AV node ablation

AV node ablation

by AgentX86 - 2018-10-13 10:23:44

Since, you've already had your pacemaker implanted, we're a little different but I wask kept overnight because I was newly pacemaker depenedent.  Since you'll have had the pacemaker for a while that may not be necessary (they can trust that the pacemaker implant went well). They still may want to keep you, just because. EPs tend to be cautious.

For my other femoral catheterization procedures, it's been about 50/50, whether they kept me overnight. As you note, it was more because of the time of the procedure than anything.  I found it actually preferable to stay.  It was a lot less hassle - more relaxed.

As far as restrictions go, you'll probably not be able to drive for a week but that's about it.  Take it easy for a couple of days, particularly with the leg. They'll tell you how to deal with your cath wound.  IIRC, the big thing is to keep it dry for a couple of days. Other than that, do what you feel up to doing. Your leads should be well set in and the wound fairly well healed, so nothing to worry about with the pacemaker implant itself.

Thanks

by atiras - 2018-10-13 12:13:52

AgentX86, that's useful.  I'm resigned to an overnight stay, although I won't sleep a wink (I never do in hospitals), so I'd much rather be at home (easier on everybody's nerves).  I just hope they decide early enough that my partner can go home before he's wasted the whole day. Ideally, if they're going to keep me in, I'd send him away as soon as he's delivered me but he insists he wants to wait at least until I come out of the cath lab. Possibly he's not looking forward to explaining to the cats why I'm not home:) -- he's spent his own time in the same cath lab (heart attack) so he can't (surely) be worrying?

Driving -- OK, I can live with a week of being housebound. There's nowhere much I can go around here without driving, but I can plan for that in advance -- my partner may need to curtail his weekly wanderings for a day or so (if it's Tuesday, it must be <<insert location in Southern England here>> -- although I might try a short walk or two around the village after a few days to see if matters regarding my heart have improved (but will probably want his company for that -- there's not likely to be anybody passing if I need help).

Pacemaker wound is still re-healing after the PM was reburied but most of the time I forget I've got the thing -- still not sleeping on my left side (which may be superstition because the PM moved the first time I tried sleeping on my left side for any period of time)  -- but you're right, I've got no concerns about the PM implant itself.

I just hope the head cold I've got doesn't delay things (I suspect not).  My heart has been reminding me for the last two weeks why I've taken this route. Extreme breathlessness (don't expect me to get up in the night to go to the loo, and then be able to get enough oxygen for at least half an hour -- or indeed do anything at any point in the day except sit in a chair, or lie in a bed).Plus painfully swollen ankes and legs -- they're not seeping yet but give it time.... It's really annoying -- I've had a good summer where, as long as I was sensible, I wasn't breathless or swollen... Fingers crossed, after the AV ablation, things will be much better.

AV node ablation

by AgentX86 - 2018-10-13 20:11:32

As I said, I found it was a lot less hassle to stay.  Here, we're allowed to have our SO stay in the room with is, and I've done that for all except my bypass surgery.  For that, I got my wife a room in a hotel next to the hospital.  I was surprised how cheap it was, considering it's a major city and it was a large chain hotel.  I didn't want her sleeping on a sofa for ten days.  For an overnight, it's not a problem and the hospital is set up for spouses staying (they even have visitor's showers). Our cats can fend for themselves for one night.  ;-)

Of course we're all different but I was walking my usual distance by the third day (I was surprised), though was told to not go to the gym for the first four weeks. Hopefully you'll be on the mend within days.  Your heart should be stronger almost immediately and hopefully that'll help get rid of the excess fluids. Please let us know how you're progressing.