Recovering From an Ablation. - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Recovering From an Ablation.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer
52 Replies

I am delighted to say that this new fact sheet is now available under Patient Resources (Facts Sheets) on the AF Association website for anybody who is interested. Sorry it has been so long in the coming but I hope you like it.

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BobD profile image
BobD
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52 Replies
Finvola profile image
Finvola

Congratulations to all concerned - a guide which I would find very helpful if I ever take the plunge. Sensibly written and to the point.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Well done Bob, this was badly needed, thank you for all you have done. Will have a look.

Jean

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Have tried to find it and given up Bob! Can you post the link to it please.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tojeanjeannie50

Don't know how Jean! . Go to AF Association website,. Click on patient resources. Then click on the picture marked fact sheets and scroll down to R and it is there.

MPA9 profile image
MPA9 in reply toBobD

Here you go heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

Regards,

Malcolm

vovvarna22 profile image
vovvarna22 in reply tojeanjeannie50

I agree ... where is it!! ??

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tovovvarna22

I think the AF Association website is down as I can't get into it myself. Please try later.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Here is a link for those who are interested, scroll down this page till you reach ...

''Recovering from Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Click on ''Read more''

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply todoodle68

Thank you Doodle.

soberhoumom profile image
soberhoumom in reply toBobD

Oh my goodness thank you! I needed this so bad today! I will read over it and hope I can get some relief from it!

vovvarna22 profile image
vovvarna22 in reply todoodle68

Hello doodle68,

I have just tried this link and it it says it is not available .... too old? 6 months ago, I now see ...

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tovovvarna22

Server still down by the looks of it.

Stumpy47 profile image
Stumpy47 in reply todoodle68

Some very handy stuff there relating to my own experience, 2 weeks post ablation , I just need to be patient while my heart adjusts! Thanks for the link.

GrannySmithgs5 profile image
GrannySmithgs5

Thank you Bob , I am sure this will prove to be very useful .

Jean

Janshep profile image
Janshep

The more good information we can get the better Thanks Bob x

Afibsimon profile image
Afibsimon

Bob. Well done. I am sure people will find it very useful. Just today I have seen posts regarding post ablation recovery.

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn

Thank you Bob - this is extremely clear and comprehensive, and will be hugely useful for anyone having an ablation (or considering one). Bravo! :)

Fastbeat profile image
Fastbeat

Well done, clear helpful information.

Enjoy profile image
Enjoy

Really welcome reading. Thank you Bob. Says it all.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

And thanks to Flapjack and all the other people who threw me ideas . It has been a tricky journey getting it approved by the medical board and NHS England but hopefully the other sheet "Preparing for Ablation" will be available soon.

afafaf profile image
afafaf in reply toBobD

I'm 3 weeks today post-ablation Bob and am very impressed by the brevity and all-encompassing nature of the guide. Everything it says is bang on, cheers.

Polski profile image
Polski

Well done BobD, and thank you. Many people will thank you for many years to come - even if their 'heartfelt' thanks don't actually reach your ears!

Carig profile image
Carig

Thanks for that bob. Really helpful

GordonS profile image
GordonS

Fantastically well written advice in layman's terms. Keep on hand in the weeks/months post ablation for reassurance. If in doubt contact your arrhythmia nurse. I am on the list for an ablation so look forward to reading "Preparing for ablation" soon. My first/only ablation was 7 years ago and things will have no doubt moved on.

wilsond profile image
wilsond

I will read with interest! Thanks for all the hard work.

CCW66 profile image
CCW66

Having trouble finding, do you have a link?

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toCCW66

try Doodle's link above.

CCW66 profile image
CCW66 in reply toBobD

Got it..thanks.

dedeottie profile image
dedeottie

Excellent Bob. A really useful factsheet. X

Tantaanna profile image
Tantaanna

Thank you - covers it all

Mallin68 profile image
Mallin68

This is great Bob... and I would have loved this resource prior to my ablation.

Brizzy50000 profile image
Brizzy50000

Excellent fact sheet Bob, just read it all and yep have had quite a few of the side effects of ablation, but it will certainly help those who worry, it should put their minds at rest.

cassie46 profile image
cassie46

Thanks Bob for all your hard work in getting this passed and printed.

Cassie

CoalmineCanary profile image
CoalmineCanary

I am about 2 and 1/2 months post-ablation and I didn't have any heart issues until ectopics started a little over a week ago. They hit me hard and were very persistent for at least a week. They seem to have calmed down now and I am hoping they stay away! Very unsettling. Other than that, my biggest problem has been digestive. I think Eliquis makes my GERD worse. Going to my primary tomorrow to talk to him about that and a possible hiatal hernia.

shazzafloyd profile image
shazzafloyd

please can you sent me a link bob

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toshazzafloyd

if you scroll up near the top doodle has included the link.

shaldonkoolma profile image
shaldonkoolma

Brilliant, reassuring.

Jc24 profile image
Jc24

Great job on the Revcovering sheets. I appreciate all the time and work you put into this. It is also very useful. Thanks

vovvarna22 profile image
vovvarna22

Hi BobD, can't find the fact sheet .... please help, thank you! Suzanne

in reply tovovvarna22

I think this is what you are looking for

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

avma profile image
avma

Hello,

Is there also a fact sheet for recovering from ablation for svt in general and AVNRT in particular?

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Ablation is ablation regardless of what for. The suggestions we make are equally important.

Di8504 profile image
Di8504

Hi Bob,

Many thanks for your posts. I found the fact sheet really reassuring post my RA. Now on day 12 and unfortunately have had 3 runs of AF, all starting when I was asleep, with my Apple watch alert waking me up. Interestingly, 1st increasing my verapamil dose, 2nd time popping 100mg flecainide then 3rd, doing walk upstairs reverted me to sinus rhythmn.

So I am trying to stay relaxed and allowing healing to occur, and not planning when I will be able to fit in a 2nd RA procedure later in the year :).

I am on my previous verapamil and flecainide combo until my check up with my EP.

I am doing gentle walking bu avoiding getting breathless, - I would go crazy otherwise, and napping during the day.

Hopefully starting back on 50mg flecainide bid will prevent any more AF runs.

Di

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

12 days is nothing. You have weeks and months of recovering to go yet so try not to worry and please try not to keep checking. That only increases worry. Turn off that darned watch so you can sleep through!

Di8504 profile image
Di8504

Good plan!

Di8504 profile image
Di8504

Hi all,

I am now 4 months post my First ablation, so I thought I should check in and thank you all for your advice and support.

My husband and I have just spent 7 weeks travelling by ship and train etc, from Southampton to Iceland to Canada, covered by travel insurance but fortunately not having any health issues of note along the way.

During this time, I happily followed my EP’s orders to do “everything “ including heaps of stairs between decks and walking heaps around at our ports of call.

My EP had put me on Verapamil, digoxin, flecainide and eliquis during this time to control my ectopics which had been significant around the 2nd month, so I was falling asleep after 5 minutes on a bus etc and suffered with some breathlessness whenever going “Up”. Fortunately, I recovered quickly on the flat, so pushed through and came home fitter than when we left.

My biggest fear was that the thought and effort of returning to work would set off my AF. This had seemed to be a trigger in the past. Happily, this didn’t happen, so all good.

My EP has now started weaning me off these drugs, starting with the eliquis and verapamil, so here’s hoping that I will remain out of AF.

Looking back, the last 2 months have also been a good test of living with the side effects of rate and rhythm limiting drugs. They definitely put a dampener on my fun.

Consequently I will have no problem in signing up for another ablation if my heart doesn’t behave itself when off them.

I was fortunate that, after the initial hiccups, I was able to return to active work fairly quickly. I realise many others have not been as lucky in their recovery.

So I am now planning next year’s trip - determined that having AF is not going to stop me from being active and trying to stay as fit as possible. None of us know when Life will present another hurdle to get over.

My Best wishes to all.

Di

Barclas profile image
Barclas

Thank you Bob, I feel much happier now I've read it.

HiloHairy profile image
HiloHairy

Thank you for the input!! You have me somewhat less nervous.

Are you in the UK or the US? I'm wondering if there's a difference.

I've read so many posts from Brits who say their recovery time was somewhere between 6 months and a year.

Because of this I've been putting mine off into the future, waiting for a time when I could lay around for months plus I'm reticent about not working out for a lengthy period of time and losing the relatively hard body I've gained through a lot of hard gym work.

HiloHairy profile image
HiloHairy

Thank you very much for your reply Brock. I'm hoping you and Don will answer a few questions I'm curious about: are you of normal weight? Do you exercise? Do you attempt to eat a healthy mostly plant based diet?

I'm getting the feeling that those who speak of very long recoveries may be those who on a day-to-day basis don't take very good care of themselves. I also have a gut feeling but no proof that a harsh climate may make it difficult to be active and stay in shape.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toHiloHairy

Sorry Hilo this is nonsense . Whilst life style may well reduce Af burden recovery from ablation is seldom as simple as this person (note the identical wording) states.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68 in reply toHiloHairy

Hi Hilo :-) I think you would be wise to take note of what Bob has to say and his excellent article on recovery times for ablation.

Of course people recover at different rates depending on their particular circumstances (for example age overall health etc) but common sense should tell anyone that it makes sense to give yourself time to heal after a proceedure involving the heart.

If I had a minor injury like a sprained ankle I wouldn't try to run on it I would allow it to heal , it makes even more sense to allow time for a bruised heart tissue to heal .

By all means eat a healthy diet that too is common sense.

As to 'long recoveries' being down to those who do not take care of themselves that may be the case in some instances but certainly not everyone.

We are all different , no 2 AFers are the same and sweeping generalisations do an injustice to some members,

Appologies if that sounds criticising but sometimes things need to be said.

Please note my other post below to Lockwood and Adams.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Brock Longwood or what ever name you are using today, you have excelled yourself with two identities in one thread (also Don_Adams_86) this time querying Bob's excellent advice on recovery from ablation .

Bob is someone who is respected and trusted on here and most people with any sense will take his advice over that of yourself any day.

I normally ignore trolls but you numerous identities posting rubbish are not only annoying but downright dangerous in some instances . You are making a lot of extra work for our Admin also trolling a site full of anxious and ill people is unforgivable.

You advise everyone to have an ablation regardless of their circumstances/age/health/comorbidities and while ablation is the answer for some it certainly isn't for everyone and I have personal experience of someone for whom having an ablation has been a big mistake.

Each person needs to carry out their own reserch based on their individual circumstance before deciding on an ablation.

YOUR POSTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH ANY OF THE OTHER NUMEROUS TROLLING IDENTITIES YOU HAVE ADOPTED THAT I CAN FIND.

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