Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Yes! Was starting to think I had Dementia or Alzhiemers.

Well...yes.....for every one of us....even if we DON'T have AF. Seriously, and I'm not being cute here, every single living soul could die on the operating table. That's why we don't operate unless the cost-benefit says do it. For AF sufferers, especially those of us who'd like to keep our myocardium healthy and to avoid those nasty symptoms, yes, pleeeeze!!
On a more philosophical bent, you won't know if it happens....will ya. And those left behind, while disappointed and left to grieve, they will understand, especially if they also understand the risks involved....which are exceedingly few.
I have had three operations where a catheter was inserted....an angiogram (into the wrist and on up to the heart), and two ablations because the first failed. Ablations have a 25% failure rate for first, or 'index', ablations. Happened to me. The second has me in NSR (normal sinus rhythm) for just over 2 years now. Bliss!
The very worst part about an ablation? Having to lie still for three hours with a compression weight on the incision at your groin. It might seem interminable unless you're happy in your own head or manage to nod off....again! At least, that was what I found...the wait before I could go home seemed long.

Hello gloaming!
I had my catheter ablation March 4th. Quite the ordeal but the surgeon says it went well. We’ll see in a few months if it is successful.At my age I don’t want to go through it a second time. However, the nurses and staff were wonderful. This is my third day of recovery and I’m feeling a little better each day. I am allowed to drive tomorrow as well as have a shower. Nice thing is the surgeon has been in contact with my cardiologist so further tests will take place here and not in another city where I had it done. Thanks again for all your advice -it helped me to know what to expect and the good thing is I didn’t die! Take care. xo

Wonderful! I hope you breeze through the blanking period and that your Holter at about 10-12 weeks shows only the normal odd pause, a PAC or two, and nothing else...which would be perfectly normal for healthy people. You sound like you're following instructions, but also listening to your 'energy' level as it might be wavy over the next two weeks. Your heart needs to heal, and it might need some rest for now...but you be the judge.
Did you find that the real pain was in lying flat on your back for three/four hours watching the world go by? 😀
I wasn't thrilled about having to need a second ablation inside of, oh, ten years, but....it was seven months. Fortunately, the kindly gentleman EP started all over again at the first pulmonary vein and began to zap around its mouth. When he got to my third vein, as he was holding the tip to some tissue to form the lesion, my heart lurched back into sinus rhythm, and they all stood back and watched for consistency on the monitor. I was good! He had found the small gap he had left the previous time. He didn't even cardiovert me before letting the orderly whisk my unconscious self out into the hallway and shout, 'NEXT?'
I am very pleased for your report, and pleased that you felt you needed to come back and tell us how it went. May it be your last post for many years.

Scary

Hi! Gee you have sure been through a lot! Yes, what a literal pain in the back lying there flat for three hours. The bleeding came back on the right groin so they compressed it again. I stayed in Recovery a little longer to make sure the bleeding stopped and my heart rate was good. Awesome nurses and staff! Today I feel a little better some energy and some tiredness to be expected. Amazing what they can do these days. I’ll let you know the results of the holter later on. Thank you again for your guidance and support. xo

What is the test for Sick Sinus Syndrome?

What is the test for Sick Sinus Syndrome?