Palpitations after Ablation

[dh1120]

Well I think I must have made my heart mad. I am 4 days post ablation and have been feeling palpitations for the first time since the ablation. I took a little walk and am thinking it was too much. Now I am worried that I messed something up. My EP did say that I could possibly feel palpitations. Maybe I am just working myself up and need to be patient. Was thinking about going back to work Monday but now I am thinking that might be too soon.

[BobD Volunteer]

NO!!!! Please read our fact sheet on recovery. heartrhythmalliance.org/res.... This was written by patients not doctors so is real. Take it easy and don't even think about work for at least a fortnight if niot longer.

[dh1120 in reply to BobD]

Thank you so much @BobD. The fact sheet was very helpful. I will definitely not be going to work on Monday.

[jeanjeannie50]

It does sound as though your walk so early after your ablation was a bit much, but never fear that all is lost. Is your heart in a constant arrhythmia, or are you just having short episodes?

I had a mostly sat at desk job, but didn't go back to work for over two weeks after my first ablation and then I realised it was too soon. I would guess that anyone doing a manual job would need quite a long time off. Please do not go back to work next week.

After my last ablation I needed a cardioversion about 4-6 weeks later to put my heart back into its correct rhythm, so there's that option for you if it's needed. All is not lost, so don't worry at this early stage, but please do not do anything that requires exertion. You may find you can walk somewhere easily, but it can be the walking back that is too much.

Jean

[dh1120 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

@jeanjeannie50 So far they are short episodes. I am staying planted for awhile now. I have a desk job too and will be talking to my bosses about not going back yet. Am hoping they will let me work at home. I don’t want to chance it. Thank you for your response.

[MissTia123]

I was the same too, expected an instant cure to be there and no more bip-bops. It took three- six months for my heart to settle and find its new normal, don't be discouraged. I went back to work a week after, it was too soon. Your heart is finding its new way.. and you have to too... 2 years on still have the occasional flip to AF but I now take Flecanaide and Metoprolol daily to control and keep things steady. Under Drs supervision I have played with my dose and got it down to 25g flec in the morning and 50at night and 7.5mg Metoprolol. For the first year post ablation I didn’t take medication and was reluctant to start it but things weren’t working. I also cannot over eat and cannot drink alcohol and cannot less stress rule me... the third one is the hardest!

[dh1120 in reply to MissTia123]

Thank you @MissTia123, your response is definitely helpful. I really need to just be patient and not be so hard on myself. As of now I am not taking medication. The anti arrhythmic medicines have I have taken in the past stopped working and I have never been able to tolerate beta blockers, they lower my blood pressure too much because my normally run low. I have to say that it has been nice not having to worry about taking them but if my EP wants me to start back up I definitely will. I trust him whole heartedly. I am going to have to remember the eating too much. I hardly ever drink and if I do it’s only 1, but definitely need to work on the stress rule lol !

[MissTia123 in reply to dh1120]

Yes, when I try to explain it I use this. All my life my eyes are brown and suddenly I woke up one day and they are blue but the only person who has realised this is me, there has been a huge shift in my universe and it will take me time to adjust and cope, but no one else sees me any differently, everything that happens is personal and no one gets it. This forum has been so great and supportive.

[wyo19]

Not sure what your ablation was for, but I had an ablation for RVOTVT and I had palpitations for a couple months to be honest.. I'm 17 months in and I'm doing great, haven't had VT since ablation and the palpitations only lasted a bit. Be patient.

[dh1120 in reply to wyo19]

@wyo19 thank you, I am glad you are doing great now. I am definitely not going to be going back to work this week. After yesterday I know it’s too soon. I had it for SCTs and PACs . Mainly the PACs. I was having and extra beat after every regular beat, so basically thousands and thousands a day that I can feel. Medication was no longer working for me. My EP had me stop the anti arrhythmic medicine 5 days before and didn’t have me start taking them again since they weren’t really working anymore anyway.

[wyo19 in reply to dh1120]

Happy to tell you my experience and hope that it helps. This stuff is scary... I was on flecainde for a bit over a year and after my ablation, I have been on no medication! I'm so grateful. Funny, usually the posts here are relevant to the UK, but I noticed Samazeuilh posted below about University of Utah and that is actually where my ablation was done.

Also, noticed your picture, and it's hard to see from the little emblem, but looks like gooseneck state park in Utah? If it is, I was boating the river in the picture(San Juan) just a few weeks ago!

I hope you take the needed time off and are able to get feeling better in the next few months. Take it easy and be patient.

[dh1120 in reply to wyo19]

Hello @wyo19 thanks for your post. I never noticed my picture before and need to update it lol it does look like Utah. I live in the Texas Panhandle and drove 6 hours to Dallas to have mine at Medical City Heart Hospital. I was also on Flecainide for almost a year . It was my miracle drug until it stopped working suddenly. My EP raised the dosage and my body did not like it at all so he switched me to Multaq. It worked for a few months but then it started to do what the flecainide did. There were no other options for me so that’s when we decided on the ablation. I am not on any meds right now and am hoping it stays that way. I just sent my bosses a message and will not be going to work this week. From my bed to my recliner is the only place I am going to go lol.

[wyo19 in reply to dh1120]

Ha! That's funny that your picture was just a stock photo- thought it was your own photo!

Yeah, what a long way to drive for the ablation. I had a 5 hour drive from western Wyoming to SLC.

Glad you put the message out that you won't be going to work- rest up and hoping the best for you

[dh1120 in reply to wyo19]

Now my photo is one of my own lol Texas Bluebonnets!

[Hidden]

These are normal so soon after an ablation. University of Utah healthcare notes “The ablated (or destroyed) areas of tissue inside your heart may take up to eight weeks to heal. You may still have arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) during the first few weeks after your ablation. During this time, you may need anti-arrhythmic medications or other treatment. You may experience the following symptoms: mild chest aches, skipping heartbeat , faster heartbeat.”

[dh1120 in reply to Hidden]

@Samazeuilh thank you and am praying that they will calm down as time goes by. I had went the first 4 days without feeling anything for the first time in years that it truly brought my spirits down when it started back up.

[Hidden in reply to dh1120]

It might be worth having some further discussion with the EP to establish whether he was able to successfully ablate all of the tissue that needed ablating, whether he discovered any unexpected arrhythmias etc.. This should provide at least a strong clue as to how things will play out in the longer term.

[Jajarunner]

I was off for ages but my job is energetic.(gym instructor). I walked a few,mins yesterday (day 5 post ablation no 2) and I d forgotten how,awful it is. It was months last time before I could walk,three miles at my old pace. But then I'm always a slow,healer.But I ache all over from sitting around despite getting up and moving around regularly. Got splitting headache coz shoulders so tight from sitting around. Can't even play my keyboard coz wrist is so bruised from a failed canula attempt! Wor is me today, self pity rules ha ha ha

[dh1120 in reply to Jajarunner]

@Jajarunner I pray you start to feel better soon. I definitely can relate with you about aching all over for not move around , but I think I have learned my lesson lol . When I am not at work I am pretty active so it’s been hard.

[Jajarunner]

Thank you. I'm like a caged tiger! With the same temper. When my husband moaned about how cold it was gonna be cycling today, I nearly bit his head off as I growled "At least you can beeping well cycle..." as if its his fault! I feel fine around the house, I can stand long enough to make dinner etc but walking was another kettle of fish!

Hope you recover soon too. Feel free to message me for a moan if it helps xx

[dh1120 in reply to Jajarunner]

Thank you so much!! I greatly appreciate it and may just do that !! Hope you feel up to more soon!

[Jajarunner in reply to dh1120]

Yay! Please do. We can have a moanfest 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[dh1120 in reply to Jajarunner]

😂😂😂😂

[Singwell]

From my experience now 23 days post ablation if you overdo it you will get palpitations and even AF breakouts. I overdid a walk 6 days ago and triggered a short AF run, which stopped after 20 minutes. Honestly, I wouldn't consider going back to work within 3 weeks from my experience, even if it's a deal job. Your heart is remodeling, give it time. Everyone's said this to me when I overdid it and I'm glad they did.

[dh1120 in reply to Singwell]

Thank you @Singwell I will definitely take that in consideration. Will have to see if my bosses will work with me. Am hoping they will let me work from home.

[Snowgirl65]

Hi dh1120 -- My ablation on April 7th left me with palpitations too starting about a week after. I too felt it was caused by something I shouldn't have done, i.e. gardening, but they soon dissipated. They came and went after doing everyday chores, until eventually disappearing. I believe what you're experiencing is completely normal, from what the brochure stated that I was given before I left the hospital.

[dh1120 in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thank you @Snowgirl65 for sharing your experience. It truly helps ease my anxiety.

[dh1120]

Update **** so this morning (I live in the US) I am feeling better. My heart rate seems steady and I do not feel any palpitations. Will be taking things slow and easy from now on. Thank you to each and every person who commented with their experiences, knowledge, and words of encouragement. Being apart of this group is amazing. I do not know any other person that is going through what I have been going through for them to truly understand. I appreciate all of you!!

[Magson]

Don't panic. Early days. Take it easy. A day or two after ablation my heart was doing somersaults. All calmed down after a couple of weeks. After 4 weeks I felt more normal . But everyone is different. Go well.

[dh1120 in reply to Magson]

Thank you. Seem to be doing good today so far but haven’t done anything. Gonna keep doing nothing lol.

[Mike-tyson]

Give yourself a week as it’s a big shock to the heart. Get as much sleep as you can 😊

[dh1120 in reply to Mike-tyson]

Thank you 😊

[lacolyn]

Far to early to think you can get back to normal. Sorry to tell you it took me months, including the first 2 weeks of severe migraine. It WILL improve, have patience, it a heart operation after all.

[dh1120 in reply to lacolyn]

Thank you. Am definitely realizing that now. I’m sorry to hear you had 2 weeks of migraines. I did suffer from them for the first 2 days but finally got relief. Thought it was due to lack of caffeine or the weather change, or my allergies.