ABLATION 1 WEEK ON

[Shcldavies]

Had an ablation last Tuesday, had what could be ventricular ectopics regularly every day since, pulse rate low, too low for Digoxin on Saturday stoped Bisoprolol on Sunday, went to Doc yesterday told to stop both. Heart rate increased to 60s in the main yesterday afternoon but reverted to low 40s at times, ectopics less frequent BP good. Still cannot walk very far (200 yds) without getting funny (fainting) sensation in head. Waiting for Cardiology follow up appointment. Doc says nothing unusual. Would like to know if anyone else has been unable to walk 200 yds without feeling faint a week after an ablation.

[jeanjeannie50]

I'm not sure I would have tried walking that far after only a week. Please don't attempt doing it again for a while. You really have to listen to your body and yours is saying don't do it. Another week and hopefully you'll be feeling a lot better.

Best wishes

Jean

[Shcldavies in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you I will, really did not appreciate that doing nothing actually means nothing. I was a bit concerned about the low pulse rate but have now found some old posts on here with similar problems. It's strange that similar things happening to someone else can put your mind at ease.

[Hidden]

I didn't leave the house for 2 weeks following ablation, and after that I only walked a short distance from car to my desk.

It took a good 3 months to get back to pre ablation fitness. I think that professionals don't really understand the recovery period and make out that you should be back to normal within days

[Shcldavies in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I can't get my head around it, Doc saying go for walks and people who have experianced it saying do nothing. I know when I do nothing I feel fine but the slightest exertion I get ventricular ectopics, pulse drops and feel light headed.

[Hidden in reply to Shcldavies]

When you say Doc, do you mean your GP?

Can you contact the EP that carried out your procedure, or the rhythm team at the hospital.

[Shcldavies in reply to Hidden]

It's the GP, I will not see the Cardio until end April and not see the EP again unless something changes. Not the best as it is open to delay and misinterpretation of symptoms, a telecom with the EP would be much better.

[Hidden in reply to Shcldavies]

I would try and make contact with your EP through their secretary if you have concerns.

Unfortunately I would say that any advice from a GP should be taken with a pinch of salt, I know way more about AF than any of the GP's at my surgery

[Shcldavies in reply to Hidden]

I agree the GPs knowledge is veritable at best, but I have been refered to a cardiology nurse by my GP so I am comforted by that. I have got a follow up appointment with cardiologist on 24 April so if I do not improve over the next week I will have to contact him earlier.

[Tapanac]

I didn't walk far at all for about a month. Just meandering round supermarket doing shopping. Pottering in the garden, walking up the road to neighbours/friends. Take it easy and if you don't feel like doing anything...don't. Obviously not vegetate, but be careful. Don't forget your heart has to recover after all it has been blasted with a laser.

No consolation to you, but since my ablation I get constant palpitations/ectopic beats and my pulse goes as low as 32 WHEN I can sleep through the acrobatics my heart is making. I am having to have another monitor on in March to see whether it is Afib again, but....?! I was told to stop bisoprolol and did, but I felt awful and was taken into hospital with tachycardic irregular heartbeats (240 again) and that hospital put me back on it.

All the best and rest

[Shcldavies]

Sorry to hear all the problems your having and thank you for the advise. I don't know if many Cardiologists or EPs have all the knowledge to best treat our symptoms, they do know a lot more than us so they are the best we have got. I have read that our adrenal receptors get less sensitive with Beta Blockers, then when we stop taking them they can get over sensitive for a while before they settle down. I guess during the time when they are over sensitive we are prone to arythmia.

[AIW58 in reply to Shcldavies]

is there an arrhythmia nurse you could talk to? there is one at my local hospital in Plymouth.

Out of interest how long were you initially signed off for? I have my first ablation booked for March 28th and have told work t count out for 2 weeks and maybe all of April. I don't want to to have to keep asking GP for sick notes.

Amanda

[Shcldavies]

I have not been allocated an arrhythmia nurse yet but the Doc is currently arranging. Regarding time off work it really depends on so many factors, even the EP when he talks to you after the procedure will not know. All I can say is there are people that have been back at works after 3 days and others many weeks/months. If you go back too early you risk taking longer to recover. I am now 9 days post ablation and could not go back to work.From my personal experience I would not recommend going back within a fortnight and possibly longer, a lot longer.