Return to work

[Maura5]

Well, that went well.....not. Six weeks post ablation had one day on reduced hours back at work, I was due back in this afternoon but went into AF 5 hours ago and I’m still there, so off sick again. Has anyone on this forum who has had an ablation for AF, got worse after the procedure like me during this blanking period? Because I’m certainly much worse now than I was before. A couple of weeks ago the episodes got less and shorter and my hopes were raised but now they are lasting for hours, is there any hope of it miraculously getting better after having episodes every other day lasting hours not minutes? Sorry, it’s really getting me down now and people who have this horrible condition really don’t understand .

[jedimasterlincoln]

6 weeks is probably very early days to be totally sure if it's worked or what the long term outlook is. Realistically its 3-6 months before everything that has been messed around with has settled.

I had a PVI ablation in July 2014... by September 2014 it was happening again ferociously so I had a second one in December 2014.

Were medications stopped/adjusted post op?

[Maura5 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I’m still on verapamil with Flecainide as a PIP. And taking Dabigatran.

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Maura5]

Presuming then the Flecanide hasn't helped

I hope it doesn't drag on too long.

[Maura5 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

No if anything it’s faster and more erratic! My Kardia is asking is it me every time I take a reading. How long does it have to continue before they would consider a cardioversion?

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Maura5]

Well I've always been particularly debilitated with all my AF episodes, my BP drops and I am unable to walk up a flight of stairs without feeling like I'm going to collapse so all 20 of mine (in the last 4 years) have been emergencys in Resus or emergency theatre. Not sure how it works in Spain.

[Maura5 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks. I’m in the UK, if it lasts much longer I’ll go to A & E if nothing else at least they can take a look at this weird ECG reading I keep getting.

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Maura5]

Where the heck did I get Spain from? Sorry!

In that case I'd consider getting checked out and the current situation captured on ECG. They will see you and get you back to normal

[Maura5 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Yes, I think you’re right, this isn’t stopping anytime soon! Thank you so much for your help

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to Maura5]

Keep us informed

[fairgo45 in reply to Maura5]

I Like your sense of humor under the circumstances.

After three ablation that didn't work I know how your feeling one of mine a few hours later went back into AF but I was cardioverted and it went back to NSR for 6 months didn't last any longer than that so frustrating

It can take up to a year for the heart to settle down

Ask for a cardioversion and different kind of medication

Hope all comes good for you

[Maagaa in reply to Maura5]

Hi Maura love that name my wonderful daughter is Maura Lynne. Are you in the states.? If so I can recommend a wonderful Electrophysiologist who practices in NJ and sees patients like myself in Ny. Had one cardio conversion which didn’t work after 5 days I flipped back worse then I was . I had a consult with him he medicated me for weeks and did my second conversion 16 months ago still in steady sinus rhythm. Nervous everyday that I will flip. He told me not to stress if I flip he will think of something ASAP to help me. Now that’s dedication

[Maura5 in reply to Maagaa]

Thank you Maagaa! It’s not a very common name is it but I have Irish roots and maybe you do too. No, I’m in the UK but Thank you for the info & good luck for your continued recovery.

[Gillybean123]

Good Morning, I’m sorry you feel so poorly. Just replying to say I am thinking about you and try to stay positive. I know it is sometimes very hard and people do not understand or know how bad it makes us feel. It totally throws your body out of sync. Is that the right word. I am waiting for appointment for ablation. Hope it all settles soon. Lots of Love.

[Hidden]

Not the sort of post one wants to read on the eve of ones ablation, does one!

Hope all settles down soon Maura.

[Sillysunshine in reply to Hidden]

I am 4 weeks post ablation and I have been in perfect rhythm, knock on wood. Hope all goes well for you too. 😀

[Hidden in reply to Sillysunshine]

That’s more like it Sillysunshine, but here’s hoping Maura’s situation quickly improves too......👍

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Good luck and hope all goes well.

[baba in reply to Hidden]

Good luck with yours Flapjack

[vernaloliver]

Oh god Maura5, I feel so sorry for you , I am nearly 4 and supposedly expecting miracle everyone tells me 3 months minimum , feel I can't wait , tho have to wait, have we heard from anyone that agrees with that fact? I feel rubbish most days , and I dread night times as I know thats when will be at my worst feeling knackered .com x good luck

[vernaloliver]

Ha ha sorry Maura5 , I'm not 4 at all but 4 weeks into my post ablation x x

[hock217]

I know how "unlike me" an ablation jig can be. I was retired but had opposite effect of sleeping excessively, wasting away, losing hair. Thinking holistic....your entire body was traumatized and you returned to work. Add the subsequent anxiety to that and it's a merry go round of anxiety. It's been 18 months since my ablation and I'm just beginning to trust my body again but so out of shape I cannot fathom another African Safari, hike, bike ride. Yet I'm not sleeping 12 - 18 hours a day, gained half the lost weight back and my hair grew back. In short, it takes time to heal and it changes your lifestyle. Breathe deeply, mother yourself, perhaps work a modified schedule for awhile? Remember, you are alive and that's wonderful.

[Leeson]

Unfortunately Mayra5, three months after ablation and I was worse than I was before the ablation, when I was taking tablets, I am back on Ameoderone again which was really the reason I had the ablation initially, didn't want to be on this drug as I had already taken it for ten years, and when everything settles down,or as good as it can be going to talk to cardiologist about changing Ameoderone over.

[Terriuk]

Hi. I’m 3 weeks post ablation and have started to get some erratic episodes. Not sure what they are but they feel like a quick bout of Afib, perhaps for a beat or 2. I’m an impatient patient! I know it will be a while before I know of the ablation worked, but these episodes are scary. I’ve found this forum so helpful, especially BobD’s factsheet, bit I feel your pain. I went back to work on Tuesday shorter hours, and a full day yesterday. I’m finding out today that it was too soon. Listen to your gut and to this forum. Hard not to panic! X

[CDreamer]

Yes I got a lot worse after my first ablation so they went again 12 weeks after and that was successful. AF returned though 3 years+ later but episodes aren’t as symptomatic or as long lasting.

It really is difficult to know whether or not to wait the full blanking period and see or to do something right away. I just couldn’t function so I agreed to a second go.

[Dodie117]

I had a lot of arrhythmias/AF after ablation in November 2013. Worse than before. It took 5 months to settle down but af free since then.

So stay positive, it may still resolve itself. Good luck 🍀

[Maura5 in reply to Dodie117]

That’s reassuring! Thank you, I’ll keep my fingers crossed

[KMRobbo]

Sorry I have only just picked up your mail.

I had similar experience, had PVI cryo ablation in left atria, felt fine went to work after a week, 3rd morning wham! a lumpy arrhythmia, but 140 bpm on any movement, and very breathless where previously I was asymptomatic. I eventually went to a&e (On advice of EP) where eventually I was diagnosed with atrial flutter in the right atria. You have to know where to look on the ecg and it can be disguised (apparently) so was initially treated for atrial fibrillation, and my 50mg x 2 flecainide were increased to 100mg x 2, to try to cardiovert, which made things worse, even more arrhythmic and breathless!

Flecainide actually promotes atrial flutter.

I note in one of your replies you say you have a weird ecg. On the hospital ECG flutter shows as a sharks tooth below. I have never seen a Kardia so no idea how it would show on that. The sharks tooth can be disguised with other things I understand.

However it is worth you knowing this possibility so you can ask the question: (Are you sure it's afib???)

I had to have a second ablation a month after the first. The good news was that the flutter ablation i had is 95% succesful, prevents any recurrence of that type of flutter (re-entrant) , and the procedure is more simple and safer than left atria afib ablation.

Best wishes

I

[Chaben]

So sorry to hear. Be sure to let your EP know. I had an ablation for AF, worked, but started flutter on right side. Second ablation took care of that, then started flutter on left. After third ablation, happy to say completely clear! Flutter was definitely different than the AF, and it was constant.

Good luck!

[Maura5]

Thank you so much everyone, I got to A&E and it stopped, so a ten hour stint this time. Feeling rubbish today after max doses of Flecainide and verapamil yesterday (the reason I had the ablation in the first place as don’t tolerate the meds very well 🙄) so, today is another day. Supposed to be back at work Saturday for 3 days then I’ve got leave for a month so just want to get through that but it’s a lottery at the moment, like throwing a dice, will I have AF today.....won’t I have AF today...? Try explaining that to your employer, I might be at work but then again, I might not! Hey ho, what to do

[Flutterbird]

Yes, I had my ablation on the 19th of June and still am not deemed well enough to return to work. My EPS was so positive about the procedure he brought me off flecainide and just left me on bisoprolol but a month later I nearly went into persistent AF and had to go back on the flecainide. Whereas before the procedure I was only in AF for an hour or two before my meds were due when I have AF now it lasts all day and I am in AF as many days as I am not. At the beginning of August I only had had two days in AF out of ten so it was looking hopeful, not so much anymore. My EPS has even offered to put me back on the waiting list but I do not think I would have another one. I hope things get better for you but I know exactly how disappointed you must feel. Some people have posted here that it a has taken them up to six months to recover so there is hope yet.