I had the ablation last Wednesday. First off, those cath labs are amazing. The equipment is like whoaaa! My team was amazing from start to finish.
They started in through my right thigh and found I was in flutter which they (hopefully) repaired at a 98% success rate. Afterwards they went through my left thigh to repair my left chamber of my heart. Hopefully my body will respond well to the repair. I was in surgery over 4½ hours and in recovery for several more.
I woke the next morning unable to breath deep and in severe pain. I was convinced I had pneumonia. That was not the case. Apparently I am in a small group of patients (10%) whose heart and lungs become so inflamed from the A-Fib and procedure that the fluid sits. I was given extra lasik and pain meds to help. The doctor said this could last a couple of weeks. The pain is gone but the fluid remains even with the lasik. I was given some medication used for gout but recently they've found it works for the inflammation in cardiovascular patients.
I have had a few instances of rapid beating but I feel that's related more to my breathing.
I was told 3-5 days of bed rest and today is my last day.
I do not feel good. But it's different than not feeling good before the ablation. I want so badly to get up and out tomorrow. I'm just have such a hard time with breathlessness.
It's very excited that I can sleep on my right side but not so much my left side.
Please continue to send good thoughts.
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soberhoumom
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No Jennydog and it can not be to get into the left chambers for reasons we should all know very well. Since access is via a vein and all veins end up in the right atrium there must have been another reason. I have also had wounds in each groin following ablation and even one in my wrist on one ocasion but always been more glad to be back in NSR than the need to find out why. I did ask Richard Schilling once about wrist lines and he told me this was usually into an artery when they thought they might need drugs direct into the heart but not very common.
Interesting about the extra IV. I went to sleep with one IV in my left arm and when I woke up, I had two more threads on my right arm. I was very sick and very drugged until the next morning. I attributed that to the promethazine though.
Hi and thanks for the update. I’m sorry that things went wrong for you and with you a speedy recovery.
Remember to listen to your body and do not push yourself at this stage as it will only stress your body - stress=inflammation=no healing. Rest and recuperation is really important for the body to stay in Rest&Digest mode so that it can heal. If it stresses you to stay in bed, by all means get up but go slow and steady - the tortoise can win the race.
I found staying in positive frame of mind and using the time to catch up on reading, talking to friends and family, researching, listening to audio books or music etc are all good strategies for when I need rest which doesn’t mean doing nothing.
Thank you for your kind & gentle words. It's definitely me being hard on myself because I do feel guilty. Today, I will go through all the piles of mail I've been neglecting. I've found that a sales tax audit is on the books for the early summer months. Fortunately, I have big black lab that loves to keep me company. 💕
Sending you lots of good thoughts 😊 I was also told 3 days and I would be good as new but this really hasn’t been my experience and I didn’t have any of the complications you have had with pain etc. If you don’t feel good please please listen to your body and take it slowly. I did nothing for the first week and pretty much the same for the second. It was challenging but I’m glad I took it at such a slow pace. Of course there are people that bounce back really quickly I think you just have to really listen to your body.
I’m glad you are through the other side and I’m wishing you all the best. Take good care 😊
Thank you Kelly! I'm not one of those that bounce back quickly. I definitely feel more recovery time is needed. I'll do a few chores around the house today and then rest for the most part. My husband has been making juice in the morning. I think it helps with energy. My follow up appointment is on the 16th of May.
I wasn't a bounce back quickly type either but no complications luckily but I did take it super easy and my heart has been nice and calm. Rest maybe sit in the garden if you have one for some light and fresh air. X
Sounds as though you have had a rough time but on the right side of it now. Please please don't rush your recovery and set yourself back. As frustrating as it is resting now will pay dividends in your recovery.
Look forward to your now post ablation future, plan some nice stuff while resting and then pace yourself for the best outcome. Your body has had an onslaught and needs you to love it back to full strength. Be kind to yourself. Thinking of you and wish you a lovely heart calm future. X
Do not think that since your EP said, 3-5 days of bedrest is all you need. Now that the 5 days of bedrest is over, you get to listen to your body and take care of yourself because, as you can see, not even your EP's really care. Do not push yourself, at all. Your heart is pretty sensitive in a normal body, well, look what've allowed to happen. Some dude has burned the inside of your heart! Do not lift anything over ten pounds for a couple of weeks and heal.
Like you I had the pressure and chest pain the next day...really awful, and called the EP's office the next day...given the Rx for colchicine and daily improvement followed! I'd felt fine, the morning after so was unprepared ...not at all the slight tightness described by the doc as possible. Made me think I never wanted to do that again, but the procedure was effective - normal since then, but pulse stays in 90's and resting rate is 88...
Time and patience will help your recovery. I had the tightness and pain in my first ablation- but it passed. I did not have complications you seem to have. Again rest recover and be assured patience, distractions like good movies, books and inspirational music helps. I must admit I can’t say I am patient and want immediate satisfaction but we go on one day at a time
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