It’s interesting to read the advice about recovering after an ablation. Of course everyone is different and have their own medical conditions. Often I’ve read about people getting back into sports etc .
However, for lots of people life is about getting back to the things we missed . . Alcohol ( yes I know we shouldn’t) coffee ( I know we shouldn’t) sex ( yes we should) .
30 years in the ambulance service had taught me a great deal about “ black and white” . It does not exist.
So if there are people ( still on the forum) who will come out and say how their life has been post ablation. It would be interesting?
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kalgs
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I’m not quite sure I understand the relevance of after ablation changes? The only thing that changed for me was moderating exercise and learning to pace myself. My life and lifestyle did not change because of my ablations.
I did make some lifestyle adaptations - eating habits, improving sleep, breathing exercises and meditation which I believe to be much larger factors to focus on for my keeping AF and other conditions at bay but I did not give up either alcohol or caffeine and a lady never kisses and tells. 🙊
Thanks for the response. I think my main point was are people returning to some of the things that stopped whilst they had AF and prior to a successful ablation.
Hugely different experiences I agree. In fact I was put off it initially because I read people's ups and downs. I'm 5 months post procedure that they told me to expect 40% success rate only. It took 4 months for me to start to feel better than before. Lots of people report that you notice small changes months after. Mine are - more stamina, less lethargy (hardly any actually) and higher energy levels. Prior to ablation I did interval walking and could also mow the lawn, use our smaller strimmer etc. I'm able to do all of that again but currently not pushing myself further.
I got back to running, cycling, rowing, weight training and very small amount of alcohol before having a second ablation. Took a while and taking even longer this time round, but I'll get there.
The biggest risk factor for Afib is ageing owed by a sedentary lifestyle, apparently.
As others have said took much longer than expected to feel ‘normal’. After 8 months I was pretty much doing what I had before and nearly 2 yrs on I am exercising, carrying out all my pre-ablation activities. Definitely more aware of ectopics and fast beats than before and on a few days I just need to slow down and rest but otherwise best thing I have had done.
I am 11 months post ablation and gave up caffeine and alcohol completely. I try and do my 10,000 steps a day and eat a sensible diet. I had atrial flutter and fortunately the long term success rate is high. I do worry on an almost daily basis that it will return, but I have health anxiety - so by taking practical steps it is a way of managing my worries! I haven’t pushed myself regarding cardio exercise ( I used to run) because of this, which is probably the opposite of what I should do!!
Thanks for reply. I suspect that most of us are concerned our AF or ectopics might return. There is a good video of YouTube by Dr Sanjay Gupta about palpitations etc and our heightened awareness of them .
After my three ablations life is a lot better than it was kalgs even though I do still get the odd self terminating afib episode every few months.! Iv seen a lot over the last 27 years working in the funeral business and learnt that you can stay away from everything that’s bad for you but your still not guaranteed safety or a long life? ( cheerful aren’t I😳) but If you’re drinking a litre of whiskey a day then yes your guna end up with me sooner rather than later. But if you enjoy a responsible drink now and again or a coffee and you know it doesn’t slam you straight into afib then I’d say that’s what living is about. I have my pleasures but it’s about been sensible and enjoying every day we are able to open our eyes and get out of bed because it’s precious. Best wishes. Ron. 👍👍
Five months post-ablation my life is completely normal and in fact much better. My energy level is the best it's been since before being diagnosed with a-fib about 15 years ago. I realize ablation isn't a true cure, but I'm certainly enjoying the results.
Glad you're doing so well. I'm not off my meds yet but after 4 months I definitely noticed a difference and now 5 months in I'm enjoying life a lot more.
I'm still on my meds, Singwell, but hope to be off after my next EP appointment end of November. You may not recall, but I had an a-fib episode a week after my blanking period ended (after breaking my wrist while hiking -- must have upset my whole system), so I had to wait another 3-month period before being assessed again regarding my meds. I'm glad you're enjoying life again!
I do remember! That's an interesting benchmark re the meds. I have a follow up appointment with my EP on October 1st. I'll be interested to hear his opinion. Nothing on the AF front for me now since July 15 🤞🤞🤞
Plenty of interesting answers here, and happy to add my own experience. I lived with paroxysmal AF for about 20 years, quite happily for most of that time, but in the last 2/3 years found the episodes increasing, and the medication less effective. Eventually, I was advised to go for an ablation, which I did approx 6 years ago. Undoubtedly, the ablation has improved matters. I consider it has reset, or rebooted my heart ie taking it back to a place where I managed my AF pretty well. But, I decided that it was time to change my lifestyle habits that bit more than before, so cut out alcohol, caffeine, the last cigar, although in truth that had more or less disappeared anyway by then, and generally less burning of the candle at both ends. I had hung on to alcohol, and the idea that I could live life as I had done 20 + years ago, but the ablation, and a pretty slow recovery after that taught me that having good health, more or less, was so important, I shouldn't jeopardise it in any way. I knew what my triggers were and decided to avoid them once and for all.
Before, I had traded off the odd AF episode for that last extra drink, or maybe a late spicy meal or a stiff caffeine laden coffee. Post ablation, I realised I really could live without these things, indeed, now I don't miss them at all. I am glad I had the opportunity to enjoy them for many, many years, but life moves on, and you have to try and embrace the next phase. If you go around bemoaning what you can't do now (and I still admit to doing that sometimes), it will get you down, and those around you. Instead, I work on being content with what I am now, and what I can do, not what I can't.
We also know, that more ablations might follow, and maybe other treatment, medications etc, so that's enough to contend with, so the state of your mind is so important to help you handle what might come around.
I'm a firm believer that health (indeed heart) anxiety is now my worst enemy, and it's made worse if I dwell on what is missing from my life. I still have many things to do, places to go, and experiences ahead, so I try my best to make the most of each day.
An absolutely positive approach. I think you are so right about focusing on what we have and making the most of life . I’ve seen life snatched away from people in the blink of an eye . Thanks Bob .
Much appreciate this post. I've not had an alcoholic drink since October 2020. Aside from The Incident of Pim's when I'd literally forgotten it's alcoholic.
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