Ablation and driving

[JoDogBlue]

Hello all, I'm having a cryo ablation under general anaesthetic next week. Not had the procedure before. The pre admission assessment nurse said I shouldn't drive for a week afterwards. I'd like to attend a memorial service for a relative 8 days after the procedure but it's a three hour drive, six hours there and back. My wife says she'll drive but I'd want to do some of the driving if we go given the distance. My question is how likely is it that I'm not going to be up to such a journey even if its just sitting in the car? I know everyone's different but is the likely bruising going to make it uncomfortable or just not sensible?Thanks for any replies

[Rainfern]

I believe rest is such an important part of healing from ablation and that’s why I allowed everyone do everything for me for three weeks! My friends and family also wanted to see me give a bruised and swollen heart the time to settle and get accustomed to NSR. 5-6 months on I’m now fitter and healthier than I’ve been for years so have more than given back my time to others. We’re all different, but I would say be prepared to listen to your own body and don’t overreach. And plan in plenty of breaks if you go, and allow your wife to drive.

[CDreamer in reply to Rainfern]

Very sensible!

[CDreamer]

Possible but not sensible. If it were 30 min drive, probably but depends how you heal and you won’t know that until after the procedure. If you are under 50, very fit and otherwise healthy you would have a good chance but know that Doctors generally vastly underestimate healing time for ablation, you will tire quickly with little warning.

Personally, I wouldn’t even go unless I booked to stay somewhere nearby. Why chance your recovery for the cost of one nights’ B&B?

Best wishes.

[Desanthony]

We did something similar to this Just after my two cataract operations just over a year ago. We too had a 3 hour drive then attend the service and refreshments afterwards. Then drive the 3 hours back home. Hardly any motorway or dual carriageway driving and quite a few small country roads - also had roadworks to contend with a couple of times on a single track road. My wife had to drive all the way there and back as my last cataract had only been done a matter of a few days before. She said then if we have to do that again we will book a night in a hotel - either the night before so that we can just get up and pack up go to the service etc and then drive home or the night of service - or preferably make a few days break of the whole thing and have another couple of days there to explore the area and rest before going home. 3 hours is a long time to drive on your own especially if driving conditions are not that good.

[Jalia]

Personally I wouldn't entertain such a journey without staying overnight. I'd say you were pushing your luck. I had no problems getting over my 4 ablations, certainly was not molly coddled....chance would be a fine thing.....and specifically no great bruising problems . However your experience could be completely different.

I think Rainfern has given you good advice.

[Thomas45]

There is usually an alternative to driving, that is using buses, taxis, coaches and/or trains, and stay a night or two. Due to nerve damage in my leg, which nerve would normally control muscles allowing me to dorsiflex my foot I can no longer drive, and now use public transport.

[Nan1]

I had an ablation 7 weeks ago. Everyone’s different but I couldn’t have driven so soon after procedure. I experienced lots of episodes of ectopics and tachycardia in weeks following along with a couple of visual aura so I wouldn’t want to have been behind the wheel. Regards

[JoDogBlue]

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I've sadly decided to decline attending and let caution win this one.

[Soundmike in reply to JoDogBlue]

Good decision .

[Sfhmgusa in reply to JoDogBlue]

Very sensible decision . I was 60 for my ablations and week later I was not up to that sort of strain . Another point your immune response will be depressed by the process so infection risk is higher well done a tough dilemma but the best decision

[AfibSufferer in reply to JoDogBlue]

Right decision. I wouldn't have contemplated such a drive until at least 2 weeks after my ablation. It takes a while to recover strength and stamina.

[Outsidethelines]

Like others here, I’d counsel against such a long drive. I’m now 10 days post ablation, and am recovering well🤞but I wouldn’t contemplate a three-hour drive yet. For me, the bruising in my groin area has meant I’ve found it impossible to wear ‘proper’ clothes. Even pants have been problematic because of the elastic😅 I’ve been living in baggy drawers and baggy joggers. In addition, I’ve had a couple of days of nasty headaches, when I definitely wouldn’t have wanted to be driving. Plus I still get very tired. We went to lunch with relatives on Good Friday, which was eight days post op for me, and while it was fantastic to see everyone after being cooped up indoors for a week, I was absolutely exhausted afterwards. As others have suggested, if you really want to attend the service, I’d book a room close by and let your wife do the driving, split over two days. And wear comfy clothes to travel in, then change into tidy wear for the service😊

[Ilovedogs12]

'Baggy drawers' made me laugh! 😂

[Ducky2003]

Just to add another "don't do it" to everyone else's. The bruising and swelling I had to my leg made sitting difficult, nevermind trying to drive.Also, about a week after my ablation, I was in the car with hubby driving a 10 min trip and he had to do an emergency stop. The pain in my chest from the seat belt and also my leg, wasn't great and I still wonder if that jolt was a contributing factor as to why my ablation failed.

Maybe consider public transport, if its doable.

[Cavalierrubie]

l would cancel the whole thing and concentrate on my health.

[Sweetmelody]

I agree with all the “don’t go’s.” I especially agree with one of the responders statement that doctors underestimate the time it takes to recover from an ablation. It takes weeks, even longer before I start to get my energy back. The discharge sheets I got after both my ablations basically say to take it easy the first day, but then it’s okay to go back to work if it doesn’t involve heavy lifting and you can sort of take it easy. I think that is unknowledgeable advice regarding the realities of recovering from an ablation. My discharge sheets focused almost entirely on the groin wound. They didn’t tell me I’d feel like a dishrag and not uncommonly could experiences PAC’s, episodes of tachycardia or bradycardia related to temporary reversions to afib, that I should rest and let others care for me for at least a week because my heart has just been through a traumatic experience.

Better part of wisdom—stay home and take good self-care. I think that gives us the best shot at attaining a successful ablation. Wounds take time to heal.

[Speed]

You don’t say what the Ablation is for (AF / AFlutter) nor your age nor your level of fitness or other health issues. These can all make a big difference to how you will feel after the procedure and so although its useful to hear of others experience and views, they should be considered in context.

To add balance to the discussion, my personal experience was that I felt fine after the procedure and quickly went back to a normal routine once I was sure the groin incision was healed. 7 days after my ablation, I did a 5 mile run and later that day a 1 mile swim. Day 8 was 15 miles on a bike. I was however unaware of the advice re the blanking period and would take more rest time now. A 6 hour journey would have been no problem, though an overnight stay would have been sensible.

The context however, was:

- ablation for typical Flutter, less intrusive than for AF as does not pierce the septum

- 54 years old

- fit and otherwise healthy prior to procedure

- I was under sedation not GA, the latter I understand can take some time to fully recover from

Despite the context, how individuals will feel will still vary and so my view would be consider your individual circumstances and maybe wait and see how you feel,

Best of luck with the Ablation.

[JoDogBlue in reply to Speed]

Thanks for your, and others, responses. Based on what I've seen I've decided not to go, I can't extend the trip to include an overnight stay. If I feel 100% after a week I'll reconsider but recognise the chances are I won't be back to normal that quickly. I just need to rest and be prepared to be looked after; something I find difficult!