Ablation recovery

[Shcldavies]

Has anyone felt as good as new just 7 days (or there about) after an ablation. I am trying to understand why the experts continue to think that recovery is as quick as they tell everybody when every post I read here and my personal experiance suggests that recovery takes 3, 6 or even 9 months. Are we really the exception to the rule?

[CDreamer]

No, I felt as good as new the day after the ablation - then did far too much far too soon despite warnings from my friends here - then ended up in ACC for 3 days and had to have a second ablation.

Recovery is very individual and some may recover much quicker than others but to really heal properly, to not experience elevated HR, to regain stamina, to not have ectopics when exercising or at other times may take 3-9 months.

Just be mindful that although you may feel as good as new, your body needs time to heal and it will let you know if you do too much so the trick is to stop and rest just before symptoms kick in.

Long may NSR continue, wishing you a speedy recovery.

[Shcldavies in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you, I take it that you believe the first ablation would have worked if you had not overdone it.

[CDreamer in reply to Shcldavies]

Who knows? Unfortunately I’m not blessed with hindsight. All I know is that because I felt so good I wanted to ‘catch up’ with all the jobs I hadn’t been able to and the AF then returned with a vengeance and I became much more symptomatic that the decision was to do another ablation asap. The healing or ‘blanking’ recovery time is important for long term recovery and therefore I would always advise do as I say, not as I did!

[Shcldavies in reply to CDreamer]

Yes, I agree. I do feel a little sorry for all those that go through this and do not have such a forum to help them understand that it does normally take much longer than they have been told.

[Beta44]

I think it took me two or three weeks to get back to normal. However, this was following cryoablation which is simpler and quicker. I am retired so no heavy lifting at work and so on. Different for different people and circumstances.

Peter

[Shcldavies in reply to Beta44]

Thank you, that's good news, at least the Docs are right for some.

[ThinLizzy1]

I am 4 weeks on from my ablation. Before the procedure I was having flutters every 24 hours which Flecinade would stop in an average of 3 hours. For the first week after the ablation the flutters came at 2 day intervals and in the last 3 weeks (since the first week) the intervals have averaged around 3.5 days also the Flecinade works much more quickly on occasions within 10 mins and no more than 30mins.

When I have had flutters they have not been as pronounced.

I have not forced the issue yet my drinking alcohol which was an additional trigger previously.

In shot I am cautiously optimistic that the procedure has worked.

[Shcldavies in reply to ThinLizzy1]

That's good news, looks like your recovery is much in line with the fact sheet on here.

[jennydog]

I had a GA. About a month after my ablation I asked 2 senior nurses how long it took to feel less tired after a GA and they responded simultaneously saying "About 6 months."

I had my ablation on a Tuesday and didn't drive until Saturday - better safe than sorry!

If you have a burnt hand then you can watch it heal. How long will it take to heal? 3 weeks?? Your heart has been burnt internally so it needs time and rest to heal.

Festina lente ( Hasten slowly )

Very best wishes

[Shcldavies]

Thank you, yes looks like my recovery is just that slowly and so far surely.

[Quilafizz]

The experts tell you this because they have never had one. It takes MONTHS!

[Shcldavies]

Thank you, yes I agree, just don't know why they don't tell us what to expect

[AIW58]

Hi I had my ablation under GA for PAF just over two weeks ago and I have to say I felt fine from the start. I was glad I asked for a two week sick note as otherwise I'd have gone back to work and I've enjoyed pottering at home. I was relieved I didn't feel as bad as I was expecting to based on posts here. I've felt no I'll effects apart from some episodes of the visual aura. Until yesterday when I had a busier day as attended a 5 hour meeting (just sitting nothing stressful ) for a community group I'm a member of and then when I got home did some tidying and hoovered. An hour later I had an hour or two of ectopics which settled when I just lay down. May be a coincidence that they came on when I'd done more in the day. Also got indigestion/heartburn which I've not had for a while so they may be connected.

So I think it is wise to rest but yes I I did feel well immediately afterwards.

[Shcldavies in reply to AIW58]

That's good news, thank you. Hope you continue to recover without any problems. In my experiance I get more ectopics when I am not doing so much and my heart rate is lower. I think this just shows that we are all different but it still takes time (months) to be fully back to normal.

[Hidden]

It doesn't have to take 9 months. But 7 days is not long enough to give your body to also heal internally. It needs a lot of energy to heal.Don't waste it on activities that can wait.

BobD has written some very good guidelines about dealing successfully with ablation.Take it easy and rest a lot. For me it took me about 6 weeks to feel my energy level returning to pre-ablation level. irina

[Shcldavies in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, I agree. I am starting to feel a bit like my old self at 7 weeks after an ablation, not as good as new but I have been recovering from a Cardioversion in December then ablation in February so not doing much for 4 months will take time to recover from. As you say keep what energy you have for recovery.

[loobylou777]

I am three weeks post ablation with sedation only at the burning stage as it was painful for paroxysmal atrial flutter. Felt very tired for first 2 weeks and needed to rest and sleep lots during the day. Any exercise like short walks exhausted me. Third week on and my energy is returning but I feel it will be some time before I am back to my very active normal self!

[Shcldavies in reply to loobylou777]

Thank you, yes your recovery is very similar to mine, I am starting to feel more like my old self now at 7 weeks. The good news is that nearly everyone does recover eventually, some within days, most within 3 months, some many more months. Do not do too much too soon or it could affect your recovery.

[Kellyjelly]

I have wondered about this so much since my ablation, I was told 3 days and you will be fine but take a week just to be on the safe side. Where do they get that time frame from?? That has certainly not been my experience or the experience of the majority of people here so I wonder why it never seems to filter back to the EPs and arrhythmia nurses?

[Shcldavies in reply to Kellyjelly]

Yes I find it really strange and there does not appear to be any logic behind it. If the EP had said it would normally take up to 3 months to recover, sometimes longer, then we would expect to experiance some problems in recovery and take it more in our stride with less worry. At least we know now to listen more to the recovery fact sheet rather than the EP.

[Kellyjelly in reply to Shcldavies]

I would have coped so much better if I had been given more realistic expectations and advice from the hospital. It is very difficult when you are told face to face by the man that did the ablation that you will be good as new in a few days. Even though at that point I had read the factsheet and everything on the forum contradicting this I still wondered/hoped that the EP knew best.

How can there be such a disparity between the advice given and the experience of what would appear to be a large percentage of patients?

[Shcldavies in reply to Kellyjelly]

Yes, same here. I feel sorry for the many who do not see this site and know no better. It really is comforting to know others are experiencing the same or similar recovery.

[Hidden]

My ablation was effective immediately in terms of re-establishing a normal heart rhythm, and just a few days to get over physical effects of having had a procedure carried out.

[Shcldavies]

That great news thank you, unfortunately it seems to be the exception rather than the rule for many. Hope you continue as it should be well done.

[Hidden]

Hmm, it's a bit of a subjective one that.

I felt great for the first 10 days following ablation, but had no energy.

at 10 days I started with horrible palpitations, this lasted for weeks, but was not AF

It took at least 3 months for my energy levels to start coming back

[Shcldavies]

Yes, thats much the same as most on this site, it just takes time.

[Sozo]

Hi Shcldavies quick question for you, did you ever have queeziness to your stomach in your recovery days and weeks? FYI I also have high heart rate, low blood pressure and soooo fatigued. Ty for all your help with your posts!!

[Shcldavies]

We all recover differently and at different times, I do remember only wanting bland foods for months after. I believe drinking water and eating avocado and bananas is good for recovery.