Recovery from ablation, expectations

[UKAF]

Hello,

(30yom, aside from my cardiac history, otherwise fit and well)

Apologies if this has been covered before I am new here and seeking some advice.

I had a three-year history of irregular palpitations. The first episode came on at rest and then subsequent ones were triggered by ice cold drinks or an adrenaline surge from a 'fight or flight' response. Once I knew the triggers, I stayed away from them and didn't really worry about it, as the episodes self-terminated after a few minutes or a couple of hours.

My cardiologist eventually convinced me to do an electrophysiology study, which showed AF. He advised an ablation which I had the procedure about 5 weeks ago. Since then I have been in AF, have random runs of irregular, fast palpitations and I am rarely in sinus rhythm. I also suffer bouts of light headedness, most usually when the irregular rhythm goes back to being regular - There is a pause and then a sudden rush of blood to the head.

I would say that in the previous 3 years I could count on one hand how many irregular episodes I had had. I was a very fit endurance athlete and now I do not have any exercise tolerance.

I appreciate I am in the early days of recovery but I would be keen to hear from people who may have had a similar experience. I am really disappointed in how the recovery is going. The ablation has caused more problems than it solved (I am not discouraging this procedure as the stats don't lie on its success rate)

If anyone can provide some insight into my questions, that would be great:

1) Has anyone had very infrequent paroxysmal AF had a cyroablation?

2) were you in permanent AF after the procedure/during the recovery?

3) What was your recovery like/length?

4) were you able to exercise to the same level/intensity prior to the ablation?

Many thanks for your advice and support

[BobD Volunteer]

All I can tell you is that it takes three to six months for the scar tissue which blocks the rogue impulses to form so you are still very early in your recovery. Th heart has had a real kicking so need time to settle down.

The other point is that Cryo ablation can only deal with the four pulmonary veins so it may be that you have other areas firing off which would need attention from RF at a later date once fully recovered from this attempt.

[jeanjeannie50]

When I went into atrial flutter a few weeks after my third ablation, my EP gave me a cardioversion I'm surprised that yours hasn't suggested that too. To be honest my heart problems became worse after my first and second ablations, but a little better after the third last year.

I hope you soon get back to your normal fitness.

Jean

[perkman]

I Had mine done 5 weeks ago as well only RF ablation. All was good for 1st week then had 3 AFIB episodes in 3 days. Never experienced that before.

EP put me on 150mg of flecainide twice daily. My last episode was over 2 weeks ago and lasted 2 hours and I was going in and out of AFIB every few minutes for those 2 hours.

His analysis was inflammation from the ablation and the antiarrhytmic drug would aide in staying in NSR until I get further along in the blanking period which seems to have happened.

Maybe antiarrhytmic drugs would help in your case as well.

Best of luck!

[UKAF in reply to perkman]

Thanks, tried flecainide and kept passing out and had light headed spells with it. Your recovery sounds like it is going well

[Paper65]

I am 5 weeks post ablation, I had RF. I have had a massive increase in ectopics since and quite a few small episodes of irregular HB and 2 longer episodes one of 5 hours. I was told to expect it due the procedure and to allow the heart to heal and settle down. As I expected it I have not been overly worried about them. I haven't had anything for nearly 2 weeks now so hoping that that I might not have others. Stay positive, I do hope it's just part of your recovery and it will settle... I think when we worry it definitely makes it worse.