Post Ablation Recovery: I know we all... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Post Ablation Recovery

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image

I know we all have different experiences of AF; I have had persistant flutter then paroxysmal fibrillation for around 4 years. Having had the first Ablation for flutter, I reverted to paroxysmal fibrillation. During this time I found uphill climbs difficult or impossible even when I was in NSR. Though I could walk/cycle on the flat ok. Out of interest is this usual?

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Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire
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19 Replies
Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire

It was brought home to me that this was significant when I went on holiday to Morroco with my daughter. We were taken on a hike to some waterfalls, I simply couldn't do it, even though I was in normal sinus rhythm at the time,

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Still the same for me now and I haven't had AF for seven years.

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to BobD

Thanks Bob, I will treat recovery with caution.

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to Suzanne-Cheshire

Do you take any meds to ward off the return of AF, Bob? Just thinking ahead!

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

I still have difficulty with walking up hills but I'm never sure which disease I need to blame it on!

Bob56 profile image
Bob56

Since my ablation 3 months ago I have found that my gradual return to exercise has worked reasonably well with the exception of climbing stairs or tackling steep hills. Touch wood I haven't had a serious bout of AF since the ablation but stable as I am any sort of incline or a few flights of stairs gives me a problem. I am still assuming this might get better as time goes and the heart continues to adjust and recover.

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to Bob56

Fingers crossed that things improve, but even if they don't at least we have a new start. It's frustrating that when I see an incline I panic! But that's life!

Jay10 profile image
Jay10

I still have this problem even after 7 years since my cryoablation. I can walk for ages on the flat/slightly hilly walks. I find that up to 40 stairs are my limit before I need to take a breather. It's a small price to pay to be in NSR so I don't worry about it.

Jackie

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to Jay10

True, I am very grateful to the doctors and the NHS who have put me back in NSR. Maybe I will never be truely normal again but the results are a huge improvement.

I'm the same, I use a Nordic pole to help. I feel much better but nervous of pushing it like I used to do in case it sets it off.

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to

What's a Nordic Pole?

in reply to Suzanne-Cheshire

An aluminium very light weight walking stick. Often used in pairs, much better exercise for loosing weight etc than walking. Popular on the continent.

wendicarro profile image
wendicarro

Hi, Even after a pacemaker a few months ago, I walked around York last week, did numerous train rides and the walked from the train station home and was certainly worn out, aching at the top of my chest, but after a long rest afterwards felt better.

Good luck in your journey,

Wendi

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire in reply to wendicarro

Thanks Wendi, and good luck with your own recovery :)

dedeottie profile image
dedeottie

Yes me too. I am blaming it on flecanide at the moment. When I came off it to provoke an A.F. episode for the monitor, I felt great walking up hills even though I was still on bisoprolol. That lasted 4 days till the A.F. began, then the blame was fairly and squarely with that! X

proto profile image
proto in reply to dedeottie

i had alot of AF issues when i was on both flecanide and bisoprolol. Turns out if you take too much of both they can cause A.F symptoms and make you feel rubbish.

I have had my second ablation two weeks ago (my first lasted me 6 years) and i feel a lot of bruising still :(

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic

I have similar, blame it on the bisoprolol.

Suzanne-Cheshire profile image
Suzanne-Cheshire

I don't take Bisoprolol any more so can't blame that! But I never thought of blaming it on the flecainide, now there's a new avenue to explore!

Asdfvv profile image
Asdfvv

Flecenaide has made me weaker for sure. When I began taking it, it felt like it was taking forever to recover from my afib epsiode. Once I felt stable enough, I stopped taking it, and began to feel stronger again. Read the side effects. It causes weakness and may even cause anemia.

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