Hello. I had my cryoblation eight weeks ago and my heart is great. Unfortunately my diaphram nerve was injured and my right lung isn't expanding properly. I am really breathless on exertion and although the injury has shown on a special X-ray I have not had any advice. The hospital was brilliant on the day of the day of the ablation but I feel a bit abandoned now. I really need advice. The plan is for me to see the consultant for my post ablation consultation and then six months later to have another X-ray.
Has anyone else had this and what did you do to help yourself? I saw my GP last night who listened to my chest and could clearly feel that the lung isn't expanding. He suggested that I gently increase my exercise . I will try but it is difficult. I am just eighty but have lost two stones in an effort to help. I am nice and slim now😊
I gather this is an unusual complication and is more likely to happen when the heart has a freezing procedure
I would really value any replies.
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Mouchkin
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Phrenic nerve damage like this is not an unknown risk with ablation and I think we have had three or so people here who have suffered it so quite rare when you think of the 5000 or so ablations a year here in UK.
From what people have said it does take up to a year to recover so with luck things will get better for you.
Thank you Bob. I remain optimistic...and am very grateful that my heart is doing well ,though I am still in the blanking period. I am in the U.K. I phoned my consultants secretary and left a message asking for advice. All that he said was that my right lung had paralysis and that they would X-ray again in nine months. I needed to know what I could do to help myself get better. Did I need to push myself and excercise or did I need to rest. His letter back to me offered no help..I wonder if the secretary conveyed the message correctly?
I think just keep acative and within your capability. It is not the lung that is paralysed as they do not have muscle. It is that side of your diaphragm which pulls and pushes the lung like bellows on a blacksmiths fire. This is controlled by the phrenic nerve and if that gets damaged during the ablation (it runs very close to the heart ) then your lung will not be exercised. Nerve damage does take a long time to recover. I had a small cancer removed from my forehead three months ago and there are still some areas of numbness up there but gradually coming back to life.
Thanks BobD ...I am fine pottering about if I sit down every so often. Going up stairs and lying in bed are problems. I do notice that I am less giddy when I move and I reckon that is a good sign.
Interesting that no one mentioned, in the posts about this , that their heart was playing up!
I am so grateful to have such an improved heart beat...so far so good.
Yes re nerves I agree. I had Shingles in my face and head a few years ago. It took about a year for the pain to subside from the nerve.
Sorry to hear of this rather elongated blip. I don't know if this would help but Pilates type breathing is the opposite of diaphragmatic breathing ( loosely speaking!) It teaches you to use your intercostal muscles ( the ones between your ribs which are less effective than the diaphragm which is a big muscle separating chest from abdomen). If there is a good physiotherapist or pilates teacher in your area they may be able to teach you ways of maximising your lung expansion on the affected side. Your GP may if you prompt him refer you to a physio. Best wishez Wendyb
Since that previous posting my wife has had a second ablation (by RF and under anaesthetic) without any phrenic nerve damage. Things are going well (touch wood!). Should you have to have a second ablation, I'd suggest you consider going for RF rather than cryo and under anaesthetic. Hope your phrenic nerve problem resolves quickly.
Nerves grow back at the rate of about an inch/month. Maybe your doc is holding back on acting because those nerves need to regrow before they can start operating the diaphragm properly again?
It’s encouraging that they are unconcerned - it likely means there’s no imminent danger - but it’s also careless and unprofessional to not answer your questions directly and to your satisfaction. You deserve peace of mind.
Exactly! Thank you. I would be easily reassured if just told to wait and see and had been given some advice. I was so impressed with all the medics and my consultant. I wrote a thank you letter which they really liked ( I was a nurse years ago and also a Patients Advocate for nine years before I retired) I felt the communication ,once I had left the hospital, was lacking. I guess I am afraid to rock the boat and that's why I went to my GP who was sorry for me ! I will just have to do what I can and wait until I see the consultant in three months.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?!) because the complication didn't effect your heart it's probably of negligible interest to your consultant etc. I doubt that their position will change.
I think you're right to go to your GP for referral on for rehab. But I would encourage you to keep persisting until you connect with an expert you feel confident in. You're the perfect person to advocate for quality care for yourself!
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