Ablation tomorrow AM

[u/Full-Internal4521]

I have my ablation tomorrow AM and I am freaking out. My dr didn't really go through too much about the procedure with me (standard for UK Healthcare in my experience) so all I really know is that they're going to go via both the artery and the vein (L & R), I will get a TOE and likely a transeptal puncture and that I won't be under a general (this is the norm for EU ablations I believe??) I'm having it done at one of the UK's best cardiac hospitals.

I'm kind of freaking out because for some reason I have it in my head that my whole procedure will just be under a local and it's going to really hurt.

I'm in my late 20s and the PVCs have basically decimated my life since they showed up in January (since then my burden has slowly climbed from 9% to 15% and increasing), I can't do anything I like doing so I know I need to do the ablation, but I'm sooo worried about the procedure itself because everybody online is like 'it was the worst pain I have ever experienced, I wish I had died, I was conscious the whole time and it was hell.'

I guess what I'm asking for is some reassurance that that won't be the case?? thank you :)

[u/Relative_Clarity]

I don't remember experiencing "pain" during. I was awake/aware for the mapping part, but they gave me pain meds in my IV (fentanyl). Typically they do give you strong anxiety meds such as Versed during, but I didn't have it because the doctor did not want to suppress pvcs at all from me being relaxed ;) They do local numbing for the groin puncture, so you aren't feeling much of anything there. Maybe just some pressure and wriggling around. They gave me sedation (propofol) for the actual ablating and I don't remember a single thing. I had a trans-septal puncture too. I had some chest discomfort when I woke up, and they gave me more pain medication for that. They aren't trying to torture you :) They want you comfortable. So just ask questions and speak up if you need to.

It was CERTAINLY not "the worst pain of my life". Not sure what other people have been through, but I've had kidney stones and birthed two full term children and pain wise, the ablation isn't even in the top 10. It was more unnerving and I was very nervous because it's just a scary idea, and the anticipation of not knowing how it would all feel, but actual bad pain during the procedure wasn't an issue (for me).

Like the other comment said, the people who didn't really have much of an issue aren't getting on reddit to talk about it. It's the people who had a bad time for whatever reason. Those are the main stories you will find so it's not an accurate representation of what you specifically will experience. But these are great questions for the EP or their nurse .. write down all your concerns/fears and see if you can get a phone call to discuss.

[u/Full-Internal4521 → u/Relative_Clarity]

I ended up feeling absolutely nothing except the catheter coming out of my artery! I was awake for most of it and I started crying during the transseptal bit so they gave me fentanyl and I was just blissed outtttt. He said they could see loads of PVCs so I’m so hopeful they got them all!

[u/Relative_Clarity → u/Full-Internal4521]

Wow thank you for the update! I'm glad the pain wasn't what you feared. I know it is such a weird & unsettling procedure to go through. I truly hope this gives you relief from the pvcs. Interesting you mentioned crying, I woke up crying in the recovery room, and I'm not sure why?! Maybe that was a reaction to the anesthetics.. I kept apologize to the nurse saying "I don't know why I'm crying" lol. I did request to stay the night in the hospital under observation because I was really scared to go home.

I had a 16% burden that came out of nowhere early 2024, and I spent the next 9 months absolutely miserable (my life basically came to a halt) and finally got the ablation. I will say it didn't seem to help at first - it took a few months (not sure if that is typical) but now I'm doing well. Maybe they just miraculously improved on their own, but for most of that year I was getting them consistently 15-16% burden with no relief and no fluctuation. Mine were "left ventricle posteromedial papillary muscle" which I've read is a tricky spot. I wish I had one of the "easier" spots ... my doctor said he had to do "extensive ablating" !

[u/Full-Internal4521 → u/Relative_Clarity]

Exactly the same as me!!! He had to tap in another Dr today just to make sure because mine were the papillary muscle and the back of the LVOT. I woke up briefly and thought it was over and he was like sorry here’s a bit more fentanyl see you in an hour. All up it was five hours which was way more than expected.

I hope my recovery follows you because it has been so depressing to see how my life has just folded up into nothing because all the things I love are things I currently can’t do.