1 month Ablation recovery diary

[thumpthump]

Hi all, thought this might help anyone considering an ablation to get an idea of the recovery to expect.

It's not designed to scare, perhaps put your mind at rest if you're post ablation and getting symptoms. Of course, everyone's recovery is different and this is by no means representative of all outcomes.

This is my journey so far....

21/01/20: had catheter cryoablation operation. Overnight stay on ward.

22/01/20: had chest X-ray to check phrenic nerve, x-ray all clear. Discharged and sent home. Resting heart rate high around 80bpm, BP normal range around 116/60.

23/01/20 - 3pm got migraine aura without headache, passed in around 30 mins.

25/01/20 - 10.30am migraine aura with headache. AFib episode reported by Apple Watch at 11am (but had actually been going since 2am). 7.45pm migraine aura again.

26/01/20 - around 7.40pm went into AFib after getting up from sofa - only lasted a couple of mins. Had been ok all day until then.

27/01/20 - 9.50am bit of flutter / Afib after eating. Same 11.45pm slight flutter / afib after a short walk and something to eat. Continued getting AFib when standing up.

28/01/20 - 9.30am Afib / flutter mainly when standing up, got quite bad. Episodes throughout day, calmed in evening.

29/01/20 - no remarkable symptoms

30/01/20 - Afib after breakfast 10.30am. Only lasted about 20 mins. Less intense than usual. Nothing for rest of day.

31/01/20 - very light flutter throughout day

01/02/20 - very light flutter in morning, none rest of day. Let myself get dehydrated, headache all day! Must drink more even when resting!!

02/02/20 - a few very light ectopics but no major symptoms

03/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms.

04/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms.

05/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms.

06/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms.

07/02/20 - Afib/flutter started after lunch around 12.50pm and continued most of the day. Felt milder than previous episodes to the point I can hardly feel it.

08/02/20 - mild Afib and flutter, hardly noticeable

09/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms.

10/02/20 - some light ectopics/palpitations.

11/02/20 - did long walk with some hills, coped well and heart rate stable. Some ectopics/palpitations throughout the day.

12/02/20 - first gym visit in morning, kept it light - max peak HR of 125bpm. Felt ok, no issues noticed. Some very light ectopics throughout day but hardly noticeable.

13/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms

14/02/20 - gym visit today, peak HR 136bpm no issues. Some light flutters remainder of day and evening.

15/02/20 - light ectopics/palpitations all day.

16/02/20 - felt weak and wiped out late morning - had to lie down for a bit. It passed and felt better rest of day. Some small ectopics/palpitations

17/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms, did gym workout in evening, 156bpm peak no issues.

18/02/20 - A few mild skipped beats, mainly when lying down. Did long walk today no symptoms during.

19/02/20 - a few random ‘big’ flutters during the day lasting a few seconds and a few ectopics/palpitations beats.

20/02/20 - Went on fairly long walk - ok. Few ectopic/palpitations. Felt more tired than normal today.

21/02/20 - occasional ectopic/palpitations / very light flutter, nothing major

22/02/20 - occasional ectopic/palpitations / very light flutter, nothing major

23/02/20 - some mild occasional ectopic/palpitations / very light flutter, nothing major

24/02/20 - no remarkable symptoms (as of 6pm)!! Resting HR now 74, normal HR still high around 90bpm. Saw my EP consultant for 4 week check today, he is happy with all progress so far (I showed him this diary).

[7164]

Thump thump

I find this very useful

For me please continue

Rod

[thumpthump in reply to 7164]

Sure thing 👍

[Polly159]

Really useful - thanks for posting.

Take care Polly

[thumpthump in reply to Polly159]

Thanks 😊

[higgy52]

your doing okay, don't over do it yet.

can take up to a year to fully recover,

good luck

[thumpthump in reply to higgy52]

Thank you!

[BobD Volunteer]

Pretty well follows what we explain in our fact sheet on recovery. Glad it is on track.

[thumpthump in reply to BobD]

It really does! Thanks 😊

[Jajarunner]

This is great. Yes, please continue 🌝

[cpalmermn]

Good stuff, my process has been about the same, I’m about a month ahead of you. I’m also a relatively active person that developed PAF along the way. Good luck to us all!

[thumpthump in reply to cpalmermn]

Best of luck with your ongoing recovery!

[Camelia23]

Thank you, that's useful

[HiloHairy]

Thank you! Yes, please do continue!

Your experience is much closer to what my doctors have been saying then most of what I've been reading here. I've been delaying mine, worrying that I wouldn't be able to work out for several months or even a year.

I'm in the US. Hawaii actually. The cardiologists here say that after ablation you'll be back to normal in a week or two. Do they say the same thing in the UK?

[thumpthump in reply to HiloHairy]

Hi thanks for your message. I don’t remember my doctor saying I’d be back to normal after a couple of weeks, however at that point the worst of the actual operation soreness might have passed. Might have!

‘Normal’ is very different to many people however after 2 weeks I’d still be taking it real easy (looking back at my diary, I was still doing too much).

Everyone has a reason to delay but I think the process of recovery is far more appealing than the thought of the condition getting worst, which for many it will.

Best of luck, message me direct if you want to ask any other questions. 👍

[Andyu80 in reply to HiloHairy]

Hi Hilo, I had a cryoablation 4 years ago. Had life long AF, with ever increasing episodes in late 40s. Now 53. I was doing approx. 7 hrs cycling per week, and had my first ride out after ablation at 4 weeks post op. I was very careful and kept heart in zone 1/2. I wouldn't worry about working out. I do more fitness now than before the op, am physically stronger, and even started running again.

[thumpthump in reply to Andyu80]

Thanks for sharing. Out of interest how are your AF symptoms since ablation? Any issues?

[Andyu80 in reply to thumpthump]

I have occassional skipped beats, but nothing that lasts longer than a few seconds. And I am not on any medication.

[Hidden]

Interesting diary. Were your symptoms prior to the ablation, in general, worse than after it? Was the ablation itself ok?

[thumpthump in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I took the choice to have my ablation quickly after being diagnosed with AF (due to being young, fit and with only occasional episodes). So for me, the recovery symptoms were worst than before but I guess more predictable!

The ablation for me was straight forward and painless. I opted to have a general anaesthetic rather than sedation.

[Hidden in reply to thumpthump]

I’m 64, but had a first episode when I was 39; then maybe only 4-5 episodes over around a quarter of a century. I wasn’t diagnosed with AF until 18 months ago. I’m a bit surprised they put you forward for an ablation if you were only getting the episodes every six months. Hope all goes well with the recovery.

[thumpthump in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your message. Yes you are right, normally they wouldn’t do the operation so quickly. Being based in the UK, the NHS might have perhaps tried other options first however I’m fortunate to have private medical insurance which covered the operation.

Being only 38 and with mild AF, I felt my EP doctor was attempting to stop the problem sooner rather than later.

[Andyu80 in reply to thumpthump]

My consultant was keen also for me to have the ablation sooner than later. He explained that the heart changes over time, and the op is more successful the earlier it is done. I did ask if I should wait, and he did say he did not recommend that. I had not responded well to the meds when I was in AF.

[Desanthony]

Thanks for this. I am waiting for an ablation and this has been very useful for me. Let us know how you are doing again in another few weeks.

[thumpthump in reply to Desanthony]

Will do 👍