Face massage three weeks after ablation? - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Face massage three weeks after ablation?

Outsidethelines profile image
30 Replies

OK here’s a weird one: I had my cryoablation three weeks ago and am recovering well. Wanting a treat, and feeling that I was looking old, I booked myself a face massage for tomorrow. But the therapist is worried about doing it this soon after ablation. She seems to be concerned about stimulating the lymphatic drainage. Her guidelines tell her to wait till 8 weeks after ablation.

My understanding of the lymphatic system is vague, so I’m appealing to anyone on here who is more knowledgeable. Would you go ahead now, or wait out the two months? I’ve not read anything about this, and the arrhythmia nurses take days to reply, so I’d really appreciate it if anyone on this forum can share their knowledge/experience.

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Outsidethelines
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30 Replies
pip_pip profile image
pip_pip

If she's a professional then she's right to follow guidelines

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply topip_pip

Thank you

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

I suspect your therapist has more knowledge on this than any of us so wonder why you are reluctant to accept her view.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toBobD

Fair point, Bob

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I agree with pip_pip and BobD. Trust your therapist.

Jean

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

If your therapist is unwilling to do this then I would heed her warnings, they maybe being ultra cautious but I would much rather have that than someone who was cavalier.

The Lymphatic system is an organ of interconnected nodes around the vertebrae which is linked to circulatory system and immune system, many in your neck. Unlike the circulatory system which is a closed system, it is an open system.

Allow your body to recover and do a different treat.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toCDreamer

Thanks CDreamer. I’ve decided to heed everyone’s advice and postpone my face massage. I waited so long for my ablation and I’ve been recovering so well🤞 that I don’t want to do anything to jinx it. I just never even thought having a massage on my face might possibly affect my heart! Definitely not worth the risk

opal11uk profile image
opal11uk

My advice, listen to watch she is telling you, these therapists go through training and as a consequence are required to follow guidelines, if she is wrong you have nothing to lose if she is right then both she and you have everything to lose. Remember, these guidelines are put in place to protect not hinder.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toopal11uk

Thanks Opal11, you and everyone else are right, of course. I decided to postpone my face massage for a few weeks. Not worth taking any risks after my ablation.

opal11uk profile image
opal11uk in reply toOutsidethelines

I should have added to my post that in a past life I managed a sports leisure facility and employed 4 beauty therapists so I know the way they work. Same with sunbed policy, all clients were required to fill in indemnity forms, warming of the dangers of overuse etc.etc., and quoting all medical conditions. In my opinion, any salon that doesn't do this would make me walk away and take my custom elsewhere!!!! You made the right decision.

I had a very early breast cancer in 2021, and had lumpectomy and 4 (clear) lymph nodes taken, and am on Aromoatose inhibitor-anti-oestrogen med. I am now 79.

I wanted some pampering so booked a treatment and on the day was asked to fill in a medical history form, at which point the appointment was cancelled saying I had to get written permission from the oncologist! The hospital, oncologist, breast nurses, even the department administrator had never heard of such a thing! She cited her insurance company, but would not give ME any-proof that this was a requisite! So I am without any treatment to boost my morale, or improve my wellbeing. Someone somewhere must know1

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply to

I’ve now accepted that I have to delay my pamper treatment. But it’s made me interested to understand more about the lymphatic system

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady in reply to

Yes that’s right, YOU HAVE to ask permission if their professional.

I as a therapist can be SUED if anything gos off!! And I know one who was ruined through nothing other than her records couldn’t back up her treatments 🤯

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply to

I would be more concerned if a therapist, knowing their own professional guidelines and insurance constraints, agreed to do anything. I am a foot health professional and there are guidelines and insurance constraints in my profession, regarding certain conditions.

I even had to pay extra insurance to be able to cut patients fingernails as well as their toes!

OldJane profile image
OldJane

she is probably wrong. It she won’t be happy or professional if she doesn’t follow her own guidelines

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toOldJane

Agreed. And I would worry now the thought has been raised, which would be counterproductive!

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

ok, I’m a Complementary Therapist of 24 yrs, there is a 3 or 6 month recovery period before treating a patient, think insurance.

I had ablation February and would have liked a massage but best to wait and therapist is in right to say no. I have had massages, husband kindly did it, not a bad masseur😉

But, there are many acupressure points in the head leading to organs which might trigger off the heart, I wouldn’t want to experiment.

So, you need to wait🙏🏼💗

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toLaceyLady

That is SO interesting. Thanks so much for replying. I was really hoping someone could shed some light on the physiology aspect😊

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003

Head massage is also supposed to be a no no and deep tissue massage as well. All bodily systems are interlinked on various loops so I guess it's easy for one thing to affect another. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines

Thanks Ducky. Where do you get that information from, regarding head massage? Are you a practitioner?

Sweetmelody profile image
Sweetmelody

I had a full body massage five days after my first ablation. The discharge papers told me to go back to my normal life but take it easy and don’t lift anything heavy. That was about it. So I had my regular massage as part of taking it easy.

The next day I was back in afib, and two days later had a CV, which kept me in SR for over a year.

Coincidence? Massage and afib? I don’t know and never will. BUT after my second ablation, I did not opt for a massage for three weeks. Just in case… I think it’s good to stay on the conservative.

I’ve looked online about the connection between massage and afib. There’s not much there. My massage therapist, unlike yours, knew nothing about any such connection. Sounds like you have a therapodt worth listening to.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply toSweetmelody

Wow, that’s very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad I decided to err on the side of caution. I never thought to ask about massage when I was at the hospital but I did ask the surgeon about when I should go back to my normal exercise and particularly my yoga classes. He said I could do any amount of exercise I like after the first fortnight. And the concern during the first fortnight was for my leg wound, not my heart. But I decided not to do anything but walking and a bit of gardening for the first month. I know that the yoga I do is quite intense and raises my heart rate considerably, and my teacher also advised caution. I’m planning to start back after 4 weeks, and try to take it gently.

Sweetmelody profile image
Sweetmelody in reply toOutsidethelines

“And the concern during the first fortnight was for my leg wound, not my heart.”

Right! I experienced the same thing and still find it curious. Hearts can do funny things after an ablation, as people on this forum testify, but my discharge papers did not inform me of that but focused 80-90% of their precautionary advice on groin infection.

I wish my providers had informed me of what my heart might do and when I should be worried and when not. I had to wade and worry through a lot on my own. I’m much more knowledgeable now than I was after my first ablation about the likelihood that my heart could be a bit bumpy, including even the possibility of a CV to get things straightened around before it settled down.

I returned to gentle yoga and stretching after two or three weeks, and then a cardiac rehab program at a nearby hospital two months after my ablation. I chose to enroll in the cardiac rehab because I wanted my heart to be monitored as I found out how much I could push myself on exercise. I found that helpful.

Walking and gardening sounds perfect. It’s exactly what I’m up to these days, two months post-ablation, gradually increasing my number of steps and my speed walking up hills. Hmm. “Speed” doesn’t seem quite the right word; my hill climbs are fairly snail-like—but improving all the time with less breathlessness and an appropriate and steady heart rate for my physical exertion.

I wish my providers had told me that some of us could expect slow-going for at least a month or two and that heart irregularities in the blanking period are not uncommon. After reading the discharge papers, I felt that my not being back to life totally as usual in a week meant something went awfully wrong, when actually it’s fairly normal.

You’re taking really good self-care post-ablation, it seems to me. Kudos!

108cat profile image
108cat

Just a few weeks ago I had a fantastically relaxing massage thinking it would be good for my condition, but by the time I got to the car I realised my heart was 'bobbling' and when I got home it was full on Afib. A surprise to say the least. Thanks to LaceyLady for mentioning the acupressure points - it makes a lot of sense.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply to108cat

Thanks so much for sharing. I’m glad I decided to be cautious. This is why this forum is so valuable - the chance to learn from others’ experience

108cat profile image
108cat

Your question and Lacylady's comment has helped me understand my experience better .. I've been having regular acupuncture for almost a year now - it is definitely helping with Afib .. so it makes complete sense that someone randomly (but kindly) pressing on those points could have an equally powerful but opposite effect .. it's very interesting so many had a simliar experience ..

thank you x.

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply to108cat

Interesting to hear that acupuncture is helping with your AF. Wish I’d thought of that.

108cat profile image
108cat in reply toOutsidethelines

Is it too late?

Here's a link to a small scale study, comparison between acupuncture and amiodarone.

On Tuesday I gave a copy to my cardiologist, haven't heard what he made of it yet!

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Outsidethelines profile image
Outsidethelines in reply to108cat

Thanks so much, that’s definitely food for thought. Looks like it might be worth trying acupuncture for heart support in the future, but at the moment I’m less than a month post ablation and feel that I’m recovering pretty well so I don’t want to do anything yet that might rock the boat. Will DM you for more information, if that’s OK😊

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