Post ablation issue

[50568789]

Had my first cryoablation yesterday at Papworth (including a cardioversion just to top it off). All went well, apart from voice being a bit croaky afterwards (no intubation) and slight crackle in lung starting. Returned home, went to bed, good sleep but crackles getting worse overnight. Have put calls in to GP and Arrythmia nurse at Papworth. Looked online and suspect it may be atelactasis. Wondered if anyone has had similar experience and what happened?

[BobD Volunteer]

Google is very bad for your health. I have never known ablation to cause a collapsed lung and I think you are making huge guesses which will just add to your anxiety unecessarily. If you have any chest pain or dizzyness/ fainting or are severly short of breath then go to A and E but otherwise speak to your arrhythmia nurse.

[Desanthony]

Maybe you need to get an appointment with your GP to check this out?

[50568789 in reply to Desanthony]

Have seen GP, prescribed course of antibiotics for infection of upper airways. Now I can get on with post ablation recovery.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello

It is not unknown to experience short-term side effects in the early days following an ablation. May I recommend downloading the information sheet: Recovering from an Ablation api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Alternatively, if you would like any advice, please contact our Patient Services Team: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[50568789 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Here's my theory. I get a lot of catarrh anyway, probably a side effect of various medications I take. Sleeping on my back is anathema to me, catarrh gets into throat / upper airways and can cause sleep apnoea like effect. Lying really flat on my back during ablation was for me the worst part of the whole thing and probably accentuated matters. In the recovery ward afterwards my SATS were only 88, something was getting in the way of blood oxygen getting to right level. So I left the hospital with a bit of a wheeze and a cough, which got worse during the night. Not heart related, apart from this the ablation went well and physically I feel pretty good. No complaints, just one of the myriad side effects which can happen.