I was diagnosed with AFib and AFlutter a couple months ago. I am so exhausted most of the time, after the ablation will this go away?

[Patticake63]

I feel tired and exhausted most of the time and at times I can hardly keep my eyes open. I am on antidepressants and a pill to keep my heart rate down but the exhaustion continues. Then I read on here that people have exhaustion after the ablation surgery which scares me. I just want to have my energy back.

[Hidden]

I hope it gets better for you. I had a pacemaker put in 5 years ago and some days I am exhausted after afib. It feels like you have a run a marathon.

[Buffafly in reply to Hidden]

In effect, you have! If your heart is speeding along much faster than you are used to, and not beating effectively either, you will feel the same as if you had done a lot of unaccustomed exercise. Getting fitter would help but hard to do if you have AF!

[Storyjo1 in reply to Buffafly]

So true. I try to increase my activity, but I just don’t have stamina. I also have severe lumbar and cervical spine issues that need surgical intervention, so that limits me also. Sorry for whining!

[Buffafly in reply to Storyjo1]

May I join you? 'A whine a day (to a sympathetic friend) keeps depression away' 😀

[Finvola]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Heart arrhythmias make me breathless and very tired but I notice you are taking what may be a beta blocker such as Bisoprolol. If so, this has the ability to make us very tired and the higher the dose, for some people, the worse it gets.

I haven’t had an ablation, relying on drugs to suppress the AF and my fitness level is lower than it was before I started on Bisoprolol and Flecainide but I have got used to it somewhat.

Our many successful ablatees will be able to advise further.

[pottypete1]

You should feel better but don’t expect a quick fix.

After the ablation take lots of rest and you should gradually regain your stamina.

The beta blockers do have an effect there is no doubt but hopefully you can also either reduce or come off them after you have the ablation.

Pete

[Patticake63 in reply to pottypete1]

I hope it is the meds. I’m only 55.

[CDreamer]

It is very individual and you won’t know until it’s done. Don’t expect too much, too soon. Plenty of rest for first couple of weeks and then graduate your activity.

After my first ablation I awoke feeling immediately great - so great I went and overdid things - spring cleaned the house on day 3 (?!), I felt so energetic I I couldn’t sit still - so week 3 I was in hospital in Acute Cardiac Care.

Second ablation saw off the AF but energy didn’t return - it turned out I had an underlying, undiagnosed condition.

None of us know will happen, but you got to give it a go. And people who have had successful procedures and now get on with their lives tend not to stick around this forum, although some are kind enough to post the occasional update.

I certainly felt much better after I stopped Bisoprolol! As far a I am concerned it was the drug from hell regarding side effects.

Good luck and hope it helps you.

[Patticake63 in reply to CDreamer]

I hope I feel that good afterward!! I’ll try to take it easy for awhile though. Thanks!

[Petrified in reply to CDreamer]

I do think what you say is true!! People who have had successful outcomes do not tend to continue on forum groups. I'm a newbie to the group & am finding it very informative. You do tend to feel you're the only person on the AF highway & it's reassuring to know there are others out there. I've had 2 hospital admissions this week in AF & now decided ablation might be the way forward. Quite frankly terrified at the prospect, especially on reading posts from 2nd & 3rd timers

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Patti and welcome to the forum.

I used to feel very tired like you and doing anything just wore me out! I blamed everything on my heart and AF, but it was in fact caused by my thyroid and easily cured by a tablet. I would urge you to get yours checked before you consider an ablation. I'd had three ablations before I discovered the real problem.

Jean

[Patticake63 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I do have my thyroid checked every 3 months or so because I am on pills for it, so I hope it’s not that. I will mention it to my doctor though.

[JoolzC]

Hi

I had a successful ablation in Aug 16 and my energy levels did return but I just took it steady and didn’t push it. Im sure one of the main contributory factors was the reduction and stopping of my medication... but this was all done under the supervision of my EP.

Good luck!

[val757]

I’m one of the successful ablation people who check in infrequently. Had ablation 15 months ago with no AF episodes since then although I did have some runs of ectopics in the early days. Like CDreamer it was the bisoprolol that left me so exhausted and barely able to walk more than a few yards before stopping to rest but other medications had even worse side effects. I was able to stop it 6 months after the ablation and am now only on anticoagulants. It’s taken time to regain my pre AF level of fitness after 2 years on bisoprolol but I’m almost there.

[Janey11]

I had an ablation in 2016. Prior to that, I was on beta blockers and a blood thinner.They made me feel lethargic and depressed. I moved home and found a different consultant. He was of the opinion I should have an ablation. I agreed as he also said if it was successful I could drop the tablets. I don’t have the fitness levels I used to have, but I am getting older (65). I work full-time, often with people half my age and manage to cope. I try to focus on other things and not overthink my ‘condition’. I’ve given up alcohol and try to eat healthily. Very pleased with my outcome. I hope you have similar success; like life itself, it’s something of a gamble.

[Sarah57]

Hi

I had an ablation two years ago and have had no AF since,

I did take it very slowly for the first three months, and then slowly for another three!

Make sure you get signed off work for as long as you need. My ablation gave me no pain, apart from mid back pain from very hard flat table you have to lie on! I feel stronger now than I have done for years, am off all drugs apart from a thyroid pill every day for under active thyroid they discovered before the ablation.

Like you, I was so tired that I could hardly put one foot in front of the other and now I can walk briskly uphill and walk 5 km non stop a day, do gardening, yoga and Tai Chi. Life is good and just entered my third trimester turning 60! ( still teaching two days a week as well)

Don't be too scared re having an ablation, it is now a pretty regular procedure , just check out background of your local EP's as you would do with any Op on NHS

Good luck with your decision .

With good wishes

Sarah

[Maggimunro]

Hi Patticake

All the meds they tried me on made me feel worse than the AFib did, hence my 3 ablations.

Why 3?

Well the first was for SVT on the right side of the heart, which was a straightforward blasting of a single extra pathway. This was immediately successful and I stopped fainting etc.

The second, and third ablations were much more complicated because they were on the left side of the heart and they needed to clear out the dozens of cells that were causing my AFib.

I feel great now, but I am in my late 60’s and it was certainly a long recovery time of about 6 months. I can now do 4-5 hours in the garden and I have even done a hilly 7 mile walk quite recently. BUT it does take time to recover, especially as you get older. I have also switched to a plant based diet and I take a magnesium supplement.

For me, three ablations in 11 months was the answer but we are all different.

Ps, my only medication now is Apixiban.

[KMRobbo]

Are you in permanent afib or permanent flutter? Which one or a mixture?

What is the pill you are taking to keep the rate down?

I had paroximal afib and was asymptomatic up to 243 bpm, until the day the attack lasted a week betwen 130 and 190 non and then I was shattered!

I then went on flecainide 50mg x2 and diltiazem 200mg and was eventually not shattered but generally a bit tired and with a exercise intolerance and brain fog. ( beta blockers Inc bisoprolol put me to sleep - excessive tiredness)

I had an ablation for the AF fixed no issues, still on the meds for 2 months so still felt the same.

However then after 9 days i developed reentrant atrial flutter in right atriai 140 bpm even with the diltiazem rate control and was very breathless on any movement and after a few days was absolutely shattered, more so than either the weeks afib. I luckily got a second ablation a month after he first for that flutter on the 26th Feb but had spent 3 weeks mostly in bed by this time . This cured the flutter and improved things enormously although I was physically weak after not doing anything for 3 weeks. After 2 months I am now a lot better, and have just stopped the flecainide. I am feeling a lot better if not perfect.

So to recap for me - the P afib was not that tiring, but the drugs were intrusive and a bit tiring. The bisprolol was very tiring and I got told by hospital I cannot tolerate them. The permanent flutter was shattering . However the two ablations have sorted the heart out ( I think/hope) and neither ablation was a problem or distressing in any way

I am not a doctor but based on my experience If you have permanent flutter them this may exhaust you, if you are on bisoprolol this may exhaust you, the a fib may exhaust you even though it did not do me. The ablation can improve things massively depending where you currenty are. However the quickest improvement could be to discuss the meds with your consultant or GP .

Hope this helps.

[doodle68]

Hi Patticate you say you have depression, that can contribute to feeling exhausted as can the anxiety that comes with a diagnosis of AF.

One thing that may help is if you don't do so already is to learn some relaxation and controlled breathing techniques, they really can help with AF. Once you get used to the diagnosis of AF and knowing that like most of us here you can cope with it, it won't seem so daunting.

Even if you feel you have no energy, if you can manage a couple of walks a day and any gentle physical activity it will help to build up stamina then if you do have an ablation your body will be better prepared.

[momist]

I'm with doodle on this. I very briefly took some anti-depressant pills for their known side effects on inflammation (prescribed by a dermatologist). I found that those pills made me very tired and lacking any motivation to do anything, not a good place to be if you are already depressed I'm sure.

[Tantaanna]

Hi everyone- I am new to this forum and pleased to be here. I just had my second ablation last week . After reading other posts I realize I do no know about which side of the heart was cauterized etc . I am symptomatic when in A- fib. Never had a real high heart rate but couldn’t function. I teach mind and body exercises, Silver Sneakers and have done so for many years. I think it just puts me in tune body and mind. I had my first episode four years ago. I went to an EP dept and was told of two routes that could happen (And did)

1- anti coagulant to prevent stroke. 2- first cardio version. 3- increased episodes- with flecanide as pill in the pocket approach to convert. (Which eventually took longer to convert and really got side effects). 4- first ablation three years after onset of AFIB- choose to do because I would have two episodes a week.

After first episode felt wonderful- he found the bundle that was giving me irregular heart beats for eight years prior to my first AFIB -

I was off of flecanide and felt so good. Nine months later developed atrial flutter and AFIB- to ER and back on Flecanide- feeling like I was hit with a truck. Gradually felt better by time of second ablation-

Second ablation revealed lots of tough Flutter to get rid of and more AFIB stuff- ended with with two cardio versions in two days after ablation- talk about being feeling like being hit with a block of cement- trip to ER no picnic- with being told to not pussy foot around and transfer to EP hospital location

Because I complained about flecanide- I was put on propafenone or rhythmol/ (225 mg three times a day) really feeling yucky

But I am moving on/ Live daily- let it go- not my will. My mom lived till ninety- I feel I have so much purpose and can give to my grandkids/ missions/ others/ . Don’t want to take these meds😆

Not sure what I am looking for in postings but moral support is wonderful and hope it helps someone else

[Storyjo1 in reply to Tantaanna]

We’re all in this together. Your post helped me move on, little by little.

[djmnet]

The exhaustion is likely coming from the medication to slow your heart rate.

[Storyjo1]

I know what you mean, Patticake63. I’m too young to feel this old!

[Babyr1996]

As a recent ablatee as in a week ago tomorrow !! So far no AFl but I am getting a fast HR between 90-120bpm usually when I just stand up and start moving when sitting or laying down it’s between 59-70 although I have dropped lower to 49bpm but then I have low BP and I’m on bisoprolol EP has kept me on all meds until I see him in 3 months time

I must admit I feel tired but also full of energy but as I keep reading on here I am to rest rest rest and more rest which to me is extremely boring I’m a person whose always on the go always active. It’s so tempting just to get up and run so as to speak cos I feel I can but my brain has to kick in and tell me no don’t do!! It’s so hard but I know it’s for the best

Your brain says yeah I can push that mower up the slope but the body says nope now hang on there not just yet I need time to heal!! So I know how you feel and this is 1 week post ablation and I’m frustrated yes but I can’t take the risk. I’ve had Ablation for flutter thus far as my PAF is at rest as EP was loathe to upsetvthings when and whilst it’s not needed

This is not a procedure to take lightly it jolly well hurt the pain I had in my neck and shoulder whilst abkating was horrendous and I do not particularly want to go though that again but if I have to I will really have to draw on my inner strength and they’ve got to change the cocktail of drugs given to me during procedure as these had a profound effect on my BP I went thru the floor and they nearly ‘lost’ me so stronger pain relief was not an option but I grinned and bared it to get the procedure finished

But a week later I feel fab too fab and I have to remain calm and rest

Not sure who I’m trying to convince the most here haha

But alas I wish you well like I keep being told and read on here REST and REST some more until your sorted and take care and any doubts it’s call an ambulance!!