I thought I knew about ablation…this is a new ball game

[Morzine]

help guys!

last ablation must have been a breeze apart from energy loss. This one is awgul so far. Walking to the loo is about my limit, fair enough, but on the three hour drive home I started to get pains . My throat whivh already hurt from the start, hurst now all the way down to my lungs when I breathe.

How long is thst tube thry put down into you ?

My heart physically hurts, it’s not a heart attack, ut actually aches, not all over just the top half by my bronchial / trachea tube.

And my cheeks are glowing as if I’ve a temperature, but I bavent got one.

Blood pressure normal, pulse oxygen normal, just this pain in heart snd whole throat tube ,

Taking codeine paracetamol and feel like a beached whale.

Anybody else feel this way?

Sue

[CDreamer]

Sorry you are feeling so rough. I certainly had sore tubes for many months, then I found out that during the TOE the camera got ‘stuck’ in my oesophagus so no wonder. It gave me acid reflux for months so I can relate to that! It 10 years since my last ablation and I can remember heart ache and some pain in my back which lasted no more than about 2-3 days but don’t remember having to take anything more than paracetamol for 24 hours.

If you are concerned and in that much pain please ring the clinic and ask for advice, you may need checking out. Hope things improve very soon.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Sue, I remember Lilypocket had her ablation in France a few years ago and felt just like you do now. I have alerted her and hope she will reply to you.

Jean

[Morzine in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank Jean I feel terrible. I expected yo feel tired but not like this with pain . My husband currently have cancer treatment and in pain etc so we are in a right state.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Morzine]

Sorry to hear you're both in pain. Are your family being helpful?

If it's any consolation even though Lilypocket suffered after her ablation I believe it stopped her AF.

[Lilypocket in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean and Sue

I had a whole gamut of problems but I never had severe pain. I was in a bit of discomfort in the same area when breathing but more than anything had many arrythmia problems and digestive issues with weight loss ( Vagal nerve tweaked) . However I did have a little liquid around the heart and took medication for it for a week.

Sue if I were you and if it continues I would try to see your cardiologist as perhaps you have some liquid round your heart?

Are you at least still in NSR?

X

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lilypocket]

Morzine see Lily's reply.

[Morzine in reply to Lilypocket]

Thanks lilypocket I’m a bit less painful today and will ring the cardio yo check.

Sue

[Morzine]

that’s encouraging Jean. Yes family are helping.

Sue x

[Hidden]

“The size of the tracheal tube, defined by its internal diameter, is often generically selected according to sex, with 7–7.5 mm and 8–8.5 mm tubes recommended in women and men, respectively. Tracheal diameter in adults is highly variable, being narrowest at the subglottis, and is affected by height and sex.16 May 2020”

associationofanaesthetists-... › ...

My guess is that the choice of tube size (width) is largely based on departmental protocols with no routine measurements of tracheal width by xray or ultrasound. You may have been an unfortunate outlier.

Persistent symptoms may suggest a problem and if this is the case I would call the cardiac nurse. I have had 5 GAs with no significant sore throats post op.

[Morzine in reply to Hidden]

That’s interesting!!

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

In ancient days we guessed a size according to general size of patient, but easier to try a smaller tube if needs be. Suspect the way the tube is removed has more bearing on soreness.

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

Good point!

[Bagrat in reply to Hidden]

"At the end of peak inspiration, the tube is removed rapidly but gently. This occurs immediately after cuff deflation".

[Morzine in reply to Bagrat]

are you an anaethetist? How do they know when u are about to wake and pull it out, I was in recovery and saw an old lady kind of retch as they pulled it out

[Bagrat in reply to Morzine]

No, in my dreams, I was a nurse and loved anaesthetics. Usually they keep a good eye and once spontaneous breathing well established and cough reflex back, it comes out, replaced with an airway, to keep tongue out of the way until youre properly awake.

[Morzine in reply to Bagrat]

Ah so that’s what thry did with this lady I watched thrm put something down her throat. I woke quite alert and it was interesting . Another funny thing is here in hospital they feel your pulse via your foot not your wrist do they do that in U.K.

[Iamfuzzyduck]

my throat and lungs hurt after. My upper airways still don’t feel completely normal after five weeks. I was given a medication after a couple of weeks because I was told it is inflammation and it did help but I have now finished the two week course. I am able to work out etc but tgere is something not right still, I can’t explain the feeling, a wave of a sense of doom and discomfort for a breathe or two when tired. I am currently at altitude but when I return to sea level I shall contact my team again. But it does take three months for the heart to heal so still early days. I think you should talk to your dr about meds for inflammation

[Morzine in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

thanks, iamfuzzyduvk, in a way it’s nice to know I’m not alone.

Did thry give you omneprzole ? As I’ve plenty in my cupboard I could use.

It’s my tubes and top of lung, worse lying down.

Sue

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Morzine]

It was colchicine-a gout medication used off label for inflammation after a heart procedure. I have not had any issues with my oesophagus. It was mainly on my right side and back and worse on lying down. I think you should talk to your doctor. It might be different to what I had 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Morzine in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

Yes sane here lying on back and right side hurts.

Sue

[Karendeena in reply to Morzine]

I thought it was routine to have omeprazole prescribed. It certainly is in the UK. I had to take a high dose for 6 weeks

[Morzine in reply to Karendeena]

Oh thanks for that I will take thrm thrn as I’ve lots in cupboard from various things…it feels as if it needs soothing.

[Karendeena in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

I still feel 'strange' after my ablation 7 weeks ago. I don't sleep well, have vivid dreams and have some burping and a feeling of a lump in my throat when I swallow. Like you I am thinking the recovery takes longer than anticipated

[Morzine in reply to Karendeena]

Yep burping a lot.

Sue

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Karendeena]

I can’t gauge my recovery atm because i have been at altitude for 9 days which always affects my heart with tachycardia. I don’t take Beta blockers because usually I have a slow hr but I had to raid my daughter’s propranonol! I know I still have a way to go though! I hope you recover soon…

[Morzine in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

Where are you?

I live at 1000 metres in the alps

Sue

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Morzine]

I was in Boulder Colorado, and Colorado Springs! 5300-6300 ft. I will be staying higher in June 😩. I guess you are in Morzine! It is pretty in Morzine for sure!

[Morzine in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

Gosh yes that’s high I was in Breckinridge fairly near you , skiing and got high altitude sickness the first time I went and was oxygen machine in the lodge room a few days. You really feel it.

Yes morzine , it’s pretty, now inter season time not a soul around till the summer tourist arrive.

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Morzine]

I am too scared to go to Breckenridge! Way too high for me. I am now back at sea level and slept like a baby last night!

I have just looked up the altitude-9600 ft. I would be hooked up to an oxygen machine at that height too. I could only manage that if I lived in Colorado to start with!!

[Morzine in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

It was a shock for me as I’d never heard of it before then. The lodge owner said it often happens should have stayed in Denver apparently a day or two first. All the family were skiing fine and mum was stuck on the oxygen machine!!

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Morzine]

That’s what they say but I can’t acclimatize in a day or a week even! It really messes with my sleep and pulse!

[Karendeena in reply to Iamfuzzyduck]

You too ❤️❤️Hoping to go to Majorca towards the end of June. Must admit I am a bit scared of the flight and altitude but not prepared to put my life on hold 😊

[Iamfuzzyduck in reply to Karendeena]

The flight did not cause a problem for me. Have a lovely trip! ❤️

[Morzine in reply to Karendeena]

Flight will be fine just get to airport in plenty of time so there’s no rushing to the gate. Have a lovely time

Sue

[secondtry]

Sorry to hear your tough time, the body can do amazing things to overcome problems so I hope by Christmas you will be all pretty good and no more AF.

Your post is important as an for me ablation is by no means a straightforward procedure and it can often be the ancillary actions that are the problem...caveat emptor (no doubt the French have a similar saying)!

[Morzine in reply to secondtry]

Thanks, it’s certainly been different this second time

Sue

[Ppiman]

You have my sympathies. My atrial flutter ablation in 2019 and my recovery from it were straightforward and quickly over but the cardiologist EP who did it and who I still see did tell me that the AF ablation I seem to be heading toward will be less straightforward and take longer to recover from.

On the internet, I found a very thorough long-term study that focuses on patient symptoms following ablation called "Symptom Challenges after Atrial Fibrillation Ablation". It certainly enlightened me and I hope you'll find it helpful and comforting. This quotation stood out:

"Anxiety after AF ablation may be related to a patient’s feeling that their recovery is 'abnormal'. Thus, a more thorough discussion by health care providers about expected post-ablation symptoms (bruising, headache, elevated heart rates, and fatigue) might alleviate some of these feelings and improve the patient’s recovery."

It was carried out in 2017 but seems to reflect modern practice. From it, it seems that you should begin to feel physically better over the next twelve weeks and then a whole lot better over the following twelve. Let's hope this means that you'll soon be able to write in here and feel able to tell this currently painful story perhaps even with a small smile.

Steve

[Morzine in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve yes this one was more complicated he zapped lots of bad electrics whereas last time he said it was minor. I wish they’d say hey this could go wrong that could go wrong so you are prepared as I like to know what could happen.

All this has been scary as last time was easy apart from tired.

Sue

[Ppiman in reply to Morzine]

I get the feeling that the top of the heart can really play up for some of us. I’m just hoping mine can be sorted soon. It’s very wearing to have put up with heavy daily palpitations.

Let’s hope you have seen the last of it now!

Steve

[Prawnsalad]

where did you have this done and which ablation?

[Morzine]

in Lyon France cryo ablation

[LaceyLady]

3 months ago I had my first ablation and my throat was SO sore, I could barely swallow a pain killer! They then offered me a ruddy sandwich to eat or salad 🤯 I’m a low carb T2D AND they were informed, private hospital too. I heading for a follow up, and will mention this with the Prof.

I’m finding I am having tiredness which I’m not used to 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Afibflipper]

Sorry you are feeling so rough, I get it as I was the same. Did you have a general anaesthetic? If so be aware of any issues in swallowing (hard to get food down past throat) or fluid (even saliva diverting into the lungs) - it appeared I had some swelling post ablation from the ET tube

The pain you are feeling yes I took gaviscon with little effect but also the heart pin that too needed pin killers.

Just take it easy, rest & soft foods maybe. Don’t hesitate to get medical help if feels necessary but I’ll just say what my EP told me - if you attend and A/E dept you MUST inform them you are post ablation & should really NOT be given a gastroscopy without them contacting the EP as this can be extremely dangerous

Hope you feel better soon and that it works

[wilsond]

I think you need to contact the team that did the ablation to check out heart pain

[Karenjaninaz]

This is normal; it varies from one person to another. Your EP staff will give you tips on how to manage. Some people are given colchicine to reduce the heart pain. The sore throat is from the endotracheal tube; muscles might ache from the muscle relaxant used to intubate; heartburn is because the esophagus is right next to the structures being operated on; antacids help with that. I took tylenol and it helped. I had the same symptoms.

Retired US nurse anesthetist here.