Ok, so I was a bit hyper last time I posted here, just a day after ablation! I was so relieved it was all over and I felt so well!
After a week I walked a mile and felt terrible;
Next day I felt so weary and faint I came back after 1 min of walking!;
day 9 walked .5 mile and felt faint and weak;
Day 12 walk .6 mile, jelly legs, went slowly
Day 13 walk .6 mile, jelly legs
Day 14 (today) a PB (Personal Best!) Walked .75 mile and quicker, legs only protested after half mile and I didn't feel faint.
Away from the walking I've been able to do pretty much anything around the house/garden though no lifting or digging! I mean stuff like spending an hour or so cooking, started yoga on day 12; began stretching and mobility work (bad back always, it hates sitting too much) after 6 days but very gently; light housework (ie no vacuuming); ironing;
I was finding I got faint if I stood too long, but it seems okay today.... 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞. Hope this helps someone with their own.
Ps saw a video animation of cryoablation! WOW, HOW clever?! Incredible!
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Jajarunner
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Well I'm pleased that your ablation was a success.
However it doesn't sound like you have been following the advice to take things slowly...You have been feeling faint and weak. That should be a warning to take things more slowly. There are no medals being handed out!
I understand your wish to get back to your previous level of fitness but it takes time. Your heart has taken an assaulting.
We tell you to rest in our fact sheet. The colloquial version said week one TV remote only and week two you can make tea. SLOW DOWN! The more gentle the recovery the better the results. Don't even think about trying to get fit yet. In three months or so you might start to feel better. Please don't waste all the EPs hard work.
Oh, I thought I was taking it very easy!! I followed all the advice I was given at Royal Papworth and also on the fact sheet where it said only to walk around the house the first week then gradually increase. 😆
The problem is that although the medics know all there is to know about performing an ablation, virtually none of them have ever had one. They generally don’t review their patients for sometimes 3 months, more often 6 months after the procedure by which time most memories of the first weeks of recovery have faded. Better to follow the non-medical advice of those who have personal experience of the procedure than those who don’t. This is particularly the case if they are telling you something you would rather hear!!
If your body is telling you to slow down or stop, it really is best to listen!
The problem with doing more than your body wants to is that you leave yourself open to infections that otherwise wouldn’t get far because your body would fight them off. I’m speaking from experience - hosted Christmas for family 10 days after ablation, then family to stay for New Year weekend, followed by chest infection then bowel infection that eventually got me a week in hospital. Not to mention the fall during a quick walk to the corner shop when my weak leg caught the pavement and I sustained severe bruising and fractured ribs. ‘Back to normal activities in a few days’ means you can heat up your own ready meal!
I do sympathise with you, when you’re used to being so fit it is very difficult to deal with doing virtually nothing! The first couple of weeks after my ablation I didn’t do very much at all! I then started with 5 mins out and 5 mins back of walking avoiding any sort of incline or hill! I then built it up very very slowly, and put on the breaks when I felt more tired, only increasing distance if I felt ok on last walk and during the day after! Just over 4 months and I’m walking 4 miles a day, some days at a fast pace others slower! I still find hills can be a challenge so take them very easy! It’s a bit like following a half or full marathon training schedule (if only) but” on a much smaller scale! I haven’t yet started back on Pilates or got out on my bike (probably won’t for another month or two) I’ve just stuck with walking and during the heat of late, early morning before it gets too hot! Do take it easy, listen to your body and you will get there, slower than you’d like but you’ll get there. I had my follow up 2 weeks ago, by telephone, (4 months) my EP said I could do more exercise now but take it very easy and take it even slower if need be, he said “you can do it, but just be very very sensible”. Take care and let us know how you’re getting on.
Sounds like you are listening to your body, which is good. But all the feeling faint doesn’t sound great.
I was told by my doc that I had no real restrictions in regard to my heart after my ablation, yet it was a good 2-3 months before I felt it responded normally to fairly usual activities. I’m a fit and active person, but could tell that things were different. Keep listening, eat well, sleep well, and hopefully things keep improving!
Thank you for your encouragement. Feeling faint is my 'thing' I always get whenever I feel ill. It's more slight light-headedness, not as if I am going to pass out.
I'm definitely listening to my body otherwise hubby tells me off. Glad yours went well, nice to hear something positive at this time xx
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