First day post ablation

[NanaSews01]

What should I expect? I am quite shaky when I get up and walk. I am a nurse so I am monitoring heart rate, BP etc.

[BobD Volunteer]

Firstly go to AF Asociation website and down load the fact sheet on Recovering from Ablation. Secondly. don't get up! Rest rest and more rest for the first week,. Next week you are allowed to make the tea.

Thirdly lock all you machines etc in a cupborad and throw away the key. All they do is increase anxiety at this stage. You WILL have plenty of funny turns and you WILL dispair and think it has all been for nothing. You will be WRONG! It will take three to six months for things to return to normal and NO nobody will have told you that which is why we produced the fact sheet. Relax and breath!

[NanaSews01 in reply to BobD]

Thankyou the fact sheet was very helpful. You are right I need to stop being a nurse and just relax and heal.

[Hidden]

If you haven’t already, read the fact sheet .....

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

Just relax and take it easy, unless you have been told to by the hospital, try not to keep taking your BPs. As you will know, the effects of sedation and especially a GA will take a while to wear off so rest, rest and rest.

[NanaSews01 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou the fact sheet was most helpful. I am going to take your advice and try and relax and rest. Thanks

[jeanjeannie50]

You will probably feel totally worn out for a while, that can take days, weeks or months to get over. I've had three ablations and felt extremely ill after the first and second ones. I think the second one took a couple of months to get over. With the third I was better almost instantly. There is no one set rule for how you'll feel afterwards, but generally its a feeling of being totally wiped out. Listen to your body and when you feel like you must sit and rest, do so. Once you start doing little walks, don't over estimate how far you can go or you'll struggle to get home.

Your heart has had a bit of a battering and now needs to heal.

Wishing you well.

Jean

[NanaSews01 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Feeling totally washed out is exactly how I feel. I slept eleven hours last. Ignt and still feel exhausted after taking a shower. It helps to hear that that seems to be normal. I guess perhaps I will catch up on movies and rest. Thanks jean

[Gincalpe]

It is very early days and you will feel battered for a while so take the advice and rest. Do not check your pulse or blood pressure as it adds to anxiety. Have an imaginary picture of your damaged heart and imagine it slowly healing over a couple of months. Take care and you will start to feel better after 2-3 weeks

[Quilafizz]

I felt like I had end stage cancer for 2-3 weeks. It was a SLOW recovery, short of breath and weak for months.

Be good to yourself. Give yourself 3-6 months of slow and progressive activity. Your heart just took a beating. Good luck!

[IanB48]

Don’t expect to feel amazing straight away. In my case it was a good four months post ablation before my heart disturbances finally stopped. Three months after my procedure and on medical advice I stopped taking Sotalol only to find my AF returned. However, after resuming Sotalol for another month or so then stopping it again I became AF free and, apart from momentary flutters, have remained without symptoms for nearly thee years. I’m not being complacent about this as I know my condition may reappear but at least I’ve had the bonus of all this time without AF. So be patient, and I hope your recovery is as successful as mine has been.

[Dara16]

Take it real easy, expect some wierd pains and sensations but dont worry too much bout that. Your eyes might do some funny stuff too but it passes quickly. Strong lozenges are great for the shortness of breath i found.

[Heart1234Wisconsin]

I echo most of the previous posts. Rest! Relax! Recharge! I had a couple of episodes within the first week or so of my ablation. All normal. My belief is that we have become very sensitized to our hearts and we will feel every little beat as we heal. That passes...if you let it. Relax......

[NanaSews01 in reply to Heart1234Wisconsin]

Thankyou. Today is better than yesterday I have had a couple of flutters but nothing that has lasted.

[Heart1234Wisconsin in reply to NanaSews01]

Excellent!

[Cheruboo in reply to NanaSews01]

Seems as though you are getting through it steadily, thank goodness. I had my first AF ablation last Monday, and I confess I didn’t expect to feel as tired and generally groggy as I do. Thank goodness for the encouragement that everyone gives in their advice. I found the first week, that I really couldn’t do very much at all, I just wanted to sleep, but I did make the effort (not too rigourously ) and this week things are gradually sorting themselves out. I have only had a few ectopics mostly when I lay down at night. 62bpm is average, whereas I was in Persistent AF before with a rate of 57 to 140, very tiring and I was more or less constantly breathless. The bruising in the groin is very colourful and there is a swelling, but I think that is only the entry wound, I will keep my eye on that. The decision to wear joggers after the op, was right, anything tighter would have been a mistake. I feel much slower all round, if you know what I mean, much more comfortable than the speedy heart rate before, I only hope it lasts. Unfortunately, I have a Mitral valve which is leaky and has caused my left atrium to be severely enlarged, it is on the cards to have the valve repaired, it was important to get the AF fixed to begin with, I am seeing my wonderful EP in eight weeks time.

[NanaSews01 in reply to Cheruboo]

I am having some premature beats and fluttering at night as well but nothing that lasts. My pacemaker is set at 86 and when I get up in seconds I am over 100 and a little short of breath. I see my EP Tuesday. He is going to need to adjust my base rate down a little. I had a right heart cath and have big bruises on both sides of my neck as well as a right radial artery angiogram. The radial site is about a six inch bruise in length the entire wrist. My femoral site from the ablation is slightly bruised. I would like to have a little time to increase my walking and see how I do before returning too work.

[Cheruboo in reply to NanaSews01]

The bruising I suspect is an all rounder for us, because of the medication for blood clotting, whatever you take, I have Apixaban and I only have to tap another object and I bruise. What a time you have had, I hope your EP can suggest how to adjust things for you.

I have taken it easy with the walking, I think it is right when the others say your body tells you when to have a short burst of energy and then slow down and rest, take each day as it comes, because every day is different. Good luck with Tuesday - I am going to see my liver Professor tomorrow, I have an auto-immune liver disease which has flared up since my procedure, - another pill I expect.

[Jlaine]

I was unable to sleep all might after my ablation due to constant cough from toe procedure and 81st in throat. My cough lasted close to a week or so. Otherwise not much different other than the shortness of breath from Afib was worse at times . I did wake up with a bruised lip. Had to be catheridized for dissension due to ivs and horific back pain as I have a bad back. I am scheduled for 2nd ablasion March 5th. Needless to say I am apprehensive due to issues I had. Murphy's law always seems to find me!!

[Jlaine in reply to Jlaine]

Sorry for many typos. My phone has a mind of its own.I met endotrach tube in my throat.and Foley Cath inserted for being bladder distended.lol

[NanaSews01 in reply to Jlaine]

I know what you mean sometimes what I type is all scrambled. I now use the dictation feature on my phone. Thanks for sharing though it has helped me to not be so anxious

[Jlaine]

Ps I am also a retired nurse!

[NanaSews01 in reply to Jlaine]

I am a nurse as well hoping to retire next year.

[Jlaine in reply to NanaSews01]

Good for you! Enjoy it. We earned it for sure!!! I did nursing 50 yrs. I am now 72. Would be great of not for Afib and bad back.