Cryoablation

[mlp3434]

Writing again to ask anyone if they are free of flips and afib after ablation. And how long did their recovery take. Just for peace of mind. Thanks

[CDreamer]

Forgive me but how is asking ‘again’ about something that is so uncertain going to give you peace of mind?

Everyone’s recovery is individual so it’s an unknown what will happen for you until it happens and as difficult it is to accept, unknowns bring uncertainty and people become anxious with uncertainties.

Some people recover and go back to wok within a few weeks and never have another blip, as far as we know, whilst others find they need several ablations because it doesn’t always work 100% first time. Hopefully you will come into the first category but the answers you will get will be as varied as their experiences.

Had 2 RF ablations because I was unsuitable for cryoablation, which wasn’t known until the catheter was in my heart. Recovery was lengthy - 9+ months and I had some ‘blips’ during that time.

[Hidden]

Bearing in mind that you are still within the so called blanking period, are you beginning to feel better than you did before you had the ablation because arguably, thats all that really matters.

I wonder if continuing to seek comparisons is going to help you. Everyone with or without AF experiences heart irregularities it’s just that those of us with AF, especially having just had an ablation, are particularly sensitive to any changes in the way their heart performs. Of course, continue to ask as many questions as you like but ask yourself, is it really helping you to recover……

[mlp3434 in reply to Hidden]

Yes for me it does help to ask.

[Morzine]

Hi I get what you’re saying as we all have the ablation and then I reckon we all do wonder what the future after it will be. I think it’s an unknown answer as we are all different..l.but I approached it after the ablation as seeing it as a wonder tool that was goung to work. Of course it may not have worked but I touch wood three years in I’ve had pretty good results....if it came back I’d ask for another.In the year after the ablation, I got little ectopics, well I think that’s what they were normally in the evening....but of course I was very aware of every blip or twitch with the heart then as you do seem very heart aware after ablation....I think I was thinking I’d be normal quicker but reality was six months I still had days I felt tired....

And still had little fluttering things....but they may have been just things everybody gets but of course I was hearing every blip.....the good thing is if it does work as time goes on you won’t think of your heart....life gets normal...I rarely think about it now, and I hope that’s what happens to you.......main thing is listen to your body during this blanking period don’t push yourself.....and look forward to better days.......We all have no crystal ball so try and think less and less about it , work on the surmise it’s worked until you are proved otherwise eh!

Best wishes

Sue

[mlp3434 in reply to Morzine]

Thank you Sue for your heartfelt answer. You seem to have had the same recovery that I'm going thru. You have given me more confidence to deal with this.

[Loquitir]

The general anaesthetic was worse than the procedure and I was up and about after a few days rest. Depending on the extent of the ablated areas, the heart takes about a year for the scarring/ inflammation to recover. In that period is common to experience episodes of irregular rhythm. But these are mostly temporary and the procedure itself has an excellent outcome even if the effect has to be incremental over multiple ablations. Good luck with it.

[mlp3434 in reply to Loquitir]

Thank you for your response. I agree..it can take much longer to recover. I have had 14 surgeries in my life and the last one before the ablation took at least 2 years!

[Magicmog12]

I had this done just over a year ago and apart from the odd faint blip its been fine I have however enquired abou this with a cardiac nurse who said thats its very much up to the individual as to how recovery goes etc, mainly because I have have noticed on this site that people do seem to experience it differently in different ways. maybe try not to worry too much

[mlp3434 in reply to Magicmog12]

Thank you.

[listerines]

I have had two ablations and though procedure went well both times and no complications it has not made my afib disappear nor left me with a fully stable heart (tachycardia from time to time and intense to moderate PACS). That said, since ablations the medication prescribed to keep me in rhythm has been doing a much better job - so overall I would go for the ablations again if doing it all over (probably 3rd ablation not to far away on horizon as would like to come off the meds for a time if possible as am 49 years old). Wishing you the best outcome possible. keep safe

[mlp3434 in reply to listerines]

Thank You. You too keep safe and well.