Post ablation short of breath

[jnbee]

I am 74 years old. I had a catheter ablation 3 days ago having been in permanent Afib for 5 months. I have suffered from asthma since childhood & have an FEV of a 90 year old, or so I'm told. Nevertheless I was 3 months trekking in Nepal recently (Nov to January this year), hiking to 5,400 metres and since Afib commenced late Feb have been cycling, hiking & sailing, although not with my usual vigour. I was taking Diltiazem & blood thinners since diagnosis and post ablation Amiodarone has been added.

I am very short of breath now walking up a modest incline.

I am wondering if the anaesthetic gases are the cause. Or is it the addition of Amiodarone? Or the combination of the Amiodarone & Diltiazem?

Admittedly it is only 3 days post ablation but surfing the net I have not found much written about shortness of breath post ablation.

Any advice or information would be greatly appreciate.

Regards

John

[mjames1]

Best advice would be to take it easy for the first month or so. At day 3, my walking consisted of going from the bed to the couch and to the bathroom. It was a week before I took even 10 minute easy strolls. Also, no lifting over 10 pounds for the first week, so your groin wound will heal properly. You want to give your ablation the best chance of working and too much, too soon, can ruin that. I'm at week 11 post ablation now and just starting to get back to my exercise program pre ablation.

As to shortness of breath, it's a listed side effect of Amiodarone.

[jnbee in reply to mjames1]

Thanks very much mjames for your useful advice & information. It is much appreciated. I hope everything goes well for you. Regards John.

[Morzine]

phew John it’s three days after ablation, slow up…two weeks they say of pottering and no lifting things. I stayed home two weeks and pottered , yes it can be boring, I had my husband home in a cast at same time he tore his achillies skiing so we both had cabin fever stuck and unable to do stuff!both of us incapacitated!

When I did start to go out it was short walks, I had easy circuits with cafes stops here in morzine, I’d recommend a walk to cafe stop rest and walk. ..that sort of thing, so you feel you are achieving something…. If I’m going to be truthful here it was three months till I felt normal, but up to six months i still had days I felt I hit a brick wall. The tablets knock you down a gear or two anyway. I messaged herei remember saying it’s nearly six months as I feel in third gear not sixth….everyone said hey it’s normal…..

Seven months I did a long haul trip, in hindsight walk thru rain forests in heat I still wasnt the old sue….

I guess it’s listening to your body, you’re a fit person and eager I’m sure to get back out there, just reign in as in the long run it need the heart to repair from this shock and you want it to succeed.

I have to say four years in that ablation was amazing for me…hope it continues eh!

Good luck, rest up more,

Sue

[Ppiman in reply to Morzine]

Lovely, helpful post!

Steve

[jnbee in reply to Morzine]

Thanks very much indeed for your reply Sue. It cheered me up. I have taken on board what you have advised. May you stay in Sinus rythym forever! Regards John

[mary70]

"How long does fatigue last after ablation?

You may also have mild shortness of breath or fatigue. These symptoms are all normal and should subside within 4 to 6 weeks after the procedure.

my.clevelandclinic.org › heart

After Catheter Ablation | Cleveland Clinic"

[stoneyrosed]

Shortness of breath definitely occurs after an ablation, Sue is 100% correct in saying you must take it very easy for a few weeks until your body will allow you to do what it is able to do. The shortness of breath eased up after a couple of months but recovery can take 6-12 months. Go steady.

[jnbee in reply to stoneyrosed]

Thank you for your reply. Good to know I am not alone. Regards John

[SeanJax]

as you described you got COPD stage 3 at least and your ep added Amiodarone which can cause pulmonary fibrosis. Are you sure they know what they are doing? Afib does not kill but COPD will. Talk to your ep again. They are other drugs but amiodarone is a no no in your case.

[jnbee in reply to SeanJax]

My ep took me off Amiodarone & put me on Flecainide. Good call Sean. Thanks again.

[jnbee]

Thanks SeanJax. I will have a word with my ep. I am concerned about pulmonary toxicity from taking Amiodarone for sure. Thank you & best regards

John

[Prettyorchid]

maybe want to check your O2 levels …and all the side effects of Amiodarone…no fan here. Dropped my HR to 32 and tripled my normal thyroid panel, 8 weeks

[jnbee]

Wow! Amiodarone is a bit scary isn't it. My pulse oximeter indicates O2 levels ok thankfully

[Down10FTN]

I had similar SOB appear about a month or two post-ablation. I called my EP and was prescribed Furosemide for excess fluid retention. Evidently common. Some of this excess was suspected to have been around the heart and lungs. Within a day I was breathing much much more easily. Good luck!

[jnbee in reply to Down10FTN]

Thanks very much for your reply. I weighed myself yesterday and seem to have gained 3 or 4 kg. (very remiss of me, should have checked earlier). Also my legs are a bit puffy. I have started drinking lots of water to flush out the saline used during the procedure. Nevertheless your experience with Furosemide sounds very relevant to my case and I will check it out with my EP. Thanks once again for sharing your experience with me & good luck to you! John

[TexGin]

Hi, you're retaining fluid and that can definitely be the reason you're short of breath (sob), call your Dr. right away. Best wishes!

[jnbee in reply to TexGin]

Thanks TexGin. I'm onto it! Best wishes to you also.