Exhausted after ablation

[Margeecoo]

Got home today.... Ablation last evening at 8pm. I can barely walk from one end of the house to the other. Is it normal to feel this way?

[BobD Volunteer]

Look , just because you do not have a giant zip up your front does not mean that you haven't had a serious procedure. Of course you will feel worn out and tired. Did you expect to be dancing in the street? I know I did but that was years ago before there was so much information out there .

You MUST rest completely for at least a week and be gentle with yourself for a week or two after that. As I am sure you will have been told, it takes at least three months for the heart to heal and the impulse blocking scar tissue to form so be a patient patient and take time to recover properly or you could undo all the skilled work and put yourself back a way.

Relax and enjoy Christmas.

Bob

[amberwave in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob you answer helped me I am three weeks post open but feel some flutters, my sister remembers the Dr saying that could be normal up to three months I'm just worried the afib is, back And my Dr said it was successful surgery

[BobD Volunteer in reply to amberwave]

This is quite normal so don't worry or get obsessed with what your heart is doing. Three months at least and in some cases up to six so very early days yet. I think that we all tend to not hear what we are told because we expect to be "cured" as soon as we wake up

[amberwave]

Yes it takes time I felt like crap for 10 days after. Deff rest, and follow any directions Dr gave you for after surgery. Hang In there your on the road to recovery, I am three weeks post ablation, and feeling better every day. Good luck to you

[Buffafly]

I was sent home with the Arrhythmia Alliance's leaflet which says 'most people feel well enough to carry on with normal activities the next day' - what, as in sleeping and eating? (And not too much of the latter, my digestive system is struggling) My EP told me to 'take it easy for a few days' as if to say I might otherwise go home to prepare a full Middleton style Christmas!

I am planning to tell the hospital as nicely as possible what I think about the leaflet, which after all contradicts the EPs advice!

Today is my 8th day post ablation and I am feeling much better but I am still not planning to rush about. When my children were at Infant School (about 40 years ago!) the head teacher used to say that if they were recovering from an illness parents should keep them home 'for an extra day' and I still think that is good advice.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[jeanjeannie50]

I thought that once I had my first ablation I would be able to resume all my activities immediately. I'm a keen long distance walker and cyclist. I searched on the internet for information and from that I was lead to believe that that was the case. Well, let me tell you it's not true! It takes weeks ,if not months to get over it completely and during that time you will have good and bad days. Just don't push yourself and allow your heart to heal.

Wishing you well again soon.

Jean

[Margeecoo]

Good morning everyone: Thanks to all of you who replied. I "think" I was not given thorough discharge information. I was admitted to the hospital this past Friday with HR over 190. Cardiologist and Specialist recommended ablation because I have not tolerated the cardiac meds at all. Short history: I am a 64 year old Registered Nurse, was working full time, very active until 10/28/15 when I drove myself to the ER and had a thoracic aneurysm repair that night. Since I have been hospitalized 5 times with various complications, one being A- FIB. I am so tired and de-conditioned. Also dealing with severe lower back problems, requiring epidural steroid injections after lying flat for over 12 hours after first surgery. My back to work date has changed 4 times. I really thought this ablation was going to be the "magic" I was looking for. So did my husband. Obviously, I am going to need more time to get my strength back. To complicate things further, the dizziness caused by the A-FIB has caused severe nausea so I have also had a 40 pound weight loss; I was thin to begin with and now I seriously look as if I have spent the past 3 months in a prison camp. Taking a simple shower wipes me out completely and requires that I rest immediately out of the shower before getting dressed. I am so depressed and cry at the drop of a hat.....again this is driving my husband nuts. No Christmas for us this year. I need some help and support. When will I begin to get me back, or will I ever?

Thanks for listening, and hello from TEXAS!

[Buffafly in reply to Margeecoo]

Hi, I really feel for you, we all feel sorry for ourselves at times but your story puts things into perspective. It is sad that your husband is not more supportive but I have to say and don't mean it in a sexist way that men generally find this sort of situation difficult because they don't have the practice, I swear mine thinks of me as a kind of white van - you send it to the garage/doctor and expect it to come back fixed! It must be terribly hard for both of you to cope with such a big change in your capabilities in so short a time.

I had my ablation about ten days ago and now I am beginning to feel more 'normal' although I still have bad moments. Perhaps now you know that feeling better requires a little more patience and understanding you will feel more relaxed.

I wish you a Happy Christmas in spite of it all, one full of hope, joy and peace and never mind the traditional trimmings 🎄

[Margeecoo in reply to Buffafly]

I think I left the wrong impression about my husband.... He is incredibly supportive and loving.... Just less patience about the numerous setbacks/ complications/ multiple times in the hospital , etc. Like most men, he wants to "fix" everything and we both have been unable to stop this nightmare. I am determined to watch my emotions closer and if I can stop this incessant crying, it will help him a lot. We decided last night that we are going to postpone our celebration with my son, daughter in law and two grandchildren until Monday. I think I was stressing about the very thought of getting up at the crack of dawn Christmas morning to go to their house for Santa, though I have done that the past 8 years. Surely by Monday, I will feel some better.

I think patients ( at least me) need to really understand the possibility that after ablation with GA, there is a fair chance that you will feel like you have been hit by a Mac truck afterwards. I was not informed of this possibility, and even though I am an RN, I did not research the procedure and recovery as I should have. I wish you a blessed Christmas.

[Gracey23 in reply to Margeecoo]

I'm so sorry that you are struggling. I had an ablation for flutter a few years and was up and around in a day or so. The flutter was cured but I'm still suffering with A Fib. I take 300 mgs of Flecanaide daily and want to get off the medication because side effects are horrible. I am seriously considering an AFib ablation but after reading your story it certainly isn't a walk in the park. I do hope you start to feel better soon. Keep us posted and I hope you get to enjoy a nice Christmas dinner! Hello from Massachusetts!

[weezergeezer]

Put your feet up and rest...its not an instant quick fix, having an ablation is a serious business just stop a think what they actually done !

hopefully you'll start to feel better in a while.....all the best

[Mike11]

This why I wish they'd call an ablation an operation, rather than a procedure which sounds like something minor. They are inside your heart zapping bits of it which is second only to operating on the brain. Just take as much rest as you need and don't worry - you've made the right decision having the ablation and your life will be forever better because of it !

[Buffafly in reply to Mike11]

Not to mention that if you have a GA and morphine you come out with a body full of poison which has to work its way out!

[PeterWh in reply to Mike11]

Also I think people only think / focus that about the external wound which is of course two small holes so they think it is very minor despite the length of time we are on the table!!!!,

[Margeecoo]

Hello all, and MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone. I am "slowly" feeling some better. Still weak, and certainly not ready to run any races, but each day is better. We are going to a restaurant for Christmas dinner.....first time in at least 44 years that I haven't cooked and celebrated with the entire family, I was able to 'FaceTime' with the grandchildren early this morning and they are all coming here on Monday for gifts and to give GRAND-MA-ma lots of hugs. I will make it through this....but being in icu 6 times, general anesthesia 3 times, and the completely deconditioned really has taken it's toll. All since 10/28/15.....ugh.

Catch all of you later.......margeecoo!