I feel different post ablation

[Jonathan_C]

I had an ablation in January 2017. My a-fib was most likely caused by aortic stenosis. I am health and reasonably fit. I went into afib a few weeks after my ablation and was on a combination of flecainide and beta blockers until July 2018. My dose of one or both of these was reduced every six months.

I am only on a anti-coag now.

I exercise regularly and am in ok shape.

But whenever I do something that requires a sudden burst, like playing soccer or just running up a flight of stairs, I just don't feel quite right - almost like I am still on one of the meds i was on. Its a sort of tightness I don't associate with unfitness, but do associate it with a betablocker.

I was 41 when I first went into afib and am 44 now. Is this what life is like in your mid 40s and I have been through a physiological transition while on the meds? or my body is still adapting to the change in meds (although i have been med free for a while)? or is it just the way it is for some after an ablation (which I can believe)?

I can jog and I go for 10km trail runs (walk runs) so I am not feeling sorry for myself.

[Hidden]

With your cardiac history, you have probably had a coronary angiogram at some point. I imagine ischaemic heart disease has been ruled out?

[Jonathan_C in reply to Hidden]

I don't have a problem jogging or doing other exercise. Its just when I have a sudden burst that I think "hey, whats that". But to answer your question, I don't think its being ruled out per se, but considering the amount of assessments I have had I think they would have found it if it is that.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Jonathan_C]

I think we all come to realize that AF in our lives means quiet a few changes in both life style and ability. Ablation doesn't cure AF it just stops the symptoms . We need to listen to our bodies and act accordingly.

[KMRobbo]

I had an cryo AF PVI ablation in January 18 and an rf flutter ablation in Feb 18. I am off all drugs since 15 may. I can run 6 miles cross country, not as fast as before AF but I lost a lot of fitness waiting/ recovering from ablations and have not really tried to get back to full fitness as the weather was too hot. Doing a bit more now we are back to normal.

However I have what appears to be a similar issue. I get slightly breathless when I do anything with a bit of exertion, a couple if flights of stairs, pushing my motorbike into the garage, or carrying something heavy. I also get It at the start off a run. I feel weak at he time whatever I do. However when I have been running half a mile I am fine and after I am fine. I was on diltiazem, as I don't tolerate beta blockers, and I felt he same on them( but more so).

It's like there us a lag between starting the exertion and the response of my body to deal with it. I wear a Garmin gps with hr monitor, so I know there is not a lag in hr at the start of a run, in fact the opposite, it rises very quickly then settles down after a few hundred yards.

No idea what it is but something is not quite as it was, or not quite right.

[Jonathan_C in reply to KMRobbo]

This is precisely my experience: I get slightly breathless when I do anything with a bit of exertion, a couple if flights of stairs, pushing my motorbike into the garage, or carrying something heavy. I also get It at the start off a run.

But I am in NSR and off meds, which I am grateful for. As Bob says, I will just have to adapt to it and its really not an issue.

[KMRobbo in reply to Jonathan_C]

So far as I know I have been in NSR since the end of February. When I feel weak i instinctively check my pulse in my neck, never felt any arrhythmia nor see anything on my omron no monitor. Intriguing!

[Breezera in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi KMRobbo and Jonathan_C. The intermittent breathless/weakness episodes you fellows are experiencing during times of sudden exertion may be caused by pulmonary vein stenosis, which can sometimes manifest in one or more PVs as an unwanted consequence of PVI ablation. You may want to discuss this possibility with your respective EP-cardiologist.

Best regards, Richard

[KMRobbo in reply to Breezera]

Just come back from a 5.4 mile run with 1100 ft ascent in achieved in 47 mins even though i rev lmit myself now to max 154 ish bpm. I am 58 . I am not sure if it was stenosis it would improve during the exercise? That's the weird thing. Thanks for the suggestion though and will do some more investigation.

Cheers

[Jonathan_C in reply to KMRobbo]

I hope this feeds through to even though the thread is so old.

For various reasons I have become extremely stiff, my sister diagnosed me as being "chronically stiff" - she is a phyiso. She gave me a deep tissue massage and gave me some exercises to loosen my fascia - check out mobilitymastery.com for very effective exercises in this regard.

Since the massage and doing these exercises and stretches, the breathlessness i was feeling that prompted me to start this thread has pretty much gone. It could be coincidence, but there is a medical explanation for why more supple fascia would make the difference.

Either way, it won't hurt to try some of her techniques!

[Slim2018]

Thanks for the post as it encapsulates exactly how I am feeling, and the other posts. On paper I am now fine, off all meds for six weeks come Friday. But I feel different, can’t explain it just different. The ectopics appear to be diminishing but like others I am reaching for my pulse or my Kardia at the drop of a hat the moment something doesn’t feel right. Went skiing in December and walking / cycling as normal and back on the rowing machine doing 4.4 miles in 30 minutes without any real problem with a fast return to normal heart rate...BUT still got that not quite right feeling and the momentary breathlessness feeling. Who knows?

[KMRobbo]

I have not gone to massage yet, but I have recognized that general stiffness and also a lack of fexibility also, so I have enrolled into a yoga course to try to improve this! Only 3 weeks in so I am not seeing a massive difference but I am panting holding some of the position s that my body does not want to get into !(plus it hurts! Probably pushing too hard as usual).

I'll let you know

[Jonathan_C in reply to KMRobbo]

Keep it up but also give the techniques on that site a try. a short burst of intensity brings about profoundly rapid relief

[KMRobbo]

Will do