update

[bisop]

Hi folks...long time no see....had ablation a week ago Monday and have been really suffering with gas, pain, etc. and I think it is the Pantaprazole 40 mg taken 2 x daily. So much gas in my body....under shoulders, in abdomen, hurts to breathe too, etc. Anyone one else have adverse effects to this medication?

[Hidden]

If your symptoms started very soon after the ablation, that could be a more likely reason than the PPI.

[bisop in reply to Hidden]

Thank you oyster...have called AF nurse.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Bisop

I would report this to your EP or his AF nurse today. It doesn't sound right. I've had 3 ablations and have never felt as you describe.

Jean

[bisop in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean....have called AF nurse and am anxiously awaiting a call.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to bisop]

That's good to hear.

Please let us know what the outcome is.

Jean

[bisop in reply to jeanjeannie50]

cut the dosage to see if that helps....hasn't so far but only been two doses. Hope this soon stops.

[Kaz747]

When I had my ablation 6 weeks ago I had a Transoesophageal echocardiogram and then a temperature probe down my throat and I’ve had gastrointestinal issues, pain and inflammation (pericarditis). My EP said my reaction is fairly rare but does happen sometimes so you maybe lucky like me 😉 I’d definitely speak with your EP.

[Cat04 in reply to Kaz747]

Kaz have you still got pericarditis pain? My ablation was 6 days ago and was told the pain from the pericarditis rarely lasts more than a week. Nothing seems to shift it and can't wait til the pain has gone 😕

[Kaz747 in reply to Cat04]

Yes, I had a long phone conversation with my EP today and I’m seeing him tomorrow for some prescriptions. I’m still having multiple daily AF episodes which is creating a vicious circle - AF causing pain and pain causing AF. I still get nerve pain from Shingles in my chest and back at times as well just to top things off. He’s still confident once we get this all under control my arrhythmias will go away 🤞🏼

[hock217 in reply to Kaz747]

Fingers crossed.

[Kevwray in reply to Cat04]

I'm 8 weeks post ablation took a good 6 weeks for 'pericarditis' type pain to go away. I have a few odd twinges but a lot better now

[Cat04 in reply to Kevwray]

Any tips on how to cope with the pain. Cannot take nsaid, so just keep topping up with paracetamol and chucking in the odd tramadol (trying to keep those at a minimum, was on 2 hourly oramorph in hosp but stopped that after 3 days).

[Kevwray in reply to Cat04]

I was popping ibuprofen 4 times a day, but not convinced this was good for me or my stomach (especially as on Apaxiban blood thinner). I found cuddling a pillow at night when sleeping on my side helped to keep my chest cavity as open as possible. I also tried the mind over matter approach & did find that if i didnt focus on the chest pain that it didnt feel as acute. I was worried & sought advice including GP, but it did eventually clear up. i guess anything that has been prodded than zapped with extreme cold is going to smart ! - keep your chin up & hope you are pain free soon !!

[Jlaine in reply to Kevwray]

You said you took ibuprofen?? I was told no braids due to being on bloodthinners! Took one arthritic and had 3 episodes of rectal bleeding big time. Just saying!!

[Kaz747 in reply to Cat04]

When I saw my EP 2 weeks ago he said to take Ibuprofen every third day but today he said to stop that and he’ll prescribe Colchicine tomorrow. I take paracetamol too.

[bisop in reply to Kaz747]

Thanks....called and talked to EP nurse and she is going to talk with EP and get back to me asap.

[hock217]

Speak to your Pharmacist. I have learned that they have a better understanding of Rx and OTC tx. Afterward, I call the M.D. to discuss. I find the MD appreciates this busy as they are and I have a better engaged consult as an "informed" patient.

[bisop in reply to hock217]

Thank you hock, did so.

[hock217]

I had diverticulitis a month after ablation and taking Sotalol n sleeping 15 hrs a day. In ER and IV only. Lost 40 lbs and hair around forehead n eyebrows. Pretty sure it was parasites from all the heavy hitter antibiotics. Holistic Doctor, ozone therapy and Diatomaceous Earth food grade eventually helped. This saggy body is now in Physical therapy and yoga. Anything that slows the heart slows digestive system. Hope you feel better soon.

[Cas33]

I had that gas pain after one of my Ablations “ yes I have had 3”

I was told it was referred pain. It is , but should not go on for to long. I had that during surgery and asked for some more pain killer, as I felt like my shoulders were being ripped off.

Hope you’re better soon.

[Kaz747]

Following on from my comments yesterday, I saw my EP this afternoon. He has prescribed Prednisolone and Colchicine for 3 days, Nexium twice a day for a week then once a day and switched me from Pradaxa back to Rivaroxiban. Also he said to take paracetamol which I have been doing. He said my gastrointestinal reaction is one of the worst he’s seen. By getting these issues sorted and with these drugs, hopefully the pericarditis will settle and the AF episodes will go away. 🤞🏼🤞🏼

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Can I ask what pericarditis is ?

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

It’s inflammation and swelling of the pericardium, the sack that surrounds the heart. It’s very painful.

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Oh heck, there’s so much that can occur.....uts confusing.....hope you will soon get the things under control Kaz and get on road to ablation recovery and never see this beast again!

Sue

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

Thanks Sue. I hope so too.

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Hi kaz I’m having my ablation 21 Jan, just thinking, so with this pericarditis how do you know it’s not a heart attack if it’s so painful? Is it showing duferent signs? Did you go straight to hospital when the pain came. I’m kind if worrying about being living up a mountain, I’m quite a way from the nearest hospital and that’s not the hospital where I’m being done ( that’s lyon 3 hours away).

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

Hi Morzine

Please don’t stress. Less than 1% of ablation patients have a problem like this. I didn’t have a lot of chest pain in the first week. It came on later and as I had a lot of fast Afib episodes post ablation I ended up back in hospital for a few days. The pericarditis pain has gradually gotten worse but hopefully with the cocktail of drugs I’m now on it will clear up. My ablation was for AF and atrial flutter so my EP did a pulmonary vein isolation and burn some other troublesome spots in my left atrium and did an awful lot of burns in my right atrium for flutter. He said to me on the day and in subsequent visits that he did an awful lot of burns, far more than in most patients. He didn’t think I’d react as badly as I have. He’s so sweet. He said to me yesterday “I wish I hadn’t gone away just after your procedure.” I told him not to be silly and that I had excellent care under his colleague. I feel like I’m collecting cardiologists - I’ve been treated by 3 at this practice plus another one who was called in to do my cardioversion earlier this year when the doctor I was admitted under couldn’t make it into the hospital. I know I’m a low heart attack risk as a coronary CT scan a few months ago showed a coronary calcium score of 0 meaning I have no plaque build up in the arteries. So many people cruise through ablations and I’m sure you’ll be fine 😉

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Thanks kaz, sounds like you are being cared for. It’s all still new to me. I’m just worry because of the language , I speak fairly good french but couldn’t put my point across well with all this health stuff and I’m miles up a mountain. I’m trying to ignore this till a few days before if I can and not think too much....sue

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

It’s a challenging time. I can understand your hesitation when you’re communicating with medical professionals in another language. I’m afraid my high school French wouldn’t get me very far 😂 I do have a wonderful team of specialists looking after me but I’m so over doctors, hospitals, drugs and tests. I feel like I’ve been on a medical merry-go-round for 3 1/2 years. That’s when I injured my ankle and underwent scans and physio/rehab for 9 months, then the tendon ruptured and I needed reconstruction surgery, 2 casts, moonboot, ankle brace, 6 weeks of giving myself nightly anticoagulant injections, 3 months in a wheelchair, 4 1/2 months off work, another 12 months of physio and gym work. And the surgery triggered an arrhythmia so I’ve had worsening heart problems since than. Last year I had 2 SVT ablations and this year I’ve been in hospital 7 times - had a cardioversion, an abandoned ablation when they found a blood clot and an AF and flutter ablation, now pericarditis. Oh and I had shingles and postherpetic neuralgia too this year. A lot of people have asked how I have managed to stay sane. I sometimes ask myself the same question 🤪😜🤪😜🤪 I just keep smiling and get on with it - what else can you do?

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Oh heck you have been hit by one thing leading on to another...yes keep smiling, thing is there’s no bandage so to the outside world afibbers look well....I don’t really mention it to my family anymore as I look well....

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

I know what you mean. When I was in a wheelchair with my leg in a cast everyone could see I have a problem. Now everyone is saying how wonderful I look. I’m not at work, I’m exercising every day and eating super healthy so in between feeling like crap I do feel okay. It will get better - you will get better and I will get better. Positive thinking is vital.

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Yes onwards and upwards eh! This time last year I was in Western Australia totally unaware this beast was reving up inside me!!!

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

How quickly our life can change 😃

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Unfair eh.....but at least we are still here and hopefully I can get bavk to Australia one more time!

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

I hope so. And I’m hoping to get back to England too. We have a big party planned in Santorini in 2020 for my husband’s 60th with a big group of friends so I need to get back to work to save up and I need to get better ✈️

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

Oo santorini, that’s a gem of a place....yes get better!!

[Kaz747 in reply to Morzine]

We had 16 of us there for his 50th in 2010. We had an awesome time 😎

[Morzine in reply to Kaz747]

😀 oh well 2020 is a must, you’ve plenty of time yet...

[hock217 in reply to Kaz747]

You are amazing Kaz. You are a beacon of stability. A role model. I hope and pray you will have improved health and stability.

[Kaz747 in reply to hock217]

Thank you. I hope so too. I try to stay positive but sometimes Negative Nelly comes to visit 😊

[Hidden]

Hi I've not had an ablation but I was suffering the same as you and with diarrhea and it was lansporozole causing it. I stopped it a d use gaviscon advance and the symptoms stopped immediately.

[Buffafly in reply to Hidden]

I was watching an episode of 'GPs behind closed doors' yesterday and some poor woman was having a meltdown because nobody could fix her bowel problems. Finally the doctor suggested she take Ranitidine 'as well as the Lansaprasole' and I was yelling at the screen 'Stop taking that!' I developed diarrhoea a few days after my ablation, arrhythmia nurse told me to stop taking Lansaprasole at once but I went on to develop diverticulitis 😩

[hock217 in reply to Buffafly]

So did I....my THIRD episode. Badly damaged sigmoid colon and narrow colon. I use Diatomaceous Earth food grade which cleans out the diverticula. GI doctor recommended removal of sigmoid colon, wearing the bag while healing and then stitching colon together. An RN I worked with needed to do this because of a slip up during a routine colonoscopy. I'm sticking with DE which also kills parasites and my hair grew back thick n healthy.

[hock217 in reply to Buffafly]

Grrrr.....so sorry you had to go through that. When will holistic, preventative medicine be joined with traditional medicine. It need not be competitive. It is getting better here in U.S. because we baby boomers are a force. Yoga, holistic PT and Diatomaceous Earth are my rehab.

[jeanjeannie50]

Have you heard from your EP?

Jean

[bisop in reply to jeanjeannie50]

heard from E P nurse and she spoke with EP and he changed dosage as I messaged you.

[GordonS]

I had severe gas/bloating for a week after my ablation, nil by mouth and a NG tube for 4 days. I think it was caused by damage to the Vagus nerve when removing the drain I had for pericarditis.

[Jc24]

I’m a month out from my 4th ablation and I had ocular migraines for 14 days . Everything is back to normal for me now so hopefully this too shall pass for you. It took a week to get all the gas out of me. Hope everything goes well.