Catheter Ablation

[Skitts]

Had ablation three days ago and post op was awful. Got better as the day went on. Woke up next day and was at work within an hour of release. Felt poorly that night and next morning but by afternoon was back at work and haven't looked back. Feeling great.

[Azbycx]

No hanging around with you , well done and good luck.

[CDreamer]

Fantastic but do go give your heart time to heal and that means plenty of rest also.

My first ablation failed because I also felt fantastic and did too much, too soon. I ended up in acute cardiac care and needing a second ablation - which thankfully worked!

Best wishes CD

[Skitts in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I am not doing anything physical or exerting myself. Just walking and moving around. I am in great health other than afib and flutter. I think thàt is factor in recovery. But no wonder I ended up here, huh?

[Rellim296]

Good to hear this. I'm a week on and just beginning to feel I might attend to the odd little bit that requires attention in the house. I have done no more than potter all week but it is surprising when you are feeling fine how many steps you can do in an idle day.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

I'm really happy that you are feeling well, but please give your heart a chance to rest and heal. It takes 3-6 months for all the ablated areas to heal and sometimes it is hard to remember that. Ablation has the best chance of long term success when you have a heart healthy lifestyle. Please be gentle as you recover and be well! Give yourself a little down time.

[Skitts in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thanks for the reminder and wisdom. I understand there is a long way to go and don't mean to be disrespectful of those that have had more trouble. Doctors restrictions are no workouts or lifting anything over ten pounds. Allowed to walk and encouraged to move around to limit risk for clotting. By work, mine is walking around and moving a few light things occasionally, but mostly computer and phone oriented. Keep talking, I am listening to those that have experience!

[DavDug in reply to Skitts]

I'm similar to CDreamer. I did too much at first and ended up in E and A. Go easy, pace yourself and get well soon. Dave.

[Skitts in reply to DavDug]

I haven't done much of anything other than move around quite a bit at work and home and go for some one mile walks. Laid low yesterday at advice of all here. Worst I've felt since procedure.

[CDreamer in reply to Skitts]

Skitts it is a common error. Because we have felt so crap for so long we think we are back to normal but we aren't, we really do need time to heal.

It DOES really get better but your heart does need time to heal and it seems to be a common experience that your HR will be higher than normal whilst healing therefore you get tired more easily,

[Skitts in reply to CDreamer]

I am having more trouble with the Flecaniade and Xarelto than the surgery. Flecaniade is rough. Blurred vision (temporary), headache, nausea, stomach pain (mild). Was fine until 5 days in with it. Now feel terrible zombied out 24 hours a day. Its worse than afib could ever be. Doc wants me on it 30-90 days post surgery. will have to give at some point. Can't do this for 3 months. Misery index is 8-9/10.

[CDreamer in reply to Skitts]

That is too much, Flec can cause symptoms so perhaps go see your GP ASAP and see if you can swop to something else. I didn't experience any symptoms with Flec - it was the Dabigatron & Biso that gave me problems.

[Skitts in reply to CDreamer]

He approved me to get off of it, but I am going to reduce dosage to 50mg twice/day. Thanks!

[AlanAF]

Just had my first EP appointment this morning, and he thought I was an ideal candidate for an ablation, being relatively young (53), no other heart condition and otherwise reasonably healthy apart from controlled blood pressure. He was about my age and said it would be what he would do. So I am on the waiting list!!!

Great to hear that you are doing well, despite the first day. As you are finding, it is really useful to follow people's real life experiences on this forum, and there is tons of good advice.

I am a bit scared, but have had a couple of eye operations recently which give me a bit more confidence, even if I did have problems afterwards.

I hope that it gives you what I would want for myself, a good few years AF and drug free to get back to normal and enjoy life!

[Bob56 in reply to AlanAF]

Good for you. I was pretty scared too before my ablation, but now a few months on, and feeling a whole lot better, I feel very positive about the process. You may well have a few problems after the procedure, but generally speaking you do get through them quickly as the heart recovers. Like you say at 53 you are at the younger end of the age range for an ablation so the recovery period could well be short and sweet ( fingers crossed).

[Skitts]

So far, I feel different like something has changed. Good luck to you. Keep us posted! It really wasn't as big a deal as I imagined.

[SandShoveller]

Hi - realise this thread is 2 years old, but just had an ablation for flutter, and trying to find some "post-op" support. I was very fit and trained 4 times a week until 6 months ago when i had my first event . . . . . Long story short, had the ablation 1st May 2017 and now trying to get mental confidence back. Been told i can start exercising again, but to go slow . . . . . Still getting PVC's occassionally which throws my mental stability, but other than that no more events.

[Skitts]

Keep training. Stay calm and ignore the PVC's and SVT's. It freaked me out too. It will calm down. Get back to your normal life and ignore your previous condition. You are very likely healed. I had a recent sitaution where I was sure it had all come back, but it was stress.

[SandShoveller]

Skitts . . Thanks. Much appreciated. I find the mental side more an issue than the physical! Will keep at it . . . Life goes on as they say!