Post Ablation Not Good

[chris45558]

I had my ablation for SVT last Monday. Things were going good until yesterday evening . I had my evening meal then a hour later thought I went for a sleep.

I then started having a pulsating feeling in the top of my stomach below my breast bone. I checked my heart rate which was steady and used my Kardia again showed nothing.

It seemed to go for about 20 minutes then stop but started again and lasted until a hour later I phoned 111 to get some advice. They panicked and sent an Ambulance as they thought it was my heart.

Ambulance was very good did all the checks and said that they felt it was gastro. They called an on call Dr who felt it could be and left a prescription at a local chemist.

This morning I woke up with a similar feeling but also a cough.

I was wondering of anyone else who has had an ablation has had something similar or is this just a symtom of post ablation.

Sorry to ramble on

[BobD Volunteer]

IF you read our fact sheet (see top right ) on Recovering from Ablation you will see that this is all quite normal. Your body has had quite a trauma so give it time. Three to six months should see it OK.

[chris45558 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob I will have a look now

[CDreamer]

I suggest that the clue maybe was postural ie: lying down - especially after a meal. The ablation often affects the gastric tract so go carefully during the healing period & eat small amounts & leave 3 hours after a meal before you lie down .

[chris45558 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you very will definitely bare that in mind. Food was the trigger for my SVT .

[Daibhaidh]

Hi chris45558,

I had my ablation for atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation 8 weeks ago and I had terrible heartburn for about 3 weeks afterwards. I have had a tendency to heartburn for years and have a prescription for ranitidine from my gp which I take as necessary. My ep gave me lanzoprasol to take and explained that heartburn is very common after ablation, however after a few days I went back to the ranitidine as I was getting terrible stomach cramps!

They did help a bit. I also had a cough, especially in the mornings and a painful tight chest. Like you I was panicking as I hadn’t expected to feel so bad. Do you have an arrhythmia nurse? I found mine very helpful and reassuring that this was perfectly normal, everybody recovers differently, get plenty of rest, listen to your body and don’t try to do too much too soon.

It was about 6 weeks before I started to feel anything like normal and pain free.

I’m sure there will be lots of other people along to share their experiences, I found this forum a lifeline when I was feeling at my worst and I’m sure it will be able to help you. Good luck and in the words of Winston Churchill, keep buggering on!!!

[chris45558 in reply to Daibhaidh]

Hi thanks for your reply. I do have a nurse and will give them a shout this morning. I didn't realise that it could effect other parts of your body. The EP forgot to mention that. This site is very helpful and it's good to know other people have had similar things.

[momist in reply to Daibhaidh]

I too have digestive implications with my AF, and I also take Ranitidine twice daily. I was tried on Lansoprolol, but found that after about three weeks it gave me severe diarrhoea and dehydration, so they switched me to the Ranitidine. I go for an ablation in a couple of weeks.

For the OP: My symptoms, which were at times triggering the AF, included the "pulsating feeling in the top of my stomach below my breast bone" that you describe, and associated heartburn as well. That's when I started on the Lansoprolol, to try and stop it.

[Joekham]

Had an ablation last July and also went through a period of gastric problems but that disappeared over time without any medical intervention. It’s now February and have had no post ablation issues. I was weaned off dofetilide and now only on 2 metoprolol daily. No more afib scares.

[chris45558]

I went to see my GP yesterday who gave me some meds for my stomach. So far so good .

[Kia68]

Hang in there buddy, I was in the same boat as you.Post ablation all over the shop, lengthy episodes, short episodes, you name it, I had it! Began to think it was a waste of time. But for the last 7 weeks, apart from odd skipped beat all has been well. All of this since Dec 4th 2019.

[chris45558 in reply to Kia68]

Hi I did wonder if it had been a waste of time. Especially as the post ablation issues are far worse than when i was in SVT. I am sure the long term will be better

[Ecki]

Hi, had my ablation 3 weeks ago. I've been getting symptoms like yours, throbbing feeling in upper abdomen, dry cough, tightness in chest, as well as horrendous visual disturbances, chest pain, tiredness. It's scary, isn't it. I've been relying enormously on the recovery information and the advice of the good people here. Things improve slowly. The body heals at its own pace and I've realised that what my head says I can do isn't what my body can do. A few days ago I tried to help my husband bring some logs from the shed, but that was a big mistake, and I couldn't do anything the next day except rest. Yesterday I managed a half mile walk and I will try to do a little more today. Taking it slow is the way to go. All the best for your recovery.

[chris45558 in reply to Ecki]

Hi

It is amazing what gets effected after the ablation.

I never really suffered a great deal with me SVT but decided to get the ablation. I was disappointed when the Dr said he is not even sure it has worked.

My vision has been playing up too and a 'funny head'.

I so want to get back and ride my bike and getting so bored resting.

I will listen to my body first and see how i feel.

Hope you recovery fully soon.