I'm new to this this site. I am 12 days out from having a cardiac ablation. I feel, it is taking me longer to "feel like myself" then what I read on the internet. Still feel discomfort in my chest and shoulder blades. Still feel breathless. Is it too much rest? Prescribed 80 mg of omeprazole which caused severe diarrhea (having been on 20 mg daily for GERD for over 10 years. Anybody have similar after affects.
Hello,
I have been on a low dose of omeprazole for years did they give a reason for increasing the dose? I would get in touch with your GP or pharmacistor if you can your consultant's secretary and check on this.
I haven't had an ablation yet - I am still waiting. Here are some links to the AFA pamphlets on ablation and recovery from ablation if you read these you will find that recovery takes longer than probably your consultant or nurses told you. Remember everyone is different too so you may recover and have a different experience from anyone else.
All the best and I hope someone who has had an ablation comes along soon and can give you more personal and experienced help.
healthunlocked.com/api/redi...
Hi Desanthony,
Yes, the 80 mg daily was a major concern for me when the doctor prescribed it the day I was released from the hospital. I have read up a lot on the internet about prolonged use and realized that it can cause diarrhea and C-Diff. The minute I realized what was happening, I stopped taking it completely (not even my 20mg daily). I had blood in my stool and mucus and I knew I was entering C-Diff range. History: Unfortunately, I was transferred out of our small town ICU to a Medical Center two and 1/2 hours away from home for the ablation and had a doctor who hardly spoke English, Leaves you feeling pretty uneasy. Thank you for your concern and I am pleased I found this forum. Sure helps to share your concerns. Doing better every day! Live in a 55-plus community (female -73) and put off the ablation procedure! It took going into six days in aFib and 3 days in ICU to agree to it (couldn't get me in NSR). Don't really trust doctors that much. Never smoked, paint houses (inside and out) to keep busy and am an avid golfer. Others in our community have had ablations and recovered faster than I seem to be. Sorry, just impatient and STUBBORN!
Yes I would be uneasy in that situation too. Glad you have come off the high dose but you should check whether or not you should stay on a low dose. At the moment I am on 20 but have been on lower before now. Reading this I have decided to check with my Doc again. I was put on a low dose because I was taking a large amount of painkillers and it would protect my stomach from damage from those pain killers. As it was they did cause some dmage so have reduced them - and of course now with AF and AF medication I can't take the type of pain killers I used to so maybe could come down or maybe come off them. Unfortunately it is hard to get in touch with the GP these days due to Covid.
Hello,
I was a bit concerned about the dosage of omeprazole you have been put on and have checked the leaflet in my pack. There are 6 points where you should contact your Doc immediately if you get any of these things whilst taking omeprazole and one of them is if you get diarrhoea. so definitely contact your Doc and also ask about the dosage because it does seem rather a lot - I am not saying it is wrong but think you should check and check the reason they prescribed that much.
I had an ablation two years ago coming up, it's very early days for you . It takes a good few months to return to any sort of "normal", it's a major heart op, full recovery takes a while, take it easy and give yourself time and rest and get back to it slowly... Ian
Thank you .. I will try to take one day at a time!
Hi I had an ablation two weeks tomorrow still get a bit of chest discomfort and also between shoulder blades,took my dogs out for a gentle walk found I was a little breathless so sat down on a bench for a couple of minutes. Not medical this is just me at the moment I am going back to work tomorrow so will see how that goes!
I only take 20mg of omeprazole,think I would put a call into my doctor if I was concerned
Hope you feel more like yourself soon
I have really refined my diet now that I took myself off thine omeprazole. Real fruit smoothies with Protein powder and small (non greasy) meals . No GERD since! And boy, I know when it flares up! Good luck going back to work, hope it's not too strenuous a job. Stress isn't aFib's friend!!!
Brilliant
Please read our fact sheet on post ablation recovery heartrhythmalliance.org/res....
From a personal opinion I avoid ppis such as any prazoles for longer than a couple of weeks as experience and study showed me that they actually perpetuate the problem beyond that. There are very good reasons for this but few doctors take the time to read and understand them.
I have often wondered about that! I have printed your fact sheet and will definitely read it after I get done on the forum. Thank you .. I am a heavy proponent about taking issues into your own hands and educating yourself!
I see you have only just joined the forum so welcome. Checkout the factsheet below, although a bit late, it should still help with your recovery.....
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
Shout if you need any more help or info
Welcome to the Forum, Please don't hesitate to contact us at the A F Association if you would like some advice regarding post ablation or alternatively visit our patient resources or register for our 'Virtual Patients Day' heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Thanks, I like what I read and see out here, already! Have gotten some much needed peace of mind!
Hiya Ajak.
First off welcome to the forum.
Now you wrote
"I feel, it is taking me longer to "feel like myself"
Of course it is. This is quite normal I think.
You also wrote
"I am 12 days out from having a cardiac ablation"
It's early days - try not to worry to much. Any heart procedure makes you worry. Of course it does. A CV or ablation is going to cause worry. This is natural and you wouldn't be human if it didn't.
However rest up a little more and think on think positve side. Give it a little longer to 'kick in' and I think you may well start to feel like yourself again.
If it's any help I always feel panic after an afib attack for a week - let alone an ablation ! Just think though how things may improve for you - I hope so and sure they will.
12 day's in is nothing - give it a little longer 
I can't comment on omeprazole as I have no dealings with it. However I will say this (from personal experience) your mind will adjust. Maybe you are a a few weeks down the line but you'll get there. I think you'll be back to your 'old self' soon.
Bet I'm right
Take care and enjoy your day.
Best,
Paul
You're right! I always thought I was superhuman .. NOT!
Hmmm - I think we'll all have to wait another 50 years until AI really kicks in. Until then none of us will be.
Let's hope things improve for afib folks before then. I think it will so fingers crossed.
Let's wait and see.
Paul
A lucky few, as judged by posters here, and perhaps they are the cardio fit, get away with early resumption of activity after ablation.My EP after a 7 hour PVI and RF ablation, said I was good to go. So I did. I was fine for the next 4 years.
Most who comment on this here, emphasise the importance of a very gentle resumption of activities. Avoidance of stress is also a key factor. Maybe some magnesium, subject to medical approval.
I have already thought about magnesium. Gagged down a couple handfuls of pumpkin seeds yesterday. Will find a better way to get it 😜
Gently does it......your heart has had a pounding. Take note of advice from others on his forum. Many of us have been through it and it takes time.
Thank you!
I feel for you ajak. Fairly soon I will be experiancing it myself directly with any luck 🤞 have a consultation next month and hopefully will have the op fairly soon after 🙏 I’m fully prepared to be in a sorry state for a while, but I’m aware that comes with the territory from all the good advice on here. Most of the ablation advice is positive from my experience though and hopefully you’ll be up on your feet and back at it in no time 👍💪💪
I hope I didn't scare you! I was totally run down by the time I got the ablation! Six days is aFib, no sleep in ICU, couldn't eat that AWFUL hospital food, and transferred to a Medical Center across the state to for the ablation. Your ablation is planned and coordinated. It is all very do - able! Good luck and I am still in NSR. It looks like it was well worth it!
It’s been 5 months since my ablation and I think it took 4 months until the odd pains, pressures and sensations, funny runs of beats, the fear and doubt that it hadn’t worked or had caused more issues, and most importantly the extreme fatigue to start to really lift.
There is a white paper out there somewhere detailing ablation recovery and most people felt the 4 month point was where they really started feeling better.
I stopped taking Omezaparole at about 3 weeks as I felt all the drugs I was taking weren’t helping. For me, the GERD eventually got better itself but it took months. I felt as though there was some damage to my oesophagus for a long time but the body is the expert at healing itself given a little patience.
12 days is really early on but you will heal. Keep seeking support as the mental side of this is really tough too. All the best.
It was two months before I felt slightly human and five months before I felt well enough to get back to doing things I used to do like running. 10 months out I still get tired easily.Having said that, it took me three months to recover from a cardioversion following 5.5 weeks of Afib, over half of it spent in a hospital bed.... I'm obviously a slow recovered....
And now I'm waiting for my second one ... Groan 😱
Welcome to the forum. I sorry you had such a rough ride but pleased you went ahead with the ablation. As quite a few have said, it is early days yet. If you have been an active person that can be difficult and you are eager to be well and off doing things. Be kind to yourself and take it easy as much as possible as you recover. I’m glad you have the advice sheets and I found them invaluable. Take care and glad you have found this lovely, helpful group. x
Hi I had my Ablation on the 14 Dec and I’m still noticing improvement it doesn’t happen in two weeks for most people. No doubt some will say they were better in two days but that’s not the norm. Take it easy do what you can and try to relax it’s a marathon not a sprint. Good luck
Hope you feel more like yourself soon. With regards Omeprazole, I was put on 20mg daily to protect my stomach as I'm taking Apixaban. I rang and spoke to my GP about this and he assured me there was no long term risk. In fact he's on it himself. 80mg does seem rather high though. Speak to your doctor as soon as you can. All the best for your recovery.
I too thought my ablation recovery was taking too long, but your symptoms are quite normal so soon after ablation. The info sheet I received after my procedure stated I'll be almost back to normal in 2 weeks; it took about 6 weeks. I had the chest discomfort you mentioned, and for me, backache, for quite some time. One word of caution is to not lift anything heavy for a while. It all takes time -- good luck.
Give it time. I didn't feel like myself for nearly six weeks. Everybody has a different recovery time. I was told 3 days!!!
omeprazole was like poison for me, made me feel 100% worse. I suffered from pericarditis though which is a little different to most. Plus I have small children running around wanting food/attention. I could not lean back on a chair had to sit like a turtle for nearly two weeks, just horrid. Just take it as easy as you can.
The omeprazole is to minimize your chances of getting acid reflux after the procedure, which is a possibility since you are intubated during the procedure. I'm pretty sure your doc will let you get off that or lower doseage soon. Your feelings after the procedure are totally normal as your heart is agitated, and it will take a while to heal. Try not to worry too much, try and relax knowing that your heart WILL heal, and things WILL be better! You will have some bumps in the road during your healing period, but it will all pass. What you are going through is very understood by those of us who have been through it.
I have been prescribed Pregabalin Neuraxpharm painkiller for really severe chest and back pain. My PPI has been changed as l was on 20mg omeprazole for ages and have just been changed to esomeprazole 40mg and l am experiencing similar imiltomach issues.
It took me at least three months. Many people are lucky and only need a few days. But there are many of us who have a combination of bad factors. For me, anesthetic is very tough to recover from. And I Han anemia from blood loss and terrible constipation from the iron pills to fix anemia. And a terrible cough. And many AFib incidents while the ablation burns were scarring over. Fatigue was terrible. And my unrelated sciatica acted up causing chronic pain.
2 years out and much better. Ablation mostly worked though I still get episodes.
Be patient with yourself.
Post ablation recovery time
Recovery from ablation
Adizem Slow Release and Flecainide
Post ablation recovery
