Just had my Covid jag, completely painless, a minor scratch and that was it. Unfortunately the lead up to the Jag was not so good, when I had passed the 2 booths verifying my eligibility/conditions etc I felt like I was going to get a lethal injection as both explained in great detail the potential side effects/hazards of the Jag and provided pamphlets which comprehensively went into the details of the potential consequences. Much better if the pamphlets went into the details of the benefits as well as this would provide an indisputable rational for getting the Jag.
It has now been 2 years since my ablation, for those who have not followed my posts and would like to see them please click on my icon and the posts from Feb 2019 will detail my ablation recovery.
Now feeling good, can do nearly everything I used to and feeling much better than I have been for 20 years, still a bit apprehensive about taking coffee (used to like coffee) or too much wine (love wine), will occasionally (av 1/month) go into an atrial tachycardia for seconds, this happens when I am either rushing or it happened twice within 10 minutes when I was sitting after eating too much, will resolve after taking a couple of deep breaths. Not ruled out some form of cycle effect for the arrhythmia. Good news is that the atrial tachycardia I get now is nothing like the tachycardia I had before the ablation (especially the Afl).
From my experience I have learned:
Our heart is an extremely robust and complicated piece of kit with numerous back up functions and even more types of impudus which makes it speed up or slow down. Keeping the correct electrolyte balance is essential to prevent arrhythmia as it is the movement of electrolytes within your heart cells that generate the electrical current that produces your heart to beat, these beats normally come from the SA and AV nodes in a specific sequence or they can come from foci within your heart which normally act as the back up.
Generally medication treats the symptom not the root cause of the arrhythmia - this is the most disappointing thing I have learned!
If you get a chance of an ablation take it, at the very least it will show what the problem is as an ecg will not always get it right. Remember only when the problem is identified will you get the right treatment and an ablation is one of the few things that can actually fix or improve the root cause.
Taking too high or too low a dose of medication can be harmful and getting it right is not as easy as you would think.
Don't expect too much too soon after your ablation and take it much easier than you think you should
My healing process continues much longer than a year after the ablation, for the first few week it was three steps forward two back - initially did not think the ablation worked.
Eat well to make sure your electrolytes are all good (blood tests do not identify the true electrolyte levels in your cells where they are needed for your heart). Bananas and Avocado are good, to much meat bad, too much processed foods of any kind very bad, they contain sulphates/nitrates which we all have different levels of toleration to and will effect your electrolytes significantly.
Drink plenty of water
Light exercise (e.g. walking) every day, build up very gradually
Sleep for at least 7 hours (8 or 9 if you can - but no more)
Leave a gap of at least 12 hours before your last meal and first meal the following day - this will get you metabolism working as it should (it will also aid weight loss).
Alcohol will have a detrimental effect on your arrhythmia but many can tolerate such effect and many cannot, knowing what your threshold is a must to remain arrhythmia free. Alternatively stop all alcohol.
If you take them reduce or stop (if you can) any PPIs - they mess with your electrolytes.
I found taking a magnesium supplement (not oxide) good and a Vit D3 and K2 supplement very good.
If you feel stressed take an Epsom salts bath (use half a packet) and soak for 20 minutes.
Dont
Eat much processed sugar, this is the most likely cause for ectopics which in turn are the most likely trigger for arrhythmia.
Have too much food containing sulphates/nitrates.
Caffeine and alcohol beyond your individual tolerance level can be very bad.
Push yourself too hard, get stressed or rush around too often.
Hope you found my posts of interest, I do not intend to provide any further updates but will happily help anyone where I can. I continue to learn about these conditions and will continue to contribute on this site.
I just do not have the words to show my appreciation and gratitude to the people on here that have helped me through this awful condition - a most sincere Thank You just does not do it justice!
4 YEARS POST ABLATION and some weird info...
Update - one year after pace and ablate
Almost 2 years after Flutter Ablation...
Post ablation - 2 days on
4 Years Post Cryo Ablation
