2.5 weeks after ablation

[Alpaca555]

Hi forum

I’m recovering well since my ablation. I’m on flecainide 100mg twice a day and Apixaban twice a day. Still taking lansoprazole for another 2 weeks post op.

I’ve now developed a new symptom over the last few days and just wonder if anyone has encountered this before. In the mornings and evenings I find it a real struggle to drink or eat anything - even Water is a struggle. Nightmare for taking my meds and my water consumption is plummeting! Water seems to get stuck midway down my oesophagus and stay there for ages - an hour or so. If I try to eat something it can be quite painful and sometimes have to vomit it back up.

It then eases by about midday for a few hours and then starts getting difficult again by early evening...

I just wonder if it has anything to do with inflammation of the heart while it’s healing?

Thank you! 🌻

[Hidden]

Hello Alpaca, many have sore throats and/or coughs but I don’t think not being able to swallow water is a common problem but if you had a TOE (camera down the throat) then I suppose it’s possible. I would get back in touch with the hospital, hopefully they provided you with contact details, and ask if it can be checked out.

[Alpaca555 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply FlapJack! I’ll check back with the EP... 🌻

[BobD Volunteer]

Inflamed oesophagus is not uncommon with ablation as it passes very close to the heart. I would suggest that you contact your ablation team and ask their advice.

[Alpaca555 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob! I’ll contact them today! 🌻

[Bob56]

Hi I suffered from something very similar following my ablation. I used to describe it to others as though the food I ate sat high in my chest, making me feel full very quickly, and uncomfortable with a tightness that lasted quite sometime after I ate. I wasn't really told to expect this but later my cardiologist did admit that as the digestive system is in close proximity to the heart, these feelings were a possible side effect of the procedure. For me the healing heart played a number of tricks , including this one, which made my recovery quite prolonged, but after around 6 weeks, maybe a little more, I did recover my appetite, and the tightness when I ate subsided. For those first few weeks, I cut down my portion size considerably, ate little and often with my main meal quite early. I stuck to easily digestible and stomach friendly food, such as soups, boiled eggs etc. I was prescribed Lansoprazole, which didn't agree with me, then Ranititidine, which did help a bit. I was also told to try a simple indigestion remedy , such as Gaviscon, and that helped too. In the end, I did more or less get back to normal, although I am trying hard to keep the weight off that I lost in those first weeks! I hope you feel better soon.

[hock217 in reply to Bob56]

Whether it was the ablation or Rx, had I known what would occur in my compromised sigmoid colon I would have reconsidered. Trying to prevent resection. Now 72 and lost all my siblings (accidents, cancer). We need to be fully informed before making decisions. At present, body repair looks only at contraindications not preventing possible complications based on individual.

[Alpaca555 in reply to hock217]

Hello hock.. hindsight - I wish we all had some! So sorry to hear your siblings are no longer with you ... how sad!

[hock217 in reply to Alpaca555]

Thank you....

[Alpaca555 in reply to Bob56]

Hi Bob56... your reply is really helpful! I was beginning to think I needed to go see a gastroenterologist! Thank you! 🌻

[Bob56 in reply to Alpaca555]

Actually, I did see a gastroenterologist and had an endoscopy, and not surprisingly they found nothing. That's not to say we are all the same and of course always seek an expert opinion if you are worried. However, I wish I'd had a few other people to bounce things around with and it might have saved a lot of time, effort and anxiety!

[Alpaca555 in reply to Bob56]

Yes! This forum is brilliant! I might wait it out if I can manage to drink enough water... but it’s currently quite difficult to drink... will see how I go... 🌻

[Alpaca555]

Hello hock.. hindsight - I wish we all had some! So sorry to hear your siblings are no longer with you ... how sad!

[Alpaca555]

Hello hock.. hindsight - I wish we all had some! So sorry to hear your siblings are no longer with you ... how sad!