Cryo ablation

[Lesleyray]

Hi, I’m now 4 weeks after cryo ablation, no af episodes which is great but am getting concerned re tightness in my chest with a cough which comes and goes (longest 3 days) when I inhale it feels as though there is a blockage and it catches hence the cough, is this normal or is it a case for concern and a visit to the doctor required, cannot sleep on the left side as it’s very uncomfortable, would appreciate anyone else having this just to put my mind at rest that this is a common side effect

[CDreamer]

If you are at 4 weeks it’s very unlikely to be anything serious however if it’s a worry for you then certainly you shouldn’t hesitate at least a telephone call to the team that performed the procedure would be in order. You should have been given a number to call?

Everyone responds and heals very differently and so in my experience there will be some discomfort in the healing period.

I had some problems with intercostal muscle spasms after ablation, especially around the heart area and certainly a cough for some time. Sleeping on my left side was certainly not possible for months. Don’t forget that you will have a lot of inflammation around the area of your heart. You will have had tubes down your throat which in my case seriously scratched my osophagus (the TOE got stuck) and I suffered from acid reflux for months - which is very common after ablation.

Beware of silent acid reflux, no pain but can damage and can be unconsciously inhaled and damage lungs. Using higher pillows than you might normally and propping yourself up to sleep may help alleviate these problems.

[Lesleyray in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, thank you for your reply, I was under sedation so had no tubes down my throat but the procedure was stopped halfway though due to unforeseen complications, I will try sleeping on more pillows. Unfortunately no contact number was given for advice, no follow up call from cardiologist for three months. Basically, you are on your own until then but if it gets worst will ring my doctor

[CDreamer in reply to Lesleyray]

It is usual to have a TOE - trans esophagus echocardiogram - just before an ablation to check that there are not clots in the heart. I had sedation for both my ablations and was not aware of having the TOE at the time and only told about it at a later stage it had caused some problems. Unless you had an MRI just before the ablation I would suggest that you may have had something down your throat that you were not aware of.

It’s also uncommon to not be given a number to contact for aftercare in case of questions or follow-up. Where did you have the procedure? You could always ring the secretary of your consultant and express your concerns.

[Lesleyray in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, cannot remember having a TOE and didn’t have an MRI either, I was awake through most of the procedure they did until it was stopped. I will ring the secretary today, had my ablation at Nottingham City Hospital, UK thanks for replying

[Desanthony in reply to Lesleyray]

Ring the hospital and ask to speak to your consultant's secretary about this if you are worried.

[Lesleyray in reply to Desanthony]

Hi,yes, I’m ringing her today

[Desanthony in reply to Lesleyray]

Good Stuff!

[Lesleyray in reply to Desanthony]

Hi, rang the cardiologist this morning, she has arranged a echo tomorrow afternoon plus a 24 hour heart monitor, I’m impressed at how quick she arranged this

[Desanthony in reply to Lesleyray]

Good work. Always a good idea to contact them.

[momist]

Yep, I'm in my fifth week after ablation. I did get a long run (68 hours) of AF in the third week. I've had both the tightness of chest and the cough, but it is gradually improving. I'm sure this is down to the TOE procedure, and should go away. In my case it's complicated by an existing long term cough I've had for years caused by an intermittent tickle where my nose and throat combine, which no doctor has been able to find the cause of.

[Lesleyray in reply to momist]

Hi, thank you for your reply

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Thank you for your post - our 'recovering from an ablation' might be beneficial to download from the website heartrhythmalliance.org/afa..., it is still very early days, everyone recovers at different rates, but if you are concerned at all, please contact the Clinic where the procedure was performed. Take care

[Lesleyray in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you and yes I will