Post Ablation

[Ochg]

Hello everyone just to let you know I am now on day 10 following my ablation. I was told that the procedure went well, I have very little recollection of it really. Mind you the following morning I had a bit of a wobble, felt pretty awful, heart rate all over the place and really bad chest pain. Resulted in me having oxygen and a couple of doses of morphine, was kept in hospital for three days. I am now staying with my sister and brother in law while I start my recovery, as I live alone really didn’t want to be on my own just now.

I have read the fact sheet many times regarding what to expect post ablation- but really didn’t realise just how easily fatigued you can be. I have had a few episodes of AF, which thankfully soon settled after taking an extra Flec - as a PIP. What I am having problems with now though is early morning very low blood pressure, this morning it went down to 90/67, normally my BP is around 130/70. When it’s this low makes me feel really unsteady when walking, so still not been out for any exercise, however my sisters garden is fairly large so I am able to get a small walk round the garden a few times each day. Mind you sometimes this can feel like I have done a marathon! Trying very hard not to get too down about this, I am hoping that in time energy levels will start to increase as each day passes, I think I need to be more realistic in my expectations, as you have all said on previous posts- rest, rest and more rest. Need not to feel guilty about not being able to get up and go I suppose, daft really but I must admit I am having a bit of difficulty coming to terms with just how debilitated I feel. Must think positive though, and keep telling myself that I will feel better in time.

I would really appreciate any advice from you kind folk though as to what could be causing my BP drops, and how to not get so down I suppose - I don’t want to let my family know this so trying hard not to let them see. Any advice and support you can can offer I would really appreciate, thank-you.

I would however just want to say to anyone thinking about having an ablation to go for it. I am glad I did, my AF episodes have greatly reduced, and the procedure wasn’t no where near as bad as I thought. Just a few little hiccups afterwards that I am sure will resolve soon.

Thank you for reading my post, sorry it’s a bit long winded , feels better now that I have actually written it down.

Best wishes to all,

Keep well and safe,

Shirley

[Jajarunner]

Hi Shirley

Week nine here and still fatigued! And when I overdid I knew all about it four the next week, so tired.

But, re your blood pressure question, I felt awful after my cardioversion as they did not reduce my arrythmia medicine doses despite heart beat lower. If you were in afib before the ablation that could be the case. I should call your arrythmia nurses, mine at Papworth are awesome.

Good recovery

[Ochg in reply to Jajarunner]

Thank you Jajarunner for you reply, I will call my a fib nurse tomorrow .

Hope you are feeling better now, onwards and upwards for us both! But slowly me now thinks!,

Take care,

Best wishes,

Shirley

[Jajarunner in reply to Ochg]

I'm now booked in for a 48 hour monitor just to be safe. I love my arrythmia nurses they are angels.

[Alessa69]

So glad that all went well for you Shirley , I was was very relieved to get your news . After a difficult 25 hr episode last weekend , I’m now booked in for one too......

[CDreamer]

Sounds like you are doing OK, readjusting expectations is hard but necessary.

Low BP - BP will drop during the night if you lie prone - lifting the head of the bed with books, brick etc will help. Advice for low BP especially 1st thing in the morning is to drink 2 glasses of water before you rise, take your time and go from lying to sitting to standing slowly. As long as it doesn’t dip continually below 90 it’s not considered unusual but everyone reacts very differently to fluctuations - which seem very common for months after ablation.

I’ve had low BP all my life and struggled to stay conscious on many occasions. I find following the advice from AA STARS site here helps:-

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

I’ve used the bearing down type of squat works very well.

[Ochg in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your advice, will try all you have suggested, will also have a look at the Website, thank you again for your support and guidance,

Shirley

[BobD Volunteer]

Shirley what we originally wrote in the fact sheet which we were not allowed to print was "Week one TV remote only . Week two you can make some tea. " Yes please adjust you expectations.

[Ochg in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob for your advice, very much appreciated.

Shirley

[Mouchkin in reply to BobD]

I really agree with this. Pity you couldn’t put it in the fact sheet😪 It is over a year since my ablation. I feel really well now but it has been slow. I feel better than I have for years. I had to take it slowly and it paid off.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Shirley, good to hear from you.

The way you are feeling sounds quite normal for 10 days after your ablation.

After my first one I was off work for almost 3 weeks. When I had my second one I was retired, but can remember still getting tired if I walked too far, months later. After my third I felt better immediately, but my heart raced before I could leave hospital like yours did and I was kept in. Then a few weeks later I went into AF and ended up having a cardioversion. From then on it's all been a lot better.

Whatever you do, don't push yourself to do too much! As CDreamer has said drinking more water should help to bring your blood pressure up.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Jean

[Ochg in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you for your kindness Jean, your support and advice, has made me feel much better. Just knowing you are all just a click away with such a tremendous amount of help, wisdom and guidance is so comforting. I am so very glad to have found this wonderful community of folk.

Keep well and safe,

Best wishes

Shirley

[Rosemaryb1349]

About 2 hours after coming round from my third ablation my BP was so low the nurse stood over me and watched me drink an entire jug of water then she refilled the jug and left me with it with instructions to drink that too. Within the hour my BP was perfect again.

[Ochg in reply to Rosemaryb1349]

Hi Rosemaryb1349,

As you say keeping very well hydrated seems to be the key. Thank you for your reply very much appreciated. I hope you are keeping well, take care and keep safe.

Best wishes,

Shirley

[Tennisking]

Hi Shirley, I know exactly what you’re going through, as I had a terrible time post ablation. My blood pressure always drops when going into an AF Episode, and stays horribly low throughout the episode so maybe you are having AF episodes during the night!!

My Apple Watch confirmed these nightly episodes.

Hopefully things will settle down for you. I’m due to have my second ablation soon, on the 3rd August🥴.

7 months post ablation, and I am definitely in a better place - lengthy AF episodes perhaps once a month compared to weekly before the procedure.

I don’t take any rate or rythm control drugs as they only make things worse for me.

Good luck!

Chris.

[Ochg in reply to Tennisking]

Hi Chris,

As you say perhaps I am having night time episodes, fingers crossed this will settle in time- was fine today BP back to normal for me 110/80 HR 86, that was after having much more water yesterday and before bedtime.

Thank you for your reply, good luck on the 3 rd - will be thinking of you,

Keep well and safe,

Shirley

[Tennisking in reply to Ochg]

Thanks Shirley, it’s actually my second ablation coming up. I really hope things improve lots for you, so you can fend off the need for a repeat procedure👍. If you didn’t read my original Lengthy post reporting my post ablation woes, it might be worth hunting it down as there are similarities to what you are going through!

All the best, and feel free to send me a private message, if it helps!

Chris x

[Morzine]

Don’t expect too much too soon Shirley, it takes time. Day ten is the second week...just rest and Potter.....it’s not worth pushing yourself. Even three months after I’d find some days I was tired if I over did the walking. I remember writing a post in this page asking should I be feeling tired outta three months! Generally I felt fine thrn but over pushing too far resulted in my body putting the brakes on.

Steady steady I’d say....after a few weeks you will feel bavk normal, just dint start goung berserk !

Re the blood pressure I don’t know the answer sorry.

Sue

[Ochg in reply to Morzine]

Hello Sue,

Thank you for your advice, I do hope you are keeping well now.

Take care

Best wishes

Shirley

[Morzine in reply to Ochg]

I rarely think about afib these days and I think the ablation gave me that confidence ....of course if my heart jiggles around in straight away checking my pulse that won’t leave me now I gues but generally I get on with life not worrying like I used to....albeit a slower paced life as the bisoprol plays havoc with energy,,...

You take care, listen to your body....onwards and upwards eh!!!

Sue

[Beta44]

After my cryoablation my Flecainide was stopped but I was left on Bisoprolol for three months to slow my heart rate. This did cause my BP to drop and although I have been off the Bisoprolol for nearly 5years now my BP is still on the low side. I think of it as one of the benefits of the ablation. I try to stay hydrated and don’t leap out of chairs.

Peter

[Ochg in reply to Beta44]

Hello Peter,

Glad to hear you are now well after your ablation. I have only just been started on a rate control as well as the Flecainide, so perhaps need bit more time for ‘things’ to get sorted. Have now increased water intake and today BP has gone back to normal for me, so fingers crossed. Thank you for your kind reply, will take your advice , slowly slowly and no leaping!

Take care and keep well and safe,

Best wishes,

Shirley

[kookiedough]

It was not recommended to have an ablation, I have AF and started last August 2019, but before that I had an attack every 5 years, the 1st time due to thyroid meds to high a dose, then happened again in 5 years said stay away from caffine, then another attack 5 years plus 3 trips to the ER then I was finally diagnosed with AF, so now I take blood thinners, I haven't had an attack but had one Wed July 22, 2020 had to take a flecainide that was prescribed over a year ago and have not had to use, they told me to stay away from alcohol, I have not had any alcohol in over a year but started drinking beer again and I am too heavy, so I think those triggered it, I have to loose this weight, I heard some people can be skinny and still get AF, but I really feel that the weight contributed to the abnormal heartbeat, I would be considered obese and I am 64 yrs now.

[Hidden]

I was messed up for about 3-4 weeks after cryo Sept.30. Heart Doc put me on Flecainide. I'm now steady Freddie, heart rate 57. One AF 4-5 weeks ago for 10-20 min., I think, attributable to the contorted body position I put myself in on the couch, watching TV, eating, and balancing an adult beverage adroitly. Pesky Vagus nerve! Back to runnin' up & down stairs. Feeling good for 70+