Succesful Ablation Exercise and Recovery

[Lefthook]

After over 6 months of persistant Afib, cardioversion that worked for a week, two cancelled ablations, I had my first ablation 10 days ago at Nottingham City Hospital trent Cardiac Unit. The staff were brilliant, very impressed with the care, skill and support given by the surgeon, anaesthetist and the team in the cath lab.

Because I have Parkinson's I needed general anaesthetic to keep me still. Procedure was cryo ablation and took under 4 hours.The surgeon spoke to me afterwards and told me it had all gone very well. I was allowed to go home that evening and did very little for a couple of days with complete rest. I was in Normal Sinus Rythm for the first time since last November, my blood pressure is good, my heart rate 55 - 60 and I feel really good, I havent felt like this for over two years.

I check my heart on Kardia every day, I had two days where some PVCs appeared but now seem stable in NSR. I am advised to take it steady and increase my exercise regime gradually. I used to be very fit and loved rowing, cycling, boxing training, weights, walking 5 miles, all of which was scuppered by Afib and the side effects of medication, I couldnt walk more than 500 yards without being exhausted and had to have a nap every afternoon for two hours. I want to return to my exercises, rowing, cycling etc but must pace myself and go steady.

I am advised that there is a 3 month blanking period then I go back to see consultant to see if I can stop taking medication apart from Riveroxiban which I will continue to take for ever.

At this moment I feel great, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and have hope to get my life back to some degree. Fingers crossed the ablation has been banished for at least a few years. I am so grateful to the cardiology consultants and team at Trent Cardiac Unit. I saw how busy they were whilst I waited on the unit and saw two emergencies brought in. I can't thank them enough.

[Lexi72]

fantastic news really pleased for you. NHS at its best

[Lefthook in reply to Lexi72]

Thanks for reply , agree NHS at their best even when they were so busy

[Yellow26]

Great news, hope you now can get on with a normal life

[Lefthook in reply to Yellow26]

Thank you, its only been 11 days and the difference in how I feel is brilliant.

[Comedance]

Hi Lefthook,

I had ablation 18 years ago having suffered paroxysmal atrial fibrillation for some two years previously. It has worked for me so far, fingers crossed, and I do hope you have the same experience. I realise that as you have Parkinson’s you will be extra keen to keep your exercise routines going and the building up gradually seems sensible. All good wishes to you.

[Lefthook in reply to Comedance]

Thank yo appreciate your comments.

[SaxmanAD]

Slow & steady bro, don't blow yourself back into AF

[Lefthook]

Thank you, I have promised to take it steady, feel so much better I would hate to go back.

[Grannypat65]

That is amazing news, did they tell you how long it takes to recover from the ablation. I'm hopefully having mine on the 5th November and I'm hoping to go on hoilday to the Caribbean in December.

[Lefthook in reply to Grannypat65]

I was given a discharge letter with information about recovery and guidance on exercise, basically plenty of rest, not allowed to drive for 48 hours, nothing too strenuous, after first week a little walking and should be able to return to gentle exercise after two weeks.

I felt good after two days apart from big bruise on upper thigh and groin from catheter, no pain looks worse than it is.. Taken it very easy, building up from just walking around house and garden first week, now in second week I do a gentle walk for 30 mins. I was told there is a 'blanking period' for three months when its possible to suffer Afib or PVCs, I had one brief period when I had PVC's but no dreaded Afib, fingers crossed it doesn't come back. I was told to stay on some of my medication, riveroxaban, bisprolol and flecinide, the digoxin has been stopped, after 3 months back to see consultant to see if I can stop meds.

In answer to your question I guess the recovery period is 3 months, I cannot tell you about holidays or flying the information sheet didnt cover that. When you go in the consultant and anaesthetist will speak to you at length about the procedure, Im sure they can answer the holiday question for you. I suppose everyone is different but I felt great straight after procedure, tired but best Ive felt for a year and I slept well that night. After three days I wanted to get going..Determined to keep Afib away and give the ablation every chance, I stopped drinking alcohol in 1st March, dont smoke, healthy diet vegetables, fish, salad etc hoping to increase exercise gradually over next 3 months.

Good Luck in November I hope it goes well for you.

[Grannypat65 in reply to Lefthook]

Thank you good to hear your opinion on the producer. I've been waiting since February for it.. the hoilday was booked last year before the ablation was planned. Was the procedure as bad as you thought it may be. 🤔

[Lefthook in reply to Grannypat65]

I was given general anaesthetic because of my Parkinson's, they didnt want me dancing around on the operating table ! otherwise I would have been happy with local anaesthetic. My experience was all good, I had read a very good book about Afib and was aware of what was going to be done, the risks involved and the possible outcomes. The consultant explained everything in detail, if you have questions write them down and ask them. The anaesthetist explained everything as well, probably the worst bit was being jabbed in the hand with a catheter. Personally I really wanted to have the ablation, it had been cancelled in July and again in August, my Afib was getting worse, I had no life this was a chance to get my life back. I have nothing negative to say about the procedure, the cardiac team at Trent Cardiac Unit (Nottingham City) were great. For me the ablation was better than I expected, I was in surgery 3 and a half hours, had to lie flat in bed afterwards for two hours to protect the catheter wound, the consultant explained what he had done and how everything went, I had a nice meal and cups of tea then I went home that evening. All good I would do it all again (hope I dont need to !) If you have any worries GrannyPat ask the consultant, best wishes .

[Grannypat65 in reply to Lefthook]

Thank you so much that's really reassuring .🙂

[Lefthook in reply to Grannypat65]

typo - I said jabbed with catheter , I meant canula !

[Grannypat65 in reply to Lefthook]

Sorry to be a pain. did you have to isolate before your procedure?.

[Lefthook in reply to Grannypat65]

Hi. No problem -The hospital didnt say I had to isolate, I chose to isolate myself for three days before op and stayed at home to try and make sure I didnt catch a cold or covid, best wishes.

[Grannypat65 in reply to Lefthook]

Thank you. I'm a school teacher, so I best do the same as you.🙂

[Lefthook in reply to Grannypat65]

👍

[Choccie55]

So glad it went well for you. I’m scheduled for an ablation for SVT this week. It’s good to hear positive stories. Maybe talk to your doctor about Cardiac Rehabilitation to help you get back into exercise safely.

[Lefthook]

Hi. Thanks for reply, I am going to ask my consultant about an exercise plan, its easier than trying to get appointment with my GP. I have no complaints about ablation procedure , I feel it went very well for me, all I have is a massive bruise at the top of my thigh/groin from the catheter, no pain or soreness. I hope your ablation for SVT goes well for you and you feel the difference straight away, best of luck.

[Coco51]

Great post! Thank you for sharing

[Lefthook]

Thanks, had read some posts where people had some tough times with ablation just wanted to share my good experience so far.

[sceptical101]

Thank you for your encouraging post. I am scheduled for an ablation in October. I had a successful one for Atrial Flutter 13 years ago and if this one for Fibrillation lasts as long I will be very pleased as I'm 77. I'm still active and run and play tennis so I am hoping I can resume these after the blanking period. Good luck with your recovery.

[Lefthook in reply to sceptical101]

Thank you, my recovery is going well, two weeks today, normal sinus rythm, heart rate 58, havent felt this good for 3 years, still taking it steady and walked two miles today hope to get back to cycling etc soon . Best wishes for your procedure.

[Nguni]

Thank you Lefthook - I had a ablation last Friday and learned a lot from your post

[Lefthook]

Glad it helped a bit, two weeks today for me and its still going well, in NSR and walked two miles today nice and steady on the flat. Best Wishes.