Hi rainyday!
First, I've got to say I'm really surprised your cardiologist didn't "talk" you through the procedure. That doctor would have lost major points with me for that oversight. (Perhaps, as a retired RN, my expectations are a bit more demanding)

When you ask "what is the process?" I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that. If you mean how did you arrive at the point your cardiologist recommended an ablation, then the question is fairly easy to answer.

Once a diagnosis of AFIB has been reached, depending on the type and severity, there ARE options. I was not a Cardiac RN, so from this point on, I am speaking ONLY as a patient, diagnosed with paroxysmal AFIB, who underwent an ablation one year ago.

After I received my diagnosis, my cardiologist did a complete work up.....blood work, stress test and an MRI because of my age (68) and other risk factors I had for stroke, which is a major concern for those of us with AFIB.

I was immediately put on blood thinners to lower my stroke risk. Since my AFIB episodes were, at that time, fairly random and stopped on their own, my doctor held off prescribing antiarrhythmics ( a drug that regulates your heart rate).

This regime worked pretty well for about a year, but eventually the episodes of AFIB became more frequent, lasted longer and my heart rate during an episode became much higher. I was put on an antiarrhythmic medication which had unacceptable side effects for me. We tried a different drug with very similar results. It was at this point my cardiologist began talking about an ablation.

He talked to me in great detail about the surgery, the procedure, the possible outcomes and the recovery process. I was definitely nervous, but perhaps not quite as much as most people. NOT because of my medical background, but because I had already had two stents placed in my coronary arteries due to plaque buildup. So, I was at least a little familiar with the laparoscopic procedure, the somewhat scary environment of the cath lab and the recovery procedure which are very similar. (My stents had been placed about 8 years before the AFIB showed up)

When it was decided, between my cardiologist and myself, that antiarrhythmics were not going to work for me, he sent me to see an EP. An EP is a Cardiac Electrophysiologist, a cardiac surgeon who specializes in abnormal heart rhythms. If you think of your heart as an engine, which has to run extremely well, think of your EP as a top notch mechanic!

A few weeks later I had a one hour consultation with the EP my cardiologist recommended. He had all my test results and agreed with my cardiologist (AND ME) that an ablation was the best next step. He discussed the procedure from the moment I walked into the hospital through my discharge the next morning. He answered every question I had......even the ones I had already asked several times. I believe I was incredibly lucky to have an EP who understood how frightening this procedure was to most people and his patience and compassion were outstanding!

To write about the procedure in detail, the hospital recovery period, my recovery at home and the three months of follow ups to find out if the ablation was a "success," would make this post look like the first draft of a novel. So…..I'll spare you that.

I would strongly recommend you discuss ALL of these questions with your cardiologist and/or EP. But to learn the basics about the procedure, I suggest you check out some websites (I KNOW....I KNOW! USUALLY THE WORST ADVICE ANYONE CAN GIVE) But...…...if you go to the RIGHT websites, you will get a great deal of accurate, up to date information about AFIB and the procedure will be explained in detail. I will post a couple of trustworthy websites, but you will also be getting a lot of great answers, and reassurance from many people on THIS site who have undergone ablation and sometimes, more than one. (Don't let THAT scare you!) Next month, on the 20th, will be my one year anniversary of MY ablation and I'm very happy to tell you that from day 3 post surgery to now, I have not had ONE SINGLE EPISODE OF AFIB!!!!! The only medication I am still on is a blood thinner and that's just a given when you have AFIB. (I should have mentioned this earlier, but you need to understand that AFIB is not "curable." It IS highly treatable. Your EP will explain this to you)
Websites:
1) https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/atrial-fibrillation-ablation/about/pac-20384969

2) TYPE IN...……. cardiac ablation videos mayo clinic

These two sites alone will give you many answers and prompt you to ask your doctor pertinent questions.
Other websites include the Cleveland Clinic and UC Berkley.

If you have further questions, just post them here......we'll be here for you!

RubyWitch