Worried after ablation

[Phylis2005]

New here

[CaroleF]

What is that you are particularly worried about Phylis2005 ? Lots of people here have had ablations and I'm sure they will be able to offer support. (I haven't had an ablation myself)

[Phylis2005 in reply to CaroleF]

I had the ablation a week and a half ago. I went back to work yesterday. I am 74 in an office of thirty year olds and I love my job but I keep getting a little short of breath and nauseous!

[CaroleF in reply to Phylis2005]

As I said, I've never had an ablation so can't offer anything from my own experience but it does seem to me that - going by what other people here who have had an ablation have said - returning to work after only 10 days is not giving yourself sufficient time to recover properly from the procedure particularly in view of the fact that you are 74 and the body doesn't 'bounce back' quite as quickly as it once did.

[Like me, I'm sure that in your head you're only 25 and working with 30-somethings no doubt helps you to stay young at heart]

[Phylis2005 in reply to CaroleF]

Thank you, CaroleF. I really appreciate knowing that someone out there has heard my concern!

[CaroleF in reply to Phylis2005]

With any luck someone who knows what they're talking about will reply before too long! It's late here in the UK (I'm a night owl) but I'm sure you'll get helpful replies in the morning. This is such a great community of supportive people who understand how scary and lonely things can be at times.

Have you thought of contacting the person who did your ablation to report what you are experiencing? They should be able to offer reassurance and advice too.

[Phylis2005 in reply to CaroleF]

Are you near London? I am hoping to come there in September....depending on my health! Yes, I did check with doctor but was hoping to hear from someone who has been through it! Thank you so much! Leave it to the Brits..lol!

[Skitts in reply to CaroleF]

It gets better or did for me I was anxious and head lots of activity in heart but it settled down. What meds are you on? That could also be issue.

[Phylis2005 in reply to Skitts]

Xarelto, 81mg aspirin, ramipril and cardizem

[Skitts in reply to Phylis2005]

Xarelto always made me feel horrible hated that drug. Aspririn can cause stomach upset. Not sure about other drugs, but somebody on here will know.

[Skitts in reply to Skitts]

Ramipril

[Phylis2005 in reply to Skitts]

Thanks so so much....I forget the side effects from the meds. I am having the best day today since the ablation on March 31. You really helped also.

[Skitts in reply to Phylis2005]

Hang in there it gets better I was worried after mine and doctor said be patient and he was right it all settled down. Good for you!

[Phylis2005 in reply to Skitts]

Thank you so much!

[Skitts in reply to Phylis2005]

More common:

Blurred vision

confusion

dizziness, faintness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position

sweating

unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common:

Arm, back, or jaw pain

chest pain or discomfort

chest tightness or heaviness

chills

cloudy urine

cold sweats

decrease in urine output or decrease in urine-concentrating ability

fainting

fast or irregular heartbeat

nausea

shortness of breath

[Skitts in reply to Phylis2005]

Cardizem include:

dizziness,

lightheadedness,

weakness,

tired feeling,

nausea,

upset stomach,

flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling),

sore throat,

cough,

stuffy nose, and

headache.

[Carolewick in reply to Phylis2005]

From my personal point of view after I had my ablations I needed quite a few weeks to allow recovery to start to work. It may be that you have returned to work too soon and your heart is telling you to give it a bit more time to recover. I am also 74 and having had 3 ablations in 2015 it knocked me for 6! Of course we are all different but don't be too hard on yourself.

Best wishes for your recovery

Carole

[Phylis2005 in reply to Carolewick]

Really appreciate that you reached out to me. I am hard of myself normally so I guess I have to calm down a bit!!

[Phylis2005 in reply to Carolewick]

Thank you so much...very helpful!!

[Jacqlihe in reply to Phylis2005]

Hi,

You will feel a bit funny after an ablation, I m self employed but allowed myself a full week after my second one!

do cut yourself a bit of slack, I did not after my first one and felt pretty grotty for weeks!!

[RobertELee]

Hi Phylis, it's now morning in Yorkshire and it's a glorious day - partly due to the weather but mainly because, like you, I'm AF free. I had my first and (so far!) only ablation almost two years ago. What you are feeling is perfectly normal in the weeks following the procedure but.... it will pass. Then, hopefully it's onwards and upwards, free forever of the horrible condition that gives this forum its name. Good luck.

[Phylis2005 in reply to RobertELee]

Very encouraging from across the pond...thank you so much!!

[pottypete1]

I have had 6 ablations (I am the exception not the rule) and understand that you will be very aware of your heart at this stage after your ablation.

It is very common to have lots of different feelings in the first few weeks after the procedure.

The nausea is most probably caused by ectopic beats (missed and/or extra heart beats).

Give it time, you should really be still taking it easy, it can take some time to settle.

Pete

[porridgequeen]

I am amazed that you are already back at work. Good for you.

I had my ablation at 67 and was fit for nothing in the first few weeks following. Even the smallest amount of activity left me so tired. Your heart will take months for the scarring to heal and thus prevent those nasty rogue impulses from doing their worst. You may have many peculiar sensations during this time which are all normal - thumps and bumps, indigestion and migraine to name but a few.

Take it easy now and your heart won't complain as much - remember it has taken a real bashing.

Best wishes and I hope all goes well, I am sure it will

Angela

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Phylis. I've had three ablations and agree with what others on this forum have said. I've felt differently after each of mine, the first two were under sedation only and the third a general anaesthetic and I recovered far better after that one. After my first I went back to work after 3 weeks (still didn't feel right) and with the second I felt ill for about two months. After my third, despite it taking around 5 hours, I felt fine almost immediately and had hardly any bruising in my groin.

How we feel afterwards probably depends on whether both sides of the heart were ablated and how much was needed, how easily the catheter was inserted, who did the procedure and how efficient our bodies are at healing afterwards. How you are feeling right now sounds quite normal, but you may have gone back to work a little too early. Could you perhaps take another week or two off?

If, as time passes, you feel that you are not getting any better I would contact your consultants secretary and ask her if she has the telephone number of an AF nurse you can talk to.

Hope you are soon feeling a lot better.

Jean

[Phylis2005 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you, Jean. I guess when they said you can resume your normal activities, I took that to mean I could go back to work! Your input is very helpful!!

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Phylis2005]

Before I had my first ablation I read up online how other people were back cycling and climbing mountains within a few days of their ablation. These were things that I loved to do, so it came as a shock to me to experience the reality of weeks of feeling so drained! Since joining this forum a few years ago I've come to realise that feeling full of life and energy afterwards is for the lucky few and not for most people.

Hope you soon feel better.

Jean

[CDreamer]

Hi Phyllis I have had 2 ablations and both left me with symptoms the worst of which gradually disappeared after 3-4 weeks. Breathless is normal, as is some irregular heart beats for the 12 week 'blanking' period whilst scar tissue forms.

I would suggest that the nausea is from the TOE which left me with a sore throat and a dry cough for weeks, but I was told I did have a problem with oesophagus spasms.

I went back to work after 10 days, but only part-time and as I was self employed I could work from home and choose my timing. If I had to work in an office I wouldn't have attempted to return for at least 2-3 weeks.

It is a brilliant procedure but doctors don't tell you the after effects and tend to minimize how fatigued you will feel for quite some time. It was about 6-8 months before I could truly say I was symptom free.

[meliboo in reply to CDreamer]

Did you had any conplications during the ep study and ablation? Is it considered a routine procedure? Inam going to have too so I a little bit worried about the risk factors.

[Phylis2005 in reply to meliboo]

No complications but I am a little impatient since I thought I would bounce right back.

[CDreamer in reply to meliboo]

Hi Meliboo - it is considered a fairly routine procedure these days but recent advice says do your research and go to a Centre of Excellence where they will have up to date and very well trained EPs who will have done thousands of ablations rather than a cardiologist who may do half a dozen a year and for whom it may not be quite so routine.

The technology has moved so quickly that you really want someone who trained and qualified fairly recently rather than an 'old' hand - in my opinion. Look to major regional centers rather than local hospitals.

Search the AFA website for information and advice. Serious commplications are rare - I had a few fairly minor ones which were easily and quickly resolved - after all you couldn't be in a better place than a Cath lab if anything goes wrong with your heart!

It really is quite amazing what can be done - mine were both under local anaesthsia and sedation so no GA to recover from, which for older people can take a while and impede recovery.

I experienced very little pain, took about 4 parade in total the day after and as Bob often says easier than having a tooth extraction.

Best wishes CD

[meliboo in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you CDreamer for your reply. I guess you are right. I am just worried about ending up with more problems that I actually have because I will do the EP study they said to find if there are any issues and do an ablation if necessary.

[Phylis2005 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much for your response. It helps to know that I am not alone in this!

[BobD Volunteer]

Just because you do not have a giant zip up your front does not mean that your heart and body hasn't had a serious, beating. Many might say you are quite mad to go back to work so soon. I was told do nothing for the first week and not a lot more for the second and then ease back into life slowly.

Seriously it takes at least three if not six months for the heart to heal, the scar tissue to form and the AF to be fully stopped and there will be some blips along the way. Please take it easy and slow down and listen to your body. It knows best.

Doctors seldom tell you how to recover and never tell you what to expect.

Bob

[Phylis2005 in reply to BobD]

Thank you so much....very comforting!! You are right...they did not tell me what to expect!!

[IanB48]

Hi Phylis,

Very boring but I can only repeat the excellent advice already given. I had an ablation a year last November. The procedure went fine but I felt generally knocked about for several weeks and had to take things very easily. I was told I could come off heart rate control tablets the following March and followed this advice but irregular heart rhythms reappeared almost immediately. My doctor advised me to go back on Sotalol while further tests were conducted. These suggested everything was ok so in May 2016 I again came off Sotalol and since then have been symptom free. Please take things at a slower pace, be patient and I'm sure things will improve. I wish you every success.

[Phylis2005 in reply to IanB48]

Thank you so much!!