Post Ablation Recovery: A Question

[watten1]

I look to be making a slow, but steady recovery from my catheter ablation. It has been 5.5 weeks now and things are slowly on the mend. All to the good. The shortness of breath that I reported on a couple of weeks ago is getting better too.

However, I have a question. Pre-ablation, and pretty much at the same time as I started to take tablets just after Christmas, I began to experience upper back pain. Nothing too serious but something that comes and goes, present more when I am tired and under the weather. My shortness of breath is marginally worse too when it happens. I also get short feelings of nerve pain in different parts of my body: neck and shoulders, arms occasionally and different parts of my legs and feet. All low pain stuff, never more than 2/10 at most. However, it has come and gone all year so far.

Has anyone else experienced this? I can't seem to see this issue being mentioned in any posts. I'm not sure therefore that it is directly A Fib related (although it could be). When I was in hospital for a fast heart rate at week 3 post ablation they did an echo and a chest ray and all was crystal clear. I don't think it is the tablets as I have had the same experience on all three tablet regimes that I have been on. I'm left, therefore, thinking that it is quite possibly post Covid symptoms, something I contracted last November. The BHF lists symptoms and I seem to have a match. My GP thinks that this is the most likely cause.

Has anyone experienced anything similar?

[BobD Volunteer]

When I compiled the fact sheet on recovery some years ago upper back pain was never mentioned by any of those contributing.

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

My own experience was that in the very first few days there was some discomfort between my shoulders which was likely oesophageal related , to which my EP agreed, but at this l;ength of time aferwards I think not.

Good luck sorting things out but look further I think.

[watten1 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob. I imagine that the symptoms will resolve in due time but if they don't I will follow up with the medical team. The recovery continues but it is too soon to know whether it has been a success or not. I've not had too many major breakouts but I've yet to stress test my system with any real exercise. All gentle stuff only to date (short, slow walks) and no cycling scheduled for at least three months post procedure!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to watten1]

Very wise. Too many people ruin all the hard work by being over optimistic.

[Norfolk_spaniel]

Had exactly the same problem post covid. My GP even sent me to hospital as she suspected a clot on the lung due to breathlessness. All was clear. I watched GPs behind closed doors on channel 5 during the week and a young lady presented with breathlessness which turned out to be a muscoskelital problem. So, I went to see my osteopath because I had pain in my upper back between my shoulder blades which i put down to inactivity during covid. She freed it off with ultrasound and the general breathlessness has gone.

[watten1 in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

Thank you. That is a really helpful response. I suspect my issues are Covid, rather than A Fib, related, both though within the context of a recovery from the ablation.

Would you be able to say a little more about the ultrasound point you make please?

[Norfolk_spaniel in reply to watten1]

Glad you found it useful. Ultrasound is commonly used by my osteopath. I believe that it warms and loosens the muscles. It was sore the first day but 2 days on my back feels much better. Hope you feel better soon.

[watten1 in reply to Norfolk_spaniel]

This could be an option for me in the future if things don’t resolve. I was experiencing the back pain etc pre ablation which makes me feel it is post Covid related. It’s low level in my case but now accompanied by some breathlessness. Suspect the latter is ablation related but it could be another lingering effect of C19.

[kkatz]

I am 4.5 weeks post ablation and I experienced upper back pain for a few days at about 7 or 8 on an ache scale.Bad enough to take my strongest co-codamol.I used to get this if I did too much exercise when in Persistent AF. After anatomy research I thought this was at the site of the ablation.However after advice on here I contacted Arrhythmia nurse and he agreed it is the heart healing.Take pain killers all the time for a couple of days and take things easy . Don't rush things.