Headaches after ablation

[girl4health]

My husband had an ablation 2 days ago. Paper says PAF (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). He woke up in the night to go to the bathroom and was dizzy and fell on floor. Not injured but scared me. This morning he ate a normal breakfast but vomited about an hour later. He's been resting in the recliner all day and when he stands, he gets a huge headache. Is this common and for how long. He's thinking it's from the drugs given during surgery but we don't know what was used.

[BobD Volunteer]

Read our fact sheet on recovery please . heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

If in any doubt please contact your arrhythmia nurse or if he is fainting had chest pain or short of breathcall emergency number.

[girl4health in reply to BobD]

thank you for the fact sheet. I printed it out for my husband to read. I found it very helpful. His headache is improving.

[jeanjeannie50]

Please discuss this with his GP tomorrow. Dizziness immediately after getting out of bed can happen as we get older. Your husband should perhaps sit on the side of the bed for a short while before standing up. A migraine type of headache is often mentioned after an ablation, the sickness after 2 days doesn't sound right. I was sick right after one of my ablations. As he's had all these things, I would put it by your GP just to get his opinion and also put your mind at rest.

Jean

[girl4health in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thanks Jean. My husband said he thinks he popped up out of bed and didn't even realize he had done that until he hit the floor. He spent the night, tues, at the hospital after the ablation and wasn't able to sleep there, so I think he was extremely tired when he went to bed the next night, Wed., early. His headache is improving this evening, Thurs so we're hoping it was caused by the drugs given during surgery. He shouldn't be as wiped out tonight when he goes to bed so hopefully he will wake me for assistance and sit on the side of the bed before rising. He used his Kardiamobile device and he is in Aflutter now.

[KMRobbo]

Has he had AFlutter previously? If not he needs to speak to his EP. Flutter is different to AFib and is usually on the right atria ( afib the left).

I was asymptomatic on afib except very high heart rate. With flutter I was very breathless and weak.

Not medically trained but I have had both.

[girl4health in reply to KMRobbo]

Yes, he's had both. He only noticed he had a problem since June 2020 when he noticed his heart rate going up on cardio equipment at the gym. He usually had a low heart rate but noticed he went up to 150 so he went to see our GP who sent him to a heart specialist. Today we went for a walk only a few blocks since he was tired of sitting around and we had to head back home since his fitbit indicated his heart rate went to 160. When we got home and rested a while he went down to 65. He had no headaches today.

[Jajarunner]

I should call the arrythmia nurses just in case xx

[girl4health in reply to Jajarunner]

He is so used to going to the gym it's hard to get him to sit still now that he's feeling better. He thinks he can come out of this on his own and doesn't want to call a nurse. Since his heart rate went up to 160 today on a short slow walk, he's now slowing himself down and sitting in the recliner.

[ThomasGates42]

Please consult your GP if you think his symptoms are worsening. Sometimes after the surgery, such symptoms can occur, but they are temporary. If his heart rate becomes abnormal, seek emergency help immediately.