Chronic cough post-ablation

[TRheart13]

I had my cryo-ablation In early July. Since that time, I have had an intermittent, hacking cough. Sometimes it starts up in the morning when I wake up, other times it comes on in the middle of the day. I will have these coughing “fits” for several hours at a time. Anyone else experienced this?

The doctor is at a loss. They x-rayed my chest and did some blood tests to check for heart failure. Everything looks fine. The dr thought perhaps damage during intubation? I have been referred to an ENT specialist, but the soonest I can see them is late September.

[CDreamer]

Yes I had a similar cough which took months to clear. Would have described it as irritating rather than hacking though as no phlegm. Mine was due to TOE as it got stuck in my esophagus. I wasn’t intubated. I think quite a few people have had similar after ablation often with sore throat.

[creschendo]

Beta blockers cause me to cough incessantly and I believe this is a well-known side effect for anyone with the slightest touch of asthma. Are you on beta blockers post-ablation TR ?

[Nick1957 in reply to creschendo]

I too have this dry cough especially when waking up first thing in the morning - I'm taking bisoprolol 10mg and 20mg of Rivaroxiban for AF. When I sit up the coughing gradually goes away. I was advised by dr that it could be a side effect (reflux) from taking blood thinners or beta blockers. He advised me to take gaviscon liquid before going to sleep but it didn't work for me! Waiting for 3rd echocardiogram as HR was to high to measure data e hence increase in biseprolol to 10mg.

[MarkS]

Cryoablations have a higher risk of damaging the phrenic nerve, so you could have some damage to that causing your cough. It should be the first thing the doctor considers.

[suebel]

some blood pressure tablets cause a cough. also if you are breathless too it could be disturbance of your pherenic nerve during ablation. i had this and was in hospital for a week i had fluid on my lung and it took about 8 weeks to settle but there is light at the end of the tunnel and i am much better now. i have since had another ablation for atrial flutter and this has been successful so far so good. i have flecanide and verapamil as pips (pills in the pocket) so i can medicate myself if i have an attack i only take them if i do, not on them all the time. I take apixaban anti coagalent and at the moment am managing everything ok. so dont dispair it has taken me 4 years to get to this point and after 2 ablations and a lot of worry i am now feeling much better. regards sue

[Gowers in reply to suebel]

Interesting - I didn't know Verapamil could be used as a pip, is it tablet form? I used to take one a day 240 slow release until it stopped working

[suebel in reply to Gowers]

yes the verapamil is a tablet 40mg i take one and 200mg of flecanide and in about 2 hours my heart settles down again. I have my own machine so i can check my heart and blood pressure and it also flashes up when i am in A/F. I bought it from boots chemist. I think because i am not on them all the time they work better. I live 3 hrs. from the hospital and in a rural place where there is no place with the expert drs.and cath lab so this is the best way for me to manage things. I know i can phone them but being more in control myself i feel less worried and it is working for me at the moment. regards sue.

[Gowers in reply to suebel]

Thank you - yes I have my own machine from Boots + implanted reveal device. Sounds like you have got the correct combination of meds for your af. I shall cardiologist about Verapamil in tablet form.

[fra48]

I had as well cryo followed few days later by a persistent cough with phlegm and hoarse throat which lasted for 2 months. Pneumologist, cardiologist and throat doctor could not find anything wrong. I could barely speak in that period. Then slowly it went away. I had to remind the words of the nurse at the end of ablation ‘be ready to experience all the illnesses typical of cold weather because cryo has frozen yr lungs thru the pulmonar veins’. Be very patient...

[TRheart13]

Thanks for all of the replies. It is comforting to hear other’s similar experiences. I have learned so much from this forum; I wish I had joined before my ablation!