I have not long had an ablation over 3 weeks ago ( was cardioverted 5 times before it over the years and are on meds for my heart ).
But after a few palpitation episodes and going out rhythm twice the 3rd time was unlucky as it stayed out . I got checked out at a&e but next day sent me home and said would refer me back to the QE.
That was 8 days ago and I'm still out rhythm my heart rate is around 80 to 120 ( using a wahoo tickr )
I have put my gym membership on hold but wanted to know if there was any kind if exercise I could do but not send me into mad rhythm like over 160 when I do some kind exercise at home .
I have put if going back to work while out as I've never been sent home like this before as always been cardioverted. But looks like I've even got to go back to work like this, with loads breaks as xant over do myself ..
Any help would be great I'm 47 .
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Zombiebenny
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Seems a bit soon to be tackling work outs. I have read various info articles that it may take anywhere from 6 weeks to several months for the heart to settle down. Remember it was seriously invaded. I had an ablation last July and stuck with light exercise of my regular duties caring for four horses but didn't go into heavy cardio stuff for several months.
Zombiepenny said that he/she had put her/his membership on hold. So I was inquiring about that - believe me I know that after an ablation one should be a couch potato for 2 weeks.
I know that should be doing nothing and the only thing I've done to warrant exercise is cut my small garden and clean my car once .
I know it takes a while to settle etc but its deffo out of rhythm and stayed like it for a total 10 days straight now and this is 13 days after ablation.
And the 2 times it went out and back 1st one was 10 hours 2nd was 4 hours .
Firstly that must be so disappointing for you. I would suspect they sent you home because A&E would not have the expertise to advise and would want the experts who performed the procedure to treat you so the sooner you can get to see your EP, the better.
Write a letter (letters cannot be ignored by the NHS whilst records of telephone calls or emails are not kept) ring their secretary and seek a consultation ASAP.
Are you on any medication such as rate or rhythm control?
In answer to your exercise question - nothing that will elevate your HR or which would cause breathlessness.
I had to have a second ablation within 12 weeks in similar circumstances, thankfully that worked.
My third ablation was this past March (4) and five days later, I was back in Afib. I had heard that taking magnesium might help and so I took about 600 mg for about two weeks until I noticed that my ankles were getting swollen but my erratic heart beat quieted down appreciably. So, I stayed at 325 mg magnesium citrate and on April 2, I slipped back into NSR! And have been in NSR since. Sometime when I feel an ectopic beat or weird beat coming on, I take deep breaths and the strange beats vanish. I now take magnesium glycinate (Blue Bonnet from Amazon) and feel fine, ankles normal.
I would say start with a gentle walk. There is a great book called the Haywire Heart which deals with exercise / endurance and AF .. Basically if you feel upto some exercise then do it , if not take a break .
Body weight exercises are great to do at home. Research Pavel and his "grease the groove concept!" After I write this I will go do some more pull ups following his method. Strength building with a lot of rest. It is great to keep your "positive addiction" without gym withdrawal! Cheers!
I did call the QE and got thru to the secretary of the dr. who done my ablation but he away and said she didn't recognise my name but asked for my NHS number and would get back in contact with the manor and get this sorted so can be seen at the QE clinic.
They said they didn't want to cardiovert me as so close to having ablation but the pain is not knowing what can or can't do plus I am lucky that get full sick pay but I will have to go back to work as I can't wait around as will need time off for when they do what they want to next time .
Jedimaster is your age - May I suggest you look at some of his posts. Returning to none physical work if you are fulfilled by it I would think is fine but avoid any stress & seek help & support around managing stress.
I am sorry to hear you are having AF so soon after your ablation but please you must listen to your heart!
I know too you are relatively young. I had my first AF attack at 37 and finally had an ablation at 58. I do understand.
I really thing that EP's under play how invasive an ablation is. If we had scars afterwards I am sure we would all take it more seriously!
Your heart tissue has been either frozen or burnt... Think about it....
I would advise really not washing a car, or mowing a lawn , as all upper body exercises and that will put your agitated heart under pressure it doesn't want or need right now while recovering and creating the scar tissue it needs to form for the ablation to be successful.
You sound fit and healthy otherwise, but I'm afraid you need to be a little more patient and take time off from all strenuous exercise for at least 3 to 6 months if you want this ablation to be successful. They are expensive procedures and have quite long waiting lists , so although you feel it's an injustice to have AF while younger, you are also lucky, like me, that we are in an age where so much progress is being made in quality of life treatments for it.
Sit back and do something completely different for a while during a much needed and essential part of the healing process.
Take up yoga and mindfulness ( something to talk about!) maybe while waiting to get back on the exercise treadmill. You might end up finding it actually quite enjoyable doing something completely different , while letting your heart have time to recover from its trauma.
I often find with my unstable PAF exercise is a bit of a circle.
If my AF was stable, I'd do more activity like the good old days of 5-10 miles walking on days off and 7-10 miles walking at work - then that'd help to make my general health improve and assist the AF to be more stable which means I could do more activity and exercise more and improve my general health and go some way to make my Af more stable..... and so on
Ok, so I'm going to say exercise and build it up slowly. I'm 52. Attached pic (ah, can't attach a pic, but it's gone from A Fib daily to none for 2 weeks 4 months after procedure) is my heart progression over 4 months post ablation. I was testing 3 times a day using a Kardia, red means in A Fib, green means ok.
I was doing gentle walks after 3 weeks, but also have a Garmin with 24x7 HR so was keeping my HR under 120bpm, which did mean stopping on hills etc.
I started gentle running and biking 5 weeks after ablation, once again not letting my HR go over 120bpm.
I posted a link on here showing exercise helps reduce A Fib.
BUT LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If HR is high when resting, I'd stay resting. A early test run my HR shot up to 140bpm, so I turned around and walked home.
Don’t panic, speak to the arrhythmia nurses! After my Ablation 5 years ago my heart was all over the place for a month and didn’t settle properly for 3 months. I was seriously annoyed and thought that they had really messed me up and made things worse! The nurses gave me realistic time frames for recovery (there is apparently no such thing as a minor heart (procedure🤔)
I was between 28 BPM & 130 BPM all at rest even a stroll to the shops had consequences. Long story short after 4 months I started to exercise cautiously and now run anything between 3 an 10 miles 2 to 3 times a week, have just completed a PADI open water diving course an am on no meds at all. At 59 I am fitter and healthier than I was at 40 a second chance I intend not to squander! I know I was lucky it appears to have worked well first time but hope this gives you some enthusiasm to wait then return to your exercise it’s far too early to let worry be a factor. All the best for the future👍
Finally got in contact with the receptionist for the dr who done my ablation and she says that it looks like I've got to wait till the dr will be doing a clinic at my local hospital which is the 17th July but that's not confirmed.
I did go and see my works occupational health and they told me I can't return while out of rhythm as work in a factory shop floor .
This waiting game is slow moving but not good as feel useless.
Just wish would cardiovert me again until they decide what they going to do again ..
After still being out of rhythm since my failed ablation I finally had my appointment to see the doctor who done the ablation and after hearing what I said about how been feeling etc then asking for an ecg to be done with 10 seconds he said we will cardiovert you again so now waiting on that to come thru the post and hopefully will be all sorted and back to work asap .. it's been a long struggle not been able to do much while out of rhythm so roll on the appointment.
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