuss all of the pros and cons with your consultant so that you fully understand the risks etc. I was awake but sedated during the procedure and walking around a few hours after. Home next morning, but had i lived closer, could have gone home that evening. I was told to go easy, and rest for 7 days after, no driving for 3 days, then go from there. Ive been much much better than pre-procedure, but need that tweak. Im aged 52 btw.
Thought it must involve many tests..monitor...where you on a blood thinner..someone wrote had to go on warfarin as reversible..
Have you had a diagnosis yet? And yes, im on thinners, but not warfarin. I take rivaroxaban, and yes, it is one of the "no antidote" type. I couldnt be doing with inr tests every couple of days!! My bruises if i knock are a bit bigger but thats all so far.
That must have another name..probably generic..Been told I should do it ..shows up on monitoring but have no symptoms I feel..feel so normal ..keep wondering what to do.
Can i suggest you have more discussions. You need to be clear in your own head why that's the suggestion for you and fully understand what the consequences are if you did or you didn't. Once I'd got both sides clear in my own mind, for me, it was the best option. You might want to consider what has led to your having tests in the first place. Talk more with your medical team until you're happy.
I was told I may go off blood thinner but not for sure. Afib weakens heart and could cause heart failure..reasons I have been given but do not feel anything so hard for me to decide. When you have symptoms and unhappy I suppose easier to try to do something about it .
I had a CT scan and an echo cardio gram prior. They did a TOE (trans oesophageal echocardiogram) during the procedure when I was under general anesthetic
Techqniques and procedures for ablation can vary a bit. The amount of ablation/burning can also vary as well. So therefore, recovery varies a bit as well. Age general health is also a factor.
I was a reasonably fit and healthy 50yo male and was told that my ablation was pretty straight forward and went smoothly. I was feeling back to normal within 4 or 5 days after procedure.
All procedures carry an element of risk. I was told that this procedure had a 1-2% of complications and a < 0.01% (that's more than 1 in 10,000 chance of mortality.
My EP told me I had an 85% chance of success at the 5 year mark (provided I addressed all my risk factors.
So all in all, pretty good odds, so That's why I chose to go ahead with it.
Dear Simon, did they specify which lifestyle risk factors you had to focus on?
Patrick
Painless, bloodless, I walked home after the anthesia wore off. Male 155 pounds, 65 years old.
My risk factors were excessive alcohol, family history of heart issues,sleep apnoea, being overweight(I was15 kg over apparently) and was still a bit of smoker when I first had heart failure back in Dec 2014. With the benefit of hindsight, it was litte wonder it happened really.
So cardiologist says no more than 3 standard drinks PER WEEK!( which I mostly stick to now). Did a sleep study and found out I had severe sleep apnoea (which would've been made worse when I drank alcohol excessively). But now have that under control with a CPAP machine. Obliviously have completely stopped smoking and have just got 5kg more to lose.
Other risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and just simply getting older increases your risk of developing Afib. I guess I developed it a bit earlier than most because of some of my lifestyle choices & family history.
If you google "Legacy PI throws down gauntlet and Prash Sanders" you should be able to find a very informative 10 minute interview that Talks to this topic and these risk factors. I believe it's well worth a look if you can find it.
Hi I've had three catheter ablations for atrial fibrillation... the last one finally a success. One of the things I wish I had been told before the first procedure was that it takes some while for the heart of settle down and stop firing off randomn electrical charges. Perhaps not surprising when you consider that deliberate scarring has taken place and it needs time to heal.
The period after the first ablation was very turbulent and had my GP(s) and cardiologists at A and E (whence I was dispatched by my GP) all rather concerned until the experts in ablation were consulted... Nah we blank anything that happens for the first 3 months... mmm wish I'd been told this interesting fact and that other medics knew too! So expect a few bumps afterwards... not an immediate cure.
Was it scary? Yes the first one was but I was not put under for it just given sedation which I kept coming through. Back pain from an inflammatory arthritis responsible I think. Kept on hearing she's moving again! As a result I did'nt come to from the sedation until around 3am after a 9am start
Anyway the hospital changed policy before 2nd and 3rd ablations making a General Anaesthetic the norm. Much better! Check out that the "cathlab" uses a General Anaesthetic. Makes sense. They start the process and need to find out with imaging and electrical studies what needs to be done. Whats misfiring and where. So time on the table can be long depending on what they find and have to do. I spent some 7 hours on the table for my first one. Thankfully never to be repeated!
So despite a rather rough first experience, I am really glad that the procedure exists! I'm without AF (paroxysmal) that had become disabling. The prospect of an op like this can be scary but the results for me are a life without arrythmias, a normal life in fact.. so think of the future.
The prospect of ops and procedures for the heart (and other parts of the body) are scary in advance but boy the results...thank you medicine!
Hi Betty
I hope you ablation goes well , I had Afib since 2006 I did ablation in 2009 was successful but Pafib return back after one year in 2010 I tried too many beta blockers , now my consultant recommended me to do ablation I did so many research about this subject and I'm gonna to do it ASAP by Prof. Kuck in Hamburg..
There are 2 ways of ablation by Radio frequency or Cryoballoon by freezing ..you can find below the last report of the comparison between the two ways
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1602014#figures
Thanks
Rani Jarar
Problem is I feel no symptoms. So sounds like I might feel symptoms after an ablation.How many cardiologists did you have in your decision? I am so mixed up..don't know what to do. I have afib that shows up on a monitor but as I said do not feel it. Trying to think of the future.
Was your problem discovered by accident then? And no please dont let my post about possible healing problems afterwards put you off! It sounds as if you have a mild case of AF. I didn't. I left it far too long as I knew what it was and both my father and brother had the same thing so wasn't as scared as I might have been. I knew enough however to make sure that the AF did not become permanent by ignoring it.
I was well looked after and saw plenty of cardiologists including those specialising in AF. I'd moved house as well to a different Health Authoirty and GP
I don't think 40 percent on a monitor is mild..maybe 20..told its quite a bit..some of it is flutter. I really don't know the difference..I am not botheed by it yet..feel it somewhat on exertion but that is about it..otherwise would not know it exists..found during other procedures., Scaresme.
Hi Congo,
I'm 42 years I have Praxismal Afib since 10 years now my consultant recommended me to do cryoablation asap so that I booked for that on 23 may of this month in Hamburg by Prof. Kuck.
Can you tell me in which hospital you did it and by who Dr..? Thanks
I live in the U.S. I guess consultant means dr. over there. Why now after ten years? I must have had it for about seven. I have no symptoms but I know I have it as shown on the monitor. Do you know the percentage of afib you have for a week?