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Tiredness after ablation

Mairlynn profile image
21 Replies

Tiredness after ablation. Had the ablation done on Thursday in the USA. Back to hot and humid island home on Saturday, Sunday busy day and Monday had to walk in heat and wiped me out. Tuesday rested a lot, today still tired.

They said at the hospital I could resume normal activities but I feel tired. Is this normal. I am 73 year old female?

I am lying down with AC on hoping to get rejuvenated!

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Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn
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21 Replies
meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

The heat alone is enough to tire you out let alone after an ablation. Please rest, rest and rest some more that way you can get the best outcome. Over doing things will delay your recovery.

It takes a long time to recover well no rush take it easy. All the best for a arrhythmia free life. Please be patient with yourself.

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn in reply tomeadfoot

Thanks Meadfoot. I replied to the others with a longer reply. I appreciate you taking time to comment.

I am mad at myself for overdoing it. I should have thought more even though the hospital said go back to normal activities.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Hi Mairlynn - It will take time to get over your ablation (I've had three), so I can't imagine why you think you are going to be better immediately!

Give yourself at least one week of rest doing nothing much and then very little the second week. After that gradually build up a little each day and just go with how your body is feeling and if you feel tired rest. Be aware that the healing process could, and probably will, take months. Your heart has had quite a shock with the ablation and now the scarring needs to form, so don't push yourself or you may undo all the good work carried out by your EP. I'm sure the heat isn't helping your situation either, lets face it, it drains us all at times.

So to sum up, the way you are feeling now is totally normal and please rest when your body tells you to.

Big healing hug.

Jean

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thank you Jean. I think the hospital telling me go back to normal activity straight away was not quite accurate for me. I did but now I seem to have some uncomfortableness slight pain in my left chest too as well as the tiredness.

I wish I had known to rest, I was foolish. I just hope I haven't damaged anything. I have emailed the cardiologist here hopefully he will reply.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Oh how we all get tricked into thinking we will be dancing the night away the day after our ablation. I was the same after my first! What they seldom tell you is that it takes three to six months for the heart to fully recover as most of us found out the hard way. Add in the effects of the GA or sedation and there is no way normal activities are even likely. You must rest as Jean comments.. Here in UK we say first week TV remote only. Second week you can make the tea.

I am quite sure that the people who tell you these things have never had a PVI ablation so take it from those who have.

Bob

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn in reply toBobD

Thanks, I feel foolish for not thinking that hey you are 73 you have just had something done to your heart you need to take it easy. I was feeling fine but the walk in the heat and humidity seemed to exhaust me with consequences. Yesterday some uncomfortableness in my left chest came, 2 days after the longish walk so I have emailed my local cardiologist .i am worried I might have done some damage now.

I just wish they had not told me just go back to normal activities and used my own logic!

Thanks for the input. Appreciate your time.

resmqme1065 profile image
resmqme1065

I did not feel bad at all following ablation. I couldn't even feel the afib which I did prior to. An EP told me they have found after ablation that those who were aware of afib, often became asymptomatic.

I started feeling poorly several weeks after especially after amiodarone was added into the mix.

Feel better soon!

Judy

Alfieros profile image
Alfieros in reply toresmqme1065

Hi July. So what did you think about the amiodarone? Are you still on it? I read so many terrible side effects about this drug but I am also on it now but for only a week. They are planning to keep me on it for two months at a lower dose of 200 mg per day. Just interested in your take on it.

Amcech profile image
Amcech

I've had 3 ablations. The third one was done 5 weeks ago. It took me about one week to feel better, quite wiped out the first 1-5 days. I'm feeling pretty good now, still have an abnormal rhythm (at discharge I was in normal sinus rhythm) but my EP isn't concerned at this time. I see him at 2 months post so we'll see if they are ectopics that I feel or Afib. Hopefully since I feel better every day it's really just part of the healing process. My first 2 ablations I had normal rhythm after, but didn't last.

Clareowenpearcy profile image
Clareowenpearcy in reply toAmcech

I'm 5 weeks behind you! Had my 3rd ablation yesterday. A little concerned my surgeon told me my heart is not as healthy as it used to be! There is some permanent damage, this is the first time he has mentioned this.I was 57years old with my first 2 ablations I'm 64years old now.

Clareowenpearcy profile image
Clareowenpearcy

I just got home from my 3 ablation which I had yesterday. I found out from the pre surgery ECG I also have a flutter now. Surgery went well, however the ECG 2 hours later showed I was still having Afib & flutter. Finally a 3rd ECG showed I had gone back to sinus rythum I'm feeling the odd Afib still and really hoping this will settle down soon. I had a GA so still feel a little woozy too.

JaneN40 profile image
JaneN40

Hi, I was very fatigued with chest discomfort for the first 5 days after ablation. I then picked up and by the second week I was doing light housework, cooking and driving again. 3rd week I'm back to work but just for mornings. Am going back full time next week so it just takes time. Hope you feel better soon x

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn in reply toJaneN40

Thanks I think I just went to quickly into back to normal life.

Clareowenpearcy profile image
Clareowenpearcy

Lots of rest for at least a week! Then listen to your body. Everyone is different and we all react differently to this procedure, but the common denominators are rest and time. Don't rush recovery. All the best to you.

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn in reply toClareowenpearcy

I am learning that!

Mairlynn profile image
Mairlynn

Spent he day in the Emergency as it was the only way to see the cardiologist. He was so busy. I had been having the tiredness but yesterday lots of uncomfortableness over my heart. Had bloods, ultra sound and CT scan if my lungs and heart in case of clots. Nothing thank goodness showed up.

Also have had indigestion, which I never get, burping here and there. So he thinks it could be GERD or inflammation. But I can't take anti infammatories for another reason, so now have to try omaprazol and see if that takes away the uncomfortableness.

I think I read somewhere the ablation can affect the gut.

Anyone also experience this?

Still very tired. The US way is to get back to normal asp. The UK to rest from what I gave gathered online. Think the getting back to normal asp was not good for me.

Clareowenpearcy profile image
Clareowenpearcy in reply toMairlynn

Hi Marilyn

I'm 4 days post surgery with my 3rd ablation. Definitely more chest pain and indigestion this time around. I was put on liquid sulcrate suspension plus and omeprazol 40mg for a month to protect the stomache. Because of the tube down your throat with a GA it can cause the symptoms you described. Hope you feel better soon. Take care

Mike-tyson profile image
Mike-tyson in reply toClareowenpearcy

Suprised you had a GA as the practice in the U.K. is local anaesthetic in the groin area of entry and mild sedation through injection during the procedure. I was on the Ablation table in University Hospital of North Midlands in Stoke on Trent U.K. at 9am and my son collected me to drive me home at 3pm the same day. So very pleased to be in my own bed the night after Ablation. I just had

Minor discomfort during the procedure. But as said before it a couple of months before I felt normal again and not tired. It’s a big shock to the heart so takes quite a time to recover for me. But does not effect everyone this was as everyone reacts diffenernu my consultant told me. Take care. Mike

Bucerias profile image
Bucerias in reply toMike-tyson

I’m in Canada Mike! 6 hour procedure for my first ablation then 5 hours each for my last two. I wouldn’t have wanted to be sedated for that length of time.

Mike-tyson profile image
Mike-tyson in reply toMairlynn

Suprised you had a GA as the practice in the U.K. is local anaesthetic in the groin area of entry and mild sedation through injection during the procedure. I was on the Ablation table in University Hospital of North Midlands in Stoke on Trent U.K. at 9am and my son collected me to drive me home at 3pm the same day. So very pleased to be in my own bed the night after Ablation. I just had

Minor discomfort during the procedure. But as said before it a couple of months before I felt normal again and not tired. It’s a big shock to the heart so takes quite a time to recover for me. But does not effect everyone this was as everyone reacts diffenernu my consultant told me. Take care. Mike

Mike-tyson profile image
Mike-tyson

I had Ablation in U.K. almost two years ago. It has worked but I felt tired a lot of the time for two months after my Ablation I was 75 when I had it done. I was advised by my Arrhythmia Nurse to listen to my body. If I felt very tired to go to bed for a couple of hours and have a sleep. It worked as I am retired and my time is my own. I feel fine now. Hope you feel better soon. Mike.

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