Work and ablation

What is the advised recuperation/ recovery time following ablation?

How long is it advisable to be off work?

[johncb]

I think that is an individual thing, I went straight back to work ( at a desk mainly) and was ok. Got a bit tired somedays for maybe a week, but other than that it was fine. At the end of the day your body will let you know if you are ready for work. Best to take whatever time you need.

[Japaholic]

I was told by my EP to have a 2 week recovery period before going back to work, luckily I have 5 weeks!

[Pommylump]

I went back to work 48hours after op, but I too mainly work at a desk, I have felt fine

[Jason1971]

As John states I think it is an individual thing. I work behind a desk and had a week off, but only really needed a couple of days if I'm honest. Being able to self cert for 5 days seemed like a good idea and I did nothing that week.

[GregNdonette]

I went back 4 or 5 days after. I have a desk job and also some physical work. Best leave the lifting etc to someone else.

[Hidden]

I was back at work in a few days just doing tractor work. No lifting for some time and very slow going up and down into tractor.

Koll

[BobD Volunteer]

As has been mentioned this is a very individual thing but nobody has mentioned method. If you have GA then you will need much longer to recover. You may not drive for at least 48 hours but preferably a week. Check this with doctors as things change at DVLA. It used to be 7 days but was shortened to 48 hours. No lifting either for as long as possible. If you only have sedation them you may feel like going back to work in a few days but I don't advise this. The longer the recovery the better from my experience. My arrhythmia nurse told me to do nothing for the first week and not a lot more in the second. Having failed to follow the advice after my first two I made sure I did after my (successful) third.

Bob

[jeanjeannie50]

I was off work for two weeks after my first ablation and really needed that as I felt drained of energy. Then went back to my mainly desk job. When I had my second ablation (took 6hrs) I had retired from work and remember my recuperation as taking a lot longer. I think it depends on how much work your EP does during the procedure and how many areas in the heart they had to ablate.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thankyou all for your responses - very helpful.

[Hidden]

Aww thank you Jo.

Very reassuring.

[weezergeezer]

The self employed go back 2 hours later,

The employed take much, much longer,

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to weezergeezer]

Have you had an ablation? I'm guessing you must have with your comment. You were very lucky, or perhaps you had a minimal amount of burning to your heart if you were back to work that quick.

[weezergeezer in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I've had an ablation in July 2013, being self employed my business had ground to a halt due to Af being so bad it became impossible to work, I lived on my savings, not benefit !

I didnt qualify for anything

once the Abalation was done I took a few months off to recover....I'm not superman, only human , 5 months on from the op and I was diagnosed with prostate cancer....got that fixed in May 2014, its been a difficult few years, I'd considered myself to be fit and healthy up to that point

( I was being flippent about my comment about the self empolyed going back at work )

[Hidden in reply to weezergeezer]

Believe me id rather be at work any day over this debilitating condition. I am very fortunate to work for an understanding and supportive organisation but also, having an impeccable sick record for 35 years does at least help in not making me feel guilty about being off.

[weezergeezer in reply to Hidden]

I agree Sir.... wish you well

[Hidden in reply to weezergeezer]

Sorry to hear weezergeezer of your health problems. I think sometimes we read things wrong in text and I understand how difficult your time off work must have been. The last thing you need at such a worrying time in your life is to have to worry about finances as its so important to have time off to recover. I do hope you are on the mend now and i wish you well too.

Bev

P.s I'm a mrs not a sir haha!

[weezergeezer in reply to Hidden]

Sorry Bev...I stand corrected, I'm fortunate my wife and grown up children have always been there for me....I want for nothing, I'm more than lucky....

[Hidden in reply to weezergeezer]

Its about best you can wish for - health and happiness xxx

[weezergeezer in reply to Hidden]

What I have you cant buy with hard cash....xx

[MickN]

My ablation was on the 17th February and I am still off work, never felt right yet to return, although my job is desk based i will be extremely busy as soon as I return which from past experience will only bring on stress which could easily trigger episodes of AF.

I will however look to return next Monday.

[Ang3lc4ts in reply to MickN]

Hi MickN, so glad all went well with your ablation. When you go back to work on Monday, try not to overdo it. As a lot of people say, do what your body says not what your mind tells you!

I am still waiting for AV node ablation! Can't have it yet as I am looking after my husband who is recovering from a knee operation!

Take great care and Angel blessings and healing.

Di

[tiredandconfused]

I think it is different for everyone and wether it is successful or not as well. I am on my 6th week off work after ablation end of January. I will be off a further week and I really hope to go back to work then. I havent felt well since the ablation, Im exhausted, breathless and feel sick a lot too. Im in and out of AF and when im not in AF im irregular. I think I have been unlucky. Having said that a lot of people I have spoken to have said they didnt start to feel well till after the three month mark. So I think its indiviudal to you, your fitness, other illnesses etc.

[Hidden in reply to tiredandconfused]

Thankyou all for your helpful responses - well those of you who arent self employed anyway!!

[Ang3lc4ts in reply to tiredandconfused]

You poor soul, it must be so debilitating for you and I do hope you start to see an improvement soon.

Take care and Angel blessings and healing are on their way to you.

Di

[Hidden in reply to Ang3lc4ts]

Thankyou di

[Misseyj55]

Its different for everyone, and it depends if you get any side affects from the ablation as well...I won't go into what happened to me but I am still at home 6 months post ablation so...my advice is be prepared to take time off work if you need to recuperate. ands most of all be gentle with yourself if you need to rest then rest...if you need to sleep then sleep..... and don't rush things.....Bob is wonderful for advice on here he is a wealth of help and knowledge....best wishes Jo