Progress Report

[rocketritch]

Its been just over 2 months since my ablation with Dr. Natale in Austin. I must say its been an interesting 2 months and not without its ups and downs.

I cant remember if I posted along the way but I had to have a cardioversion early on. Following my ablation in July I started back on Ticosyn which I believed was causing me nerve pain. So I switched back to Flecanide but had to go off the Ticosyn for a few days inbetween. My newely ablated heart did not like not being regulated and I eventually went into flutter. I was cardioverted a couple days later by my local E.P.

The nerve pain, sciatica, continued though and I came to find out after several trips to the ER and Drs offices that I had both a bulged and herniated disc. The pain was debilitiating to the point I could not walk without the numbing effects of oxycodine. And that only dulled the pain enough for me to somewhat function. Fortunately I have a desk job so the oxy got me to and from my vehicle so I was able to work. The pain was so bad that it hurt clear to my chest and eventually put me back out of rhythm.

I was out of rhythm this time for almost 2 weeks. I was going to get cardioverted again right away but felt that I needed to get the pain under control before I did. I had a nerve block done that really helped and made a turn for the better with the pain. Once that was done I scheduled a second cardioversion. Interestingly enough a couple days before, which was close to 2 weeks of more flutter, I converted on my own and have been in NRS for almost 3 weeks now.

Im hopeful that this trend will continue.

[Hidden]

The only advice I can offer is to remove the wheels from your bike, lock them somewhere safe, give your partner the keys and tell them not to give them back until Christmas......it would be such a shame to risk all the work done by your medical team.....good luck

[rocketritch in reply to Hidden]

I haven't been on or near a bike since March. It's really messing with my psyche and does nothing for my weight management. But that's how it's got to be for now.

I am going to ask the folks at physical therapy today if I can start going to the gym gym and at least spend a little time spinning on a stationary recumbent bike. Doc said I could start easing back to cycling a month ago but the back issues sidlined everything.

[Hidden in reply to rocketritch]

I would imagine the sciatica etc are not related to the AF but it can, of course, cause major stress which is bad for AF. Not being able to take anti-inflammatories doesn’t help neither does added weight, so you really are between a rock and a hard place! Hopefully the folk at the gym will come up with a training regime which will help ease the sciatica without risking the ablation.....good luck.

[rocketritch in reply to Hidden]

You must have missed the part about the bulged T12 & herniated L5 I'm dealing with. 😁

[Hidden in reply to rocketritch]

No I didn’t rocketritch, your cup runneth over.....😤

[Ici79]

How about now? How are things for you?