Or maybe not so quick, you know me, I'm long winded! 😊
I was scheduled to check in at the hospital at 11 am on Tuesday. At 8 am I went into atrial fibrillation (irregular heartrate, the problem that I was going in to have fixed). This was not surprising since my doctor had me stop taking the meds that were controlling it - my last dose was Sunday night. Anyway, the a fib was making me anxious and I was ready to go, so I got there a bit early. I don't think that got me into the OR any faster, but it just felt better to be at the hospital.
I was taken back to a prep room. A nurse came in and shaved my groin area (woohoo!). I was visited by a pharmacist, the anesthesiologist, the nurse anesthesiologist, and finally by my doctor. Each one asked me my name, my birth date, and what procedure I was having (I had been warned by the nurse this would happen). Apparently one of those things they do to make sure they don't screw up and install a pacemaker or something in a patient who was supposed to have something else done.
Finally around 2 pm I was wheeled to the OR. Three men started applying electrode stickers all over my upper body in rapid fire fashion. It was quite dizzying! One was very jokey - "And now, because you don't have enough stickers yet, you also need one HERE". He said "I bet you're wishing for a sandwich right about now" (I had had nothing but water since midnight). Me: "also a cup of coffee would be great". I was told for future reference that black coffee is OK to have in the morning...good to know.
Then they had me sit up and I got MORE stickers all over my back. My tattoo was complimented and I got to explain that the flaming heart was symbolism for my first ablation procedure. They were more interested in the bird and wondering if it was the Mockingjay from the Hunger Games (NO).
Then anesthetic went into the IV port in my hand - it burned quite a bit and that's the last thing I remember until I woke up back in a recovery room.
This was the part where I really suffered the first time around. You have to lie flat on your back for a few hours to make sure that the places in your groin where the catheters were inserted start to heal up properly. It was MUCH better this time. 1) they did slightly raise the head of the bed, which took pressure off of my lower back. 2) they gave me drûgs. I think fentanyl at first, and then a Percocet which tided me over until I was able to get out of bed and move around a bit. About halfway through the recovery period a hospital room became available and I was moved upstairs. At that point I still had another hour and a half...I asked for my phone and did a group text to some friends and family to let them know I was OK. Also I scrounged around in my go bag and found one of the protein bars I had cleverly thought to put in there (knowing that the kitchen would probably be closed by the time I got in a room). I also was given a turkey sandwich and an orange which I ate once I was able to sit up.
I had a good night's sleep... was released Wednesday morning after the usual delays to wait for meds to come up from the pharmacy and so forth. My friend L. picked me up and then we had a nice afternoon finishing up season 2 of The Gilded Age.
So far - no a-fib episodes. After the first ablation I had a couple of them and was told it was normal because your heart is irritated and still healing - but...it seems like a good sign that it hasn't happened so far. Also so far, none of the chest pain and fever that I experienced the first time around. Also no electrode blotches!
My doctor's report got posted yesterday and it's going to take a while to decipher all of the jargon, but in a nutshell he found a couple different kinds of arrhythmias and tried to fix both. Fingers crossed.
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27 comments
I'm glad it went well and I hope you stay well Smarty.
Thanks dreamer. I'm still doing quite well. No heart episodes, no fatigue.
Good news. glad to hear things went well
Thanks Notaname 😊
Amen!! I'm glad this ablation was smoother and easier. And no blotches!!! Those can be so annoying. I hope you continue this wonderful road to full recovery
Hugs!!!
Thanks Pony.❤️ No blotches, AND I don't have to do a monitor for a month like I did last time (that made the blotches even worse, having to wear four electrodes for a month).
I am delighted that your procedure went well and your recovery at the hospital went well. At home I know you are feeling what the pacemaker is doing it's job. May It solve the issues that has bothered over the years.
No pacemaker!! 😊 I had an ablation procedure, where they cauterize portions of your heart to "wall off" areas that are producing an irregular heart rate.
@smartasswoman ah ok. I appreciate that information. . Did not know about that procedure
Yes...my fingers are crossed for ya !!
Thanks jajo!! ❤️
I'm glad things went better this time around! Fingers crossed x10!!
Thanks, Tickle! 😊
Happy to hear that all went well with the procedure. Hope you have a full recovery soon! 🤗
Thank you. I'm feeling a bit antsy with sitting around, but I'm determined to take it easy this time and let my heart recover.
I'm glad things went more smoothly this time around!
Me too. I'm a bit sad I put this off for so long...but I'm not sure I would have had a good experience with my last surgeon, and the current surgeon wasn't "in network" for me until I went on Medicare 15 months ago.
@smartasswoman Insurance can really mess things up!
I’m glad it went well. I know exactly what you’re talking about when lying there for hours waiting. It sucks.
It is a pretty tattoo, I can see why they complimented it.
Fingers crossed all stays good
Yeah, there was lots of lying around on Tuesday! About three hours waiting to go into the OR. I started to get that restless legs sensation where you have to wiggle!! Luckily I was allowed to get up to pee a couple of times.
I'm pleased it went well for you.
I never minded my hospital stays when I was working! That should tell you something about how unpleasant my job had become.
Pam and I loved The Gilded Age. Queen Baranski is a favorite of ours and now I have a huge crush on Carrie Coon. I think she was wonderful in that role.
Oh, I can so relate to that kzoo! When I had my first occurrence of a blood clot in my leg and had to be in the hospital for five days on a heparin drip - it was right in the middle of the budget season which was the most intense time of year for me. And I loved it! I didn't really have any pain from the blood clot, so basically it was lying in bed being waited on hand and foot for five days.
And yes, Carrie Coon's character really grew on me. She was extremely severe when the show started, and then I think they decided to make her a bit more sympathetic. I loved it when she gave opera tickets to her housekeeper in the last episode, and then gave little wave to her and the cook from the balcony.
Sending you all kinds of get well (or stay well) wishes. Glad to hear all went relatively smoothly.
Thanks CL! Now I'm wishing I had switched to this doctor a long time ago...although realistically he was out of network for me until I went on Medicare a year ago.
It certainly helps when being poked and jabbed by a bunch of medical staff that they show a sense of humour and don’t make you feel like just another body on a gurney. Cheers to a continued easy recovery and resolution to your a-fib problems.
Exactly! I thought all of the staff were good in that regard.
I'm glad that everything went well, and that your back home. I hope this takes care of your a-fib once and for all. Please keep us updated wishing you the best!!
Thank you! It would be fab if it were once and for all. I'm not getting my hopes up TOO high as I have friends who had initial success and then did end up getting it back a few years later...
@smartasswoman did he say what other options you have if it doesn't work?
@MrRareity we haven’t had that discussion yet.
@smartasswoman Can I send you something from the Cleveland Clinic about AV Node ablation?
@MrRareity certainly. Sounds like it's the last resort and that I would then need a pacemaker? Hopefully it doesn't come to that. Medication has been reasonably effective for me so far, so if I don't get permanent NSR from this procedure I'm assuming I'll just continue with flecainide. I do know that sometimes it stops working, which was why I thought it would be good to try a second ablation.
@smartasswoman I can't find it I saved it on my toolbar but accidentally deleted it. I will keep on looking for it. Did you have an AV node ablation? The one thing I do know and remember reading about if you did have an AV Node ablation that you need a pacer. The other thing I remember is that there is a 4% chance that the ablation won't work and you'll need other treatment. I am so sorry I can't find the article but I will keep on searching for it.
@MrRareity no, it wasn’t an AV node ablation. 4% sounds low to me, although maybe it’s accurate for a second ablation (which is what this was). I thought I recalled reading that a large percentage (half?) of first ablations need to come back for a “tuneup”.
@smartasswoman I make a type it's 91% will work the first time. I do recall that some people should have a pacer before the ablation. The AV which you didn't have. The other is if the first one didn't work was to go for the pacer. It is fast and easy hospital stay the same. But then you don't have to take meds. As I said I will continue to look and I also know someone who is on staff in the CVICU. She is one physician that is a friend I can't say enough good about her.
Glad you got through it as best as can be hoped, and that you are doing well now.
Re the "woohoo!" on the shaving...male nurse, throwing in some humor here, or just relieving you of that chore for the short future? 🤣
I was just throwing in some humor. It actually wasn't a particularly useful shave (for sexual purposes) since she just did the top area and didn't go anywhere near my lady parts. The catheters went in just above the fold between my torso and leg - on both sides.
@smartasswoman Awww, darn! 😂
Glad things are looking good. Hugs.
Thanks Kay ❤️