3 weeks post ablation throat pain

[Diamondcat]

I had my 1st ablation 3 weeks ago. Currently in a&e as I have had throat and neck pain since last night and pain in my upper chest when I take a deep breath. Anyone else had this? X

[jeanjeannie50]

No, I've never had this after my ablations, but I've read here of people who have and it's been an infection. I believe that treatment with antibiotics has been the cure.

Please let us know how you get on.

Jean

[Buffafly]

No, but it’s good you’ve gone to A&E. I had it straight after the ablation but you shouldn’t have it at this stage.

[Diamondcat in reply to Buffafly]

So after 7 hours in a & e I am finally home. ECGs, chest x rays, troponin tests all good so appears my heart is doing well. However they were stumped about this pain I have in my throat/upper back that gets worse when I lie down. They are concerned that some sort of damage could have have been done to my oesophagus during the ablation which can be dangerous . I have been advised to call Barts first thing tomorrow to discuss with them. Anyone know what this could be? Or heard of it? X

[Buffafly in reply to Diamondcat]

The burns in RF ablation can sometimes be near (a bit too near) the oesophagus and can cause a bit of inflammation which doesn’t show until some time after the ablation. This would have been mentioned in the risks listed before your ablation but a serious problem is very rare, however you should of course do as suggested 💜

[Buffafly in reply to Buffafly]

PS This is the reason why PPIs are often prescribed to be taken for several weeks after ablation.

[lovetogarden in reply to Diamondcat]

Good that your heart checked out OK! Reassuring. Frustrating about the pain. I had trouble taking deep breath after ablation, but I don’t remember severe pain. I did end up with some vocal cord damage after an ablation. Damage from the general anesthesia intubation. Ironically, I had to have surgery to fix that and of course they had to do general anesthesia again to do that surgery. Good luck tomorrow. Hope whatever is causing the pain clears up quickly.

[Singwell in reply to lovetogarden]

I'm seeing the EP on Friday this week to discuss possible ablation. Did you have to have a general anaesthetic or was it a choice? As a singing person I'd be annoyed to say the least if they damaged my vocal cords during intubation. I know it happens, especially if the tube is forced down.

[lovetogarden in reply to Singwell]

GA seems to be the norm here in the US. I was never offered an option. Frankly, I was happy to be out! But if I was a singer, that would concern me. Something to discuss w your Dr. I get the sense that UK drs take a different approach.

[KMRobbo]

I had a pain immediately after, but it was more like I had swallowed something and it had got stuck at heart level. A glass of water shifted most of the pain immediately, and it was all gone in a hour. My EP prescribed me PPIs in case it was to do with the Pradaxa I was taking but the pain had gone long before I got the prescription. Do you take Pradaxa or any drugs that can cause reflux? Was your ablation Cryo PVI or was it RF?

[Ppiman]

If it doesn't improve, which I gather it most likely will, I suspect you will be given a gastroscopy to have a look at the food pipe or oesophagus. This is a good thing to have anyway when you're older to see if the acid from the stomach is not leaking into the food pipe, or whether a small hiatus hernia is present. They will also check to see if the ablation caused any kind of damage to the food pipe.

Steve