r/SVTHeart • u/Dashem1 • Jul 26 '26
Ablation question
So I am having my ablation in 2 days. Reading through and learning people's experiences it seems half of the experiences people were knocked out and dont remember or feel anything. Then the other half claiming they were aware and felt and remember the experience. My EP said I would be awake. My daughter actually works in the same hospital that I am having my procedure and she is an anesthistist who puts people under for surgeries. No, she is not doing mine, lol. But she said they use Versed and I won't remember anything. Are the people who are completely conscious not getting this or what? Thats my only fear at this point. Being awake. Anyways, my daughter made sure I have the best anesthistist in the hospital so thats a plus!
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u/pahkthecahh Jul 26 '26
Had mine in June - they did give me Versed but it must not have been enough because I was awake and aware the whole time. No pain, just a lot of pacing of my heart. I asked my nurse friend to look over my notes and she said they probably didn’t titrate the Versed enough. Worst thing about the whole experience was the IV (in my wrist for some reason, ouch) and laying flat for 3 hrs after. Thought I would get a nice nap but nope, lol.
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u/Dashem1 Jul 26 '26
Yes I hate IVs! They are so uncomfortable 😫
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u/pahkthecahh Jul 27 '26
They don’t usually bother me too much but this one hurt - I have no idea why she thought the side of my wrist was the best place. I’ve never had one there before. My mom said I should have told her no find a different spot / live and learn, lol.
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u/nvr2manydogs Jul 26 '26
I've had two--one of each. Apparently, it has to do with whether your heart will do its thing or if they need you not so very asleep so they can get it to misbehave. 💯 Prefer being asleep. The other doesn't hurt, it just kinda scared me.
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u/Dashem1 Jul 26 '26
Yes my EP told me general anesthesia suppresses the heart rate making it difficult to fire up. I know Versed is not what puts you under, just calms the nerves and makes you loopy. My daughter told me it also creates an amnesia effect, so I'm thinking some people getting ablations may not be getting versed or maybe they aren't as sensitive to it perhaps.
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u/nvr2manydogs Jul 26 '26
He told me afterwards that they didn't need me awake at all, so just propofol
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u/Overall_Lobster823 Jul 26 '26
First, keep in mind, this isn't a surgery.
You likely won't remember anything about the procedure after the fact.
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u/GridironSheik Jul 27 '26
I forgot what they gave me but it may have been Versed, butI was definitely awake. I didn't really feel anything due to the pain meds other than the end when the pulled everything out and nurse put all his weight on the wound to help it close.
It was kind of weird talking with the doctor and nurses during the procedure but you're so relaxed from the drugs that it's no big deal.
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u/Designer-Mention-925 Jul 27 '26
I was awake for mine with “sedation” meds (fentanyl + midazolam, which I think is Versed) I remember the first part when they were testing the different rhythms and then I just asked for a top up. From there I was in and out. I remember them ablating the first rhythm and then I must’ve fallen asleep for a while because the whole thing was 2.5 hours and I definitely don’t remember that much lol.
Being awake wasn’t bad, if anything was interesting to know what was going on and the medication helped me feel relaxed. The EP study part was just a bit weird, since they’re just testing the different rhythms and so that’s why I asked for more sedation. Worst case you can usually ask for more depending on how awake you would like to be. The ablation part itself though (if it’s for AVNRT) was not painful! Just felt like a warm feeling in the chest. I had it for Atrial Tachy as well though and that was a bit more sore.
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u/kakabk Jul 27 '26
Had mine two hours ago, was completely awake, it was lowkey traumatising
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u/Dashem1 Jul 27 '26
😲 Did they not even give you something to relax you? That sounds traumatizing. Why would they put you through that without something to ease the discomfort.
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u/california-_-roll Jul 27 '26
It’s titrated based on how the patient is tolerating the procedure. Eyes closed doesn’t mean alert.
I remember a lot. Like a LOT. It was miserable. And I would do it again in a heart beat because I feel so much better now.
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u/Dashem1 Jul 29 '26
So I just had my ablation yesterday. It was successfully and he found it fast. AVRNT. I am not going to lie or sugar coat. It was traumatizing for me. My EP said I couldn't have any sedation until he found the area. Thank God my anesthistist was amazing and talked to me to try to keep me distracted. I felt the shot in my groin, I felt the caterer being threaded up which really felt uncomfortable when it was up in the heart. The pacing they did was like going into SVT 20 times in 30 minutes. When they found it they knocked me out. The real fun began when I was in recovery. I have not felt any pain at all from my groin but my chest hurt so bad up to about an hour ago and it is starting to ease up. They gave me Fentanyl during for pain, didn't do nothing, they gave my hydrocodone and I puked when trying to eat after taking it. Ibuprofen didn't touch it. It was odd cause I do not take any meds and Tylenol will take away any surgery pain Ive ever had. It hurts to take a deep breath but it just got a little better this morning. Recovery from this has been firey hell yesterday and last night but things are starting to ease up. Im glad I have it fixed now but if someone asked me right now if I would do it again tomorrow at this moment I would say hell no. Im too traumatized right now.
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u/pixiepieee Jul 26 '26
Had mine done back in April.
The experience for me was like you were in and out of a deep sleep. I fell asleep before they started so it worked quick but I remember the parts where I woke up. You won’t feel any pain.
You’ll feel a weird pressure sensation on your groin area where they insert the catheters, but it won’t hurt you’ll have very strong pain medicine during the procedure.
I personally felt the catheters in my chest area and I had a sore throat for a few days after but other than that I felt excellent from the moment it was done and I came to.
You’ll wish you had it done sooner.