1st Time Ablation: How to calm my anxiety?

Hello BigHeartedWarrior. I understand your anxiety. I guess the reason for stopping your medications (except anticoagulant, perhaps) is so that they can see your heart function in a non-medicated state, which allows a better assessment of what's going on. I developed an asymptomatic arrythmia (Typical Atrial Flutter) about 3 months ago, then underwent an atrial ablation in early May. It was an easy process, all things considered. Nothing like open-heart surgery. Mine was done on an outpatient basis and one week later, I was back to normal, mostly. (I had a single episode of A-fib about one week after the surgery. This was not unexpected.) As for your anxiety about being off medications, doctors and patients are constantly doing cost-benefit or risk/result analyses. I generally have confidence in the doctors, who have a sense of what the risk of ceasing medication is versus the upside of an accurate EP study and effective ablation. I guess what I'm saying is that I empathize and I wish you well. Hope for the best and have confidence in your doctors. Ablations generally have a high rate of success. Best of luck! Sending positive energy your way.

Hi and yes I can relate to your anxiety as I've been there also. But as others have said have confidence that the doctors are aware of this. When I had my ablations i was also taken of my anti-arrythmia medication and reduced from another. I tried not to dwell on it and come to find out in my case it can take a month to completely leave your system. I was taken off of them about 22 days prior to one of my ablations and didn't have any issues until after the ablation. So also you may want to ask if when the ablation is over if you will be put back on them as in my case I did not ask and ended up having some pretty intense arrythmias after the ablation. But 5 days don't sound too long. I wasn't on Beta blockers in my case so that may not even affect the arrythmias but are for some other reason. Hope that helps and try to relax as I also know anxiety can contribute to arrythmias. I use to actually yell at myself to not overthink what i was feeling. I got really good at identifying my pulse and when I was just being nervous my pulse would be normal and at that point (I'm sure a few people near me in cars wondered who I was talking too) i would actually tell myself rather vocally to calm done its nothing to worry about. LOL at times it worked as I would forget what I was nervous about. I hope you have a smile on your face as it was pretty funny and helped me thru a few stressful periods. Also i also was taught we can actually stop a bad rhythm thru intense coughing, or the pelvic floor exercise will act a bit like a cardiac massage. It's actually taught to people who are prone to heart attacks. The action of intense coughing will press against the heart and get it to smooth out a bad rhythm. That one worked well for me during a bout with a few arrythmias. My thoughts are with you and sending great thoughts your way.

I take Heart ♥️ Calm Triple Magnesium… if I get a lot of pvcs that won’t go away .
I have so many digestive disorders that contribute to my heart pvcs . It’s 10 yrs battle with my gut and digestive system.
I know having been taking these when I get an episode saved me from trips to ER last 7 years.
This brand is the best .
I buy it at http://www.vitalbiologics.com
Or google Heart Calm .
Has Q-10 and potassium plus 3 diff magnesium in it . I usually take 2 but you can take 3 if it’s real bad .
Thanks for sharing what happened to you too .
My X had heart ablation like you . I believe it helped him .

@bigheartedwarrior, I added your discussion to the HCM support group as well. I thought I'd check in to see how you are doing. I know your appointment is coming up for the ablation. Have you found ways to calm your anxiety?

Hi bigheartedwarrior,
I empathize with your anxiety, as I've been there as well. It would seem to me that if Dr feels the ablation is the right thing to do, it's probably best that you trust his decision, which would probably help your anxiety. Have you let him know of your anxiety? If not, you probably should. The fact that they can do one on you is a good thing. The Drs are reluctant to do one on me as I have dextrocardia(heart on right reversed in position back to front). Right now there is no plan for an ablation, but one of my cardiologist says he's not afraid to do it, but says it will take longer to do. If my AFib gets worse, I'll track down a Dr who is experienced in doing them.
Good luck with yours, try to remain calm, talk to yourself or someone close when your anxious. Hugs

Hello @bigheartedwarrior, welcome. I'm glad @colleenyoung moved you over to the HCM group. I love your member name! It says it all! You've been through a lot and now you are facing yet another procedure. I've never had an ablation, but @danab is a pro! His advice is spot on. I had a septal/papillary myectomy just a few months before you at Mayo in Rochester. If this is where you had yours, then you probably already know it's the finest in the land and you are in good hands. It is really easy to tell someone to just relax, don't stress, not to worry, be calm, etc. But when it's happening to you...different story. I totally get where you are coming from...I'd be freaking out a little too. After my myectomy, I was on at least six different beta blockers or calcium channel blocker for over a year. None of them worked for me. I was a little concerned too because I was having some crazy heart rhythms. Eventually, after working through the patient portal with Dr. Ommen, he took me off completely. So for the last year I'm on nothing but a baby aspirin. I worried for nothing because I did better off them then on. But that's just me. And we are all different. I would place your trust in the hands of the physician. They know best what's best. I don't believe they would take you off the meds if it compromised your health in any way. There is nothing like open heart surgery. Can I get an Amen? So the ablation is a picnic compared to that. That in and of itself should be a relief. Sadly, you are facing some challenges, but as your member name says, you are a Big Hearted Warrior! Worry adds not one positive thing to your day, so what do you do to distract yourself? How are you being kind to yourself before this procedure? When are you scheduled?

My heart aches for you having almost died from an afib episode last sept followed by a scary ablation. For me so far so good, ablation is holding but wanted to respond to uour anxiety with much understanding and love for I traveled the same path of horrible anxiety. And for me, never having been an anxious person and having NO understanding family, that was almost worse than the afib. I wish I had sn answer for you. There were days I was frozen in fear but can say with perserversnce and a strong brlief in God, im now better able to deal. Since surviving my critical episode in Sept and successful ablation, I live my life believing all will be well while trying to live as healthful as possible. In these times of fear and anxiety it's terrible to be alone or absence compassion as I do, so if you're a lucky one who has understanding people and a good dr, , let them help carry your heavy load of anxiety.

Please place your trust in your Doctors. I'm sure there have dealt with situations like yours hundreds if not thousands of times. We all feel we are the only ones. I know I do. I have had 3 ablations.. you are always asleep for an ablation, well I was anyway, unless your doctor told you differently.... please don't worry about . Please don't worry about inducing tachycardia. I had this done and it was so short I didn't even notice.... This is all so scary for you but you have been through so much worse. You can do this.👍

Hello and thank you. Anxiety still the same. My meds help, but only until they wear off. I'm not feeling confident about the procedure. I no longer trust the providers. Given the fact I have been complaining about these symptoms for 18 to 24 months. I'm frustrated and I feel hopeless. I've somehow convinced myself that this procedure will only make things worse. I'm considering canceling it.

@bigheartedwarrior, you have come here for the right reasons; to share your story and to gather information from others who have walked the same path as you. You will find others who have and will continue to encourage you and I hope you are able to discern their kindness and caring about you and what you are experiencing. I understand how frustrated you must be. Who would not be after the crazy sideways trip you have been on? You sound like a strong person, but the weight of your setbacks and fear of the unknown seems to be raising your anxiety and causing you to lose trust in the medical community. The Mayo Clinic is the top hospital in the world for the most complicated of cases. Not every situation is clear, cut and dry, and it seems like you have been going thru this for a long time. But it also sounds like a plan to get you better is in place now...have you considered what would happen to you if you cancelled this appointment? It may be in your best interests to proceed with the appointment rather than go it alone without the Mayo. Does that make sense? Feeling hopeless is the lowest of all emotions. There is always hope as long as you are alive, in my opinion. Do not give up. You have come this far and you are so blessed to be able to be seen by the finest cardiology team in the world.
So many people struggle to even get an appointment at the Mayo Clinic. When are you scheduled? Do you have a support person or persons that you can talk to? Mayo Connect is here for you...others with your same condition who have gone before you and offer wisdom and encouragement.