ep study and ablation

I had an ep study and ablation attempt this morning and it didn't work. The equipment had issues and everytime they got my heart into the "correct" rhythm something went wrong, either the catheter wasn't recording, or was in the wrong place or the guy running the computer wasn't on the ball and kept pacing over the arythmeia making the capture totally useless. I understand that this can happen, but they worked at it for 4.5 hours and I was given 10 mg of the crap that makes your heart rate crazy over the last hour and a half at least 8 times. The techs who were working were like "really?" each time the dr ordered more of it.
Also, everyone who I encountered at the hospital prior to told me that I would be sleeping through this because even though you aren't put under you are sedated and given a muscle relaxant and that if it's not enough sedation they'll give you more...they lied. The Dr came in and said that he didn't want me sedated because it could prevent the arythmeia from showing itself...personally I think that if I was relaxed it probably would have just flowed. I didn't get anti anxiety meds until after the procedure, which was necessary because I was unbelievably upset that it didn't work. Then I had some great runs of tachycardia as soon as they took out the catheters. I knew it was a possiblity that it might not work, but honestly, the thought of having to go through this again in a couple of months is just unbearable right now

6 Comments

??

by pete - 2009-08-18 02:08:11

Which country are you living in? All sounds a bit grim to me. I would find another hospital or another country. Cheers Peter

re:??

by justme - 2009-08-18 08:08:20

I'm in the US and was supposedly at the best hospital in WNY for heart and stroke care. Equipment fails sometimes, I get that, but I could even hear the beeping of my heart rhythm and could hear (and feel) when it took off without the pacing, the tech just kept pacing over it. The doctor even yelled at him after the longest run of tachy wasn't captured. He's already said he's doing it at another hospital with differet equipment and that he is going to pick the whole team so that, even though it is a teaching program, he has his group with the most experience working on me.
During the study the dr came to me and said "I know you are being tortured right now, is it ok to go 10 more minutes?" That was the first honest thing that anyone told me yesterday, because that's what it felt like. I guess perspective wise it would feel different if it had worked, maybe it wouldn't have been "that bad" but I doubt it. Knowing that I have to do this again in a couple of months, if not sooner, is just unbearable. I don't know if I could handle it not working again.
I ended up with 5 sheaths and when switching catheters ended up with another one after one got pulled out, stitches and all. BTW the numbing stuff doesn't last over 3 hours.
I just wish that someone would have been honest with me about what an EP study feels like, even though I would have still been nervous at least I could have been prepared for how much it really sucks. I also wish that the nurses and dr's didn't outright lie about pain and anxiety meds and tell you that you'll be so relaxed that you'll probably sleep through it. That gave me one picture of what was going to happen, and that was so far from the truth...
I also think that it is cruel to not give women a urinary catheter prior to this, which pretty much just compounded how sucky the day was.

Sheaths

by Pookie - 2009-08-18 08:08:47

what is a sheath??

so sorry to hear what you had to endure today, but from what I have read it seems it doesn't always work the first time.

but at least by today's procedure you know what you're facing for next time....not pleasant, but I don't think you'll be so shocked and upset next time. I don't really know but I'm guessing that is the way I would feel, but everyone is different.

if I ever have to have an ablation, I'll be asking you or Angelie all about it.

and yes, I have to agree...I absolutely hate it when a doctor minimizes the procedure and tells you how you will feel; only to find out differently after the procedure.

Good luck

Pookie

sheath

by justme - 2009-08-18 10:08:46

a sheath is the thing that they actually insert into your veins to put the catheter through. they can be taped or stitched in place it's kind of like a port. when they pull them out they do it at the same time that they start to apply very strong pressure on the insertion sites to stop the bleeding and it is really painful.

Sorry

by Angelie - 2009-08-18 12:08:37

I'm sorry to hear that you're having a rough time.
First off, let me introduce myself as someone who's become quite used to ablations after having 5.
I have never been completely sedated during any of them. The 3rd one was very similar to your experience in that the doctor walked in and asked, "how much sedation has she received?" The nurse answered him and then he quickly said...."No more".
It's true that the effects of the sedatives might affect your heart rhythm during the EP study. Your doctor really was looking out for you. Trust me. He wasn't trying to give you a bad experience, or make it horrible for you on purpose. It's one of those things that you sort of have to put up with during an EP study and ablation. They are not very pleasant, but the possibility of fixing the heart arrhythmia is worth the unpleasant feelings. Before things get better, they always get a little worse first.
With every procedure, there are risks and benefits. You always have to weigh which one is higher.

I'm sorry you've had a bad experience. I know first hand how traumatic an ablation can be. One of my EP study/ ablations lasted 8 hours, and then that's not counting the lying flat on your back for another 6 hours afterwards.
In the EP lab your heart is doing all sorts of crazy things, but just know that you're in good hands. That's one of the goals of the EP study is so that they're able to reproduce your "icky" feelings and heart rhythms so that they can attempt fixing them. Lying flat on your back for SO long is awful as well, and the sheath pulls absolutely KILL me. I've never encountered another pain quite like the pain caused by them removing the sheaths, and I always end up having 3-4 sheaths at one time.

Hang in there,
Angelie

out cold...

by turboz24 - 2009-08-19 01:08:02

For all my EP studies, ICD implant, and ablation I was out cold, under general. I would probably refuse to have any of those done and be awake anyways, but both my EP's wanted me out cold anyways.

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