waiting for ablation

[rbeans]

I am waiting to have a EP/study-catheter ablation  to be done.  Scared out of my mind! It's all I can think about.  The EP Dr. tells me it is a relatively safe procedure but I can't help but worry.  Would love to hear from anyone who has had this procedure done and how they are feeling now. Diagonsed with v-tach caught on haltor monitor.  Was a healthy 42yr old who had the occasional pvc.  One night felt my heart race and almost passed out. I am freaking out about this whole thing. Feel very alone.

[BLM_56]

I had a TEEC (trans-esophogeal echo cardiogram) just prior to my first trip ever to the cath lab for an ablation to attempt to clear up a-fib.  What with the pre-op shot and all the extremely cool electronics in the cath lab (I am something of a computer/electronics geek) I was not worried about the ablation.  Didn't particularly enjoy having some grody GUY shaving me down there - woulda preferred the cute female tech to do that part ;-) - but I got through that.  Truth be told I was actually sorta looking forward to being awake for the procedure.  I had consented to "conscious sedation" for the procedure -  total misnomer I faded out after the shot inthe cath lab.  BUMMER!  Whatever they gave me before the TEEC made me sick to my stomach and feel really bad.  But the worst part of the whole day was lieing flat on my back most of the day with a sand bag on my groin to keep me from bleeding out.  

Since I was still kinda woosey from the meds it wasn't all that bad.  And after being NPO since the previous midnight the turkey sandwitch my wife fed to me was one of the best meals I ever had.  Kind of a pain urinating flat on my back - wife helped out there - but over all a tolerable condition.  Plus the ablation worked and my wife said my color was the best it had been in months.  That kinda made it all worth it.  

I cannot tell you not to be afraid.  What I can tell you is that considering your age and otherwise good health the risk for you is really minimal.  Do you trust your EP?  Then trust him/her to keep you alive.  He/she will have a whole team of experienced, highly trained professionals in the cath lab with him/her.  These folks are highly competent individually and have worked together many times as a team.  You are probably safer in that cath lab than you are in your car going down to the stop-and-rob.  Since your problem is ventricular you have an excellent chance of ablation correcting it.  Me, I knew going in that my odds were - AT BEST - 3-to-2 of fixing my (atrial based) problem.  Had I known that my atrial diameter is 5.7cm I would not have even bothered with ablation and just had the EP go for a pacemaker from the get go.  With an atrial diameter that large my chances of the ablation permanently correcting my problem were just slightly better than the Libertarian Party's chances of winning the presidential election.  The ablation worked for a whole 3 days by the by.  My heart now beats - quite nicely - solely from being stimulated by one of St. Jude Medical's outstanding products.

Hang in there.  You WILL get better.  I promise.  Keep up posted.  Remember you will ALWAYS find a dry shoulder here.  Lots and lots of 'em in fact.

[rbeans]

Thanks for all the support this forum is a blessing. Glad I stumbled upon it!  I really am not alone! It comforts me to hear that others were just are scared as I am.  Waiting is the worst! I don't know what I am more freaked out about, the procedure or waiting for another v-run to get me.

Jerry_NJ thanks for the advice, they tell me my EP Dr. is one of the pioneers of this procedure. I have a lot of faith in him. I live in NJ also and it will be done in PA in a major hospital. Hope you ae feeling well after your surgery.

Brooke_38 they tell me its the RVOT also, they are not 100% sure but both my EP and Cardio Docs think this . Why so many trips to the EP lab? How are you feeling now?

Thanks again to all of you!!!!!

[lagoya]

it is natural what u are feeling now and most of us here would have felt the same ..i am not sure when your ablation is but if u are worried stick around and we will support u all the way.
it is a safe procedure and the success rates are high and i wish  u  the best of luck with it
take care

[Sweetwaterguy]

I was admitted to the hospital the night before my ablation.  Waiting in the hospital bed, my self talk included, " Now what have you gotten yourself into?"  I had a lot of bravado before I went in, and none when I got there to actually do it.  If you hang around this excellent forum for a while, you will learn your feelings are entirely normal.  
  For me, ablation was a choice not a requirement.  I wanted to be free of a fib and free of medication that reasonably controlled it.  Now over a year and a half later, heart in rhythm, and no medication,  I know it was the right thing to do.  
  Regarding risk, There is almost none.  My procedure was done under general anesthetic, and when I woke up there was huge relief.  You will enjoy that feeling, as well.  

[Brooke_38]

The anticipation we feel waiting for this procedure, I think, is the hard part. I just had my 5th trip to the EP lab for ablation of a RVOT-V Tach. I was riddled with anxiety before my 1st procedure, because I had no clue what to expect. From that point on, each procedure was a little easier because I knew what was to be expected.

I agree with Jerry, do your homework and make sure that the Dr who will be doing your procedure is experienced. Ask lots of questions.

Were they able to determine on the holter whether the foci is on the right or the left?

Good luck with your study/ablation! :)

[mabebesc]

Hi,
Boy, do I know how you feel!! I had a successful cardiac ablation for AVNRT on Aug. 4th. I was so scared I can't begin to tell you. I found such help and support on this forum so never feel you are alone.
The ablation ,for me, was a piece of cake. It was the best thing I could have done for myself. I got so worked up for nothing.  I didn't feel any pain whatsoever. I was up for the whole thing-they gave me something very mild which just took the edge off of my anxiety. My procedure took about 2 and I/2 hours and I went home the same day. Please feel free to ask me anything and I'll be happy to help you in any way that I can.
Betty