Heart2222:
I hope I haven't discouraged you in any way. I think that so far my story is positive and meant to encourage. Yes the procedure itself is uncomfortable and intimidating, but it (the procedure) is over in one day. I think it's important to expect to have a long tough day so you are prepared for it. For me it was a day that I was looking forward to having in my review mirror and put me closer to my goals. So far I feel better each day since and others have posted the same here. If I need a second ablation, I'm all in at this point because A-Fib for me was debilitating and the Amiodarone is not something I want to stay with.
Each case is different and each person has to be confident with their own decision so if you need more information please do seek out the answers from your doctors or your friends here.
Best wishes,
Rick

I Believe Confidence and FAITH are the much Better Choice.
Part of Faith is listening to yourself, and writing down each doubt or fear, and seeking councel.
Being on the fence is the most difficult for me, but you have to stay there until YOU KNOW your right answer, then go forth.
You know, WE are always behind you, no matter what you do. Hugs and Faith

Rfreeze, you didn't discourage me at all. You did make me stop and think about how I was going to feel after the ablation. For some reason I was glossing over it and just assumed once it was all over I'd be maybe a little tired, but otherwise just fine. I didn't think about chest pain, pain from the puncture sites, etc. I appreciate your letting me know so now I will be prepared for it.

Heart2222, I've been feeling very much like you for the past few weeks. However, now it's down to the wire. If I'm going to call it off I have to do it NOW. I got up this morning and I feel at peace with the decision to go through with it. After all, I'm been trying to deal with this afib for the last 4 years and obviously what I've been doing hasn't worked so this is the next logical thing to try. I don't want to keep on like I have been so I definately want to give this a shot.

There are never any guarantees on how things will work for anything. I couldn't guarantee that when I got in my car this morning to come to work that I would arrive safe and sound. But that isn't a reason to never leave the house.

If you have doubts or concerns you still have time to talk it over with your doctor and get any questions answered that you need answered. There is nothing wrong with waiting if you decide this isn't the right time. Just don't make a decision based solely on fear of the what ifs. You'll make yourself crazy doing that and you won't find any peace with your decision one way or the other.

Best of luck. Have confidence in yourself and your ability to make the best decision for yourself. And a little prayer never hurt either:)

Thanks for the encouraging words, Rick, Yoga and Denikae.
Rick,No you didn't discourage me, just made me realize it's coming sooner than I thought and just brought the reality of what's to come to the surface. Did you have general or were you under conscious sedation? Can you sleep on your tummy after the ablation or is it just too sore from the punctures? I have sleep apnea and need to sleep on my tummy to breathe ok. I don't use any machines, etc.
yoga,
you are right in all you said. I am praying a LOT. I think I'm just a big chicken, that's the problem !!
Denikae,
I just have to have the same attitude as you. There are NO solid solutions for this ailment. Just have to do the next logical step. IT just seems that if we could wait maybe 5 years, there will be something a lot better and less painful. But, we can't wait. So in this exact time, this is the logical next step. I just have to accept that and go on. I have to get where you are right now. You are in a good place. Stay there. Wishing you the best on Wed!!

BTW, thanks for all the support too!

Heart2222:
I was under conscious sedation and it worked well. I was unable to remember anything about the procedure. They did not discuss sleeping positions with me. Maybe you can be comfortable once they allow you to raise the head of your bed (after the long day).
I do not really have much pain from the punctures, you just have to avoid straining so that the vein punctures below your skin stay closed and heal.
You should discuss your sleep apnea and sleeping concerns with your EP Dr and primary care physician in advance of the procedure (sooner rather than later).
Best regards,
Rick

Heart, I've read that very often once sleep apnea is addressed, afib goes away. Why do you not use the darth vadar machine? I'm going to have a sleep study to see if I have sleep apnea. I do snore... I know that because I wake myself up sometimes! I'm single, so I don't have anyone to tell me if I stop breathing at night.

Although my ablation didn't work, and I had a collapsed lung, I have to say I had no chest pain. I attribute that to being on Prilosec for a month before the procedure. I learned a long time ago in nursing that it's a good idea with any kind of chest procedure/surgery. I didn't even have chest pain after my bypass surgery...just pain where the drains and the scar was. I'm thinking if I can get through 5-way bypass, there is nothing in this world I can't deal with. Ablation was a piece of cake compared to that, but remember...if you have persistent/chronic A-fib, you need the very best to do your ablation even if it means traveling.

Rick,
During the conscious sedation, did you feel any pain? I had conscious sedation for my colonoscopy and I felt EVERYTHING and remembered EVERYTHING! It makes me worry about this ablation using the same meds.
island, I failed on the Darth Vadar machine, I did give it a few month trial. Didn't help me at all. Also tried the dental appliance which cost $2000, it sprained my jaw and I had to deal with that for months. They discontinued that. I even went to a sleep apnea surgeon. He said to sleep on my side or tummy and I should be ok. So that is what I"m doing.
Does everyone who has the RF ablation end up with this chest pain problem???

Rick,
did the vicodin make you feel "loopy" or cause you things like constipation?

I've having trouble with this site not posting. Anyone else experiencing this?

Heart2222: This was different sedation than my colonoscopy last year. For ablations my provider uses Versed, Fentanyl and Precedex. I don't remember what was used for my colonoscopy but there were only two drugs involved (and it worked well).
The Vicodin doesn't bother me much except for constipation. I eat high fiber cereal (1-2 servings per day) and take stool softeners (ducusate sodium) 100-200 mg per day and that helps a lot.
If that doesn't do it for you, PM me and I'll tell you some further measures that will work.

My doc is using just Versed and Fentanyl. I don't know what that third one you got is. I think for my first colonscopy I got Demerol and Versed. It was like getting water. He gave me a second dose-still nothing. I hope this ablation is not the same...

Maybe someone else here can provide more expertise but my understanding is that the Versed lets you forget, the Fentanyl blocks the pain and the Dexmedetomidine (Precedex) is a sedative medication that essentially puts you to sleep without suppressing your respiratory functions. I think they also can use other drugs too, depending upon the patient.

That's what I understand about Versed-making you forget. It also acts like an antiemetic I'm told. I asked for Propofol because I had that for my second colonscopy and it really did put me out. My doc said it's too sedating and he can't wake me up with it. Darn!!

I too am having a lot of trouble trying to post in the last couple of days. I'll try it again.

I have had 2 ablations. The first one did not work and I had chest pain with it. Like rfreese, I too was committed so I signed up for the second one. The 2nd one was a cryo-ablation and I had no chest pain and it seemed to be easier on my body.

For both ablations I was sedated (I don't know what they used, but it was good), there is no getting away from laying flat for at least 6 hours, so it is a long day. I did not stay overnight either time. I think Kaiser requires it here in California - I do not have Kaiser. I discovered after the first one that it is a looooooong uncomfortable day, so the next time I brought my ipod loaded with books and music. It kept lulling me back to sleep and kept out outside noise, so it definitely helped.

I could lay on my stomach at home (my usual sleeping position), but not in the hospital.

My second ablation seems to me working, but they will not declare it for 6 months. I have worn the monitor for a day and have an appointment with my EP next week. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

For me the decision to go with the ablations, no matter the risk, was because I had a small stroke that did leave me with a small speech impediment, and I was scared to death to have another stroke. Each person has to do what is comfortable for them and to make a decision they can live with.

I am a firm believer in, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", but I was talked into have a colonoscopy against my better judgement. While I was being prepped and the sedation started dripping, I went into AF and ended up in the ER. I sometimes curse that decision, but I do have to live with it. Up to that time I saw the doctor once a year and took no pills. AF changed all that.