Two weeks post ablation - I've been feeling fine with 3 episodes of afib of 6-12 hours and some further ectopics - all of which I'm comfortable with.
However for the last couple of days I've had some mild chest discomfort and my resting heart rate has jumped from about 50 bpm to 75 - 80bpm. I'm also feeling tired and irritable (plus la change my nearest and dearest might say).
BP is normal for me 130/80.
Has anyone had a similar experience or know of someone that has?
Is this normal 2 weeks out from ablation? I had similar chest discomfort and heart rate increase for a day or two after the ablation but it all settled down quite rapidly afterwards.
Thanks for reading.
Magoo
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MisterMagoo
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I wouldn't say that sudden onset chest discomfort was normal 2 weeks after an ablation. I'd want to get the view of my GP or AF nurse re this, if only for my peace of mind.
Thanks Bob - I did read about the elevated heart rate - it was for about a day after the ablation - it's the return after 2 weeks that got me thinking. I'm a bit light headed rather than dizzy.
Have you increased your activity? Of course report to your team, but chest discomfort post ablation, especially when taking a deep breath, is relatively common and can be treated with anti-inflammatories if needed. A raise resting HR post ablation is also normal and actually associated with better ablation outcomes. It could stay elevated for up to a year.
Thanks Jim. Activity has been raised in both good and bad ways. Good in that I have done it when I've felt upto it and bad in that I've had some family pressure to do so when not feeling great about it. I'll be reigning this in.
The chest "discomfort" is pretty constant but new over the past few days. I've had pericarditis before and it feels similar. I'm happy to live with it if it's not an indicator of a problem.
I'm on anticoagulants so anti-inflammatories are probably not allowed and especially as my stomach isn't feeling great - which could also be the source of the chest pain of course.
I was expecting a raised HR but not after 2 weeks.
Waiting on a call back but I suspect that I just need to try and get some solid rest for few days and see how I feel.
Yes, I was talking about Pericarditis. It is quite common post ablation and often treated with Colchicine, an anti-inflammatory, that is not at all contraindicated with anticoagulants. I was prescribed it myself after my cryo ablation. And again, not uncommon for a raised heart rate even up to one year post ablation and in fact it is associated with improved ablation outcomes. If concerned, get it checked out and meanwhile rest. Whenever I pushed it even a little, my pericarditis got worse.
You have already had good responses, but I wrote this before I saw them.
Unexpected or unusual chest pain should always be referred to a doctor, so please do not avoid doing that; however, from what you have explained, I would suggest that you are healthy and progressing normally.
My ablation was in the left side for atrial flutter, so your right-side AF ablations will be a little different, but, yes, I had these jumps in rate and chest discomfort. The cardiologist / EP will have carried out an echo scan of your heart before carrying out the procedure and something similar during it, so I would say you should have nothing to worry about in respect of physical heart problems and can consider these feelings a part of the healing or "blanking" process.
Sounds like something to report to the cardiac nurses or GP. I would. Better to be on safe side. You've had a heart procedure after all. Let us know how you get on. 🌸
After my ablation my resting heart was elevated for about 6 or 7 months. Are you still taking meds ( apart from anti- coags)? I was on 3.75 mg Bisoprolol for a few years before my ablation. I think stopping beta- blockers straight after the ablation may have also played a part in my raised resting HR. I also had mild pericarditus. As Jim said a raised HR is generally à good sign of a positive outcome. However, even though I had many problems post ablation chest pain wasn't one of them so as advised by others , it needs checking . I did have the feeling of indigestion but not pain as such.
Lily - I probably should have described it as discomfort rather than pain.
I was never on beta-blockers. I'm still taking Flecanaide at a reduced dose.
I'm no better or worse than I was yesterday - apart from slowly seizing up due to lack of activity - so I'm happy to patiently wait(for once!) for a scheduled call this afternoon with the arrhythmia nurse.
Interesting Mary - Drs have always been telling me how fit I am because of my low HR and I think that is why it's taken a decade for me to get taken seriously.
I've always tried to tell them that I'm "recreationary fit" - can jog a few miles (well before my knee replacement) and go for a bike ride but not so fit a to have a resting HR that is often below 50!
Thanks for all the replies. Great advice and re-assurance from everyone.
My chest "discomfort" has calmed down considerably today - probably thanks to lots of rest.
My heart rate is till in the low 70's (from low 50's) but I'm comfortable with that and there has been no afib since Friday - just a few ectopics.
The arrhythmia nurse told me to go to A&E if things get bad again and said that I'd be triaged to the Cardiac Outreach Team who would probably arrange for an echo cardiogramme.
He also offered to arrange for a trace to be fitted if I start to feel that the Afib is too regular but I'm hoping that will not be necessary.
So I'm going to sit tight for a few more weeks and try not to get carried away with too much activity - and now that Cav has crashed out of the TDF there's nothing for me to get over excited about.
FWIW my resting heart rate shot up 26% about 4 weeks ago (and stayed high) 2 years after an ablation, I think I've worked out that over that time flecainide has caused it.
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