Ablation on Monday!

[Phaedra]

Hi Folks, I am new here, female, 61 and have had AF and flutter for approx 6 years. My main symptom this past year has been extreme tiredness/lethargy, tricky when you work 30 hours per week....what i'd like to know is, did your ablation give you back your energy? That's my main reason for having it done.

I cancelled the first one as i was too scared. The hospital cancelled the next two (INR too low) then it was "no beds". It seems to have been dragging on for ever...

Of course i am v.v. nervous!

Any comments would be most welcome

Thank you

[BobD Volunteer]

Don't be nervous. I would rather have an ablation than go to the dentist. Had three in all and been fine these last seven years. If it is successful why would you not get your energy back? A lot of the problem is often the drugs we are given so get off them and you will feel much better. (Apart from warfarin of course --that should be for life.)

Bob

[Rellim296]

I think our nerves improve when we get into the hospital environment. The staff are used to terrified patients and very supportive. The technology of the cath lab is impressive and the skill and expertise of the team should help to make you more at ease.

[Phaedra in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you BobD and Rellim for your responses...I don't like the dentist either!

It's the thought of feeling helpless i suppose...And how long will i need off work? I've told them 2 weeks but get the impression they don't think i really need the second week....even though my job involves driving/lifting, kneeling etc (community nursing) thank you both very much, i feel somewhat reassured

[Rellim296 in reply to Phaedra]

You should watch lifting. After my ablation, they wanted the bed at 8 am the following day and I was turfed out. Carried my case to reception where they handed me a sheet of instructions which said, among other things that I forget, Do Not Lift Heavy Weights....

I'd ask for guidance when you are hospital about returning to work. I had to hold back from doing too much. Felt fine the next day but took it easy for a week or so. Ask too about when you are fit to drive. I think opinion differs.

And get driven home by car,

[StuartCJones in reply to Phaedra]

I had my ablation done a week and a half ago. I have a sedate job, but I wouldn't have been confident to go back after 1 week. Take two weeks, but more importantly base it on how you feel.

[dedeottie]

I felt totally wiped out for 2 days. For the next 10 days I would not have been up to my previous job of reception class teacher but thankfully I am retired. After that I felt good. I would expect to take 2 weeks off . In my experience it is better to take a realistic view than go back too soon and have to take more time off. I should add that I didn't feel poorly just physically and mentally exhausted. If you go back to work you are usually expected to be better and perform as usual. X

[bridget54]

Hi Phaedra. I had my ablation under sedation 3 weeks ago and like you I was terrified. I think it was the thought of the risks involved. Nothing went wrong!!! Not even a bruise in my groin. Im not gonna lie I felt some discomfort whilst it was being done. It took 3 hours but I has SVT to cope with aswell as AF.

I also had a bit of chest pain for 2 days after which was sorted with regular paracetamol and I was told it was normal to experience it.

I took it easy for 2 weeks and I think this would be wise Im feeling ok now. I too am a nurse although work only a few hours a week now.

Have it and look forward to the fortnights rest. All the best

[pennytupence]

Hi,I was very nervous too,but like Bob I'd rather have an ablation than go to the dentist and I'd have another without a second thought☺

[PeterWh]

My thoughts are that two weeks is an absolute minimum. Realistically longer from my experience. Other's posts on here indicate much longer. When I went for the pre-procedure assessment and guidance I was told by the cardiac nurse for the first two days after leaving hospital nothing other than operating the remote control and mobile. Then for the next seven days the buttons and start gentle exercising and other gentle things but still taking it easy then the next seven days doing a few more things but not lifting.

Re driving the DVLA's absolute minimum is 48 hours after the end of the procedure. That is mainly because of the sedation, anaesthetic. However my EP consultant said (without me asking) no driving for 7 days after. I think that this may also be due to the effects on the heart and the "wound" area where the catheter was inserted. Could you do an emergency stop for instance?

I was in persistent AF before I had my ablation and was definitely suffering from fatigue, some breathlessness, etc. After the ablation I felt so much better (but resisted the temptation to do too much) but unfortunately went back into persistent AF less than 72 hours later. I had expected that the fatigue would fully return but much to my surprise it didn't do so to the same extent. Also my SpO2 levels are consistently much higher every day now (always greater than or equal to 95%) than before the ablation. Mind you if I had bought my Oximeter sooner than some aspects could have been dealt with earlier.