Post ablation

[bobify]

Hi guys sorry to ask again had my ablation 4 weeks ago went back into AF after a week and still in it I know this can happen and people tell me it can take weeks if not months for it all to settle down I am finding it hard thought I actually feel worse than before the operation can any one tell me is it normal to be absolutely out of breath after things I do I go upstairs out of breath if I have a shower I am out of breath I don't have any pain but my chest feels a bit tight I am trying so hard to cope and have read some great articles on hear just wanted to see what some of you think 🤔 thx ever so much stay safe cheers

[mjames1]

Sorry you're having a rough time.

Is your heart rate being controlled adequately going upstairs and doing activities like taking a shower? If not, this can be the reason you're out of breath.

In any event, these symptoms should be reported to your doctor.

In addition to adequate rate control while in atrial fibrillation, it's important not to stay in atrial fibrillation longer than necessary. Another reason to speak to your doctor.

Feel better.

Jim

[bobify in reply to mjames1]

Thx for your reply just trying to get through it

[BobD Volunteer]

Best discuss with your arrhythmia nurse if you have chest pain etc. If sill in AF maybe DCCV can be arranged. I hope you have read our fact sheet on recovery?

[jeanjeannie50]

Right you can do one of two things. Either call the hospital where you had your ablation and ask to speak to the consultants secretary and ask her to tell him how long you've been back in AF, or call your consultants AF nurses.

The same thing happened to me after my last ablation and I was cardioverted back into normal rhythm. Was still the most helpful ablation I had.

Jean

[bobify in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi thx for that,yes spoke to the nurse she said give it time as that is what the heart needs to heal

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello, sorry to hear you are experiencing 'break through episodes' these are not uncommon but generally short-lived. Have you been in touch with the clinic that performed the procedure? For more information, you may wish to download the 'pinned post' on the Forum: Updated : Preparing for and Recovering from an Ablation factsheets for AF

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Patient Services Team: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[bobify in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thx will have a look

[JoDogBlue]

I'm not sure I'd call three weeks in AF a breakthrough episode. Like you I went back into AF after my ablation at the beginning of April (after two days for me). I felt worse than ever... it was like turbocharged AF, really breathless, tired and feeling that I'd done the wrong thing. Your heart is wounded after the procedure and needs lots of time to recover and then AF on top is a double whammy. I think the medics underestimate how bad that makes you feel, my arrhythmia nurse said as much. I'd get in touch with your arrhythmia team and ask if you can have a cardioversion. They gave me amiodarone to help keep me in normal rhythm before mine. I pushed for a cancellation, I got one about six weeks after the ablation and have been in sinus rhythm since then. Even though I'm not 100% yet I'm so much better and have stopped amiodarone and am reducing my bisoprolol dose. I'm now hopeful that my ablation worked after feeling so disappointed.

I hope you feel better soon, just take it easy, let your team know just how bad you feel and that you need help.

[bobify in reply to JoDogBlue]

Thx for that I did speak to the cardio nurse who told me the heart needs time to heal will think about speaking to them again

[Ducky2003 in reply to bobify]

The heart does need time to settle but that would be fine if it was an occasional blip, not 3 weeks straight. I would get in touch with them again and tell them, its clearly not normal in this circumstance and they need to consider a DCCV before all the good work is undone.

[bobify in reply to JoDogBlue]

Hi thx for that giving it another couple of days then going to ring up

[LaceyLady]

I feel the consultants make it sound easier than it is, it takes longer to recover depending on the person and where they started from.

I had my first end February, at first up n down, no A Fib episodes, but thought I had until I’d reading, I have a Kardia and Apple Watch.

I had a 7 day Holtor monitor to check it out, I went Private and this is what the consultant wanted. When we’d looked at the results as I was sent them before appointment with consultant, we thought it hadn’t been as successful. So I said to hubs ‘I’m not going to think about it till I see the Prof’, just as well, he thinks it went really well 🤞🏻

Do as the others say, contact hospital

[bobify in reply to LaceyLady]

Thx will do

[Ppiman]

I should think much of what you are feeling is from the ablation itself, and this will heal over the coming weeks and months. Whether the AF will slowly abate is said to be likely, but, for now - a call to the catheter lab is in order.

Steve

[bobify in reply to Ppiman]

Thx will do

[Vonnegut]

I was told to rest during episodes, not attempt to carry on as normal! By the EP who first prescribed Flecainide 100mg for me to take as a pip. It would always end episodes within a few hours but that was when resting, not carrying on as usual. Experiences like yours have put me off having an ablation though guess I haven’t been offered one because I’m 80 and Flecainide seems to have virtually put an end to my episodes.

[bobify in reply to Vonnegut]

Thx for that there us more to it than you expect hope you keep well

[Vonnegut in reply to bobify]

I wouldn’t say I’m “well” as I have chronic fatigue which developed at around the same time as the PAF after a virus, but fortunately, my husband does all the stuff I can no longer manage to do and my brain still functions!

[MikeThePike]

Just curious, do you regret having the ablation? Do you think you could have managed without it?

[DawnTX]

sorry to hear you’re still getting your a fib, but as you know, there are no cures and unfortunately not all ablations do the trick. it may just be a matter of healing, but you need to talk to your doctor not us because we have all had different experiences. My first ablation gave me relief for six months my second for a year. My third did nothing and at that point I was much sicker, so you can’t let it go the worst he can do is tell you it’s gonna take X amount of time to heal and that is often the case think about if you injure your finger how long does it take to feel better and hail? And we are talking about our heart here so it’s probably taking longer. There is nothing easy about a fib and also remember whatever we have done is like putting a Band-Aid over it meaning it’s not permanent. I have read of some wonderful news on here. People can go for years and years feeling better. just like a fib and flip-flops on what you get to feel like

talk to your doctor at least you will know what you’re dealing with as I said it takes a while to heal. Just remember that you have to be patient and there is no set time. We are all different.

[Buzby62]

When I had an episode at day 6 post ablation I contacted the arrhythmia nurses immediately, they said it was the right thing to do and indicated they might intervene if it lasted 3 days. I reverted to NSR overnight so no intervention was required. I really struggle to understand why others are told different like yourself and to give it time while in persistent AF, the best thing for a successful outcome is minimal AF while recovering from the ablation. Maybe it’s a resource issue and you need to be a little more pushy to get the answers. Good luck with it.

Best wishes