Hi Amber,
yes, it's all too easy to forget what happens during consultations. (I take my husband in with me - he's got a brain the size of a planet, me, I'm just tired). I haven't had any bad side effects from the ablations in terms of my heart, they just didn't cure everything. Some of the recent postings on here have described problems arising though. The actual incision for the catheter is very small, I suppose less than half an inch, I don't know how that would affect the chances of infection?! I've never had any. I have just had incisions in the groin, the doctor couldn't get into the vein by my collar bone. I have had some pretty spectacular bruising in the leg and the wound bled once but that was easily stopped. I think how you feel after the procedure depends a lot on what drugs you have. Most people seem to have sedation and don't find it traumatic. I'm a massive control freak and have had nothing except some painkillers once. That's my problem though!
The Holter monitor sounds like a good idea, hope it helps.
Take care, Juliette.