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Has anyone's PACs just disappeared?

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: May 29 10:54am | Replies (33)

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@cmendes2026 Just wanted to clarify, so thank-you. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have chimed in, and I am not a patient with PVCs......................but.......................I have had two ablations for AF...atrial fibrillation.

It's a long day. You get to the cath lab outer hallway early, 0700 typically (so may be an early rise for you and your friend/partner/spouse), you get taken in, change out of your clothes, IV placed in your elbow or wrist, and you wait. Anesthetist usually comes by to chat, ask you if you have questions. Nurse may take blood, give you anti-coagulants just prior to being wheeled into the chilly cath lab (it's cold in that room for the sake of the 'operators' all gowned up). You'll be asked who you are, why you are there, and who is performing the procedure. If you answer incorrectly, a loud buzzer goes off, red lights flash, there are stern and disapproving tsk-tsk's, and you're told to go away and study some more (...kidding).

You're put under with a mask over your face (this might be the worst part for you, try to just relax and do breathe deeply). Next thing you know, you awaken flat on your back, maybe a dry/sore throat if they inserted a TEE down your throat (trans-esophageal echocardiogram tube), and the nurse will caution you, again, to lie flat, don't even lift your head much, relax, and just doze or contemplate life for the next two/three hours to let the incisions clot and plug up sufficiently.

So, a possible sore throat if a TEE, maybe you'll dread the mask when it's placed over your face and you know you're about to be put under, or lying flat on your back for three hours unable to move until the nurse says to sit up, drink, eat, try walking around the ward so see if you can maintain blood pressure....those are about the worst parts.....for me....my experience. Not the drinking and eating and walking....those were a relief and welcome. No, it was lying there.

Oh, soon after you awaken your surgeon will come by and report what he/she could/could not do and how it all went.

Then comes a 10-12 week 'blanking' period where you resume normal life after a week or so of cautious activity, no lifting more than 10 lbs. Two weeks later, 12-14 weeks out, you wear a Holter monitor over night and try to act 'normally', including any exercise/sports to see how your heart behaves. You'll get a report a few days, maybe up to two weeks later.

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Replies to "@cmendes2026 Just wanted to clarify, so thank-you. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have chimed in, and I..."

@gloaming Thank you!! My anxiety is crazy, but you have helped me out. Doesn't sound so bad....