Got my ablation date

[gingerfurball]

Hi all just thought I'd update you, after listening to all your advise after my mum scared me about having the ablation and I decided to go ahead I have got my op date, going in on the 13th sept im still a little b scared if I'm honest but I know it's the right thing, so big thankyou and I shall let you know how I get on

[jennydog]

Stay calm, just go with the flow and remember that Bob said " root canal treatment at the dentist is worse." I promise you that he is right.

Take a sports bottle with water in it and lip salve for use during the 4 hr lie-in. Book, phone, cereal bar etc etc to help ease the boredom.. Preparation is key. You MUST be prepared to rest in order to facilitate healing post-ablation.

You'll be fine!!!!'

[gingerfurball in reply to jennydog]

Thankyou so much for the info, I hadn't even thought about taking things with me but I will now lol,

[PeterWh]

Great.

Don't forget your phone charger and make sure your charging lead is a long one!!!!

Week 1 after you come out is tv remote, phone and tablet (if you have one).

Week 2 is not much more but start doing a few things gently.

[gingerfurball in reply to PeterWh]

Thankyou peterwh, I've been worrying about recovery time because I had to go see occupational health last week because I'd had time off work ( only 2 weeks), and they've sent a letter to my employer saying I'll b back to work after a few day of having the ablation lol, had my pre op this morning and they've said 1 week

[BobD Volunteer in reply to gingerfurball]

The people who say that have never had ablation. Trust me Two weeks absolute minimum. Just because you don't have a huge zip up your front does not mean that your heart hasn't been severely traumatised. It will take you at least three months to recover fully anyway so start gently and you will benefit.

[gingerfurball in reply to BobD]

Hi BobD im glad you've said 2 weeks minimum cos I was worrying about it, I work in a school kitchen and it can b really hard and stressful work somedays, I was so worried that if I went back too early I would undo all that had been done

[PeterWh in reply to gingerfurball]

Glad BobD chipped in with his zip!!!

What planet are they on???!!!!

Would they expect that someone who had had a heart attack or replacement knee operation to be back in a week - NO!!!!!

[gingerfurball in reply to PeterWh]

The occupatonal health lady said she used to be a nurse and had dealt with ablation patients lol

[BobD Volunteer in reply to gingerfurball]

OK I do know of people who are young(er) and very fit who went back to work a few days after ablation. My first when I was 61 and fit (ish) . I know I overdid things like I always did. Balls out or nothing Bob was me. I was lying under a car checking it over for a purchaser after a week but boy did I pay for it. Whether or not I caused its failure I will never know but once bitten twice shy as they say. My arrhythmia nurse , once I had one two years later, told me do nothing for the first week and not a not more for the second and then ease in gently.

[gingerfurball in reply to BobD]

Thankyou when I go back to work I'm going to say I shall be off for a minimum of 2 weeks, I want this to work so I'm going to do all I can to help it work

many thanks for your replies

[PeterWh in reply to gingerfurball]

Personally I would say off for a minimum of two to four weeks. That way it widens their expectations and allows for eventualities and manages expectations!!! That way if you go back after three weeks most people will look at as being early and if it is four on time. If you say two and then it's three the perception is 50% over and if four then double!!!

[checkmypulse]

II don't think a kitchen environment after 2 weeks is a good idea. Hot, steamy and stressful? Not the best recipe (ha). Even though I like to think I'm reasonably fit I only started walking round the block after 10 days post procedure, 15mins, and felt shattered. Took about a month before an improvement came. You need to take care of your heart. Rest up.

[PeterWh in reply to checkmypulse]

checkmypulse has made some very good points. Also standing for so long is definitely not a good idea at all. I was told 6 to 8 weeks off work although in my case that was irrelevant because I had been made redundant some months earlier.

[pottypete1]

Immediately after you are returned to the ward they make you lay still for at least a couple of hours.

On one occasion for me when I stayed in hospital for the next night I turned onto my side to try to get to sleep. This was not a good idea and I found it painful so I recommend laying on your back to sleep for at least a day or two.

I hope it goes well for you.

Pete

[cbsrbpm]

That's good, take your time to recover, only you know how you feel. There is always outside pressure making you do things you are not ready for so take it really easy for at least two weeks. I had my 2nd four weeks ago all went fine. Expect lots of funny heart activity, it takes 3 months to settle. Best wishes and let us know how it goes.

Brenda🐝

[millie-becca-187]

I am also waiting an ablation I also was told by the EP I would need only take a week off post ablation. I'm 48 and a primary teacher. I'm also a little worried that this recovery time is not enough after reading your comments. I wonder why recovery advice is given at such a short period of tim.

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

Possibly often they don't get the feedback from patients!!!! They are thinking more from the recover of the groin insertion and old DVLA 7 days no driving!!! Although its now no driving of 48 hours that ASSUMES that you are 100% fit to do a full blown emergency stop (and many aren't).

[millie-becca-187 in reply to PeterWh]

Thanks Peter,

being able to do an emergency stop is a lot different to doing a full days work though, don't you think?

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

I didn't repeat what I has said or what others had said earlier on in the string or replies. No way is a week or even two weeks enough in my view and does not align with my experience nor what I was told!!!

No in my case there were added complications in that I flipped back into persistent AF just under 72 hours after my ablation however although just from the groin aspect (and I didn't have any particular problems or infection) I would not have been able to stand up for a large part of the day only a week later.

[millie-becca-187 in reply to PeterWh]

I just feel like a bit of a moaning Minnie because constantly saying you don't feel well, when you actually feel shocking people just don't understand and when you look 'ok' it's difficult not to sound like your making it up. I'm just going to take things as they come post ablation and not pressure myself into any time limit other than let work know I'll be off 2+ weeks minimum.

Thanks for the advice Peter

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

Suggest that you use the wording I gave above for the reasons sated!!!

[gingerfurball in reply to millie-becca-187]

Hi millie im 47 and like you im not going to pressure myself into going back but it is very hard when you get monitored for the time you have off, I don't know about your school but mine are very strict on you having time off and I've already been told I shall receive a warning if I have any more

[millie-becca-187 in reply to gingerfurball]

Time off is monitored and regular meetings are required but so far they are being very understanding

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

Gingerfurball and Millie.

If you want to put a bit of wind in their sails you can say to them that AF is covered by the Disability and Discrimination Acts and subsequent acts. This has been covered in past posts (and in replies in other posts).

[millie-becca-187 in reply to PeterWh]

Thanks that one. Is being kept up my sleeve for now until needed

[PeterWh in reply to millie-becca-187]

Might be better to do that sooner rather than later because if that stops them or slows them down from starting formal processes that is much more to your advantage. Unfortunately I know with public bodies once started it is difficult to stop because they want to avoid accusations of favouritism or creating precedences. Fortunately I have never worked in the public sector from that point of view (it's better in other respects).

Also I know that some employers have separate categories and additional "allowances" for those classified under disabilities.

[gingerfurball in reply to PeterWh]

Peterwh that is really good to know thankyou

[checkmypulse in reply to millie-becca-187]

How right you are. A run of days when you are in nsr and feeling good, even hoping beyond hope that 'it's gone for good' (knowing that it's not), doing normal things, with me up ladders, drill in hand, then, when IT hits, feeling tired, dispirited, despondent, despairing, wiped out, trying to explain to others and getting 'you were alright yesterday' responses drives me mad! Then when nsr 'kicks back in' it has been suggested that I imagine it, wish it on or even use it as an excuse! Urgh!

[checkmypulse in reply to checkmypulse]

Sorry that above post in response to mille-becca-187

[PeterWh in reply to checkmypulse]

It was!!!

[Mrip]

Hi had my ablation 2 days ago here in Victoria , Australia. my EP gave me a certificate for 6 days off work. not much, I'm a psych nurse and active on the job. Thanks to reading about rest on this site have organized to have nearly 3 weeks off. Will get another certificate from my GP and I'm a shift worker so could fiddle with my rostering a bit. Resting and watching excellent Danish drama with my husband to look after me. Feeling ok. No pain just tired from GA. all the best

[Cclegg]

Hi I am18 days,post ablation! Have been back at work for nearly a week but half days only!! I have my own business so no one to answer to but when I'm not working I'm not earning!! I am wiped out by about 2pm and still have some chest pain which BobD explained was probably oesophogial heat transfer!!(my GP agrees). I would definitely recommend 3 weeks min rest if you can possibly arrange it! Wishing you well and fingers crossed for a good result

Chris