So I’m day 4 post catheter (cryo) ablation and think I perhaps underestimated the recovery.
Unlike many who opt for an ablation, my AF wasn’t that bad and rarely required any medication (once in the last 6 months). I choose to go ahead on the good advice of my EP as it was starting to impact gym/training sessions.
I’m only 38, generally fit and healthy, normal BP and in good physical shape.
The last few days has got me wondering what have I done!! I don’t really mean that, it was the right choice and I’m not complaining but wow, it’s knocked my sideways!!
Since the operation I’ve had:
Sore throat and chest pain (like heartburn) but this passed whilst in hospital.
Slightly tight chest due to suspected PNI (Phrenic nerve injury) during ablation, but have been fine since and post op X-ray was clear. More likely my anxiety and never a PNI in the first place!
Migraine aura every other day (passes in about 30 mins) followed by a slight headache. Quite common as I understand.
High resting heart rate 85-90bpm (I was between 50-60bpm before). I’m struggling to deal with this as it’s difficult to relax.
Afib episodes (today day 4 has been the worst, had them all day). I’ve got a ‘pill in the pocket’ solution consisting of Bisoprolol and Flecainide which I’ve only taken once and don’t really want to take.
I’d be interested to hear from those that can relate to the above and offer any words of wisdom for the future. Also, I’m interested to hear from those of a similar age to me and the outcomes for them!
Thanks
Rob
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PLEASE go to heartrhythmalliance.org/res... and read our fact sheet on recovery so you know all that we do. It is so annoying that hospitals do not pass this information on. .
Thanks Bob. I’ve since come across this and it’s a shame it’s not provided when discharged from hospital. Would save a ton of anxiety for many I’m sure.
I’ve had 2 ablations, mine were for SVT though not AFib. My first which was unsuccessful, I had age 31.
After this, I had lots of pain for weeks after. Like yourself I was given an X-ray and everything seemed to be fine. I was told to take ibuprofen for inflammation. I had lots of crazy ectopic beats and my heart rate which had always been quite low normally (50-60’s) was constantly in the 90’s which I was hyper aware of.
I feel like we are not really given a lot of information about what might happen afterwards and how it may feel. I actually ended up suffering from anxiety for near enough a year as a result. My consultant persuaded me to have the 2nd ablation 10 months later and I had absolutely none of the above afterwards. So I think every ablation is different.
Hi there, sort of jumping in here, but I see you had to have two ablations to be rid of the SVT. I had one 3.5 months ago and I think it’s back—seeing EP Monday. Could you tell me a little more about how you knew it had failed and if the EP said why ( as SVT ablations are supposed to have such high success rates.). Thank you!
I have posted about my recovery, it may be worth read as it may give you an appreciation of what to expect - just click on my icon to see my posts. Whatever you do take it easy and don't lift anything heavy for at least a month. Your heart will recover but it will take many months.
What you explain seems entirely normal. It took me very many weeks to recover. Don’t worry. You heart has been burned and needs time to heal, scar and readjust to its new environment.
Excellent, well worth the discomfort. I’m just on dabigatran and elantan (for micro angina) now, so really chuffed. So long as I’m careful, there are no restrictions and I can get on with my life!
I just had my AF ablation on Thursday, not feeling too bad although very tired! The first and second nights I had some flashing lights but no migraine, if it hadn’t been for the fact sheet and others comments on here I’d have really been panicking! Think those leaflets really do need to be given out on discharge! Although a fair bit older than you, 62, I too am very fit and active, it’s very hard to adjust to not being able to do things you’ve always done and enjoyed! I’m hoping to be able to get back (in time and not too soon) to doing some light jogging, only 5k (half marathons in past as well as a few marathons) and spin classes but will have to see how things go! Hope you’re doing ok and feel better having read the replies as it all seems normal! Keep us updated!
Thanks for sharing, for me the migraine aura is the most irritating, twice in the same day yesterday! My very best wishes for your recovery, likewise keep us posted!
Hope this helps...I had a migraine aura once about 25 years ago then nothing until about six years ago when I started getting them once or twice a year...being a founder member of the “middle age worried well” I had a meeting with an excellent cardiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital courtesy of BUPA. He suffers himself from migraines. MRI showed nothing wrong with my brain much to everyone’s surprise but he gave me two ace tips. 1. Carry three soluble aspirins with you and the moment you get an aura take them with a shot of espresso. Works a treat 2. Read the excellent book the Migraine Brain. And to finish it all off I am now proud to wear the badge of AFlutter from August 2018 (fixed September 2018 with ablation) and two days later AFib initially fixed by catheter cardioversion and then 10 months later episodes started again and now on Flecainide twice a day. Wish it had never happened but one reads other stories on this site and you just kick yourself for being so selfish when you realise how minor a thing it is in my case. Just come back after a 5k cross country run for the second time in two days and think at 64 there’s an awful lot of my age group and significantly younger who have it a lot worse!
Give it some time...I had some crazy pain the first few days after RF ablation, some oddball beats the first month, but it all seems to be improving. I’m now 2 months in. Some of us are more sensitive to the disturbance of the surgery, I think, and either way, your heart will be trying to figure out how it works again.
I had my cryoablation on November 5. I suffered from my first migraine with aura the evening after leaving the hospital and had a cycle of aura migraines for weeks after. After about 2 and half weeks they stopped. I also suffered with chest pain but not acid reflux. The chest pain was also accompanied by a feeling to cough whenever trying to breathe deeply This also lasted for about 3 weeks or so. They stopped all meds but Eliquis before I left the hospital and I have had ectopics, palpitations and small runs of AF (only minutes), that have gotten much better with time. I went back to work full time at two weeks, but found myself tired in the evenings. I am back to my full workout schedule, but still have a resting HR around 85 (it was 95 to 105 after the ablation). Everything I have read and have been told by my EP and cardiologist is that this is all normal and part of recovery. I am still not at the 90 day mark, but I feel so much better and my heart is so much calmer than it was after the procedure. I am a 53 year old female in the US. I have no other health issues and am very active. I was diagnosed with AF in July of 2018. My episodes included a heart rate near 200 with reduced ventriclular response. I would return to NSR after 6 to 12 hours in the hospital by IV medication on top of my oral doses. I have never needed an electrical cardioversion. Hope this information is helpful. You need some more time to rest. It will get better!
Hi, I'm much older than you but lifelong fit. I had my ablation about 5 years ago and have basically been fine. I had horrendous migraine aura and more for two solid weeks but it did pass and perhaos I have a bonus... I used to suffer with migraines, not so very often but often enough, but since then nothing to worry about really. I have very occasionally felt a bit strange and in desperation took the pop just in case it was my heart, even though I didn't actually feel in afib.it has sometimes helped. As for fitness, I have to balance my expectations now that I an 71 but I'm flattered most people would put me as late 50's in afib and the way I run around in the tennis court. But I have virtually given up proper running. I still ski, climb and bike but to a totally recreational standard and am slowly learning to accept that. I wouldn't therefore put too much down to the afib condition or the ablation in my case, although I would have loved to continue my fitness at a higher level, perhaps the change is just time and age or perhaps it was accelerated by the the 'illness' it is what it is. I do remember hearing advice not to be scared or too anxious about the whole thing as basically the heart is a pump and unlike the liver and other organs it is most times repairable. Be optimistic, but give it time and be patient. You've had invasive surgery! If you were fit befire you will be again. Good luck my friend.
I had every one of the symptoms you describe post ablation. It took me several weeks to get past most of them. Even now, at nearly 7 months out, I still have a slightly higher heart rate (70-80) and a few dips and blips. EP told me that is the AFib trying to come back, but all goes back to normal rhythm.
Early days. Take it easy and don't panic. For the first week after my ablation my heart felt as if it was doing somersaults . BPM increased from 45 to 60 (good for me). BPM increase after ablation is normal. Also had jaw ache,neck ache and migraine. But after 3 weeks back doing light gym and I would say only after 3 months did I feel normal. Don't forget your heart went through a trauma. No AF for me for 10 months but I will take each day as it comes. Also happy days without Fleicanide and Bisopropol!
Hi Much has already been said, and you will already have gathered that it is very early days and you shouldn't be overly concerned with the side effects of ablation, annoying as they are. You are allowed to ask yourself if you should have bothered, and doubt the wisdom of having the procedure, but I'm sure you will benefit in the long run
I was diagnosed with AF in my mid thirties, but didn't have an ablation until my late fifties. I think doctors were much more cautious 25/30 years ago, but ablations were still in their relative infancy, and techniques have improved so much that they are now more willing to suggest an early intervention.
Just a couple of suggestions in these early days. Be very kind to yourself and resist the urge to push it, in terms of exercise, eating, drinking etc. It's ok to shuffle about feeling pretty bruised and sore, for at least another 2 weeks or more likely the first month. By that time it's very likely that the annoying things like the aural migraines ( I had plenty) will disappear, as will the throat and chest soreness, and that feeling of permanent indigestion that many seem to have immediately post ablation. You have youth on your side so the recovery might well be quicker, but you are allowed to take your time!
Aslo re PIP. I was really hesitant to take any medication when I had several AF episodes straight after my ablation. I suppose I was trying to test the recovery. I soon decided I felt better out of AF than in it, so I would take the PIP as prescribed and make the episodes as short as possible. There is plenty of opportunity to come off medication further down the road, and you have nothing to prove this early.
Above all please do come back to the forum as often as you like to ask questions or share experiences. With no disrespect to the medical profession, I have gained far more from this forum than from my doctors, as there is no substitute for listening to someone who has actually been there and got the T shirt.
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