Ablation recovery

[Kazzie49]

My husband had a cardiac ablation 10 days ago . On discharge he wasn't given any information other than rest. We don't know what recovery looks like? He is extremely tired after just a little bit of exertion eg he folded up his clothes and tidied his wardrobe yesterday, calmly,slowly. And was then exhausted. His blood pressure fluctuates from 129/ 60 to 145/ 73 and he sometimes gets a headache. Is this all normal and to be expected? Thank you.

[baba]

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[Ppiman]

His blood pressure seems spot on and well within the normal range, and the tiredness will, I would think, be a result of the ablation itself but also, I would say, added to by naturally higher levels of anxiety that accompany any heart condition, and which always follow an ablation.

The ablation will have burnt lines along on the inner surface of the left chamber at the top of the heart, where the pulmonary veins enter, to create what will, over about a 3-month period, become a small amount of scar tissue intended to block rogue electrical signals forming that were setting off your hubby's AF. Until these scars "mature", as doctors call it, the heart can still act oddly and cause effects like tiredness and even allow some arrhythmias through. This post ablation time is called the procedure's "blanking period".

I am sure all will be fine, but his GP will have lots of experience of what he is going through. Also, the hospital will have a team who can advise if you phone.

Steve

[Jajarunner]

If you want a LOT of details I wrote a blog about all of my ablations and other related topics. hhtafibathlete.blogspot.com...

Non profit btw 🤣

[Banquo]

Hi KazzieThe symptoms sheet they have here covers some good info the docs often do not tell you about. Hopefully that helps give your husband some peace of mind. One key one, for me anyway, was just the general statement that the procedure was harder on them than expected.. The nurse actually told me I could go for a run a few days after...ha! No. I am told some people really rebound quickly, but generally expect healing and energies to take longer than what they tell you.

I also had a lot of headaches, which I didn't have before ablation. I am about 5 months post ablation and honestly headaches still occasionally come and go, but far less intense. I also had a noticable fever for a few days right after my procedure, which I'm told isn't that common.

[Kazzie49 in reply to Banquo]

where do I find the informationin sheets x

[Banquo in reply to Kazzie49]

Kazzie, it appeared that Baba posted the link for you near the top of this thread. Hopefully your hubby funds some things that look familiar in there.

[kkatz]

Hi Kazzie,I presume your husband had sedation & not General Anaesthetic as the latter can be harder to recover from.All I can contribute is my recent experience.

I had an ablation 7 weeks ago and took it really easy for the first week to 10 days.I think I was really knocked out for 4 or 5 days.I do think that we expect a miracle .I wasn't fit beforehand partly down to persistent AF for 2 years and I am overweight.

I have gone through a lot of different things with my heart.Palps,missed beats,high HR ,low HR.A week of really bad aching chest & back which prompted me to contact arythmia nurse who reassured me & said you need to realise that ablation is a serious thing.I am Starting to feel better all the time building up my excercise.I think the main thing I noticed is my chest feels much less restricted.

All I can say is for your husband to listen to his body if his HR & BP stays in reasonable ranges but he should be able to reach out to a professional for advice.

Hope he improves soon.

[Kazzie49 in reply to kkatz]

Thank you So much. He had a general anaesthetic. He's absolutely exhausted all the time, can't do much as its too tiring. Had 5 cardioversion in past 110 Years and now first ablation. Heart is nice and regular, few headaches but wasn't expecting to be so fatigued x

[kkatz in reply to Kazzie49]

General anesthestic can take a while to get over.

[SB2352]

I am now 7 weeks post ablation. I am extremely tired still and often breathless as I have had right phrenic nerve palsy since the procedure. I have had severe migraine type headaches and heartburn (weeks 2-6). In the first 2 weeks I had a fast heart rate and multiple, mercifully short, attacks of AF and ectopy. The rhythm then stabilized but now I am having ectopy again. I don’t know if it’s going to work or not. However it’s clear that the information given to patients after ablation is entirely inadequate. If anyone reading this is waiting for an ablation please don’t plan any strenuous or stressful work or activity for at least six weeks, based on my experience!

[Gilli54]

😂