Cardiac capers...

Monday, 23rd October, 2017

I am booked to have an Electrophysiology study and Radiofrequency Ablation on my heart to stop Supraventricular Tachycardia.  SVT is an abnormally fast heart rhythym arising from improper electrical activity in the upper part of the heart.  

Read about the procedure - 

EP Study and RF Ablation

I  fasted from 10am on Monday morning then checked in for my heart procedure at 2pm and wasn’t expecting to be taken through until about 5 pm but somehow my times got mixed up and they were ready for me at 3pm - winning!  Less time to think about it!  Two nurses did an ECG and obs then it was time to go.

I was wheeled around to the lab where I talked to the anaesthetist and he put a canular into my left hand.  Then I spoke with my specialist and he ran through the procedure and told me of the risks involved but also the high cure rate for SVT and other arrhythmias.  After signing the consent form, I was taken into the lab and placed on a table, I’m wearing just a blue hospital gown.  They put down a warming blanket first then a nice warm blanket over me.  The anaesthetist placed an oxygen mask on and said he was giving something to relax me and boom, I was out!

I woke up in recovery at around 5.30pm feeling fine.  I didn’t even feel groggy.

I was told by one of the nursing staff that I had not had the ablation done as they hadnt been able to reinduce the SVT.  I was disappointed to hear that and asked what would likely happen now.  She said it would probably be managed with medication.  Hmmm.

I was returned to my room and settled by 6pm, heaps earlier than we thought.  I had to lay in bed for a few hours before I was allowed to get up so that the wound site in my groin wouldn’t bleed or pop.   The wound is not sore at all.   

The family visited (love my flowers!) then they went off to dinner as it was Brianna’s 24th birthday.

I was lucky there was a hot meal still available for me, otherwise it would have been sandwiches. Macaroni cheese and veggies - how did they know I love Mac n Cheese?  I was starving!

The doctor visited me and asked how I was feeling and I said “I’d feel better if you’d been able to do the ablation!”...

He looked stunned and said “I did do the ablation and it went very well!”

Lesson - never let a nurse tell you what a doctor should.  She must have come in on the tail end of him telling someone about it.  

He went on to say that he was very happy - the normal conduction system was well intact, the tachycardia was not inducable despite them trying harder to get it started than they needed to.  He said if it did come back, he now knew the anatomy of my heart and could use different equipment and approach but he seemed confident all would be good.

After a nice cup of tea and a biscuit I settled in for a night of SBS TV then some YouTube watching on my iPad.  I stayed up until about 11.30 when they came to do obs.  I got my cpap machine sorted and plugged in then I settled down but had a restless night with all the hospital sounds like beeping monitors out at the nurses station plus staff talking.  Such a noisy place.   I shared a room with an elderly lady and she had restless legs so that made a rustling noise too.  I slept on and off but was awake and sitting up at 5am, back on my iPad.

Obs at 5.30am  BP 110/67  pulse 78 

Breakfast was a long time coming - I messaged Gus and told him I was so hungry I could eat my phone charger! 

I ate it all - the scrambled eggs and tomato were tasty, then a slice of toast and stewed prunes and a cup of tea.  Time for a shower!

I had just finished when she said the doctor would be along to see me.

Again, Doc said all went well and my heart monitor obs were good.  I just need a follow up visit with my cardiologist, who I have an appointment to see in my home town in late November.  I also asked him about my blood pressure medication.  I had a pharmacist recommend I might like to change to a newer drug (Avapro) as the one I take (Perindopryl) is notorious for giving you a dry cough.  The new one does not.  He gave me a script but I need to have blood tests with my GP before getting it filled so that’s next week.

Bri arrived to take me home right on time so we were out of there by 9.30am - today I am to take it easy and not go speed shopping or doing a five mile hike (like that’s gonna happen!) 

Beginning next week, I hope to get out walking in the morning,  just starting off slow because I an unfit and I have sore feet and knees so need to build up slowly. 

You’re all probably asleep by now after reading this - I just wanted a record of it for me.  My blog has been handy to reference back on the times that I’ve had these episodes (in 2012, 2014, June 2017 and 13 Oct 2017).  Hopefully no more to report.

Cheers - Joolz xx