Home after ablation

[AIW58]

hello all

I had my first ablation yesterday, in Plymouth (UK) under a GA. Went down about 09.00, asleep by 9.30ish, woke up in recovery 12.45 all well. Spent the night in hospital and now home. I feel perfectly normal but I have taken on board everything everyone has said and am lying on the sofa with books to read, colouring book, TV remote, laptop and attentive husband to hand. Lunch on its way

EP was happy with how it had gone, he couldn't get me back into AF after the PVI. Started my flecainide again (50mg twice a day - had stopped 5 days before). Carrying on with apixiban 5mg also twice a day. Stop them in 2- 3 months to see how I go. I started the apixiban in prep for ablation - wasn't on it before.

So far no AF but I am psyched up for having some so as not to be overly optimistic. I talked them into signing me off for two weeks and won't over do it activity wise.

I asked him about ablation being a cure and he agrees that AF more likely to return if the things that predispose one to it (high BMI, raised BP, cardiac remodelling etc) remain but felt that with lone AF (no predisposing factors, heart structurally normal) ablation had an 80% chance of stopping the AF and to me that's a cure or call it long term remission. My history: I had/have PAF , I'm now 59, female, low to normal BP, resting heart rate around 50 (always had a low rate, not an athlete) and BMI of 21. Estimate in total 60-70 hours of AF since 2014 if I add up all the episodes I've had, longest lasting 5-6 hours.

thank you all out there for all the support its been a Godsend.

I recommenced this forum to a woman who was in the same ward as me last night. Her AF, or diagnosis at least, was new.

I'll up date from time to time.

Amanda

[BobD Volunteer]

Thank you Amanda. Out of interest who was your EP?

if you haven't already please read our fact sheet on recovery as there are lots of things in there "nobody told me" such as migraine aura to be expected.

Week one, stay on that sofa and week two you can start making tea again.

[AIW58 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob - yes I've read the fact sheets and listened to those who say rest, rest, rest. I had thought I'd join the group meeting in Exeter on Weds but Jean said probably better not this time. Husband is working so I will skip his time as don't want to travel alone.

The ward staff/docs said stay off work for 5-7 days because of the risk of bleeding rather than how one feels. I asked for 2 weeks, based on what I'd read here, and they obliged. I don't understand why the docs don't change the advice if people really do need more than a week off. Does the AFA liaise with NICE and physicians to update their guidance?

My EP is David Tomlinson everyone I met said he's brilliant (I work in the hospital). I met him for first time yesterday morning and liked him v much we sat and chatted about the procedure etc. He even carried my overnight to the cath lab as we walked down to it.

Guy Haywood is the other EP at Derriford, he too has a good reputation.

[AIW58 in reply to AIW58]

*this

[BobD Volunteer in reply to AIW58]

Because most docs think it is easy. When I prepared the fact sheet we had quite a few express surprise and even more who had no idea about the aura thing. It took time and some hard work by quite a few people to get it approved.

I met David Tomlinson at a conference about six or seven years ago (maybe even longer) I think around the time he was appointed down with you and was quite impressed by his attitude.

I agree with Jean. there sill be other meets.

Bob

[AIW58 in reply to BobD]

Ah yes I think he started with us about then. A dynamic sort I gather. I wonder why they don't give out the info sheets. I may print them and send to our Arrythmia nurses. I wasnt given any info except about driving and lifting but he said to ring the nurses straight away if any issues.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to AIW58]

The fact sheets are an AF Association resource produced by patients for patients as it says on the tin. We can't force hospitals to use them but it would be great if they did, of course with due credit on source. They came about from this forum and the number of people complaining "nobody told me to expect that!".

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Amanda, it's good to hear that all went well for you yesterday. Did you have sedation or a general anaesthetic? I shall watch your progress with interest from now on, so make sure you post and let us know or PM me. After my 1st ablation I looked after myself after 5 days. It's strange but I often feel really well for the first day or two and then go down hill a bit. I think it's through trying to do too much too soon, so take it easy.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope to see you at the next breakfast get-together later in the year.

Jean

[AIW58 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you. I had a GA. I think it is not uncommon to get a bit of post 'op' blues. Although our second daughter is flying over from Ireland to see me so that's lovely. I hope shell keep me upbeat.

I'm looking forward to the break at home and gently pottering in a week or so. I am expecting some break thru AF most people on here say it happens. Although if the Flecainide worked before maybe I'll be lucky.

Have fun on Weds and yes see you at the next one I hope.

Amanda

[Kellyjelly]

So pleased it’s all over and you are feeling so good. 😊 and great news that it was a success.

Enjoy the lovely sunshine over the weekend, I hope you get a few hours with the sun on your face 🌞

Take good care.

[Jupiter33]

Glad it's gone well for you Amanda. As the old hands on this forum have said, now is the time to Take it easy for a few weeks. Good luck.

Steve

[AIW58 in reply to Jupiter33]

thank you

[Becksagogo]

Fabulous to hear another positive outcome. Hope your good health continues.

[AIW58 in reply to Becksagogo]

thank you me too.

[Gincalpe]

Good luck with recovery. I had my first ablation in January and am still AF free. I feel so much better than before.

[AIW58 in reply to Gincalpe]

thank you, that's good to hear

[jezzer]

Very pleased for you! I also had lone AF and Dr Tomlinson did my ablation at Plymouth. Agree with you, he was fantastic. 17 months on and no problems so far! I did decide to give up alcohol, though still drink coffee, and still exercise though have slightly reined back my cycling. Wishing you a smooth and complete recovery.

[AIW58 in reply to jezzer]

oh that's good to hear, glad you are doing well. I will continue with the life style changes I made when looking at my triggers but also just want to get/stay as fit as I can as I age. i work in elderly care field and aware that we have to work at ageing well. I've reduced caffeine, drink lots more water, don't drink white wine as that was a trigger but occasional glass of red is OK. I started the park run in Jan and love it, looking forward to getting back to that. Were you a long distance cyclist? How long were you off work? I currently feel fine but will take the 2 weeks sick leave I negotiated ;-). Were you on any meds prior to ablation? He said for me to carry on with Flec (and apixiban) for 2-3 months then stop and see what happens.

[jezzer in reply to AIW58]

Before the ablation (and before I was diagnosed) I did about 45 mins of running/cycling at the gym 3 times a week. I also enjoyed 2-3 hour bike rides every couple of weeks over pretty hilly terrain (no choice where we live!). After diagnosis I bought a decent HR monitor and scaled this back a fair bit, avoiding vigorous exercise while in AF. Post ablation, I gradually resumed gym/cycling but had one brief episode at 7 months (swiftly corrected by Flecanide) which I discussed with Dr T..he thought it would be wise not to push myself too hard, but moderate exercise was definitely a good thing. I do less cardio at the gym now, and more light resistance work. I'm also choosing slightly easier cycle routes and do much more walking than cycling. I'm 54 and was lucky to have retired early before AF appeared. I did have ectopic beats for a fair few months after the ablation but they were nothing to worry about and have largely disappeared now. I stopped taking Bisoprolol, Flecanide and Apixaban at the earliest opportunity he would allow! You're in good hands at Plymouth.

[AIW58 in reply to jezzer]

Gosh that was a good fitness regime before ablation and encouraging to see how much you're ok doing now. Do you carry Flec as a pip? Which heart monitor did you get? I'm toying with the idea of getting one but not sure I want to pay £90 for it which is what I've seen Kardia cost.

Great to hear your experience and know you have confidence in Dr T. All v reassuring. ☺️thank you

[AIW58 in reply to AIW58]

Hi thinking about when I can start exercising again. When you say you resumed gradually how long did you give it? I do yoga and pilates which is gentle so would give that a go sometime in May I guess if I'm still fine. But wondering about when to return to the park run. How did you do it?

Cheers Amanda

[jezzer in reply to AIW58]

Hi, I bought a Garmin Vivoactive 3, not so much for rhythm monitoring but to keep an eye on my rate when working out. It has GPS which I like for tracking routes, but TBH none of the wrist monitors are that accurate, and I found it sometimes under-stated my HR especially on bike rides (wrist position maybe?) so I added a Garmin chest strap monitor which is compatible with it, and that is far more accurate. I toyed with buying a Kardia but never have..I could usually tell when I was in AF before my ablation, and my GP surgery told me to pop in for an ECG there and then if I was ever unsure so it didn't seem worth it. I took it really easy after the ablation, did next to nothing for 2 weeks then started with easy 15 minute walks and built up from there. I found all the medical professionals (GP, cardiologist, EP) were fairly reluctant to suggest guidelines in terms of exercise/HR, which I understand - even the traditional formula for calculating maximum HR by age seems to have changed in recent times! I think the best advice is to take it slowly and let the scar tissue heal thoroughly..I carried Flecanide with me for reassurance in the first few months but no longer do..if I went abroad I guess I might take some with me just in case. Good luck!

[AIW58 in reply to jezzer]

Thank you that's really helpful. I always know when I'm in AF and have access to ECG monitoring at work if it were to happen there.

So I'll save the £90 on a Kardia. My husband has the chest strap thing so I could try that when I start again.

Cheers

[UnaY66]

I had my first Abilation on Nov 28 just under sedation Freeman Newcastle and so far life is just the best the first month following abilation had a lot of Irrigular beats and dull ache upper back had to stay on blood thinners and brought blood up after opp but no episodes of AF since Nov got correct dosage of blood thinners which I guess will be on for life but I am back to my fitness loving life cut out booze cafiene and doing well hope u will too x

[AIW58 in reply to UnaY66]

That's great - well not the issue with your anticoagulants but that you are doing so well now. I got the impression I can stop the apixiban in a few months but will discuss with arrhythmia team in 3 months.

thank you for the encouragement.

[meadfoot]

So pleased it's gone well. Please rest and take things easy. Best wishes .

[AIW58 in reply to meadfoot]

thank you - I am and will for next few days.

[Deacon-L]

Hi Amanda, That is really encouraging to read and helpfully identifies your specific and relevent PAF background with general health factors (age, at rest BP,BMI, medication etc). *In the build up to the decision to have the ablation, how frequently were you having AF episodes?

*What tipped the balance for you to have an ablation rather than continue treating your episodes of PAF with medication?

I hope all continues to go well for you and thank-you for sharing your experience.

[AIW58 in reply to Deacon-L]

thank you - yes i put my background info so people can see what factors may be similar to them.

why did I go for ablation? the short answer is the experts clearly believed it would help so that gave me confidence. The longer thought process... when I saw the cardiologist again last April because my episodes of AF had increased from twice a year to 2-3 a month, he said it was no brainer in his opinion. That the guidance said they had to prescribe meds for a year but that he would put me on the waiting list so I didn't have to wait. He looked at my loop results and said my heart is trying to get back into sinus, it wants to be in sinus. (that was reassuring). He prescribed regular flec to keep me out of AF rather than a PIP. I was happy with that as I hated never knowing if I would get an episode. I was very symptomatic with it. I didn't in fact start the Flec til Sept as there was a delay in my having the the CT coronary angio to check heart was OK (Flec not good for people with ischaemic heart disease) and then someone prescribing it.

When I had just a couple of episodes a year I was able to forget about it and hope it would go away but the increase last year made me realise it won't it'll just get worse. Having no episodes since starting the flec I felt great. No side effects and no longer thought/ worried about AF every day. So why not just stick with that? Mainly because the ablation had been offered and I thought why would I be offered that if they didn't believe it could help me. The offer was still there even when they knew the flec was working. Some of the posts here terrified me that I was making a mistake, why upset the apple cart I was feeling good and no AF but then other posts were really encouraging and positive. I spoke to the arrhythmia nurse and she was willing to arrange a date that suited me work wise (my name was top of the list last October) so I knew I could have a decent time off to recover. I asked my EP, whom I met for first time Thursday, and he said the effects of flec can wear off and there was an 80% success for lone AF like mine. I had confidence in him everyone I know, who knows him, said how good he is (I work in the hospital). Early days but glad I did it. I think if I had seen him before I might have opted to go for it end of last year when first offered as he was so positive. I think he is happy to accept referrals from his cardiology colleagues and have the arrhythmia nurses talk to patients so meets us on the day.

sorry long reply

are you thinking about having one?

[Morzine]

Hello Amanda, nice to hear your report. I’m over two months from me be, still good. If you get headaches the next week or two it’s the ablation.....I did what everyone says here rested did nothing at all the first week.....second week still stayed home. Just watch yourself after that don’t over do it, I got a bit blasé and fekt so good I think I over did my daily walkies......felt knocked out exhausted so just listen to that body!

Onwards and upwards eh!

Sue

[AIW58 in reply to Morzine]

Thank you - yes I had a bit of migraine visual aura this morning. I wonder why that happens. I get the odd migraine anyway so would probably have just though it was the bright sun triggering it if it hadn't been mentioned here. I feel fine but am making myself rest. I am mindful, though, that we decondition quickly, so I'll be weaker from the muscle loss associated with just sitting on top of the effects of ablation. I wont rush it though I appreciate the advice from everyone. Glad to hear you are doing well.

[Redders]

Glad you are feeling good and hopefully that will continue. Guy Hayward has done all three of my ablations under GA, the last one being September. I have the odd run of AF when I get tired but I’m not on any meds except apixaban. Apart from statins and magnesium supplement. Best wishes and see you next Exeter meet-up

[AIW58 in reply to Redders]

Thank you, how long does the AF last when you get a run? Yes doing too much and associated with not enough water was a trigger for me so I shall continue with my prevention tactics. I take Mg too.

Sorry to be missing the meet up but I don't want to travel on my own and my husband is working.

next time I hope.

[Redders in reply to AIW58]

Morning AlW58, my af runs don’t last long, I have a lie down and maybe a nap and I’m fine when I’m rested. Maybe a hour at the most now. Yes next time we meet up at Exeter I hope you can make it. Keep well. Val

[AIW58 in reply to Redders]

Thank you, that doesn't sound too bad. I could cope with that. 😊

Enjoy Weds.

Amanda

[Hidden]

Glad you are feelings good take care

[AIW58 in reply to Hidden]

thank you I will

[KazDD]

Wishing you a restful and uneventful recovery.

Your history is very similar to mine except by shortest episode of AF lasted around 15 hours. Have had IV chemical cardioversion 4 times over the past 3-4 years and was due to have my first ablation Monday but got a call last night to say it had been cancelled. Left with mixed feelings of relief (very anxious about it) and disappointment as I think (hope) it's the right path to follow.

Rest, rest and more rest and enjoy the sunshine!

[AIW58 in reply to KazDD]

oh hard luck re cancellation what a blow once you are psyched up for it. Are you having a GA? I was nervous but, as so many people here have said, it really is fine, certainly having a GA means you know nothing about it. Do you have a new date?

I'd def go for ablation with the amount of treatment you've had to undergo. My feeling is that it wouldn't be offered if there wasn't good evidence it helps.

really hope you don't have a long wait.

[KazDD in reply to AIW58]

As you say having psyched myself up for it it was disappointing and now I have to go through that build up again. Much of my anxiety is that I am having sedation rather than a GA. I can't quite get my head around the fact that a group of total strangers want to cut holes in my groin, push wires up into my heart then freeze bits ........ and they want to do this whilst I am awake!!! I have only met with my EP once, about 12 months ago, and the dominate memory of what was said by him is "most patients tolerate it" Not very reassuring!!!

[AIW58 in reply to KazDD]

When you go in do make your concerns clear. Could you ring your arrythmia nurse to get some reassurances? Reading other people's posts who have had sedation they seem fine but I understand your concern. I can reassure you that they don't cut holes in your groin they use a catheter a bit like the cannula they use for a drip in your hand only obviously longer. Also they will numb the area. They don't want patients in pain and distress so tell yourself that. You won't be awake awake just aware. Do you do any relaxation breathing/ yoga?

Do let us know how you go on.

Any idea of new date?

Amanda

[KazDD in reply to AIW58]

Hi Amanda,

I have verbally been told the 15th but will wait until the confirmation letter arrives before I pencil it on my calender. Fingers crossed it won't get cancelled a second time. I will definitely be letting them know how I am feeling, they will probable be able to spot it before I say anything....lol.

It must be a huge relief for you now your ablation is over. I hope you continue to recover uneventfully. Enjoy the rest!

Kaz

[AIW58 in reply to KazDD]

Yes I'm still feeling fine. But am staying psyched up for a set back so as not to be too disappointed if it happens.

Where are you having your ablation? Do you know why it was cancelled last time?

Will be thinking of you on 15th and hoping to read that it all went well and sedation was OK.

amanda

[KazDD in reply to AIW58]

I'm having it at The Royal Sussex Hospital in Brighton. They said an emergence had come in. I am going to focus on my supply of music, reading materials and what ever else I need to take with me for the time being.

[AIW58 in reply to KazDD]

A good hospital I believe. Yes good idea to turn your mind to other things. Will look forward to hearing how it all went. 😀

[Brizzy5000]

Well done rest up and enjoy the peace and quiet of a normal heart rythem

[AIW58 in reply to Brizzy5000]

thank you

[Kaz747]

Glad to hear you’re doing well so far Amanda. Relax and enjoy being waited on.

[AIW58 in reply to Kaz747]

thank you, I am

[Jc24]

Glad everything looks good! Enjoy your recovery nice and slowly! 😊

[AIW58]

thank you. I will

[Bazinga11]

Happy to hear you are doing well. I am post ablation almost two months n doing OK too. lemme know if u HV any questions. I did HV slight constipation. is of anesthesia ..ate prunes worked wonders...tc..

[AIW58]

Thank you. 😁