Recovery from ablation

[Ben166]

I am coming round to having an ablation largely because I feel less and less tolerant of flecainide. How long does it normally take to recover from the procedure? How much time do people normally take off work?

[BobD Volunteer]

Realistically two weeks would be my advice and take it easy for a bit ,longer. A good guide is when the bruising in your groin has gone then your heart has started to heal. Do remember that it does take at least three and sometimes up to six months for the heart to settle down so you may well still have some events in that period. The longer you can take the better even though some may tell you they went back to work a couple of days afterwards. It does depend of course on how physical your work is and whether you have GA or sedation, the latter usually giving a faster recovery at some cost. I prefer not to be there when people are poking and digging around inside me. lol

Bob

[jennydog]

Bob's advice is excellent. I had a GA. I was able to drive again in 4 days. I would have needed 2 weeks off work primarily because the GA leaves you feeling very tired. I was told that it takes the best part of 6 months for your system to be clear of it.

You do need to remember that the laser scars in your heart take up to 3 months to heal completely so it is wise to take it easy during that time.

Although my ablation was not a complete success I have no regrets - my life had become an AF dominated nightmare. Now mild AF is controlled by Flecainide pip. I feel liberated!

[Hidden]

I have PAF and have been taking Flecainide 200mgs/day for 15 months with only one episode due to ignoring a known trigger. The thing is I didn't feel particularly well until 4 months in after a Naturopath started me on Nutri Ultra Muscleze (a Mg supplement plus lots of other relevant stuff), then CoQ10.

My belief has always been the EP can have a go at me but only after I have tried everything else, which includes supplements and a lot of lifestyle changes.

Of course individual circumstances dictate and Flec is not good for everybody, my point is really don't think ablation is the magic bullet to save all the messing around with other stuff - in my case the EP said 70% chance of success and talked about a second one straightaway.

[Rellim296]

It's my view that the less flecainide you take, the better. It can work wonders but I regret taking it for so long and I wish I hadn't been taking 150mgs of it twice a day latterly. I regret letting things slide and wish my ablation last year had been sooner. I am now so much better off than I was in the Dark Ages of two years ago and all but flecainide free. I've needed 50mg four times in the last 12 months.

I bounced back without difficulty from ablation both times, but they were not long procedures (about an hour and a half) and I didn't have a GA. Why decide now how much time you'll need? Opt for the maximum and see how you feel. Some of us are fine and others need a bit more R&R.

[Ben166]

Thanks, much as I dislike the idea of an ablation I don't think the option of taking flecainide for the rest of my life is really an option, I am taking 200 mg and have some runs of AF most days I can still function fine in AF but its such an unsettling sensation . My GP suggested rate control with Betablockers but he agreed this was not much of .an option when my resting heart beat is at about 45.

Hence the idea of ablation. I do have the flexibility to take some time off work but it does not sound like a pleasant procedure.

[Rellim296 in reply to Ben166]

Oh, I wouldn't say it's unpleasant. In my experience, the staff have been very efficient indeed and one is well cared for. You get hungry and very dry beforehand if you have to wait and afterwards you have to lie flat for a while. I didn't find it painful and time flew by. It was all over without me noticing. I felt fine after, as I said. I think the worst bit is signing the consent form as what (very rarely) goes wrong is somewhat unpalatable. But for me ablation has given me my life and wellbeing back and AF isn't in charge any more and I don't take flecainide on a daily basis.

[teach2learn]

The procedure, under general anesthesia, is a walk in the park; and successful return to NSR after persistent AF, so worth it! It's the recovery that's less than totally comfortable, but so minor compared with AF and the side effects of pills. It seems each has a different experience, but for me it was well worth it. Going on 11 months NSR, no meds (except blood pressure), and loving it! Best luck with your decision, either way.

[Runcrans]

Hi Ben , I had my ablation last Monday I had general anesthetic and was down for six hrs , had to stay flat a further four hrs ,the worst bit was my back aching me like mad so didn't sleep all night , got up with a sore throat which got better quite quick , tight chest which has eased somewhat over the week , and felt tired a lot of the time , so I've got two weeks off work with a possible third if I need it , I've never had time off from work in 30 yrs so thinking it might end up at three weeks lol ( unpaid but that's another story ) my advice follow the path you want to take ,cheers Paul

[Jason1971]

Hi Ben, I guess how long is down to how you are feeling and also what you do for a living. I had a week off work, but in hindsight a few days would have probably been enough HOWEVER, I sit behind a desk all day. My chest discomfort went in two days and I was fortunate in that my wounds didn't cause me an issue.

I took the advice of the forum regarding exercise and took it steady for a few weeks and built things up slowly. I did have a bit of a rude awakening after 6 weeks as I thought I was fixed! Threw caution to the wind and forgot I'd had somebody poking my heart only a month or so previous. Things settled down once I started to take things steady again.

Good luck with what ever decision you make.

[Hidden]

Most people do very well post-ablation, so don't want to be negative. I had no problem with the actual ablation, but experienced two significant vascular injuries at catheter insertion sites. I also am unable to eat or take meds normally after esophageal irritation. I am retired, so have the luxury of time to try to cope with these unexpected and discouraging "minor" complications. Did not have to rush back to work. The decision to ablate seemed like a crap shoot, stay on nasty meds which eventually cease working or go for the ablation early enough that it will be effective.