Ablation question

Hi, it's me again...My EP told me that after my EP study (Jan. 26th) I will have to wait for approximately 4 to 6 weeks before I have the actual ablation. I understand him wanting to go in the first time and take a look around and then discuss it with me and my husband before he does anything but to wait THAT long before fixing the problem!!! I am awe struck! I have a lot of faith in my doctor and I try to remember that he knows what he is doing and why, but I have been waiting for almost 3 months to get it done because he's so full and now I will have to wait even longer to get better. I am so tired of being so tired, you know?? This medicine that he has me on makes me so tired and I still have the episodes at times. Some of them are really bad:( I am on Rythmol SR 325 Mg. twice a day and I know that it can cause the same symptoms I am already having as well. Anyway, if anyone knows the reason why he is waiting that long in between these procedures, would you please let me know? Thank you for letting me blow off some steam.

Pacie

3 Comments

Waiting

by scadnama - 2009-01-13 07:01:06

I think that waiting is the worst part about having a procedure.
I have had 4 ablations in the last 8 months, and my doctors have always made me wait at least 6-8 weeks between procedures. It takes time for the heart to heal after an invasive procedure, and they want to make sure that your heart isn't going to be damaged. Although, I haven't heard of having to wait between an EP study and an ablation. Usually the 2 are done simultaneously so that you only have to undergo one procedure. I had an EP study done at one point, and my doctor was unable to reproduce my arrhythmia, but within 2 weeks, she was convinced that I needed an ablation and went ahead with the procedure. She even used the same groin area...talk about painful!
Well, I wish you luck, and I hope that you find the answers that you are looking for! If you have any questions about the study or ablation, feel free to ask...I have been through so many, I feel like a pro now!

Amanda

Waiting is Hard to Due

by craig1075 - 2009-01-13 09:01:03

Dear Pacie,

Whatever the reason, good or bad, the fact remains we hate waiting for medical treatment, test results, or a definitive diagnosis.

I of course cannot speak specifically to your previous and current wait time between ablations, however 6-8 weeks was common for me as well. I had 3 ablations and each time I had a 6 week wait time once it was decided to due one and I met with the scheduler.

I know of two common reasons for the wait time, one medical and the other related to volume. A competent EP will first (assuming he/she is entering the right atrrium) want you on a blood thinner such as coumadin for at least 4-6 weeks to prevent against throwing a blood clot during the procedure. Every time I had an ablation I had to have a PT/INR (a measure of how thinned out your blood is) done weekly, and my PT/INR had to stay in the range of between 2 and 3. If it dropped below 2 then I would have had to start over from week one. This means if your PT/INR was 2.5 for weeks one through 3 and then dropped to 1.9 week four you would have to start over at week one. It's frustrating I know, yet how can you argue against patient safety. The second reason is based on the law of supply and demand. Simply put, there are not enough EP docs around to evaluate and treat the patients who need one. Thus it becomes a priority issue meaning the sickest patients come first. Again, not an easy thing to accept, especially when you are in pain and discomfort.

I don't know if my sharing will make you feel any better, but hopefully you may better understand why the long delay.

Hang in there.

Steve

waiting for ablation procedure

by anette - 2009-01-14 08:01:21

I don't know if that could be a consolation for you but i heard that the waiting time for1 ablation procedure could be more than a year at dr PAPPONE from ITALY AND THE SAME for dr ANDREA NATALE...US. Nevermind what you you decided ,
good luck!
Anette

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