Ablation Yesterday. Pain Today

[Peakoverload]

So I had my first ablation yesterday morning. It was supposedly under sedation but I felt pretty much fully awake and aware throughout. The procedure was not that nice but okay. Everytime they froze a section of tissue it started off mildly uncomfortable and progressed to mildly painful. In the end had to ask for more painkillers.

Anyway after and for the rest of the day, felt fine just a bit drowsy. The only thing I noticed is that if I took a proper deep breath it was slightly uncomfortable. This morning though it’s quite a bit more uncomfortable. Normal breathing now feels like how taking a deep breath did yesterday and taking a deep breath or even just walking to the loo is more painful. Not agony, maybe 3/10. The pain is right in the centre of the chest so obviously the heart and feels muscular in the sense of stretching a damaged muscle, which I suppose is exactly what’s happening. I’m in NSR but get a few irregular beats and when it’s irregular it’s usually fast and that hurts a bit.

From what I can tell this is all normal and so not unduly worried as long as it doesn’t get much worse and am doing nothing but laying on the sofa for the next week. I know everyone is different but just wondered how long this went on for in those that have experienced it?

[Paulbounce]

Hi Peak.

You have the worst part over with so look forward to moving on. Recovering from ablation varies from perosn to person so I am unable to give you a time line. However, one thing is for sure - you must rest up totally for at least a few weeks. It's a good excuse to put your feet up and do nothing without feeling guilty. Watch some movies or order those books on Kindle you have meaning to read but never got around to it.

Don't risk alcohol for sometime and stay well hydrated. Things will only get better for you.

Good luck.

Paul

[CDreamer]

I would echo Paul’s excellent advice and say if your breathing becomes more difficult rather than less difficult during the next few days then do not hesitate to contact your medical team.

Recovery is so different for each person but as one of our contributors and volunteer says - just because you haven’t got a big zip up your chest doesn’t mean that you are OK, your heart needs to recover and right now it’s been burned so it’s raw and needs to produce scar tissue, the inflammation reduce and heal and in order for it to do that - rest is required.

Although I was up and about and back to work within 10 days (sedentary job) I would say it was 9 months before HR returned to pre ablation rates, breathlessness disappeared and I had anything like energy levels, I got very tired quite quickly.

Take it at your pace and trust your body not your brain to tell you when you must rest..

Good luck and wishing you long lasting NSR.

[Nantoone]

Good morning. I hope you are feeling a little better today. I posted on my bio about how I felt for the first twelve weeks post ablation. I am now four months on and everything is still holding up well. I still look back on it as it gives me reassurance as to how much I have improved. Take a read. It might help. You might go through similar or you may be far better than me ant healing. Everyone heals in different ways and times. What you mustn’t do is push yourself too soon. Rest, rest and more rest. I did jigsaw puzzles to stop my mind spinning.

I wish you the best of luck in your journey to be free of AF. 😘

[Jajarunner]

Don't forget you can phone your ward or the arrhythmia nurses if you are concerned 👍.Also, though I'm sure you didn't mean it literally, don't lie on the sofa for the whole week, get up at least.once and hour and hobble around for a bit. At least,that's what Papworth hospital advised me.

Best wishes x

[Snowgirl65]

I've had 3 ablations and a post-procedure symptom was pressure in the chest, like an elephant was sitting on me. It was difficult to take a deep breath, but otherwise normal breathing was fine. This lasted only a short while -- I noticed improvement every day.

[kkatz]

Don't mean to be blunt and I do sympathise.Sorry but you can expect pain for quite a while.Mine was probably a 6/10 for a few weeks.I phoned arrythmia nurses & advised recovery from incision & scarring and to take painkillers regularly.It is early days .Check with contact given on discharge.It will get better & should be worth it.Now 21 months Afib free.

[Peakoverload]

Well I’m definitely feeling a lot better today. Whereas yesterday I didn’t even have the energy to take a shower, had migraines several times a day and breathing hurt and even shuffling around would leave me breathless. Today I have much more energy, showering was completely normal, no migraines so far, only mild discomfort when taking a deep breath otherwise normal. I still get out of breath very easily, even talking I have to pause for breath but still a big improvement over yesterday. The bruising, whilst horrific looking isn’t too painful as long as my belt doesn’t touch it. I’m getting the occasional very short burst (3-4 beats over a second) that is either PAC/PVC or maybe AF but they are so brief and occasional (maybe 6 over 48hrs) that they don’t bother me and no longer hurt like they did yesterday. Head still feels groggy which might be from the migraines. I used to get migraines and it was always the post drome that was the worse, felt like being hung over. Not had a migraine for 3 years until yesterday and really hoping that these don’t make them return again. Thankfully the ones I’m getting now only last 20 mins unlike before when it would be an hour or two. Fingers crossed for another improvement tomorrow.

[MWIC]

Early days, take it easy did a couple of weeks and bear in mind it could get worse before it gets better - did for me from one week after and lasted for 2-3 weeks but then all settled and been 10’minths now being AFib free. Wishing you the very best - just remember stay calm and any concerns talk to the arrhythmia nurses who were fantastic when my blip began one week in