3 months post ablation fatigue and depression

[tinhouse]

I am three months post ablation and still feel not much energy. No heart blips or anything, just not the same vigor and robustness I had before. I have a lot of anxiety and depression. Anyone else feel like this? Does an ablation take a lot out of your body. I am 64 years old and relatively new on this site.

[BobD Volunteer]

Still very early days. It take three to six months for full recovery and sometimes even longer. I was still improving at nine months!

[Hidden]

Try not to worry Tinhouse, from the many posts we get, your issues are not uncommon. Sometimes it's easy for people to forget the difficult journey from diagnosis and assume that an ablation will be a bit like flicking a switch. Many are fortunate and they begin to reap the benefits quite quickly whereas for others, it can be a bit of a struggle before things settle. If you had a general anaesthetic this can also have an impact on recovery time. Your heart has taken a bit of a pounding, but it's good that you have been "blip free" so far. Make sure you do all the good lifestyle things with diet, little or no alcohol and gentle exercise to keep the weight down and hopefully you will soon feel stronger. Are you due to have a review soon with your EP, normally 3 or 6 months after the procedure, if so, raise your concerns then, but as confidence grows, it will improve.....all the best

[tinhouse in reply to Hidden]

I have my 3mon. in three days. I am wondering if the metoprolol is making me weird. Thanks for your replies. I love this site. I just feel so out of it mentally and so fatigued.

[Hidden]

Like Bob says, it's still early days. I had my ablation last April at the age of 49. I was fairly active but not fit. It took me at least 6 months to start getting back to pre ablation levels of fitness and energy levels. An ablation sure takes a lot out of you, and I think i expected it to be a quick fix. However, 9 months on I am more active and feel better than I have done in many years.

You don't say what medication you are on. Beta blockers can wipe out your energy. I was on 12.5mg of bisoprolol when I started my AF journey, I could barely function on that dose. I'm now on 1.25 mg a day and feel better on that, I would like to get to a point where I can stop the BB altogether. Many other meds can also cause anxiety , tiredness etc etc

[tinhouse]

I am on metoprolol and a blood thinner yet. I got off the flec. I think ablations are easier for guys than women.

[dmac4646]

Pretty good no heart blips - hopefully strength will build up if you take it slowly.