I am having an operation to stop SVT in a couple of months. I am really scared and have to stay awake. Can anyone reassure me that it isn't as bad as it sounds please!
I just had my cardiac ablation for SVT but I requested to be put to sleep. Do yourself a favor and do the same. Believe me you do not want to feel it when they make the palpitations start 2 or 3 times. Better off asleep. You feel nothing. My first day I didn't feel too great. Had a few funny feelings like possible palpitations but they never happened. The heart is irritated afterwards. It takes time to heal and everone is different. But I must say 3 days after my ablation I feel terrific. One helpful hint. Don't skip meals. Your heart will react a little but no palpitations. Today is my birthday and I could not have received a greater gift. It was a miracle for me after 42 years of living with arrythmias. Good luck to you. 
Unfortunately I've been told I have to stay awake for the operation. I don't know why. Lots of people seem to be told they have to stay awake yet other people get to be put asleep.
I told him I am scared to be awake but he said they would give me something 'to relax me'.
Yes it's usual to be awake because otherwise everything shuts down and it could be difficult to trigger an attack, in which case an ablation is not possible. I had a failed ablation attempt last year. They were unable to trigger the palpitations and I was awake! Try not to worry, you will be under sedation and I understand the palpitations are no worse than a normal atack of SVT. My cadiologist is going to try again so I'm hoping for a successful outcome this time.
Your specialist has decided that you are suitable for an ablation and knows that it will probably get rid of horrible SVT forever. Having an ablation procedure is a tiny price to pay. Like anything you haven't experienced before, its bound to make you a bit apprehensive, but it'll be over with before you know it. 
I have no medical qualifications whatsoever, but I would guess that having a general anaesthetic would make the procedure less likely to be successful, for the reasons Mary90 mentioned. You'll be given a strong sedative of some kind, so you'll be too woozy to worry about anything, and you'll also have a local anaesthetic so you won't feel any pain.
Sedatives, painkillers and anaesthetics don't work very effectively on me so I was wide awake and felt everything they did. The surgeon told me they were reluctant to go ahead with the procedure because the maximum dose of local anaesthetic could not numb the entry site, but I insisted they did it anyway. Really it was no big deal. I would rate just one SVT episode of the same duration as being worse than the ablation procedure. For example, you won't feel the extreme anxiety you get with SVT, and in your case the sedatives and anaesthetics will work so it'll be a doddle.
Try not to worry and instead of counting the days to the procedure count the days to when, like me, you'll say goodbye to SVT for good.
I don't doubt you'll be back on here afterwards convincing others to have an ablation!
All the best
Thanks very much for the replies, that does make me feel so much better.
Yes the SVT is really annoying and quite scary at times, it will be amazing to be able to go on holiday or off out for the day without having to worry and it always being at the back of my mind.
The operation doesn't sound too bad at all
Just to add, I had my ablation in Nov 14 and I've had no SVT since.
The sedative is like having a bottle of wine at once! I didn't have much but it just chills you out a bit.
The procedure is odd, but you are very well looked after. Mine was hard to trigger, but they got there.
I was kept in over night as I was last on the list and it was getting late. Normally you're sent home.
I had a few days off work, I was tired for a couple of days, but within the week I was back on my motorbike with no worries about SVT.
I'm a 43 year old guy and the sense of relief when you go on a plane, ferry or night out it incredible, knowing it's gone for good.
Just try and relax into it, and don't be afraid to ask a nurse to hold your hand!
Good luck
Chris
Hi, I'm also awaiting ablation in a couple of months but I have read a lot about it. Please don't worry about the procedure. You won't feel anything and when they induce an attack it is only what you feel during an SVT attack anyway. The procedure is done by amazing people and outcome will be life changing for you. My attacks are becoming more frequent and more severe, so I'm very upbeat about having the ablation.
Thanks the bottle of wine sounds good! lol
The doctor that is doing the operation did seem really nice, and was very reassuring that I will be ok. I'm having it done in Stafford.
I had my varicose veins treated last year, which was a cut in my leg, wire through the vein and then heated up to burn it. Then little cuts all along my leg to hook out all the bits of vein left over. An I had to stay awake for that too, but thats just because its quicker and cheaper awake and I couldn't afford the general aesthetic lol
So this op is kind of a similar thing, but it's just with it being on your heart it seems more scary.
Thanks everyone. I hope everyone else waiting is ok too and has a good outcome
My op is the 27th June. Seems ages away but I'm sure it will be here really quick. I hope your op goes well
Thank you this is exactly what I needed to hear!
Definitely stay awake, they sedated me and couldn't trigger an svt. I was then woken up and they continued to try but didn't work. Since they couldn't trigger I've now been told I likely have a more complicated SVT, which is difficult to fix.
I made a video about my experience - Sarah Harvey SVT YouTube.
It's really not something to be too worried about. I received the type of anesthesia that allows them to wake you up quickly when they need to. I experienced no pain during or after the procedure. The only thing as someone else mentioned is that in the days after you may experience palpitations. Mine were brief like the SVT was trying to start but failing to do so. These did go away after a week. I don't feel worried anymore about the SVT starting up when I'm driving or traveling away from home. It's well worth getting the procedure. You may need to continue to take medication to control heart rate but that is a precaution.
Hi, I had ablation totally without sedative or anaesthetic, I'm not going to say it was a pleasant experience but neither was it awful! They were able to trigger an attack very easily and if you're not too squeamish you can watch the whole thing as they do it on a TV monitor. My first one wasn't a success so I had it done a second time about 14years ago. You will be fine and just think of the end result, good luck X
Your fear is normal and understandable. That said, and with competent medical care, your chances of doing well are very high. Odds makers would bet on you and strongly expect to win. For me, the ablation itself was unpleasant, but way past acceptable. Please try to be confident. I am confident for you. We all wish you well.
Thanks everyone, its only 4 weeks now until my op, so I'm just trying to keep busy and think of life without SVT!
Hi again everyone, Thought I get back on this forum to let you know that I had my second attempted ablation on Wednesday. The first one was 6 months ago and failed because an attack couldn't be triggered and I was really disappointed. However this one was successful. My consultant said he managed to trigger it twice before ablating and was then unable to trigger it again, so I am hopeful that it has really been sorted out this time! So to those in the same situation don't despair; in fact if an attack hadn't been triggered the consultant was going to ablate along the whole area and was confident of sorting it anyway. To new user, I wasn't given much sedation, maybe because they wanted me alert this time and I must be honest it was a bit uncomfortable at times but so worth it in the long run. I was unlucky enough to have a heavy bleed from my wound when I tried to stand up too and was kept in overnight lying flat but I think that's unusual. Even after all that I would do it again in a flash for the same outcome. Good luck and I hope yours goes really well.
I'm so happy to hear this! My first attempt didn't work either and I'm due to hsve my second attempt late July. I'm so scared of it not working again as this is ruining my daily life. Congratulations! I can only imagine how happy you must be x
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Sarah. Maybe your consultant could do the kind of thing mine was considering if he is unable to trigger an attack for you. It might be worth mentioning it to him. Take care and good luck!