Ablation and travel

[GuitarJohn]

Hello everyone! Just found this site as a lay awake. (Not sleeping well lately). I’m having an ablation under general anesthesia this Wednesday. I’d planned to do it after a planned trip to the Grand Canyon but I had another episode of feeling like I would black out so the doctor moved it up sooner. It is blowing my mind how long of a recovery time I see mentioned here. I am having the ablation Wednesday and they said I should be able to go back to work on Monday. Then in a little over a week, July 1, we’re driving from Alabama to Nevada (4 days) to see the Grand Canyon and then flying back. The doctor thinks it’ll be fine. After reading these posts I almost wonder if I should do surgery after the trip. Any thoughts or advice?

[BobD Volunteer]

We are all different but do remember that these doctors have never had ablations.

[Truckerclark]

After having ablation under local anaesthetic, i didn’t feel in good enough physical health to go anywhere for a few weeks , it takes your body and mind time to settle down after it ,,, we are all different ,,,, but your job will also dictate how long your off , I was at least 6 weeks but I was heavy goods driver , but only you will know how you feel after it ,,,,,

[Hidden]

In many cases the groin is severely bruised after an ablation and that can take several weeks to disappear. We often suggest to patients that if that’s what the groin looks like, it can’t be too difficult to imagine what the inside of the heart looks like. It’s not something I would consider doing........

[Geoffa1 in reply to Hidden]

Re groin recovery whilst the bruising might quickly diminish I am at 4 months and still can feel discomfort in the groin area. Part of my RTKR recovery requires stretching/exercises for the quad, hip flexure and hamstring muscle group and doing these I note the trauma at the area near the catheter entry point is still, lumpy/grumpy. Not painful just not flexible and it has impacted TKR recovery!

[jeanjeannie50]

Really there's no way of saying how you're going to be feeling after your ablation.

After my first two ablations, it was weeks/months before I could attempt normal life.

After my third I was better immediately.

There's no way I would be going on holiday as soon as you have planned. Can't you postpone it to a later date on the grounds of ill health?

Sorry you have this dilemma, no wonder you're not sleeping!

Please let us know how you get on this Wednesday and what you decide re the holiday.

Best wishes.

Jean

[Paulbounce]

Hi John.

I can't tell you what to do as I've not been down the ablation route (yet). I fully understand you wanting to get back to normal as quickly as possible and not miss out on your travel - I'm 100% with you on that one believe me.

You wrote

"After reading these posts I almost wonder if I should do surgery after the trip. Any thoughts or advice"

The problem might be if you cancel the whole process is put on a back burner and you have to wait for another 'slot' regarding your ablation.

"I am having the ablation Wednesday and they said I should be able to go back to work on Monday"

I'm not so sure. From a personal point of view I think you need more than 5 days to recover. It could be a messy place to be if you don't allow enough time for your body and heart to recover.

I wish you the best of luck with it anyway - I look forward to hearing how it all goes.

Paul

[CDreamer]

I travelled 10 days after ablation, UK > southern Spain and no problems but I planned to and did recuperate there so nothing more than normal day activities, bit of sun, swimming, walking etc. The worst thing for me in the first few weeks were ectopics - always came on after exercise but as I wasn’t expected to do anything else for the following 4 weeks I coped OK. I was 63 at the time.

Flying, no problem, I wouldn’t chance a long drive if I were expected to be a driver for any distance, passenger OK. In your position, I would go for the holiday but not go back to work. You really need to see how you are as there is no ‘normal’. And Bob’s correct in that not too many EP’s have experienced ablations or see patients from the time of the procedure until the after the 12 week ‘blanking’ period.

Link to AFA Factsheet - Recovering from ablation - what to expect. Written for patients - by patients. heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

Recovery time is very individual and depends upon many variables, the younger and fitter, ie: under 45 with no other health issues, not overweight etc; the quicker you will recover but give yourself margins for error and if you feel as though you may black out when in AF, should you be driving?

[GuitarJohn]

Thanks fir the responses. I am 49, tall and skinny. I will be the driver on the trip (driving there/flying back). Everything is booked and paid fir and not refundable. The doctor mainly wanted to move it up so I would not risk having more episodes while I’m in a location with no medical help. His nurse told me feels confident in my being ok to travel. I was confident in that until I found this website. Now I’m second-guessing.

[CDreamer in reply to GuitarJohn]

In that case I’d make a decision a few days beforehand & not try second guessing. Recovery is so individual.

Good luck & let us know how you go as reporting back either way helps others.

[Hidden]

If you decide to go, do everything possible to keep stress levels to a minimum. Give yourself plenty of time to navigate the airport, including travel time to an from. Avoid any heavy lifting as it is so easy to strain the entry points in the groin. Flying shouldn’t be too much of a problem but avoid alcohol and keep hydrated. Best to opt for an aisle seat so that you can exercise going back ‘n forth to the rest rooms after drinking all that water. Also a good idea to research locations of medical centres so that you can access them easily should you have a problem. Personally, I wouldn’t risk it but you are relatively young and I assume you will not be travelling alone and don’t forget to pack your geetarr!

[MarkS]

6 days after my ablation I drove 250 miles for work and then back again the following day. It was OK. I was still in AF from time to time, but the main issue was back ache from being in a fixed position for such a long time during and the night after the ablation. That was OK driving as my car seat was very comfortable. Your trip will be 8 days after your ablation. You are relatively young so your recovery should be quicker. On the other hand you will have had a GA which tends to knock you out more. I would see how you feel and may be have a standby driver and be prepared to have AF bouts during your recovery.

[Ducky2003]

I'm 8 weeks post ablation and spent the first week, pretty much, in bed and that was with sedation not a GA. My leg was very badly bruised and swollen (not the groin, the thigh, then calf) and the groin tender so I didn't attempt driving for 2 weeks and then, just short journeys. As folk have said, we all different but from my own personal experience, I wouldn't have risked it but fingers crossed, you will recover well and feel up to going.

[grafman]

Hi John. I agree with the others, recovery rate is individual so I would wait and see how you feel. I am 51, fit and had my ablation under GA on the 3rd June having had lone PAF. I was walking good distances and driving in the first week, light jogging and cycling in the second week and now starting more strenuous exercise. Good luck and hope you feel good enough for your holiday!!

[GuitarJohn]

Thank you for all of your thoughtful responses. I’ll update after surgery. It’s the day after tomorrow. Prayers please!

[GuitarJohn]

Surgery went great. Scary seeing all of the equipment and people in there when they roll you in. Awful bruising where cath was inserted but ate 3 meals at the hospital before they released me (stayed overnight). Was instructed to lay around and take it easy. Returning to work Wednesday and heading out for Grand Canyon trip Saturday. Thanks for everyone’s replies to my post. Good luck with your ablations.