Ablation 3 months update, exercise, food and ectopics

[rof182]

Hi all I really benefitted form the testimonials on this webpage, so I wanted to update my case study..

Today it is exactly 3 month since my ablation, done for afib and flutter. Interestingly they found the flutter during the procedure, during a 'test run'. They have dealt with it at the same time.

Recovery took it's time, much longer than anticipated. During the first month I could not do much without getting a lot of ectopic beats. They have disappeared during the past weeks, at a slow rate... it felt a bit of back and forth.

The breathing exercise didn't work for me. What helped in my case is to lay backwards on the floor while resting the feet e.g. on a chair. Not sure why that is, but worked for me.

Today I still get ectopics at a low intensity towards the end of a day, esp. if I am behaving in an unhealthy way.. main trigger points are too little sleep, too little exercise, unhealthy food, alcohol,

On exercising- it seems to me that since I have started running again (4 weeks ago), I get fewer ectopics. Getting the heart rate up every now and then seems to help, also it reduces stress. On this topic, I am still a bit shocked how much fitness I have lost. Before the procedure I used to run 6k, 3 times a week. Now I cannot do more than 4k per run, and I am still half a minute slower then before. I don't think that this is related to my heart, as my heart rate seems to be even lower, below 135 bpm (I am a 55 years old man)... I think I have to rebuild my legs which takes some time at my age.

Food- this one is quite interesting, I found out that either milk or too much sugar are triggering my ectopic beats. Ice cream and Yogurt are worst, which are a combination of both. So I cut out dairy and mostly sweets (hard). On the flip side, I am ok with coffee and have started enjoying a pint or a glass of wine (in moderation), after being abstinent during the previous years

I still feel that I am improving. I am not bothered by the ectopic any longer, as they are low intensity. I am now treating them as rapid alert system to live a healthy life,

Next week I have a follow up with my EP. I am still on blood thinners, Diltiazem and Flecainide. I am optimistic to phase these out, at least partly...

I know ablation sounds like a scary procedure. It is more disruptive than at least my EP has told me... but I it seems a safe procedure yielding results... I just noticed that I forgot to mention, I had no afib or flutter episodes since, I really believe they are gone, at least for a number of years to come.

#exercise

#food

[BobD Volunteer]

As we say in our fact sheet on recovery, many people are still improving at nine months or a year so sounds on track.

[Dodie117]

Thanks for update and good luck going forward. I’m nearly 8 years post ablation, no meds except Apixaban and so far so good. Be patient. Took me 5 months for arrhythmias to stop and almost a year for resting hb to return to pre ablation rate.

[Alldone]

HiI am entering week 6 post ablation. First 3 as expected and felt I was going in the right direction. However, at week 5 I had 2 short Afib events (3 hours and 2 hours)3 days apart and I am getting irregular beats everyday now, although that are not showing as afib on my Kardia and I am not really sure what they are as have only had a fib diagnosed and treated. I am fit and healthy otherwise, with no heart disease and have been walking most days usually 3 miles or so.

I have lost faith in the 3 month blanking period as feel I should be improving not going backwards.

Did you ever feel that way as like you say this is proving to be harder than expected?

[rof182 in reply to Alldone]

All done in my experience recovery is not a straight line… I am pretty sure you will improve further just give yourself time to heal, and plenty of rest…

[Alldone in reply to rof182]

Hi And thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time to respond.

Yes, I did rather expect the “straight line”.

I think overall had I been given this information beforehand it would have been so much better. I honestly expected to be back running within a week or so, seems a bit nuts now!

Take care everyone.

[rof182 in reply to Alldone]

100% same story…

[Alldone in reply to rof182]

Quick question if you are still there as we seem to have had similar thoughts. Alcohol was never a problem for my AF pre ablation, although always a moderate drinker at best but now I’m afraid to have a glass? Sensible or over cautious?

[rof182 in reply to Alldone]

Hi Alldone I had cut down alcohol close to zero during the year leading to my ablation. To me it has been a significant trigger for Afib. 3 months after the ablation I started having a drinks..I am now at a point that I can have one or two pints without having to worry which is great progress compared to the situation before…

[Alldone in reply to rof182]

You are starting to restore some faith in the 3 month healing period.Thanks for your reassurance.

I would like to be able to sign off by saying “off for my run now” but maybe soon.