Hi I’m new to this group, had cryoablation two weeks ago this Monday. 49 female previous smoker. No other heart or health issues other than tinnitus on occasion. My AFIB started after an emergency laparoscopic surgery for an ovarian cyst removal. Tried all the meds to control but horrible side effects and they were not working so EP decided ablation was the best choice. So here I am post procedure wondering when I’m going to feel great? I’ve heard so many say they had ablations and went back to their normal lives, normal activities within days. I tried pushing myself to go back to work full time 5 days after procedure. I learned real fast that was not smart. I felt horrible, tired, light headed almost passed out from heart rate dropping. My heart is longer racing which is great but I feel terrible still. My EP said another monitor was needed for a month so he can see the drop in rate.
So when will I feel better? Blanking period is 3 months. Has anyone else had my experience? Feeling tired and lightheaded after procedure?? Praying I’m simply being impatient!
Thank you for responding! I need some reassurance please.
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Blessed49
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Welcome to the forum and YES, you are being impatient. Assuming you have some bruising in the groin area where the catheters were inserted, just imagine what the inside of your heart must look like! If you haven’t seen it already, I’ve added a link to a factsheets which you will find helpful regarding the recovery process. It will answer most if not all of your concerns......
Hi, if you look to the right of your screen you will see a heading ‘Pinned Posts’ and if you click on ‘See All’ you will find a link to a leaflet headed ‘Recovering from an Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation’.This leaflet was put together in response to posts like yours and we urge people who come here before an ablation to read it so they don’t get a nasty shock when their ablation doesn’t fit the fairytale scenario they expected.
We are all different, our procedures differ depending on the work done and our hearts react differently. A cryoablation is a ‘first step’ procedure and areas can be missed if our veins aren’t standard and uniform. Really only your EP can find out why you are having problems with your recovery but going back to work five days afterwards surely didn’t help.
The first most important message is to listen to your body. It is your body, nobody else’s and it’s telling you to rest. I’m afraid nobody can tell you when you’ll feel great for that reason but I hope you feel better really soon! 💜
Where on earth have you seen that it's possible to go back to work a few days after having an ablation? At one time, many years ago, we were all lead to believe we'd be almost instantly cured and fighting fit and I dare say a very few may be, but that's certainly not the case in general.
With my first ablation I was off work for two and a half weeks, but I had a desk job and to be honest I could probably have done with a month off. After my second (I'd retired by then) it took over a month before I had energy again and after my third I felt fine immediately.
There is no one statement on recovery time that relates to everyone. So please rest for now and only do very short walks if you feel up to it, never push yourself to do more. If you need several months off work, then so be it. Be kind to yourself, your poor heart has taken a battering.
Sending you a big healing hug and wishing you well.
Hi there I know it has been said already but you are definitely being impatient. I fully understand I wanted the thing sorted and over ASAP. But it does take time , and I have a sneaky suspicion that by “ gettting going” too soon my first ablation earlier this year did not do as well as it could. Think in months not days ...first month you are still recovering and repairing second you are restoring yourself after the procedure in the third month you should then think if rebuilding .... slowly your full and then improved fitness.
Maybe it is a benefit of lockdown that we all have learned with health things are slooooow
So many great comments above - I’d love to meet these people who were back to work with no problems after 5 days because I don’t know any of them. 5 weeks if you are otherwise fit and healthy and more if you are 60+ as I was.
The best outcomes are when you listen to your body, have an understanding employer who will facilitate a graduated return to work.
Everyone is very different and it does depend upon your work - if physical - go very carefully, if stressful - find ways of managing your stress and/or look for another job - your life and quality of life is far more important.
2 regular posters of their experience of returning to work are quite illustrative - Jedimaster and Kaz747 You can look at people’s previous posts by going to Members and searching, click their profile and a list of previous posts comes up.
Welcome to the forum. Oh Blessed I’m sorry but you have been far too impatient. I know it isn’t easy but your heart has been through major trauma after being pushed and prodded and having things done to it that is alien and it isn’t use too. It needs time and your patience to recover. I had a cryoablation last September and it wiped me out for a few weeks before I felt able to do a lot of things and then I got tired. I’m 3 weeks post radiofrequency ablation and although I don’t feel so wiped out this time my body protests quite quickly if I overdo anything and that sometimes doesn’t seem to be after doing very much. Luckily both times I was retired (I’m 67) so I can take it very easy. Please read the fact sheets as they are full of information and tips from those who have been through it.
Ha! It's took me months to return to nearly normal!! It also took me months to recover after s cardioversion so perhaps I am just feeble 😀. I've posted updates post ablation on here regularly which you might find helpful and am going to post a six month post ablation as soon as I get time!!!! Hope it helps xx
Awe poor you, I understand how you’re feeling, but honestly it is such early days, you’ve had anesthetic which takes a toll for a while, then you’ve had your heart take a bit of a beating, and this is such early days. Going back to work after five days was a bit early.....two weeks do nothing, chill. Then slowly slowly give your body time, the thing is we all look fine after the ablation so we dint really see what’s happening inside. I found as time went in I still got days I fekt I was in second gear. In fact I came in the forum saying this and everyone reassured me it was normal. All I can say is in the days you feel you gave no energy, don’t push it, cos I dud and it just takes longer, listen to your body, you will get fluctuations and it doesn’t mean your goung backwards, Chin up, brighter days ahead but it takes time,
Be patient and careful about overdoing it. It took 5 months for me to get back to normal and almost a year for my resting heart rate to return to pre ablation level. My ablation (first and only) was in 2013 and I am still free of af. So good luck 🍀
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