Complex Ablation

Heart Procedure

December 6, 2018 is a new milestone in my life. I opted to do something different. Well that doesn't sound totally different about me, but it was life changing along this journey.
When I was diagnosed I was left with choices. Choices that would change the direction of my lifestyle of fitness and the goals I wanted to achieve. As you've been following me along this journey you know this was the right choice for me. It may not be the right choice for others that suffer from Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter, but to me it was the right choice. So having a premiere facility like the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and its many advancements in technology I knew I would be in the hands of professionals.

Surgery Day

Ready to go!

My day started out early as I had to be at the Heart Institute by 6:30a.

Sorry we're not open yet!

I was given instructions to not bring any valuables and to only wear loose clothing to leave in as the hospital would provide me with a "robe" and "slippers". Yeah the robe...the typical open gown you tie with straps. Slippers...well yeah they were just boot covers. Well let's just say they tried to up sell the apparel. 😞

We arrived nice and early at 1st floor and follow the green hearts.

Green Heart

Day Unit that way

Well we weren't the only ones following the green hearts as there seemed to be quite the waiting room of people to get into the Day Unit. Of course it was well after 6:30a until one lady made arrived and announced that only patients were allowed in, but needed their health card and prescriptions ready. I must have been the fourth person in a line of maybe eight or more.

The crowd gathers

Once I presented my card and provided my address and date of birth I was weighed and measured...again. I was then brought to a nice Lazy Boy and pretty much told to strip and put on my lovely robe and slippers! Yep those up sold hospital gown and booties.

I met my nurse Patricia who put my bracelets on and then confirmed my history and everything in her binder to make sure I was there for an Ablation and not something else. 😉

Then came the fun part. You guessed the groin shave! She asked if I did that and no I did not. The privilege was all hers! I'll leave you with that image.😇

Next she put in a line for my IV for me.

IV and my ID

Of course during that time my nerves were getting to me and I must have visited the washroom like three times. Until finally an orderly came to take me down to the Cath/EP lab. I said goodbye to Kiera gave her my glasses and away I went. So there will be no pictures from this point and only your imagination.

We travelled down a few hallways into the new wing of the Heart Institute where all the state of the art equipment was. It wasn't very far, but as soon as we approached my final destination I was fitted with a lovely blue cap to wear for my procedure.

Once I arrived I met with several people. First up was Karen the nurse who had a special message for me from Kristin from my hometown who left specific instructions with Karen to take very good care of me...Aww Thanks Kristin! ♥

Then I met the attending anesthetist Ben then his supervisor which I can't remember his name. Another radiologist, Caroline I think came to ask me questions. Eventually Karen came back and lowered the rails and said come on in! I'm like I have to walk to the operating table! Ok then!

Here I am in this very cold operating room with my "robe" and "slippers" and new found bathroom cap. I was stylin'

I get up the edge of the table and Karen says I need to wire you up so basically stripping me down and of course noticing the ink on my back. Anyhow, she warned me some of the strips would be cold. Oh man it was like having a bunch of ice thrown down your back. That type of feeling. there must have been a series of patches. I proceeded to get on to the table but it was a most bizarre table as it was slender and wider near my feet. Oh and before I go on the EP lab I was in wasn't my physician's normal room and he wasn't too pleased with that. It's interesting how doctors get a feel for equipment for their procedures. Anyhow, back to the table...it was apparently missing a piece so I had to sit up with all these wires hanging off me and of course naked and shivering as it was freezing. I got some warm blanket as they inserted the missing piece and I was able to lie back down. The sleep doc asked me a question about if I had kids and I said yes I have two teen daughters. His reply well sheesh no wonder why you have AFib! 😄 

His attendee started getting his line ready while I was still being wired up with all sorts of monitors.

The last thing I remember once they got all the monitors in place was I'm going to give you something to relax and bam I don't remember a thing after that. All I know is that it was about 6+ hours for the procedure. They had to go through both sides of my groin, but they were able to isolate my veins which meant they had a clear path to get to the left atria that was the cause of my AFib.

Image by the Mayo which shows the Ablation procedure

All I recall is being very groggy and I don't know who it was they were calling me to wake up and squeeze someone's hand. I don't know what was going on, but I have some recollection of the breathing tube ext-abated and then no clue when I was wheeled into the recovery area. I do know Kiera and Mei-Ling were there, but I was so out of it I didn't know what time it was or what was going on. I do recall moments of going in and out of consciousness as I had an oxygen mask on and recall asking for some pain meds as my chest was on fire. Kiera made sure they gave me something for it, but it must have helped as I passed out again. It seems whatever they gave me really knocked me out.

My nurse Mary Jane eventually encouraged me to try and sit up, but I wasn't in the mood and had zero energy. She offered me a chicken salad sandwich but warned me to eat slowly since I was still weaning off the anesthesia and they didn't want me to hurl. But it was nice to have some food and ginger ale, but my throat was still sore. Eventually the doctors came and checked on me, but before Kiera had to leave for her PT appointment. So they mentioned the procedure and answered most of her questions and mine, but basically off for a week and then maybe another week to 10 days and I'll be ready to get back to my regular routines. I was shocked and more so Kiera to hear that I could return to my regular activities after a couple of weeks.
Once Kiera left I was alone until Mary Jane came and introduced Donna who would be my night nurse. Then Jaimie and Jay came to visit to keep me company. They even brought me a donut. We chatted and I got to hear Jaimie's story of her Ablation. They kept me company as it was hard for me to carry on a conversation. It was nice to see some friendly faces other than nurses. Jaimie had to leave for an appointment.
I was trying to get some rest and then Taylor came to visit and also brought me a gift. I was surprised to see her as she no longer works at NRC, but we stay connected via FB. She brought messages from her coworkers and Shifawn and her man Dave. It was a nice visit and then the girls finally arrived. I had to explain what an Ablation was and how I got to where I was in the Heart Institute.
Once all the girls were ready to leave I asked my night nurse Donna for the happy drugs so it was a T3 and Toradol (sp) some anti-inflammatory that might take the edge off. It worked for a bit until about 3a and I needed another jolt. I have to say it wasn't the best sleep, but I managed some despite the chest pain.

At some point DD18 posted on my IG

And a Snapchat

Central line for the drugs

Of course it took some time to get back to sleep, but eventually I must have dozed off. Morning came and yet another new nurse, Diane, was pretty sure I was ready to go! Sadly the previous nurses failed to prepare me for my departure. Apparently I was to have a lesson on how to treat my wound and care for it while at home. Also after a visit from Dr. Simon Hansom he was supposed to remove my sutures, but forgot after he left my new card if anything should happen that I would show this card to anyone at a doctor or ER that they need to talk to my EP before doing anything.
Eventually a new doctor just happened to be passing by and was asked to remove my sutures...imagine my joy! Let me add rubbing alchol on sutured wounds in the groin area...not so fun! So after carful removal of the sutures I had fresh dressings applied and I was ready to have some breakfast!

Scrambled Egg patty

Mmm..Bran Flakes

Healthy choices

Surprisingly breakfast was good, but I guess post surgery you're only allowed to have a small amount of food so this was appropriate.
Last item before I was to be discharged was to have my ECG so before I was allowed to dress I had to wait for one final test to make sure my sinus rhythm was normal. The tech arrived and she was a joy as of course she was Asian and we joked around a lot as he applied more patches on me as she captured my ECG and from what I'm told it was normal. I joked that she should print out one and autograph it for me, but she wasn't buying it. Oh well.
So Diane came back and said you're clear to go and check out of Hotel Heart Institute.

Straight outta Ottawa

It was nice to leave and get caught up on social media throughout my stay. In fact, my post on FB certainly triggered a lot of awareness and it seemed like I had thought I had shared my journey, but I'm new to this so hopefully people will catch on as continue to write.
Thanks for tuning in; sending well wishes; thoughts and prayers and I'll keep posting on my recovery.