The following ablation story comes from Ilona. At the time of this writing she is a 45-year-old woman from New York City. She was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 2015. Her father also has afib. I only point that out because I hear from so many people who have a mother or father who also have afib. Consequently, my father also had afib. There is clearly a genetic connection with afib!
When she first contacted me in March 2017 she was having an episode every month despite taking medications to manage her afib. After struggling with the physical and mental challenges of afib throughout 2017 she finally had enough. She decided to schedule an ablation with an elite-level EP (actually a team of elite-level EPs as you’ll learn in her story). Her ablation was in March 2018. This was written by Ilona just a fews days after her ablation.
10/28/19 EDITOR’S UPDATE: I followed up with Ilona to see how she’s been doing since she had her ablation and wrote this blog post. Here is a direct quote from her email to me: “With overwhelming fear of jinxing it, I am happy to report that I live a completely “normal” afib-free life (a life that I used to live prior to my afib diagnosis). I have traveled to seven countries since my ablation. I do yoga every day and I chase after my kid. Life is so so so sweet. It’s even sweeter since I know how bad it was before. Dr.Natale and Dr.DiBiase basically fixed me. And if the the beast ever comes back (God forbid), I will not hesitate to go back to them in a hot New York minute. They are both amazing!”
Ilona writes…
I want to post this while everything is fresh on my mind. Before my ablation, I was obsessing over EXACTLY how things were going to go. I Googled every story I could find that described the process. Here is my ablation story, step-by-step. I hope it helps someone.
I arrived at the hospital at 11:00am in great spirits, nervous and hopeful. There was no looking back. I had a great team (Dr. Natale and Dr. Di Biase) and I knew I was in good hands. At about 11:15am I was checked into a small examination room. I changed into a gown with all my possessions placed in a big bag, a little vulnerable but all was good.
The first nurse took all the vitals and then asked tons of questions about my medical history. We cracked jokes to ease up the tension and one of the nurses kept singing next door. She had a beautiful voice and it was truly soothing although her colleagues said she does it all day long and it gets to be “a lot”…lol.
I was also there with two of my closest friends who kept coming in the room and giving me love. I am blessed. Shortly after I had to give urine to test for pregnancy and they also wanted to take my blood because I am anemic and the levels needed to be confirmed. To my surprise, Dr. Natale and Dr. Di Biase stopped by. They were sweet and caring. I cannot tell you how much seeing them helped me psychologically.
Overall, it was busy in my room for about an hour and then we waited, for a while (about 4.5 hours). From what I understood I was the second surgery and the first one was more complicated than anticipated plus they were still waiting on my blood results. I was thankful to wait. I was thankful that they were giving needed attention to someone else and I knew they would do the same for me.
Finally, around 5:00pm an anesthesiologist came. We discussed my history. He had a dry sense of humor and we immediately bonded over drug cocktail jokes. He was so reassuring. I asked him if he would be the closest standing to me and he said, “yes, I will be by your head the whole time.” You see, my daughter gave me a tiny soft mouse with a lucky penny inside to hold in my hand when I am nervous. I asked him if he will take care of it while I am being operated on. He said that it will be right next to me the whole time and we had one of those vulnerable human moments that is you know…beautiful.
Then, a different awesome nurse came and it was time to roll down “the hall.” I envisioned that moment so many times prior to the ablation and it was as emotional as I thought it would be. I kissed my husband. From what I heard from my friends, he broke down a little bit later. Sweet man. The nurse started rolling me down the hall. I had tears in my eyes and I kept saying a mantra that I had prepared in my mind. It was a mantra of thanks. Honestly, I was an emotional wreck.
In the hall about 15 feet from the operating door, Dr. Natale and Dr. Di Biase stood on each side of the wall greeting me. Dr. Natale brushed his hand on my head with reassurance. It was a gesture you would see done to a kid and it was super sweet. It calmed me. When we got to the door, the operating room wasn’t ready yet.
As if she was reading my mind, the nurse, in a calm, soothing voice, started telling me all the details of what was inside. I was quietly crying so she changed the topic to cats and we even managed to laugh once about cats being assholes before the doors open.
The room was not as big or scary as I anticipated. It had a lot of equipment but I was prepared to see that. Then I felt like I was a car at a NASCAR race. I was placed on the table and tons of caring hands started to work on prepping me for the surgery. That lasted maybe 5 minutes max. Everyone was so sweet to me and one of the nurses was Russian so she spoke to me in my native tongue which made me feel for a second that my parents were there too.
My daughter’s mouse went to Jeremy, the anesthesiologist. He carefully placed it next to me and said, “Your cocktail is being prepped.” An oxygen mask went over my face, I closed my eyes and five seconds later (it seemed like) I was woken up by a nurse. I was a little out of it. She said everything went great. I briefly saw smiling Dr. Natale’s face and was rolled out in a waiting room while they were prepping my room.
My husband and friends were instantly by my side. They were in good spirits and cracking jokes (they were at a bar close by for a while) but it was all kind of a blur to me. Four hours of my surgery went by in a flash. I also remember a nurse being impressed with my oxygen levels which made me feel good. And then…I felt my heart. It was metronome kind of feeling of super steady strong beat that us afibbers rarely feel. It was obviously “put in its place” and I remember listening to it in sheer amazement.
Me and my husband at the hospital post ablation while I was still on drugs:)
Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep at all. I was too excited that the procedure was over and a little discomfort in the chest didn’t let me get comfortable to fall asleep so I passed the time by watching TV and playing on my phone. All night I was taken care of by nurses that checked on me what seemed like hourly.
In the morning, Dr. Natale and Dr. Di Biase stopped by. They confirmed that the procedure went perfect and that the pain I felt was totally normal and would go away in 2-3 days. I hugged them both and couldn’t stop thanking them. I was told there would be a follow up at 1 and 3 months and that at 3 months they expect me to be off all medications. After they left, I got all the prescriptions explained to me and eventually after a little bit more wait…we were discharged.
Overall, the whole experience was much easier and pleasant than I anticipated. I was constantly surrounded by attention, care and love – either from my family and friends or the staff at the hospital. I am not going to lie, the date after the surgery was tough. I felt some pain every time I took a breath but I knew it was normal and I knew it would be over soon. And today, it’s 100% better! Also, you will not even be able to see my incision points unless I pointed them out to you. I think Dr. Natale just sprinkled some fairy dust there or something, you simply can’t see them!
Since my ablation I’ve had time to reflect and I’d like to share ten things that helped me in this process. I’m not trying to sound preachy, but these are just the things that helped me and maybe in return will help someone else.
1. Research and pick an EP that is the best. Travel if you have to. Do whatever you can to get the best. It’s your heart. You have one.
2. I panicked first before my ablation. Then, I had a moment of clarity that I did everything I could to make it a success and me worrying about it for months before will not make an outcome any different. After you do all the research and pick your EP, say a prayer and surrender.
3. Organize your house before you go to the hospital. You want to come back to a fresh clean start, not unwashed dishes and stacks of bills. Somehow, that helped, mentally and visually.
4. Treat the staff at the hospital, every single person that you come in contact with, with kindness. Thank them a lot. More than needed:) They deserve it. I also brought boxes of sweets with personalized thank you cards to my EPs, nurses and anesthesiologist. Watching Dr. Natale open his Italian cookies and giggling at the card calmed my nerves and I had a never-ending supply of gentle, loving nurses in my room after the cookies made it to their station. I was loved.
5. The most important note…THE ABLATION ITSELF IS EASY AND NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I’ve had more eventful teeth cleaning procedures. Really. And I am a nervous patient. It was a breeze. You sleep, you wake up…it’s over.
6. Be kind to yourself in recovery. Physically and mentally. Be grateful and warm in your mind and your body will follow. The day after the surgery was tough. I felt like a truck ran over me but I did everything to stay calm and light and warm. The next day I woke up with 50% less pain and I am thankful and happy. It’s a process and I can feel it.
7. This helped me a lot. I brought my own favorite Indian soft cotton blanket from home and jasmine spray that I use in the house. We were lucky enough to get a private room (thank you cookies) and me and my husband made it as “home” as a possible with that smell and blanket. Also, if you have big ear phones that can drown hospital noise…that helps too.
8. Ask questions, go over every detail of your procedure, request an ablation report…it’s your health. It’s important. The more you know, the more you can educate yourself and the more relaxed you will be in the recovery.
9. Don’t listen to your heart every second after. I know it’s silly, but I talked to my heart. I apologized for putting it through this torture and I asked him to heal well. And then, I am trying let go and not obsess about it. It’s hard but I am trying.
10. I surrendered to the thought that it might not work this first time. I did that before I even had an ablation. Of course I am hoping for the best but if it doesn’t work, it’s a journey. I will do my touch up ablation without hesitation, if needed. My eyes are on the big prize and I am thankful for every step that gets me there.
So that is my story and those are my tips. I hope this helps anyone reading this who’s considering having an ablation. I will answer any questions that you have. Feel free to ask your questions in the comments below.
I just found your post. I am glad you are doing well. Your story is great and made me fill better about going in for an ablation. I am so nervous. I have been battling premature heart for years and it turned into afib last year in 2019. I am scheduled to have the ablation in December with a local EP doctor who is very good. I am really worried about having to lay flat for 4 to 6 hour. Were you completely flat at first or were you elevated some?
What a fantastic read! So honest and heartfelt. Thank you so much for sharing. I am headed to Dr. Natale next week for my ablation on Thursday. Excited and scared but your words have inspired and comforted me. Thank you Ilona and thank you Travis for this wonderful resource!
Thank you Ilona for the story. I am three weeks out from my second ablation with Dr. Horton at Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute – same practice as Dr. Natale. I am so happy with the treatment that I received there. I was wondering if you had any arrhythmia events, post ablation? I am praying that my second ablation is the charm.
I did not (knocks on wood)
Ilona: Thank you for sharing your experience. My last three years have been similar to yours with respect to AFib. At first, the episodes were maybe 2-3 times per year, all self-converting within 24 hours. Then in 2017 the frequency and duration of the episodes began to increase.
After being officially diagnosed by my general practitioner, I had the full suite of tests conducted by a general cardiologist who confirmed that I have lone Afib and should contact an EP for an ablation. After meeting with a local EP with limited ablation experience, I was fortunate to find this website. I contacted Travis and he got me connected to Shannon Dickson, who then got me connected to Dr. Natale.
I have an ablation scheduled with Dr. Natale on July 11, 2018. Your description of the experience is reassuring, but I am still really nervous about the procedure. And I can totally relate to your description of going into a very “dark place” prior to your ablation. After I was diagnosed I became very depressed and had to go on a course anti-depressant medication to pull out of it.
I feel much better now and am trying to be positive about the ablation “cure,” but I am also a pragmatist (and scientist by training) and I know the probability distribution of long-term successful outcomes. I do believe that Afib ablation is much more of an art than a science at this point, and selecting an elite level EP does increase the odds of getting it right the first time, and at worst, the second time.
I hope you are a “one and done” patient and never have to deal with the beast again. One thing I have noticed about YouTube ablation testimonials is that there are a lot that are recorded a few days after the procedure, but very few recorded 3-5 years later to say how they are doing. I am hoping this is because most of them are cured and don’t want to think about Afib anymore. So please keep us informed on your recovery and Afib status. Thanks again.
Doug:
Sorry to hear about your mental struggles with afib. Glad to hear you pulled out of it and are doing better!
I know having an ablation is a scary thing but keep reminding yourself that you’re in the very best of hands. You not only will have a perfectly safe ablation but likely a very successful one too (i.e. 1 or 2 ablations only needed).
I am going 3+ years strong on my first Natale ablation so hopefully I can be of some inspiration for you!
Hang in there. In a couple of months all of this will be behind you.
Travis
Doug,
I am sorry…I think I missed your post. I didn’t mean to “ignore” you. I am sorry you had such a rough go with afib. It’s a very dark and silent disease and it is hard to stay positive through it all.
But you picked the best doctor out there and that is already a good 90% of your success.:) I am 10 weeks after ablation and I feel fantastic. I am realistic and know that it might not work completely first time but I also know that in Natale’s hands I am as close to success as I possibly can get. Good luck. Please keep us updated.
Ilona
Hi Ilona
I enjoyed your story very much.
It is good to remember what a life-changing event an ablation is. I had mine in 2003(South Africa) and although the EP said it was only 70% successful(I had 3 AFIB episodes after it, but probably due to my own fault) I am AFIB free for more than 4 years.
I am taking 2,5 bisoprolol( maybe more as a precaution)
Thank you for sharing your story and I really believe you are going to be 100%.
Janco Vorster
Thanks for sharing and in such detail. I’m glad everything went so well. Many continued blessings! I’m considering an ablation. My questions are: Did you try different meds prior to your decision to ablate? What was your CHADS2-VASc score (optional :-) ? How’s long were your episodes while on meds and what would make them stop? Although you are still on post-op meds how are you feeling energy-wise? Thank you so much!
Manny, thank you so much for all your questions. They are all so good. Here we go. My afib was diagnosed two years ago but it’s been going on for about a year prior. I was just trying to find an explanation to the beast in my chest and was running short. I wrote it off to stress of my job (I am a producer) while perfectly knowing your heart shouldn’t beat like that even under stress. My attacks, when diagnosed were almost every day. They were short and I self converted. After a particularly bad one, my Russian badass self finally gave in and went to ER and that is how I heard the word “a-fib” for the first time.
I was put on the cocktail of drugs (Flecanaide 100mg per day 1 tablet every 12 hours, Metropolol 25mg per day 1 tablet once daily) that changed my attacks to “1 a month” for the next 1.5 years. My monthly attacks lasted 3 hours and self converted. When I wasn’t in a full blown a-fib monthly, I lived in fear of one and filled with PACs and PVCs and being a complete prisoner to any trigger avoidance. 1.5 years later, the meds stopped working and afib spiraled into a nightmare. It went from weekly to “every other day” to finally “daily”, with days before ablation, 9-12 hour episode every day. I was losing my mind but I had to tough it out.
Ablation was scheduled 3 months in advance (perfect timing, right) and my doctor (Dr.Natale) didn’t want to change or increase my medication at that point. Between you and me, during that 3 months, I went into a very dark place and if I didn’t have a kid and hope of ablation…I am not sure how things would of turned out. You see, I am highly symptomatic, so during afib, I feel EVERYTHING. :( my CHADS2 score was 1 (for being a woman) and I only went on blood thinners a month before the surgery (protocol). I was pretty relieved to start taking it though because I was having so many attacks unprotected and the fear of stroke was lurking on my mind.
Now, I am three days post ablation. The first day was tough but is progressively getting better every day and on day 3, I am about 75% normal. I am still on the meds including a blood thinner but Dr. Natale said that at the 3 month check up he is hoping to take me off all meds. I hope that answered all your questions. Please let me know if I can answer more. I am here to help. :)
You’ve been so helpful Ilona. Thanks for taking the time to respond so completely. What a great feeling it must be to get a new lease on life after what you’ve been through. I congratulate you on your decisions for not only yourself but your family. I wish you a speedy recovery and much health in the future.
One last question. Do you know if the doctors used a cryoballoon, Radio Frequency or a combination of both?
Thanks
Of course. It was a standard PVI RF ablation.
Thanks for sharing your story Ilona. I see you mentioned you also had PVC’s. I was wondering (as I have frequent PVC’s along with occasional afib), did you have frequent PVC’s as well and were they ever addressed with ablation?
Beautifully written, it brought tears to my eyes. I’m glad you’re back home with your family & friends!
Thanks for sharing. I believe I’m headed down the same road soon. Only thing I’m having trouble with is figuring out if my E.P. is elite-level. (Dr. Dewayne Campbell)
I am not sure but I know Travis has a blog entry somewhere on what makes an elite EP. all I know is practice makes it perfect so the EP that has the most ablations under his belt is a good decision. I can vouch for my EPs. They were outstanding and defiantly qualify as EPs.
Thanks, for this article. I am a 65 yr old Canadian and I am in excellent physical condition from years of physical exercise. One glitch, Afib. I have had 6-7 Afib episodes in the last 1.5 years with 4 Cardioversions. Luckily I have a normal heart rate when in Afib.
None of the beta blockers or the pill-in-the-pocket have worked for me. I am scheduled for an ablation in 2 weeks at our famous Canadian Mazankowski Heart Institute. I felt all of your emotions regarding this surgery. I too have surrendered to the fact that I may face multiple procedures to get better. Thank you for giving me hope. May God Bless all of those that have to deal with this disease.
I am wishing you all the luck. You are on the road to beating this beast.
Thank you Travis! I am happy to answer anyone’s questions if you have any. :)
Thanks so much for sharing your story, Ilona! I’m sure there will be many afibbers that will find your experience inspiring. I wish you the best, and many years of NSR!
God Bless.
Travis
Thank you, Travis, for your great devotion to inform all of us who have experienced the “terrors” of A-fib. I started following your posts a couple of years ago and have learned so much. Please define “elite-level” EP. Is there a formal academic designation bestowed by the AMA or other cardiology training institutions? How can I determine if a doctor is “elite”. Thanks much.
Thank you so much Ilona for such a detailed journey.it gives so much piece of mind and hope.please keep us posted on your progress.Thank you Travis for having a blog and sharing your story so people can help other people get thru this uncertain heart condition . God Bless you both.
Thank you so much, Ilona, for generously sharing your experience. As a fellow A-Fibber who is contemplating an ablation, I found your story most interesting. It was moving and reassuring, and I felt like I was right there with you! Your experience reinforces the importance of picking the right doctors. It sounds like a really great hospital, too! I’d love to read occasional updates from you so we can follow your progress. Wishing you all the best and continuing good health!
Hi ilona, i’m happy you had such a great result. I’m researching ep’s now. Did it take you a long time to get an appointment with dr. Dibiasi? And does he usually work as a team with dr. Natale?
Hi, I am in New York. Dr. Natale is in Austin but sometimes he does ablations on the west coast and once in a while – in New York. dr, Di Biase is his protege. He worked along side of Dr.Natale for many years. From the day that I contacted Dr.Natale’s office to the ablation date, it was appx 4.5 months, but I think I was very lucky. Dr.Natale’s team in Austin is super awesome. All you have to do is call them and they will let you know regarding appointment times. Same goes for Dr. Di Biase.
Hi, I actually scheduled an appointment with Dr.Natale. His team in Texas told me that he was coming to New York and will be seeing patients for a couple of days at Montefiore hospital where his protege Dr. Di Biase works. That is how I got Dr. Di Biase as my local EP that will handle my day to day afib journey and Dr.Natale as the doctor that performed my ablation with Dr.Di Biase by his side. I saw Dr.Natale about 3 weeks after I called Austin office and my ablation was about 3.5 months later, but it was totally based by when he happened to be in NYC so I was very very lucky.
Thanks so much for this info, Ilona! I wish you all the best and hope that your recovery continues to go smoothly.
Warmly,
Susan
You are a beautiful miracle…
What an inspiring story. We are so happy for you Ilona. Thank you for sharing! I will bet you have helped many others tonight make the decision to go for an ablation.
Blessings to you Ilona, your Peaceful heart and Dr. Natale.
Bart and Kathy.
PS. Travis, you are the best. Shannon too. Two amazing Men with hearts of gold.
Kathy:
You’re too kind. Thank you:)
God Bless.
Travis
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