Flashing peripheral vision after ablation

[Kiwi2]

Has anyone had this? I had it for about 10 minutes on the right side, 3 days after and again today on the left side, a week afterwards for about 10 minutes again. A little scary as not sure what it is.

Thanks. Bella

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Bella - I think what you are experiencing is quite common after an ablation as I've seen it discussed on this forum before. I'm sure someone who has had this will answer your message soon.

[Kiwi2 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks jeanjeannie50, I am sure I have read about it somewhere too.

[feejbee]

Hi Bella

Yes I had it for a month or two after the ablation.Its called a silent migraine with aura because you don't get a headache. It can make you feel quite sick and giddy and lasted with me for approx 30 mins at a time. The flashing lights are like shards of crystal glass raining down or like a prism.I believe it's quite rare but since I had it I've heard of others having had it. I rang the hospital to ask what it was and they didn't seem to know of it my GP did though and she didn't seem to thing it was a problem. It should disappear in due course, not pleasant while it lasts though.

I've heard of 2 different reasons for it 1) was the drugs given during the ablation 2) was a septal puncture -if I have understood correctly that's when they've gone through from one side of the heart to the other.I expect someone will explain it better than me.

Hope this info is of use.

Fi

[Kiwi2 in reply to feejbee]

Thanks Fi for putting my mind at rest. It is a shame the hospital doesn't warn you of this as it is quite disconcerting. Bella

[Lyndy1971 in reply to feejbee]

So glad that I read this.. After having my Ablation on Monday Iv been having these visual disturbances and was convinced I had a clot or something!!

Thankyou

[Kiwi2 in reply to Lyndy1971]

It's scary when you don't know what it is. Mine went on for a couple of weeks after the ablation. Make sure you rest. All the best

[Ablated in reply to feejbee]

Thank you for sharing. I had my Ablation surgery 1 week ago, went into Afib 5 times this year and had heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy last year. I was terribly sick after surgery, constant coughing, chest infection, asthma, wheezing, headaches, body aches. Continued for a good 5 days but slowly getting better and the last few days I’ve been getting flashing vision laregly in my left eye which is would describe as an explosion of electricity that continues for a period of time and comes and goes. All of this has been most bizarre. My cardiologist just said to me, rest up for two weeks, no sex, no drinking, no exercise. At one point they thought I had Cardiac Tamponade which was later ruled out. No information is ever shared on what to expect after the procedure along with recovery. Is not good, thank goodness for these forums as like others it freaked me out! Stay strong peeps

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Bella this is quite normal. It is caused, although I don't know why , by the transeptal puncture when they go from right to left atria. I really don't know why this is but nothing to do with drugs. It doesn't affect everybody and usually goes in a month or two.

[Kiwi2 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob, you certainly are a mind of information and such a support on this forum. I don't know how I would have coped if I hadn't stumbled across it. Thinking I may volunteer to run a support group in Reading. I will speak to my GP to see if they would support me. Bella

[feejbee in reply to Kiwi2]

Hi Bella

I would be interested in that .I live in Bracknell.

Fi

[Lyndy1971 in reply to BobD]

So glad Iv read this!!

[BobD Volunteer]

That is fantastic Bella. Good luck.

[bigE]

This is a fantastic forum for just this kind of thing! I had my 2nd ablation last week and got the"floating Prisim" the other day & had a thought it could be a "clot"! Silly I know but were not machines.I'm glad it came up here told the wife about it the other day, and we have both just said hey thats exactly what i had.

Thanks for the input!!!

[jedimasterlincoln]

septal puncture was something i had after my 2nd but not my first. splitting headache visual distortions and sickness..... it was bad on week one but not there at all by week 3

[MarkS]

I had the aura after my ablation. I think it could be the sedation. My aura were like electric zig zaggy shapes that floated across my vision. Once you know what they are and that they're quite normal and not dangerous, you can quite enjoy the psychedlic sensation!

Mark

[Edward89 in reply to MarkS]

Mark how long did it take for your visual problems to go away? I had an ablation Tuesday and freaked out Tuesday evening when I saw flashing halos. I went to ER and they had no idea and referred me to an Opthalmologist. I thought I was done then it happened again today for less than 5 minutes.

[Kiwi2 in reply to Edward89]

Hi Edward, I probably had it on and off for about 5 days. I had it again after my second ablation 5 years ago. I think it is caused by the piercing of the Septum. Hope that helps

[MarkS in reply to Edward89]

Hi Edward, for about 1-2 weeks afterwards. It's so annoying that this is not a recognised side-effect of ablations. They believe it now comes from piercing the heart wall between the 2 chambers, which is standard practice in an ablation. So nothing to worry about!

[Edward89 in reply to MarkS]

Thanks Mark!

[SuzieA]

I had exactly the same experience 3 days after my ablation. Went to my GP who sent me to a&he ad thought I was having a stroke. Had ct and MRI scans and all was fine. Medics decided it was an aura migraine but gave no explanation for it. ( I'd never had a migraine before). Thank goodness for this forum as this is where I found out what it was. More info should be given to patients prior to ablation and medics definitely need more training!I spent 2 days as an in-patient unnecessarily. ( rant over) hope you feel fine now.

[Kiwi2 in reply to SuzieA]

Ditto, I completely agree. I think we need to be given a list of symptoms we can expect after the procedure.

Thank you all for replying

[Earledavis]

I had the flashing lights whilst I was still in hospital following my second ablation in May of last year. The EP said it was when the procedure goes from left to right atria. I had it for a couple of weeks after the ablation, each episode was followed by a splitting headache which lasted three or four hours. I have had the problem twice since. On both occasions it has happened when the sun has been very bright and low down in the sky. My doctor has given me migraine tablets to take immediately I have the first sign of blurred vision and they helped.

[Independ]

Yes I have only mine was like a star effect lasting about the same time, apparently this is migrane without the headache. I very rarely suffer headaches, after two of my ablations I had this happen. The first time was worse than the second. I haven't had it since.

[Kennyb1968]

It's an aural migraine - I used to get them maybe 2 or 3 times a year. They stopped when I was diagnosed with AFib and I think that was because I stopped drinking. Nothing to worry about - completely benign