Does it hurt? Am I a Coward?

[Bbbananas]

I have been advised to have, at some point in the future, a RF (radiofrequency) catheter ablation of the heart. This is to hopefully correct SVTs that I have on an increasingly recurrent basis, which are becoming less controlled by medication, which in itself is causing side effects (240mgs MR Verapamil).

Has anyone had this?
Briefly, it involves inserting catheters into the groin, neck & perhaps other sites, to trigger & map electrical disturbances, and then to ablate (eliminate/destroy) the abnormal heart tissue.

I'm not afraid of the procedure, I accept I need it doing and life could well be better for it. However I am a coward when it comes to pain. Does it hurt? I understand it is usually done under local anaesthetic - should I opt for a general or is that really cowardly and potentially more risky?

[craft1948]

I think if it's something you're really frightened about, rightly or wrongly, you should ask about having a general anaesthetic..Obviously it would be better to have a local but not if this is stressing you badly.

[Sqad]

salla....don't be daft........it is painless, done under local and you won't feel a thing.

[crisgal]

i haven't had it done, so couldn't say. but my mum has had many similar procedures for her heart condition, many involving catheters in the main arteries. She has always said that they have never been as bad as she was expecting, and as you said, the benefits are worth the discomfort.
The worse thing was when they removed the catheter from her groin, but they explained what was going to happen and geve her some morphine . She was a high as a kite, and giggled all the way through. She couldn't even remember them doing it afterwards!
Hope that's helped a bit.
And, no, you're not a coward!
Whenever i have had to have something done, I remind myself that some poor child is probably having the same procedure somewhere.
If they can do it - I can do it.
good luck x x

[Sqad]

salla......of course you are a coward.....so am I........what is wrong with being a coward?

[craft1948]

"salla don't be daft"
---------------------------------
sqad's great bedside manner rides again......LOL

[Bbbananas]

Don't you just love sqad's bedside manner? I do!

I'm not frightened of the procedure - just of any excruciating pain there may be.

Thanks Crisgal - Bring on that Morphine is what I say!!

[rinkins]

I am a total wuss when it comes to things like that I am no good at pain!

Salla - you've had children it can't be worse than that?!

[bigmamma]

I get lots of sub ventricular tachycardia episodes but they only last less than 2 mins mostly so my cardiologist said he would just leave me for now as they're not causing any harm .
I have seen this procedure done and the patients say there's no pain at all honey x

[bigmamma]

Oh and I agree , it's great to have sqads input with medical and surgical matters :-)

[Bbbananas]

You're right rins - nothing could be worse than childbirth or an anal fissure - I shall go for it.

Thanks bigmamma. It's a problem I've had since I was 12, but has been much worse & frequent these last few years (I blame my ex & all the stress he caused !) Trouble is, without the meds my heart rate can bump up to about 200+ per minute & can last for hours which is quite uncomfortable not to say a pain in the @ss when I have to go to hospital to have it stopped. I've put up with it for 35 years & it has hardly bothered me, but I think the time has come for intervention.

So no-one considers me the Coward of the County... ?!!

[bigmamma]

Oh sallas you poor lass , when mine goes into the SVT I feel odd and have to sit down if it doesn't right itself quickly but never has it lasted hours and needed drugs to correct it . That procedure was outlined to me by the cardiologist but only if mine does what yours does obviously .
Go for it hun . xx

[Sqad]

Supra-ventricular tachycardia..................SUPRA.

[Panic Button]

Sqad didn't need a bedside manner - they were all unconscious