5 weeks after ablation still having gastric problems

[Lynnsj63]

I am off to an earlier follow up appointment, what shall I ask. Feel like no one believes me, my gp said no it won't be because of ablation and I don't know what it is. No help. End up feeling a fraud, I have never had problems like this before. Thanks for any advice.

[PeterWh]

Just persevere. All sorts of things can be linked that don't appear to especially things linked to the autonomous nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system.

Many GPs and some cardiologists don't know about or haven't heard about things like vagally induced AF but there is growing knowledge and opinion that it exists!!

You dint actually say what the problems are.

[Lynnsj63 in reply to PeterWh]

Hi Peter and Bob, Thank you for your replies. I have been having terrible ibs symptoms since the op and reflux, up every other night with it, very nauseous and exhausted.

I have diagnosis and answers at last, very relieved. Vagus nerve injury due to the ablation and toe procedure. Stopping flecanide tonight and the. Wait five days till I start new med, domperidone. Repeat Exp in two weeks.

It can take 6 months to a year to heal. Ever so grateful for a reason for this to be happening, especially as my g p just laughed at me. Thank you both.

[RichMert in reply to Lynnsj63]

Snap, had same problem. They suggested IBS, I get it now and then but not as bad as the first few episodes following second ablation. Fybogel was the answer for me. The symptoms also seem to go hand in hand when my heart is having some episodes of tachycardia bursts or ectopic runs.

[traveler65 in reply to PeterWh]

PeterWh I have some vagal

issues so I know it definately exists. One of the things that can irritate the vagas nerve is a small hiatal hernia. A sonogram will show if it is there. Mine is hereditary. It does not bother me., as long as I eat smaller meals (4 smaller rather than 3 larger etc.) and do not eat for 3 hours before going to sleep. Also, even under the best of circumstances the vagus nerve behaves differently when you are asleep. It might help to have the larger meal for breakfast and the smaller meal for dinner. Ocassionally, the vagas nerve is irritated while I am asleep, causing the heart to pound, and possibly an abnormal heart rhythm, though not always. which wakes me up. After relaxing for awhile in a sitting position it stops and sleep can resume, but if you consider that this nerve goes directly to the hypothalamus of the brain, where the control of involuntary functions (heart rate etc.) occurs, how can the doctor not be aware of this.?.

[BobD Volunteer]

GPs really do not always understand. They are odd job men no specialists. Ablation can transfer heat to the oesophagus which is one way that you could be affected. Your EP should understand.

[RichMert in reply to BobD]

That would explain the intense burning gas feeling I felt in my throat when I came round during my first ablation under L.A.

[BobD Volunteer]

Good call. Never take no for an answer especially with GPs. If I see mine for anything heart related she asks me what I want to do. lol They do a fantastic job but they can't know everything. Knowing that they don't makes them better people but not everybody is big enough to admit it.

[PeterWh in reply to BobD]

Mine automatically asks on any area what I want and she makes suggestion(s) for discussion. Happened only last Monday re my eye problems.

[Mazza23]

My EP told me I could have some gastric discomfort after ablation and he put all his patients on protapanzole for a month after pleased to say no gastric probs so far

[Mazza23]

That should be pantoprazole sorry

[RichMert]

I would just add that GP's do not seem to know what other symptoms go with AF. They look at you as if you are stupid and pull out the old easy answer.....anxiety. One thing I love about this group is that I now know, it is not just me.

[traveler65]

Lynnsj63 If during the ablation you had a tube down your esophagus (measures temperature because the radio frequency of the ablation catheters very hot and the esophagus is adjacent to the left atrium where the pulmonary vein isolation ablation is taking plavr. If the esophagus interior gets too hot a fistula (tunnel) can form between the left atrium and the esophagus. This is usually fatal, although massive intense open heart surgery could save you. the purpose of the thermometer is that if the temp gets too hot the electro physiologist will stop the ablation heat for a few minutes until the temperature cools down enough. The purpose of this is to keep you alive. When the tube is iinserted during the procedure you should have been on prescription strength prilosec for a week and are to continue for another 5 weeks. Prilosec interferes with protein digestion. The manufacturer says you should not take it for more than 2 weeks at a time and should not have more than 42 pills per year. Here you are taking 42 pills for a 6 week period with no interruption and you are not using over the counter strength , but a higher dose prescription strength. All of the rx.'s used during the surgery interfere with various digestive functions. So right after the ablation your digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates is not optimal, hence gastric issues. You might try some probiotics.

[Lynnsj63]

Thank you everyone for all your replies and advice. Yes, it does make sense. Thank you very much. Love this site, it is so encouraging and helpful. I do believe my g p should have treated me better. Not just laugh. Good luck everyone xx

[PeterWh in reply to Lynnsj63]

GPs are what it says on the box - a general practitioner. They do not and can not be expected to know everything about every medical condition or every symptom or every side effect. After all just in cardiology you have general cardiologists, EPs, valve specialists, heart transplant specialists, etc, etc.

[Lynnsj63]

I just expected to be treated with a bit more dignity and to be believed. And to be pointed in the right direction of someone that would know and that could help. I am glad that I took the matter in my own hands.

[PeterWh in reply to Lynnsj63]

I agree.