post ablation

HI- I am new to the forum and would like some input post ablation. I am almost 2 months out and still have some discomfort between my shoulder blades and am still coughing pretty regularily. The cough is brought on because I feel like I have something caught in my throat. My rhythm has been normal, no a fib, but still on a higher dose of a beta blocker than I was pre-ablation. Any exertion is still uncomfortable in that my rate goes up pretty quickly and I feel very short of breath. It has been hard for me to get a straight answer from the nurse if this is all still part of the healing process. I just scheduled an appointment to recheck with Dr. Natale mid December. Thanks for any input!

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the forum. All sounds fairly normal although the irritation in the throat should be easing by now. Read the AF Association factsheet and all will be made clear. Generally, lansoprazole is prescribed for a month or two to help quell any soreness caused by the TOE, a camera passed down your throat. Hopefully, your Doctor will reduce or even stop the betablockers which should be done gradually over a long period of time, then you will begin to reap the benefits of having the ablation.

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[CDreamer]

The irritating cough lasted for 3-4 months with me but the TOE got stuck evidently gave the team a bit of a fright so I reckon that did a certain amount of damage - but it does eventually ease and go. The pain between the shoulder blades could be muscular but maybe something to mention at your 12 week follow-up appointment if it hasn’t disappeared by then. I had discomfort, coudn’t call it pain, for a few days only.

We are all different and heal differently but the higher HR is certainly usual, again mine took a very long time to come down to pre-ablation levels - about 9 months.

It is quite disconcerting because no one every prepares you for these after affects - which is why the Recovering from Ablation information sheet was produced - written by patients who had undergone the procedure!

[Ppiman]

Your experience sounds like mine. The “cough” and throat irritation lasted a good while with me. It wasn’t until I came of beta blockers that I began to feel well again. I did stop them to soon and precipitated a bad bout of afib, so don’t be in a rush and be prepared to start them again if the same happens to you.

You’ll be well soon, I’m sure.,

Steve

[Shcldavies]

Hello Steve, are you still continuing to recover without too many hiccups.