Catheter ablation recovery

[kateevs]

Hi everyone - completely new to this forum but hoping I can call on your expertise and advice!

Had a catheter ablation on Wednesday at Leicester Glenfield. Had episodes of SVT for years, including 2 that didn’t stop without medical intervention. Hence the referral for ablation.

Complex procedure as they couldn’t easily identify the source, and the dr said it kept “ping ponging” about when he thought he’d found it. Long story short, they did ablate a few spots on right side, but also identified a fib on the left present also. As my attacks are relatively infrequent, he decided not to risk going over to the left but to treat with meds and review in 6 months. I’m totally happy with his decision.

However recovery wise, I’m getting anxious about the flutterings and flip flopping I am getting. I know they’ve said that’s normal, and I’m only just 48 hours post procedure, but these are making me more anxious than anything else, and I’ve convinced myself I’ll have them forever! As I type this, heart is fine, normal rhythm and can’t feel a thing. But every time I try to get up for a walk, turn over in bed, reach for a drink etc, it starts again. Can anyone reassure me with this?? I know everyone’s experiences are different!!!

Thank you!

Kate

[KeepingHealthy]

Hi, I know exactly how you are feeling. I would suggest that you contact the Doctor who prescribed the medication. It might be that you just need some peace of mind or it could be that the medication isn't suiting you. Don't sit worrying and feeling afraid to contact somebody if you know that you are not feeling right. Good luck.

[kateevs in reply to KeepingHealthy]

Keeping healthy - thank you for your reply. It’s been a rollercoaster of a few days, and I know I’m still early days. I contacted them today, as after a relatively peaceful weekend mainly in sinus, I started with an arrhythmia last night that didn’t stop - kept me up all night!! So after being in a panic I called them this morning, and they said it’s all to be expected, but to try taking one of my Flecainide tablets. So I’ve done that, and it seems to have done the trick for now - how long for is another matter! Just such a horrid feeling and I cope well with most things!

[KeepingHealthy in reply to kateevs]

Flecainide. I hope it works well for you, my Cardiologist was very confident that it would be for me but it wasn't. Like you say, everybody is different. But my experience is that I was prescribed it a couple of weeks after unsuccessful ablation and suffered with loads of side effects. I didn't realise it was due to the Flecainide until I contacted my Cardiologist after 4 weeks who said to stop taking it and now I'm on increased dose of Bisoprolol of 5mg per day. 2.5mg morning and night and have felt much better ever since. No more digestive problems, dizziness, not scared of leaving the house to name just a few. I wish you well and get plenty of rest to aid your recovery.

[kateevs in reply to KeepingHealthy]

I’m pleased you’ve found something that works for you - it’s a journey or trial and error for us all I think! I’m new to this, having only been in for my ablation last week (but had symptoms of SVT on and off for 12 years). The fact they’ve found Afib in there too has floored me a bit. Anyway, on Diltiazem twice a day, then Flecainide as and when. Didn’t want to have to take the Flecainide during my recovery as thought the arrythmias would be short lived as heart settles, but this one last night and into today wasn’t going to stop! Only took the lowest dose possible of 50mg and was quite surprised it worked within the half an hour, although no idea of side effects yet. I’m really pleased you’ve found what works for you - I long to get to that point!!!