Post ablation concerns

[NewOne2023]

So I'm 5 days post ablation now. Resting at home in front of the tv with some occasional work on my laptop but basically couch the whole day with couple visits to the kitchen to stretch my legs and minimize back pain. My question is how big of a groin lump is too big for a concern? Mine is currently the size of a wallnut. It's not painful, just tender and uncomfortable to touch. And my leg is ok, not cold or anything.

My entry bruising spread quickly 3 days ago over large area but it didn't spread anymore and it started to change colors to yellow so I believe that's healing.

I have chest discomfort most of the time, but it's more of a pressure and tightness rather than pain, but it does bother me, especially if I bend forward a bit. I can feel it even when I'm in half laying position in my couch. And to be honest it resembles my chest anxiety feeling so at this point I'm not sure if it's the anxiety or the ablation burns.

I know most of this is expected post ablation, just wanted to see if something has went from normal to concerning at this point?

[BobD Volunteer]

My groin bruising was from waist to knee and resembled a work of Jackson Pollock. A walnut sounds a bit large to me but a lump is common. Any redness or hotness in the area contact your medical team. It might take a month or so to go. best speak to your arrhythmia nurse where it was done if you have any concerns. Do read out fact sheet on recovery!

[NewOne2023 in reply to BobD]

Well for the lack of a better description, it's the size of a wallnut but only the core, without the shell. So not really really big, at least I think. The shape is rather oval instead circular. And it's quite hard on touch. Also it's no more hot than the left groin. The whole area is still a bit swollen and my bruising stretches from the lowest groin part all the way to the hip. It looks really big but as I said, it changes colors so I'm not really concerned about that.The lump is kinda concerning so I will see if it stays the same for another day, I think I shouldnt be worried. Of course if it gets bigger I will call the nurse.

[mjames1]

Walnut size bump normal per literature and my ep nurse. Chest tightness also sounds normal, but if it starts to really bother you, or if pain/tightness increased when you breathe in, then definitely report it to the office.

The best guideline to follow after an ablation is what your body tells you. Some get up and go about their business the next day, many like myself pretty much do nothing but lay around the house for a couple of weeks.

Jim

[jeanjeannie50]

It's called a haematoma and is a lump of blood. I had one after an ablation, it felt very solid and I was convinced a tube had been left inside my groin. I went to my GP who told me they were quite common. Yours sounds a bit bigger than mine and I'd suggest just getting it checked out.Jean

[NewOne2023 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Tnx. Since I should drive more than 100km to the hospital where my EP team and ablation procedure took place, I think I'll wait for a day and see if it gets worse, then I'll call the nurse on mobile to see what she thinks.

[Buzby62]

I had the lump as I replied in your previous post, inside of a walnut or a large broad bean, sounds similar. Nurse told me it might not go all together but at 4-5 weeks it was gone enough not to notice it and after a few more weeks gone all together. It did get more noticeable over the first week or so. All sounds very familiar to me.

Best wishes

[CDreamer]

My haematoma was also the size of a walnut - took weeks to dissolve. It freaked me out so I rang the clinic - all was normal and it did dissolve eventually.

[PCC62]

Hi NewOne2023

This sounds pretty normal to me as long as it doesn't feel hot or inflamed or oozing or increasing in tenderness. My lump was pretty big, slightly bigger than a walnut but I also had a suture (apparently not everyone does!) which might have contributed to the apparent size and it didn't start to reduce for about 10 days and then little by little disappeared and was gone within 4 weeks. Oddly I had barely any bruising, just a slight discolouration around the entry site. Definitely varies from person to person. Monitor it for another couple of days and maybe give your EP nurse a call before making the 100km journey which most likely is unnecessary.

[Singwell]

My advice is to be mindful about bending forward - especially over aa laptop. When I was post ablation bending in the upper chest was a sure trigger for a bit of AF. Can the laptop have a holiday for 3 more days do you think?

[NewOne2023 in reply to Singwell]

Well it's a slight bend since I have laptop stand, kinda like breakfast stand so while I'm lying in couch, I do have multiple pillows in the back so my head position is basically the same regardless if I watch the tv or doing something on laptop.

[Singwell in reply to NewOne2023]

Gotcha. My other half bought me one of those breakfast stands after my 2nd ablation. I remember being caught out bending down a bit to wash my face 2 days after the procedure...