advice re resting please

[ILF1]

hi

I had my ablation on 2 November. So far all is good and I have been resting well, sofa, tv and books, sleeping when I need to and most chores done by friends. I am due back at work, desk job, on 17 November and I wondered if anyone has any advice on what resting means at that point. I know resting and not over doing things can be crucial and I do want to get this bit right.

How can I best do this when going back to work and on the outside seeming fairly normal? Any advice or tips that you can share would be most welcome - thank you

[BobD Volunteer]

If you read our recovery fact sheet

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

we advise at least two weeks rest. First week as you have been and second a little more with some short walks etc. Unless you have a very sedentary work life you shouldn't go back for the first two weeks at least but I have always advised people to explain to their employers that recvery is highly fluid and for the first month or so at least adjustments may be needed.

Just because you do not have a giant zip up your chest, doen't mean that your heart hasn't had a good knocking about and needs time to recover.

[ILF1 in reply to BobD]

Thank you - work are good and I have the option of working from home too so will take your advice on board.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Well done - I hope the road to recovery continues smoothly. Listen to your body, everyone recovers at a different rate and not expect too much of yourself too early. I hope you have the support of your colleagues and employer to understand too? Good luck

[Jajarunner in reply to TracyAdmin]

I'd add to this, (sorry Tracy!) that I found my body often felt great when I listened to it, but then the next day would let me know that it had been tricking me and I had overtired myself 😂. I learnt to do less than I thought I could and progress slowly. But everyone is different

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Jajarunner]

I agree wholeheartedly, that what you thought was not pushing it one day, is learned the next that you indeed had been! Less is best in the first weeks after an ablation.

[Jajarunner in reply to Snowgirl65]

Easier said than done though! 😂

[CDreamer]

listen to your body, symptoms=‘talking’. Go slow and steady and try do a little more each day.

Rest doesn’t mean not moving because not moving at all can be as bad as doing too much but do avoid any heavy lifting, I found bending would trigger ectopics.

🤞 all will be well for you. Wishing you a speedy recovery & long lasting NSR.

[GardeningMK]

hello there, first of all congratulations on the successful ablation. I also had ablation two months ago, but I had complications because my artery wasn’t closed properly so that pushed back the recovery timeline because I had another emergency operation on my artery. So in terms of getting better, I might be not the best advisor however-your heart is still healing and though you are signed on back to work you need to take it easy and don’t think that you are 100% back to normal yet. It takes about eight weeks to fully heal. If you can, and if it’s possible at all, I would ask GP to sign you back in on reduced hours if it is possible so you don’t do all day work, because you will feel tired after lunch time, I know.. However, on the other side, moderate exercise and walking is advised, at least by my cardiologist even with my repaired artery. It will be about eight weeks before you resume all your normal activities, exercise and walks. If you do those regularly if you didn’t do it regularly, I advise you start because you should not have now arrhythmia and palpitations and this will make you feel great. I went back to the office this week and was walking across London at my previous pace, it made me feel great. Hope your recovery goes well and please take it easy.

[Jajarunner]

I was given little guidance beyond don't sit for more than an hour a time, which, tbh, really applies to everyone post ablation or not x

[Jaco53]

Hi

I hope your recovery is going well. I had my ablation 4 years ago and apart from some small hiccups it went well.

I’m a 55 year old sports coach so I have an active lifestyle. I had the first week pottering about the house and second week going out and doing the odd meeting or walk outside but no work. I felt very good very quickly so I booked some lessons and went back to work part time for two further weeks. That’s 3/4 hours a day 4 days a week. I have a HR monitor so kept my levels under 100 bpm. Within a month I genuinely felt a decade younger and had renewed energy and vigour. I really went back to work full time and just cracked on. Then two months later I had kidney stones and needed an op to remove them. I then spent 3 months feeling very poorly and not myself at all.

My advice therefore would be , take as much recovery time as you need, however please look after yourself for several months after as it is a major op having an ablation and so continue to look after yourself for upto 6 months, is my advice.

[Keano99]

hi ya, had my Cryo in May and was playing golf after 10 days and two/threes times a week since. The issue i have is recovery, so I don’t do much too physical the day after a round. I was back working from home, after a few days, but even now I go to the office just once a week, I really couldn’t go on consecutive days. Even when I WFH I find I need an hour to myself just to keep my composure…I had an echo in July, my LVEF is great, heart pumping v well. 6 months on I’m defo still healing, I still feel it in my back/side , I guess from where the burning was done….I had indigestion for a while buts that’s nearly faded away now and I get spells of exhaustion (prob from over doing the work), it all takes time😀

[ILF1 in reply to Keano99]

thanks - good advice. I will be working from home some of the time. And good to know about the indigestion - have had a few mild episodes. Pass in about ten minutes but it’s reassuring to know others have had it.