I had an ablation done on Dec. 22nd. Originally, the procedure was for PVC’s, but they had to take care of a tachycardia issue instead. After wearing a heart monitor for 48 hrs my dr. said things looked good. My PVC’s were showing up 2% of the time he thinks ablating the tachycardia issue helped . We will re examine in three months
I really want to start walking again it’s been about a year since I have done any form of exercise I went from being a gym rat to do absolutely nothing. My anxiety and fear over my heart issues took control over me. I have noticed just walking short distances, my heart rate will jump to 120 -130 . I know I need to work my way back into exercising, but I see this number and I freak out . Could this be that my heart is still healing from the procedure? Could it be because I have not done any exercising in a year? Is it just my fear? I’m so ready to get my life back!
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I continued to have raised heart-rate and some arrythmias for 9 months after ablation, it’s quite usual so you are still early in the recovery process.
My view is that you need to listen to your body, if your heart is reacting by raising your HR and it feels uncomfortable to you then slow down and pause until it settles to an acceptable lever - which will depend upon your age and fitness level.
What was your average walking rate before you had problems? Mine used to be around 90 for fast walk some 10 years ago but I accepted a long time ago it will never, ever go back to that so I’m comfortable with 110-120 but anything over 120 I pause until my heart recovers.
My average HR over 20 min for a moderate walk on the level is nowadays about 95-115 but we are all different. You do need to work your way slowly and gradually back into exercise, over exercising will stress your body physically which is just as harmful as psychological stress and anxiety so I would urge patience and pacing, neither of which I was any good at - until my body forced me to take note.
Thank you for the advice. I will definitely take it slow. I used to walk 3 miles in about 35-40 minutes. I know it will take me a while, if ever to get back to that.
Anything that stresses your body so will be very individual. I am so exercise intolerant I can do nothing more than 20-30 min walk at moderate pace, 90sec intense interval training with 2 mins of rest between for cardiac and I snack exercise during the day for strength but that’s because of other conditions, not AF, although I soon know when my HR rises that enough is enough!
Simple answer is you must be able to walk (exercise) and talk at the same time. If you can't thn slow down till you can and listen to your body.
I would have thought (I am not, of course, medically qualified) that as it is really only a few weeks since your ablation, that more time is needed for the heart to settle down; three months is usually required before an assessment can be made. That said, the hospital should be providing after-care. It is concerning that, seemingly, many people who have had this procedure seem to receive little by way of such care. With regard to exercise, I would check with the hospital; a very slow steady build up of exercise is usually recommended.
Hello! I have had two appointments post ablation. The first one was 3 weeks post ablation. The 2nd one was for a 48 hour heart monitor. The dr said everything looked good on the monitor and I’m not scheduled to see him for another 3 months. He is the one that I should be exercising. I do agree that there needs to be more care after a procedure likes this. I feel like the medical profession has no idea what your body goes through during a procedure like this. I will be taking it easy when it comes to exercise. I’m going to stick to small bits of walking and build up slowly.
Are you walking fast or slow. If you feel your HR is going high unnecessarily it might be worth asking if a treadmill /exercise test is a possibility. It will take time for your HR to settle but I am surprised that steady walking is elevating it that much. Unless you live on a hill 😉
Walking has been my go to exercise since I was in my teens. I’m 53 now. So, I naturally I walk at a faster pace. I don’t realize I’m walking at a faster pace until I’m walking with someone and they tell me to slow down. It’s just in my nature to walk at a faster speed.
Maybe try and make a conscious effort to SLOW RIGHT DOWN. Until your heart recovers from your December procedure just take things easy. We’re you monitoring your HR whilst walking, before you had the procedure?
It may be that you were in the 100’s before anyway if you a walking very fast
Hi BaseballIt can take months for your heart to heal after an ablation, so gently does it please!
I used to have a resting HR of 46 when I was a runner but with age, less exercise and the 3 ablations I have had my resting HR is now mid 60’s. It is my understanding that your HR will be slightly higher post ablation anyway and will remain higher.
I used to run when I was younger. I'm 67 now ... so I walk.
Had AFIB 10 years ago that was ablated. Went up until this AUG normal .... when AFIB returned with rapid ventricular rate (RVR) tachycardia. Had 4th ablation late OCT, which knocked out the AFIB and tachycardia.
Before AFIB returned I was walking 10 miles a day and working out in gym with resistance bands, free weights, and calisthenics 4 times a week.
On day 13 post-op, I felt good so I pushed speed to 4mph and distance to 10 miles (last mile is usually up hill). Had continuous PVC's after that for a week ... then they faded away.
Kept walking and got back to walking 10 miles a day within 3 weeks post-op. No issues. Haven't built up to pre-AFIB levels in gym yet, but that's coming.
I don't wear a heart monitor while walking. I can feel the pulse in my neck, if needed, But I never feel any problems with my heart. No constant heart monitor; no worries. I do wear a pedometer.
My rate is up 15 to 20bpm ... but as others have said ... it's normal after ablation. Did it on all my previous ablations. Just takes a while to settle down. Probably the older you are ... the longer it takes.
I have the odd skipped beats ... and some multiple beat rapid fires, but I know that's all part of the recovery game. So, I don't pay it any attention.
Good Luck! in your recovery . . .
P.S. My cardiologist told me if your heart is structurally sound ... it won't hurt it to go weeks with elevated rate up to 135. Not an issue . . .
You say your hr goes to 120 when walking. How are you measuring this? I have a fitbit watch and many a time when walking it records about 145 but I just ignore it. I can tell myself when it is really that high.
Hi there, please do not hesitate to visit our AFA website for further information or guidance on exercising - heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... or call our helpline 01789 867 502
Hi I also had two ablations for PCVs but did not help that much on Flecainide and Nebivolol which controls them to a certain extent, I had a loop recorder put in last week, and my EP wants me to go for a third ablation as I now have severe pain with each ectopic he is not sure why! I am very interested to hear if you have had any success with your ablation in the weeks to come, I also went from being able to exercise and walk quite a bit to now hardly being able to climb the stairs without raised heart rate and lots of ectopics with pain! Hope you recover and your problem PVCs are a thing of the past, regards Ingrid
I’m sorry you are having issues and have to have another ablation. Please let me know how it goes. I will definitely update on my post ablation in the weeks to come.
It was months before I could walk more than half a mile slowly... I'm back to running now though, I started after five months. Feel free to message me for more details.x
I know the feeling. I am a teacher and I sit in front of the computer all day zooming with my students. All this sitting has brought back my fibromyalgia symptoms. I need to be active again. Thanks for the well wishes.
Hi,I am 53 and had an ablation for flutter last October. I have been very anxious, but started walking very gradually and now up to 5 miles. I would say my heart is between 90 and 115 (Fitbit) when walking. If I feel a bit pushed I stop and rest. My understanding is that sensible walking is good excercise for the heart. My fOllie up is next week with Barts, so I will ask them about this.
Since diagnosis I have taken daily readings of my heart rate; usually taken while relaxing in the evening. Prior to AF my resting HR was 57, but the relaxed reading would have been 6 or 7 higher. After taking bisoprolol my relaxed HR dropped to 47. After my first ablation it rose to 77. I had a second ablation after six months and it soared to 95. Over the next eight months it dropped steadily to 75 and took a further eighteen month to drop back to 67.
This is now normal for me, my Resting Heart Rate is back below 60. Some of the later drop will correspond to getting a little fitness back, but a slow reduction back to normal is common after ablation.
I come from a heavy exercise background and was impatient to get back to fitness. I was walking slowly a week after the first ablation, more briskly after a couple of weeks and back on the bike after three. However, I was only taking it steady on the local canal paths and avoiding the hills.
The advice the cardiologist gave me after the first ablation was to stick to my aerobic limit, no sprints, racing or interval training. Initially this meant keeping my HR below 155 instead of my tested Max of 185.
After the second ablation my EP told me I would be fine to "go back to normal, after a week or so". I continued my slow recovery, self-restricted.
Now, four years on at 57 years old, I am drug- and AF- free, cycling around 3000 miles a year, at only 1.5 mph slower than I used to be. I still try to keep my HR below 160, and had stopped racing or even riding with my faster friends. I don't miss extreme efforts any more, although I do mourn my hill climbing ability.
I always ride with a HR monitor to ensure I am not pushing too hard; I use a chest monitor, this catches all the beats, whereas a wrist based one only picks up the successful ones which manage to pump some blood.
That is awesome! The only medication I’m taking right now is Metoprolol 25mg 2x’s a day. My goal is to get off the medication. Even at such a small dose, I don’t like the way it makes me feel.
I was wondering much the same. I had an ablation for flutter on 27th January and have just begun walking again. The thing is I have had a rapid heartbeat for so long, held back by beta blockers, that I can't remember what a normal heart rate is like or how high it should go when exercising. I have a Polar sports watch and try to keep my heart rate under 120 although it does occasionally creep over that when walking. my resting hr is between 65 and 75 so I'm pleased with that. I try to just listen to my body. I know it's early days so am not pushing it yet.
Well, I think it is important to carry on walking, monitoring your rate. I know how important it is to exercise after a cardiac event; I did a 10-week rehab course after my heart attack, and I became fitter and stronger than at any time in my life.I have just been in A&E with atrial fibrillation. I cannot get a follow up consultation, but I am keen to start exercising again, though I too am scared about doing too much. But the only advice I was given was that not exercising will make my heart worse.
The guidance seems to be: if you start to feel unwell during exercise, stop. That's not very helpful though is it?!
With my resting heart rate at under 50bpm, if I get above 100bpm during exercise I worry, but I easily get to 110bpm just walking up the hill next to my house. So all I can do is follow the 'do you feel unwell?' advice until such a time as we have cardiology consultants and ECG monitoring again.
I'm currently waiting for an ablation. My AF started off again before Christmas and mine goes hand in hand with a higher pulse and periods of RVR. Prior to this latest occurrence, my resting heart rate was between 50 and 55. It's now between 70 and 90 (Fitbit Versa 2). I know that's not horrendous but it's a heck of a jump from what I was used to. I went for a walk today at a fairly brisk pace and pulse averaged 108 but did hit 161 at one point. Your body will soon let you know if it's not happy.
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