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| Posted By |
Message |
fairybug
LIF Infant
Member since 5/12 71 total posts
Name:
T
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Cardiac Albasion
Anyone have this procedure done for an irregular heartbeat? I'm supposed to schedule this at St. Francis on Monday and nervous about risks and if it is worth it. Just looking for any advice.
Thanks
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Posted 5/13/12 10:31 AM  |
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2girlsforme
LIF Adult
Member since 8/06 3071 total posts
Name:
XXXXXXXXX
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
I know people who have had it done with absolutely no complications. Also, the Chief of Electrophysiology at St. Francis, Dr. Levine, is the best of the best. You are in excellent hands.
Good luck.
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| Posted 5/13/12 1:42 PM |
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fairybug
LIF Infant
Member since 5/12 71 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
Posted by 2girlsforme
I know people who have had it done with absolutely no complications. Also, the Chief of Electrophysiology at St. Francis, Dr. Levine, is the best of the best. You are in excellent hands.
Good luck.
Awesome. Thanks for the good experiences you have heard about. I will be seeing him this week actually. Thanks again for the reassurance! 
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| Posted 5/13/12 2:14 PM |
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PhyllisNJoe
My Box Is Broken
Member since 6/11 9145 total posts
Name:
Phyllis
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
My 8 year old niece just had this done. A friend of mine has to have it as well. More common then you think. It's become very routine. No worries, you'll be fine.
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| Posted 5/14/12 12:14 PM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
I had one done and I was more scared than necessary. It was really nothing. Mine was pregnancy related, but I'll give you the cliff notes version of my story. Sorry it's so long.
I was pregnant, about 31 weeks and kept getting these "dizzy spells", anywhere from 4-9 a day. I thought it was nothing. I mentioned it to my OB during a routine check up. He checked my pulse and said it was really low and irregular. He took me across the hall to a cardiologist. They did an EKG, saw nothing and had me where a 24 heart monitor. I did, brought it back and in a few days that dr told me to get the ER now!
Turns out I was having runs of V-Tac and had an irregular heartbeat aggravated by the increase of fluids and weight from the pregnancy. It took a few tries but with medication I was able to get the beating under control, continued my pregnancy to 40 weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy via c-section. The doctors did not want to stress my heart by going into labor.
Now that the baby was out, time to worry about my heart. We thought maybe after I lost the excess fluid and some weight my heart might return to "normal". I was hoping for this since I was scared of having another operation. It was silly of me to compare a c-section to an ablation. Completely different. Turns out I needed to have an ablation.
They explained the procedure to me in the doctors office a few times but I was scared! The day before I went for some pre-testing. This was just a few questions, blood pressure, and they drew some blood. I was only at the hospital about an hour or so.
The morning of the procedure I was with my parents and my husband. I was taken back to put on a gown and sit. All the nurses introduced themselves, asked if I had any questions, put in my IV, etc. I was sitting for a while alone. This is when I started to get worked up. I was alone, in a hospital bed, seeing all these older people around with tubes and such. It was starting to get to me. Then my DH came back to sit with me until the doctors were ready. I lost it. I started crying and I tried to hold it back but all my fears were getting the best of me. The nurses gave me some tissues and assured me I'd be fine. I was so scared.
The time came to get rolled into the operating room. The room was part terrifying, part interesting. There was a control room part behind glass where several people were. Then in the main part of the room there were big machines above and to the side of a small table. And there were monitors everywhere.
Just a side note: A few nights before this procedure I caught an old episode of House where a young woman was having an ablation done. House told her she could watch the whole thing because there were all these TVs all over the room. I asked my doctor if I could watch my procedure. He looked at me like I was crazy. He said I would be out of it. The thing is, I was half in and half out of it so I could watch what he saw on all the monitors. It's "x-ray type" images, not gorey stuff. It was fascinating!
So anyway, back to the room... I was asked to get on the table, to shift from the larger bed they wheeled me in on. Then they put about 50 stickies on you attached to wire. No pain. They asked if they could shave my groin area. I said it was done already. Then they put something into my IV that made me feel GOOD. It really relaxed me since I was started to get a little nervous again. My doctor came in and talked for a few. Eventually I went out.
The next thing I remember I woke up slightly and saw the monitors and heard everyone talking. I saw wires in my heart on the monitors. Cool. Then I felt small sensations like heart burn. Ironic since they were burning my heart tissue. It didn't hurt, it was just uncomfortable. Then I dozed out for a little. And I was back again.
At some point they started giving my shots of adenaline through the IV to race my heart to make sure they got what they needed to get. This was a little uncomfortable and weird. You're laying on a table and your heart feels like it's going to beat out your chest like you just finished a marathon. This ended after a while. Then it was over.
They started removing all the wires and stickies and I scooted back onto the big bed and they wheeled me to recovery. I was ok. It was a few minutes until my parents and husband came to see me. I stayed the night for observation in a curtained off area. The next morning I went home.
I had a few follow ups and still see my cardiologist every few months. So far, my heart is perfect. Of course they are worried if I get pregnant again it may come back in some way, shape or form so when I know I'm pregnant again I'll see my cardiologist right away.
It's scarey to think about getting the ablation, I know. But you'll do great. And if you are really shaken up, speak up, maybe they can give you something to calm you down. Good luck!
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| Posted 5/14/12 2:16 PM |
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KMCGK
Gotta have faith
Member since 7/09 2176 total posts
Name:
Keep the Faith
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
I have A- fib and A flutter. I had the EPS first to determine where and which part of my heart was causing the arrythmias. Like the PP mentioned, they use Isuprel (I've had it with the Tilt Table Test too) to cause the heart to reproduce the arrythmias so they can go straight to the area for the ablation. I was in a twilight state so I was able to feel the arrythmias occuring. The incisions are small, in the groin or the neck (or both in my case). Once the procedure is over you just keep pressure on the incisions. I'll probably be having it after pregnancy since my symptoms have increased since.
Also, you're in great hands at St. Francis.
Good luck.
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| Posted 5/14/12 8:42 PM |
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BeachGrl
LIF Adult
Member since 10/11 2140 total posts
Name:
Kristy
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
Posted by 2girlsforme
I know people who have had it done with absolutely no complications. Also, the Chief of Electrophysiology at St. Francis, Dr. Levine, is the best of the best. You are in excellent hands.
Good luck.
Yep! I had a cardiac ablation a few years ago with Dr. Levine, I had zero complications and stayed in the hospital one night. Good luck!
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| Posted 5/14/12 11:17 PM |
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lbride
Lovin' my mini man!
Member since 3/07 2475 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
I had one done by dr levine last year. If you want you can call me. I had no one to talk to before hand and I think that would have helped.
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| Posted 5/15/12 7:57 PM |
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Lauren82
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 4580 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
My mom had one done, but it was unsuccessful. She was in a long time because they attempted it multiple times. She still requires daily medication.
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| Posted 5/17/12 6:46 PM |
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fairybug
LIF Infant
Member since 5/12 71 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
Posted by nancyg
I had one done and I was more scared than necessary. It was really nothing. Mine was pregnancy related, but I'll give you the cliff notes version of my story. Sorry it's so long.
I was pregnant, about 31 weeks and kept getting these "dizzy spells", anywhere from 4-9 a day. I thought it was nothing. I mentioned it to my OB during a routine check up. He checked my pulse and said it was really low and irregular. He took me across the hall to a cardiologist. They did an EKG, saw nothing and had me where a 24 heart monitor. I did, brought it back and in a few days that dr told me to get the ER now!
Turns out I was having runs of V-Tac and had an irregular heartbeat aggravated by the increase of fluids and weight from the pregnancy. It took a few tries but with medication I was able to get the beating under control, continued my pregnancy to 40 weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy via c-section. The doctors did not want to stress my heart by going into labor.
Now that the baby was out, time to worry about my heart. We thought maybe after I lost the excess fluid and some weight my heart might return to "normal". I was hoping for this since I was scared of having another operation. It was silly of me to compare a c-section to an ablation. Completely different. Turns out I needed to have an ablation.
They explained the procedure to me in the doctors office a few times but I was scared! The day before I went for some pre-testing. This was just a few questions, blood pressure, and they drew some blood. I was only at the hospital about an hour or so.
The morning of the procedure I was with my parents and my husband. I was taken back to put on a gown and sit. All the nurses introduced themselves, asked if I had any questions, put in my IV, etc. I was sitting for a while alone. This is when I started to get worked up. I was alone, in a hospital bed, seeing all these older people around with tubes and such. It was starting to get to me. Then my DH came back to sit with me until the doctors were ready. I lost it. I started crying and I tried to hold it back but all my fears were getting the best of me. The nurses gave me some tissues and assured me I'd be fine. I was so scared.
The time came to get rolled into the operating room. The room was part terrifying, part interesting. There was a control room part behind glass where several people were. Then in the main part of the room there were big machines above and to the side of a small table. And there were monitors everywhere.
Just a side note: A few nights before this procedure I caught an old episode of House where a young woman was having an ablation done. House told her she could watch the whole thing because there were all these TVs all over the room. I asked my doctor if I could watch my procedure. He looked at me like I was crazy. He said I would be out of it. The thing is, I was half in and half out of it so I could watch what he saw on all the monitors. It's "x-ray type" images, not gorey stuff. It was fascinating!
So anyway, back to the room... I was asked to get on the table, to shift from the larger bed they wheeled me in on. Then they put about 50 stickies on you attached to wire. No pain. They asked if they could shave my groin area. I said it was done already. Then they put something into my IV that made me feel GOOD. It really relaxed me since I was started to get a little nervous again. My doctor came in and talked for a few. Eventually I went out.
The next thing I remember I woke up slightly and saw the monitors and heard everyone talking. I saw wires in my heart on the monitors. Cool. Then I felt small sensations like heart burn. Ironic since they were burning my heart tissue. It didn't hurt, it was just uncomfortable. Then I dozed out for a little. And I was back again.
At some point they started giving my shots of adenaline through the IV to race my heart to make sure they got what they needed to get. This was a little uncomfortable and weird. You're laying on a table and your heart feels like it's going to beat out your chest like you just finished a marathon. This ended after a while. Then it was over.
They started removing all the wires and stickies and I scooted back onto the big bed and they wheeled me to recovery. I was ok. It was a few minutes until my parents and husband came to see me. I stayed the night for observation in a curtained off area. The next morning I went home.
I had a few follow ups and still see my cardiologist every few months. So far, my heart is perfect. Of course they are worried if I get pregnant again it may come back in some way, shape or form so when I know I'm pregnant again I'll see my cardiologist right away.
It's scarey to think about getting the ablation, I know. But you'll do great. And if you are really shaken up, speak up, maybe they can give you something to calm you down. Good luck!
OMG....I saw the House episode too and I am freaking out. Where did you have it done?? I am happy to read your heart is perfect, I wish, i am just so "uncomfortable" and like you said I am just more scared than I probably should be. I am too scared to call for an appt. It has been a week and my family is on my azz.
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| Posted 5/18/12 10:06 PM |
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fairybug
LIF Infant
Member since 5/12 71 total posts
Name:
T
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better about this. I appreciate the feedback. I just wish I could make the call, I chicken out.
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| Posted 5/18/12 10:08 PM |
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nancyg
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/10 729 total posts
Name:
Nancy
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
Posted by fairybug
Posted by nancyg
I had one done and I was more scared than necessary. It was really nothing. Mine was pregnancy related, but I'll give you the cliff notes version of my story. Sorry it's so long.
I was pregnant, about 31 weeks and kept getting these "dizzy spells", anywhere from 4-9 a day. I thought it was nothing. I mentioned it to my OB during a routine check up. He checked my pulse and said it was really low and irregular. He took me across the hall to a cardiologist. They did an EKG, saw nothing and had me where a 24 heart monitor. I did, brought it back and in a few days that dr told me to get the ER now!
Turns out I was having runs of V-Tac and had an irregular heartbeat aggravated by the increase of fluids and weight from the pregnancy. It took a few tries but with medication I was able to get the beating under control, continued my pregnancy to 40 weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy via c-section. The doctors did not want to stress my heart by going into labor.
Now that the baby was out, time to worry about my heart. We thought maybe after I lost the excess fluid and some weight my heart might return to "normal". I was hoping for this since I was scared of having another operation. It was silly of me to compare a c-section to an ablation. Completely different. Turns out I needed to have an ablation.
They explained the procedure to me in the doctors office a few times but I was scared! The day before I went for some pre-testing. This was just a few questions, blood pressure, and they drew some blood. I was only at the hospital about an hour or so.
The morning of the procedure I was with my parents and my husband. I was taken back to put on a gown and sit. All the nurses introduced themselves, asked if I had any questions, put in my IV, etc. I was sitting for a while alone. This is when I started to get worked up. I was alone, in a hospital bed, seeing all these older people around with tubes and such. It was starting to get to me. Then my DH came back to sit with me until the doctors were ready. I lost it. I started crying and I tried to hold it back but all my fears were getting the best of me. The nurses gave me some tissues and assured me I'd be fine. I was so scared.
The time came to get rolled into the operating room. The room was part terrifying, part interesting. There was a control room part behind glass where several people were. Then in the main part of the room there were big machines above and to the side of a small table. And there were monitors everywhere.
Just a side note: A few nights before this procedure I caught an old episode of House where a young woman was having an ablation done. House told her she could watch the whole thing because there were all these TVs all over the room. I asked my doctor if I could watch my procedure. He looked at me like I was crazy. He said I would be out of it. The thing is, I was half in and half out of it so I could watch what he saw on all the monitors. It's "x-ray type" images, not gorey stuff. It was fascinating!
So anyway, back to the room... I was asked to get on the table, to shift from the larger bed they wheeled me in on. Then they put about 50 stickies on you attached to wire. No pain. They asked if they could shave my groin area. I said it was done already. Then they put something into my IV that made me feel GOOD. It really relaxed me since I was started to get a little nervous again. My doctor came in and talked for a few. Eventually I went out.
The next thing I remember I woke up slightly and saw the monitors and heard everyone talking. I saw wires in my heart on the monitors. Cool. Then I felt small sensations like heart burn. Ironic since they were burning my heart tissue. It didn't hurt, it was just uncomfortable. Then I dozed out for a little. And I was back again.
At some point they started giving my shots of adenaline through the IV to race my heart to make sure they got what they needed to get. This was a little uncomfortable and weird. You're laying on a table and your heart feels like it's going to beat out your chest like you just finished a marathon. This ended after a while. Then it was over.
They started removing all the wires and stickies and I scooted back onto the big bed and they wheeled me to recovery. I was ok. It was a few minutes until my parents and husband came to see me. I stayed the night for observation in a curtained off area. The next morning I went home.
I had a few follow ups and still see my cardiologist every few months. So far, my heart is perfect. Of course they are worried if I get pregnant again it may come back in some way, shape or form so when I know I'm pregnant again I'll see my cardiologist right away.
It's scarey to think about getting the ablation, I know. But you'll do great. And if you are really shaken up, speak up, maybe they can give you something to calm you down. Good luck!
OMG....I saw the House episode too and I am freaking out. Where did you have it done?? I am happy to read your heart is perfect, I wish, i am just so "uncomfortable" and like you said I am just more scared than I probably should be. I am too scared to call for an appt. It has been a week and my family is on my azz.
I had mine done at North Shore LIJ with Dr. Beldner. He was great! I did go to St. Francis for a second opinion, but since I had my baby at North Shore and was familiar with the hospital and the doctors I felt more comfortable dealing with people that knew my medical history. It's a personal choice. I think all the doctors in both hospitals were more than qualified.
It is a scarey procedure but once you get it done, you'll feel so much better. If for no other reason that it's over. :) Have someone go with you to appointments and the hospital, that will make it easier. If I didn't have my family with me I would've chickened out 100 times over. I think I was most afraid of the unknown. I had the doctors and nurses explain everything to me as much as possible and asked 1000 questions. Always ask questions to make yourself feel better even if you think they are stupid. There are no stupid questions.
If I can answer any more questions, please let me know. And good luck!!
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| Posted 5/19/12 11:00 AM |
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lbride
Lovin' my mini man!
Member since 3/07 2475 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: Cardiac Albasion
just a warning - I was not put out. Dr. Levine was concerned that putting me out would put my arrhythmia out. Everyone, including the nurses on the floor, told me that i would be in twilight so I wasn't expecting that. I went through it fully awake. Do your best to convince them to put you out or in twilight!
Message edited 5/20/2012 7:58:39 PM.
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| Posted 5/20/12 7:58 PM |
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