Hi Krista, I've had 3 ablations. I can tell you what they were like for me. They all went very well.
They sedated me and I don't remember a thing. I woke up with alittle groin area pressure. Actually, after one ablation - I sneezed and 'opened' the main artery and bled like a stuffed pig. My husband was just about to get up (after gallons of blood layed on the floor) and he was on his way out of my room to inquire about getting a 'nurse' when one showed up and when into an hysterical fit - and the next thing you know the room was full of nurses. I was awake for part of that. I remember feeling very 'warm' down in that area - and I put my hand down there and felt warm liquid so I looked at it and saw 'blood' all over my hand. I looked at my husband and I said - Oops I think I started my period.. They all laughed. I was fine - but its a good idea to have someone stay with you. Cause your kind of out of it afterwards for a few hours. Some places 'sandbag' you for 6 hours to give the opening a time to reclose. Now they give me a 'nip' and tuck stitch - they don't trust that I might sneeze again on them !!! The next day I was 'fine' and just alittle 'sore' in the groin area. I would suggest you lay off the sex for a few days. Just in case. The nurses all told me they were amazed at how 'calm' my husband was through all of it. Considering his wife was soaked in blood and it was all over the floor and my bed was soaked in blood and they couldn't 'move' me - cause they had to stop the bleeding with a 'vice grip' kind of set up. I couldn't move when they got me in the vice. But I was fine.. Really I was fine - but its a good idea to have someone stay with you. Its ALWAYS a good idea to have someone stay with you. Someone who is 'alert' would be good. My husband was not too alert - I think he was watching TV..
Nevertheless he's good to have around in a pinch..
One thing I can say - every ablation for me - it was like they 'stirred' the electrical pot 'around' and I got alot of little 'arrhythmias' for a few weeks then things calmed down. One ablation was 100% - the other two were not. I've also heard other people complain about all the little arrhythmia 'after' their ablations- but eventually they all went away.
Depending if they can get your SVT 'going' - will depend on whether they can ablate it. One ablation I was on the table 10 hours and they ablated 16 different areas. One other ablation I was on the table for 6 hours and they ablated 11 areas. It can vary on how long it takes and each ablation is different and mostly I think it depends on how 'lucky' they are to 'touch' the arrhtymia off so as to ablate it.. I think I only stayed one night and went home the next day. On all 3 ablations it was that way. Just one night. I was pretty 'tired' after one ablation and it took me about a week to get back to my full strength - but that ablation I was on the table for 10 hours and I felt like I had just ran a marathon when it was over!!! So, he was able to ablate alot of spots and I think thats what wore me out.. But I was back running road races a week later. So, it wasn't to bad.. But, everyone is different and it is an invasive procedure and that does come with some 'risks' - but just think if they ablate it 100% - you don't have to worry about it ever again.
That's a great feeling and for ME it was worth the risk.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
Runner
