Does ablation give you a higher resting heart rate permanently?

[Lenlec]

Hi all. Got a cancellation today and the af nurse/ booking lady rang me today saying I’m booked in next week for my ablation. Will my resting heart rate go up after and stay up or will it go back to my usual resting heart rate? Also can I go fir my daily run/jog on the morning of the procedure? Cheers

[Palpman]

It depends on the type.of ablation.

An AFib ablation procedure is longer and more tissue is involved than AFlutter.

The AFib ablation normally causes a temporary increase in heart rate up to 20 bpm.

My AFlutter ablation did nothing to my rate at all.

This is what my EP said to me as I was worried about my Bradicardia.

No exercise for at least 2 weeks and then only slowly for another 2 weeks.

[Lenlec in reply to Palpman]

Thanks. It’s the freezing type I’m having he said

[Jalia]

I'm assuming an AF ablation. Heart rate often elevates 10/20 bpm for some weeks before reverting to normal. I'm just 5 days now post my 4th RF ablation and my rate is currently not raised but anything can happen ! I seem to recall I did experience elevation with at least 2 of my previous ones.

As for going for a run on the morning of your ablation , I can't think of any reason why you shouldn't if thats what you normally do.. but I'm no medic ( or runner for that matter ) Personally I would prefer a relaxing hour before leaving for the hospital which for my last one was 6.30am!

Good luck !

J

[Lenlec in reply to Jalia]

Cheers. Yes I love running in the morning. Nothing crazy just an nice steady hour It makes me feel good and sets me up for the day

[Jalia in reply to Lenlec]

Good for you ! I can hardly run for a bus😬.....mind you, I've never been on a bus fir about 20 years 😄 ( imagine I would have been OK then !)

[Lenlec in reply to Jalia]

Any yes it’s for a fib. I get it probably once a month at most

[CDreamer]

I can only speak for myself but no, not forever but for about 9 months before it settled down.

[BobD Volunteer]

Raised HR may take up to nine months to revert to pre ablation levels. Doubt you will have time to go running on the day and don't even think about it for at least a fortnight afterwards and then only very gently. heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[Lenlec in reply to BobD]

Bob. In your opinion is an ablation the right thing for me? I’ve had af on and off for 8 years. Doesn’t really affect my quality of life. I take 100mg flecanide when it happens and it’s back to normal in a few hours?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Lenlec]

As I repeatedly state here any and all treatment for AF is for quality of life (QOL). If your AF burden is very low and easily controlled then so long as it stays that way why rock the boat. Against that AF is usually a progessive condition so getting the balance right and not waiting too long is quite important.

Yes I am a fan of ablation as it probably saved my life. I was able to have a five hour operation for cancer which may otherwise have been declined due to the risk had my AF still existed and thereby the surgeon found additional areas they were previously unaware of which radiotherapy alone would have missed. As my old aunt used to say " you don't know what's hanging till it drops."

[Legs]

Hi, just for some balance I had both a cryoblation and rf ablation in 2017, my HR increased and is still approx 10bpm higher 4 years later, now mid/high 60’s when I was mid/high 50’s 🤷‍♂️

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Legs]

So you are now in normal range (60 to 100) whilst previously you were bradycardic (sub 60.)

[Legs in reply to BobD]

Or I used to be a lot fitter lol, for my age/bmi/sporting history I’m not sure it was too low before but you may be right? Lenlec has said he is 50 which was my age in 2017 and as a runner I suspect he may have a similar bmi/athletic background though he hasn’t said what his RHR currently is. For clarity I was debilitated by AF late 2016 though and the ablations have been a godsend for me personally and my RHR is still fine of course 🤞

[Hidden]

Not sure fair to ask Bob re ablation- your medics recommend it? Have it snd hope it lessens the long term stress on your heart? My heart rate remains elevated now 9 months post cryo ablation but my AF disappeared apart from a brief episode a month ago. Good luck!

[Ducky2003]

Pre ablation, my average resting HR was around 50-55 bpm. About a week/10 days after, my HR started creeping up , which I was advised would happen. It was 80s/90s with pulses of 150 thrown in but since being put on a low dose of Diltiazem, this has now come down to an average of 70-74. Someone kindly posted a link the other day to a study suggesting a higher HR post ablation may indicate that it it has been successful.

[Jajarunner]

My ablations have raised my HR, but I'm only 15 months and 3.5 months post ablation.

As for the run, well I had to leave at the crack of dawn to get to mine so no way was I doing that!! Just make sure you rehydrate well . Good luck.

Ps feel free to message me re recovery as I'm a sporty type too.

[Jajarunner]

Just thought, you can't rehydrate as you can't drink so I wouldn't risk the run xx

[Jetcat]

Hi lenlec, I would forget your morning jog and arrive at the hospital with a rested heart. After your procedure it would be wise to refrain from jogging or running for a few weeks. Just take it nice and easy. Put your feet up and give your heart time to heal and settle. 👍

[Lenlec]

Thanks all.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Good luck ! you may find the 'Preparing for an Ablation \ Recovering from an Ablation' factsheets helpful in answering some questions you may have heartrhythmalliance.org/afa.... Good luck and stay in touch and keep us updated. Tracy

[Foxey2]

Sorry to jump on your post but can I just ask about your running? I’m 49, previously fit and healthy long term runner and was diagnosed with AFib April this year after an episode out of the blue. I have been told by my cardiologist not to run anymore until after my ablation and even then not until he says I can, how do you manage to run safely with this condition? Thanks

[Lenlec in reply to Foxey2]

Hi foxey2. Been running for 40 yrs. I’m 50 now. Nothing fast. I’m an average club runner I’d say. Used to do races and stuff. I’ll have to ask my ep about running after the ablation I get about one attack a month last about an hour after 100mg flecanide had af for about 7 years I’d say.

[Foxey2 in reply to Lenlec]

That’s so weird as to why I’ve been told not to run, I’m not even allowed to cycle currently and it’s driving me mad. Maybe it’s due to being newly diagnosed, hopefully my ablation will be soon and I can get back to some sort or normality

[chrisfellrunner]

I can only give you my personal experience, but before my ablation my heart rate was around 50bpm (I was a very fit sportsperson) , the day after the ablation it was around 75bpm and it has never come down below this, even 18 months later. In fact it regularly now sits at 80-90bpm. So yes, this can happen.

[Lenlec in reply to chrisfellrunner]

Surly a permanent higher resting heart is a strain on the heart also ? I’m wondering is ablation worse than the af sometimes?

[chrisfellrunner]

I am not a Cardiologist Lenlec, and Ablation certainly helped with my AF, which beleive me was consdiderably worse than having a higher heart rate but feeling fine!!!! A normal heart rate is typically quoted as being 60-90/100 bpm.

[Bawdy]

If I went for a run/jog each day I wouldn't be having a procedure. I would be very happy being able to do what you do. Maybe you are very young so then I get it. All the best

[Ablation7]

Good point Are about not being able to hydrate after run.

[Beta44]

My heart rate was raised by about 20bpm for a couple of months post cryoablation. Been a rock steady at rest ever since. Ablation results tend to be much better if done early before too much damage has been done. Peter