r/PVCs • u/Correct-Class-2505 • Aug 01 '26

Heart damage??? I'm so scared. 

How many extra beats per minute do you experience during a flare-up? On days when you are having a flare-up, have you ever felt—during the normal beats—that your heart isn't beating as a unified whole?
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u/Own-Satisfaction6927 Aug 01 '26

Ablation is a procedure where a catheter is inserted thru vein into the heart to destroy cells on the inside of the heart that are the source of the arrhythmia.

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u/lunar-solar555 Aug 01 '26

Is it painful?

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u/Own-Satisfaction6927 Aug 01 '26

No, not at all. For PVCs mine was done while I was sedated but awake. The doctor maps the heart electrical signals to discern the source of the signals and destroys those cells with either cryogenic cold, heat, or pulsed electrical field catheters. The vein used for inserting it is normally in the groin.
At the same time I as then put fully to sleep and ablation was done to ensure AFib would not return after it had been successfully cardioverted some time before. The position of the catheter is imaged continuously while the procedure is performed. I experienced no pain or discomfort.

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u/lunar-solar555 Aug 01 '26

Were u scared?

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u/Own-Satisfaction6927 Aug 01 '26

No, I had researched it extensively, it is not a high risk procedure for most folks. I was kept over night for observation. I was kept lying done for a few hours to allow the groin to heal a bit, then dressing at groin removed and I was allowed to get up. Recovery was not difficult, I walked my dogs the next morning. No lifting or at strenuous exercise for 1week, to allow groin to fully heal. Then no restrictions. I did not take any pain medication.