3 Months Post 1st Ablation

[Quest4NSR]

Hi All,

I had my first ablation with Prof Richard Schilling on the 28th May 2022 in London Bridge Hospital on my Private Medical Insurance. I went up on a train from Cardiff to London (all by myself) and had the Ablation under GA (he also done a bonus Flutter Line while he was there) the next day and had an overnight stay. I then hobbled to the Train Station and came back (all by myself) to Cardiff. Had some funny looks on the way back home as I had to walk slowly 😅

I stopped my Amiodarone 1 month post ablation on 28th June 2022 - Before the ablation I was having multi daily episodes of fast AF lasting sometimes 10-15 mins or up to 6 hrs, nights were a horror, I couldn't believe my heart could make such rhythms. Passing bowels was beyond a joke, especially at night, I had to pass them virtually standing up and always had a little peace after that.

I'm a little torn as I have had my moments post ablation but nothing compares to what I was like pre -ablation. However what I have noticed lately is my exercise tolerance has decreased massively post ablation, more so anaerobic. I love landscaping my garden and pre -ablation I could lift and move a lot around, now I can't lift much to save my life. I had a little bit of AF when mowing the lawn, caught it on my Kardia, sat down and within 5 mins I was back in Sinus. Anything that my arms are involved, lifting some buckets and stuff I get my 'Atrial Ectopic' who I've called 'George' starts kicking in and then repeating more regular the more I do in the garden. Then I stop and have 5 mins and then I'm good to go for a little longer and 'George' comes back over and over again. If 'George' can get zapped out of my life I could honestly say I'm cured.

Anyone experience that their physical capabilities have decreased post ablation? I'm not out of breath of anything, just 'George' wins and makes me sit down. I know I'm kinda still in early days, I'm having a 7 day Holter on 6th Sept so I'm going to push it a bit in the Garden with the monitor attached and see what's going on.

Apart from my atrial ectopic beats it's been amazing and life changing for my peaceful nights and mornings. I'm feeling that I might need a touch up to zap 'George' out of my life for good as I think he's always been my trigger and he's doing his best to break free from his PVI jail. Or he's always been in hiding and free to pounce and needs a catheter up his jaxxy

[dedeottie]

Can I ask how you managed to have yours done in London. I am in Cardiff and was told that I couldn’t move out of wales to have the procedure done. I have just had what is in effect my third ablation almost 2 weeks ago and am having intermittent bouts of ectopics which I have heard is a likely phenomenon due to inflammation etc while the heart heals so I think it is quite normal. Are you getting an excessive amount? Are you on any medication still? It sounds as though the ablation has been a success if you are not having AF anymore and I would be surprised if they ablated again for that but others more knowledgeable than I might reply differently. X

[CDreamer in reply to dedeottie]

The poster said he went privately on medical insurance so there would be no NHS restrictions. I did the same thing from Devon.

[dedeottie in reply to CDreamer]

Ok thanks CDreamer, I am doing my usual trick of skim reading and missing vital information. I would have done exactly the same if I had had the foresight to take out medical care years ago. It might have saved me years of problems. I think I hit lucky with my new EP but it took a long time. X

[Quest4NSR in reply to dedeottie]

Who is your EP? I'm under Peter O Callahan locally, there is a Dr Leong too

[dedeottie in reply to Quest4NSR]

Peter O Callaghan was my consultant but Dr Leong has taken over my case as he was prepared to do a second ( I was high risk) . This was with Dr O Callaghans blessing. I can not speak highly enough of the care I have had this time. X

[dedeottie in reply to dedeottie]

I should have said that Dr Leong and Dr O Callahan are part of the same team but Dr Leong does 90% of ablations at the hospital so some people who haveDr O Callahan as their consultant must actually have the procedure done by Dr Leong. X

[Quest4NSR in reply to dedeottie]

My Insurance Policy didn't want me to have it in London and was pushing for local, Peter worked with Richard and Peter said because I have a phrenic nerve palsy on the one side he needed Richard to do it (plus he was my personal choice from the start anyway) so I think Peter would refer you to someone like Richard who's like an Ablation God if you ask him or if you become a complex case, in the NHS he works in St Barts. Did you have Cryo or RF? I had RF because of the nerve palsy on my one side, he also hasn't had a Stroke incident for near 6 years due to a unique way of him handling ablations, his results speak for themselves on his website londonafcentre.com/results-...

[dedeottie in reply to Quest4NSR]

Thank you for that information and it is good to know for others in the area going forward. I am sending to a PM x

[CDreamer]

Hi and pleased to hear your ablation worked for you. Yes ectopics are very common after ablation and I found exercise the main antagonist such as when I had over exerted myself or stressful situation arose or sometimes eating and then getting up too soon from table.

The only resolution will be rest and recuperation. It was something like 9-12 months before all symptoms of the ablation such as sore and scratchy throat, acid reflux, bloating and ectopics completely disappeared - never to return thankfully. The fatigue and decrease in strength unfortunately I still have but not sure if that is anything to do with AF, more likely a condition I developed as a result of the sedation for the the Ablation and old age now!

When we say ‘listen to your body’ we mean take these symptoms such as ectopics, fatigue and lack of strength seriously. Healing takes time, a lot longer than you think. Your body has gone through a trauma so it’s slow and steady and avoid above all things heavy lifting and heavy manual labour as all that hard won and expensive procedure to eliminate the arrythmias will return. I love gardening and had to resign myself to be the architect and employ gardeners to do the heavy work. I say from experience as I did too much after my first ablation and ended up in acute cardiac unit needing a second. Hope you don’t repeat my mistake.

Very best wishes CD.

[Keano99 in reply to CDreamer]

Wow, naughty CD, you did push too hard🥵🥵. It’s interesting you say 9-12 months to get back to where you were. After four months I’m nearly back to what I was, but I do need that day of recovery after gym/golf/garden. It’s improving by the week though and still being on Bisoprolol does confuse you as you wake up tired regardless of what you’ve done. How long did they keep you on the meds for?

[CDreamer in reply to Keano99]

I refused Biso, no rate control - I had to stop Flecainide after 2 weeks. All anti-arrhythmias and rate control now contraindicated indicated because if another condition.

[Keano99 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CD, This may be worth a read wrt post ablation recovery;

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Singwell in reply to Keano99]

Hi, I'm nearly 6 months post ablation and have stayed on lowest dose of meds as a maintenance dose. Will shortly be cutting down. I think I may need to continue BP meds but otherwise am aiming for PiP with thr anti arrhythmic. Fingers crossed for us both!

[MummyLuv]

It’s very early still in your recovery, your body is telling you your currently overdoing it and to rest, in time you’ll be doing more and more. 💕

[Singwell]

Sounds like you might need a touch up. I had one last April and it's made a big difference. I'm 66 so take things a little slower anyway but I'm happily mowing and strimming in the garden. Don't do much lifting but do notice it's hard work these days carrying a suitcase upstairs...