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Avatar universal

Chest pain following ablation

Hi all.  I had an ablation 4 weeks ago and since that time I have been experiencing chest tightness, pressure, and sharp pains in the heart.  I am seeing my doctor on a weekly basis to determine the cause and undergo treatment.  Following a work up of tests (echo, nuclear stress, ekg, etc.) the doctor has determined that everything in the heart is normal and that this "discomfort may be something that I just have to ride out." I never experienced these problems before the procedure and had an ablation due to SVT.  My question is - has anyone had similar experiences following an ablation procedure?  If so what were your symptoms, how long did the discomfort last, and what type of treatment did you undergo?  I am a helthy 29 year old that had been exercising regularly before the procedure.  Since then I have not been able to do so because of the pain.  I just want to feel "normal" again.  Thank you for your response!
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Avatar universal
My ablation procedure took place on 4/4/2018, in Nanning. I went for a routine check up and they gave me a Holter monitor. Moments after leaving the hospital after returning the Holter monitor, I got a message requesting me to get admitted immediately. Later I discovered that there were 3.5+ second stops of the heart as many as 5 per hour together with an irregular heart beat. It was a permanent Afib, but asymptomatic. As I understood, it was created by an AF originating in the left atrium, which prevented the firing of the SA node now and then. This also caused SVT (but not much as I have a very slow heart - like 40 beats per minute, resting). To revive the SA node, they did Radio Frequency ablation, and they had to pierce the atrial septum to get at the left Atrium. The procedure took like three hours, and I was only sedated, and the pain, as someone else also said, was unbearable. I took three weeks off and went to Sri Lanka after the surgery to recuperate. Anyway, now the rhythm is normal and I run and swim, but I still feel tired sometimes. Taking a drug called Amiodarone and blood thinners until end of June/18. I must say that the surgeon who carried out the procedure was amazing, he was so experienced, very kind and reassuring. Hope this is helpful to someone having the same issues I had, and I learned a lot and shared the pain of the folks who shared their stories here. thanks.
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Avatar universal
I just had a cardiac ablation on 12/29/14. I carefully chose my cardiologist and then he referred me to an electrophysiologist. I did research beforehand and saw he belongs to a large cardiology practice in Denver. I met with him and he told me of his experience. He had done 206 ablations this year. After that consultation, I felt he was well qualified and I chose him to do my procedure. He called me the night before to see if I had any questions and gave me his cell phone number to call if I did. I not only chose a qualified EP but also one with a warm and caring bedside manner.  The procedure went perfectly well. I hardly remember anything about it and felt no pain at all. They gave me fentonal and versed. Those worked very well! My doctor burned the pathway near the AV node and did so carefully without causing me any injury. I did have a couple of fainting episodes while recovering, which my doc said happens to some people. He said he sees that about once a month. Since I had been fasting and without water for so long, I wasn't suprised. I have had a history of fainting when dehydrated. After receiving IV fluids and some oxygen, I was fine. I did stay overnight since our drive home was an hour and it was snowing with temperatures dipping down to 0 and negative numbers. The nurse said I should stay so they could care for me if I had another fainting episode.  Other than that everything went better than I expected. I never did have groin or chest pain. I had no swelling either. The 4 puncture sites healed quickly. Today is day 5 and I feel great! I have a bit of tightness in my chest and have felt some irregular and fast beats, but the doctor said that is expected for the first couple of months.  I am so glad I had the procedure! I am a 55 year old female. One reason I chose to do this now was because I am very healthy and it seemed wiser to do it at this point in my life rather than waiting and possibly not being as healthy to undergo it later.
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Avatar universal
I had ablation for atrial flutter 6 days ago. It took 4 1/2 hrs. They actual ablation was like 10-15min and they had to do a 2nd round of ablation because they didn't catch all the AFL in the 1st round.  Right after the procedure, I had chest pain extending from the heart straight up to the right shoulder. It lasted like 2hrs and it felt just like when they actually ablated but less painful. This then went away until today, 6d later, I have another type of chest pain. This pain extends from the left side of the heart to the back of the lower left shoulder blade. The pain is minor, except becomes annoying when inhaling. I think I'll give this a day or two before notifying the doctor, since it sounds from this forum that this type of pain is not unusual. I've had little palpitation blip since the procedure, after I walked up two flights of stairs, but it lasted just a coupld of secs. I would say though that my heart has been pumping harder and is more sensitive to things like coffee, alcohol, eating, climbing stairs, than it was before. Maybe this is just aftereffects of the procedure. About me: I'm 53, slender, no other cardio problems and in excellent health otherwise. Tachycardia runs in my family on my mothers side.
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Avatar universal
You are encouraging me.  I had it Nov 14, still have major chest pai n, and any activity brings on more rapid HR  and missed beats.  Did you have a dry cough?  
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Avatar universal
Hi I am 53 year old active male, had an cyro ablation one month ago, felt minor chest discomfort only when I breathed in lasting a couple of days, had an AF event day seven post ablation lasting a few hours but was diffrent this time and not as intense, started having skipped beats so I stopped all meds except the thinner, since been AF free and heart running normal, pulse initally was 20 bpm higher but has now returned to around 65 bpm BP130/77 started running again but suffering shortness of breath at full power the Doc said this should improve in time, so all in all so far so good
Hope this helps
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329165 tn?1515471990
I am glad that you are feeling better :)

I can remember it took about 1 week before I felt my old self again.  I had Pericarditis but they treated it with Disprin.

Keep well.
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Avatar universal
hi there  the chest tightnest has subsided and feeling a little stronger everyday the recovery time for an ablation is alot longer than they say
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329165 tn?1515471990
Hi there,

The symptoms  you describe are not typical of post-Ablation issues.   You may have develop Pericarditis and it would be best to see your Doctor about it.  It can be treated with a Disprin (paracetamol) or more aggressively.

Please let me know how you are doing.
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Avatar universal
i had a ablation for afib 4 days ago when i walk short distances my chest gets real tight  and im out of breathe  how long will this last??  thank you...mmd
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329165 tn?1515471990
Cardiac Ablation should only be done through a Electrophysiologist.  Which is a Cardiologist that specialises in the Electric pathway of the heart.

I can not stress that enough to everyone who are potential candidates for Cardiac Ablation.
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Avatar universal
My ablation was September 5, 2014.  I started having a rush of heartbeats in March 2014.  I thought it was from wearing a tight outfit while being an extra in a movie.  It continued sparactically.  By May I deducted it could possibly be low potassium.  I had had a gastric bypass in 2003 and this surgery causes your body to no longer absorb potassium, iron, b12 and magnesium.  I was tested and my potassium was too low.  I took the potassium for one week and was retested and the level was good.  But a week later the rush re-occurred.  I then wen to a cardiologist and was ordered a monitor for 3 weeks as it happened so infrequently.  The company the monitor was from called me and was concerned asking if I felt like I needed to go to the hospital.  I was shocked.  I said no I was fine.  I got a call a few hours later from their on call doctor who said you need to contact your cardiologist tomorrow and get an appointment immediately.  This freaked me out.  I saw the specialist a day later who said I would need an ablation and surgery for SVT.  I was in such shock and denial.  I mentioned to him that I had had the gastric bypass.  I said I was low on potassium and that was no longer a problem.  He asked if I had my magnesium tested which I should have been but did not know.  So he had my magnesium tested and it was indeed too low. I immediately started taking magnesium and hoped this would resolve the issue but it did not.  He put me on sotalol but told me I was the worst case he had ever seen and because I have no symptoms it was not good.  He got me in quickly, within 10 days, and I had the ablation.  It turned out I did not have SVT which was great.  I was in the hospital overnight and he told me he got all of it.  However, I am sure it will take a while to be absolutely sure.  To further add to my problems I have a ruptured disk and spondylethosis (two disks crushing) so I have pain from that already.  I am absolutely still tired after one month.  Some days are better than others.  Occasionally I will do 20 minutes of zumba.  However, I cannot sleep more than 2-1/2 to 4 hours.  I wake up after an hour and have to stay up until sleepy again.  I went yesterday to my family doctor because of pain in the groin.  I can barely move the right leg.  The left leg is in pain from the back.  I will be getting an ultrasound when I get back from a short trip.  I get occasional cramps in my left breast or middle.  Today has been exceptionally active hence looking at this community page.  I believe it will get better but I want to get off of the beta blocker, although it made my heart rate go to 42 and I only take half the dosage now.  I want to be me again.  I am 65 female, hyper all my life.  I wont see the doctor until later this month as he has been out of town.  Hopefully I will be weened off of sotalol and get some energy back.  
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Avatar universal
Before you choose your doctor; you got to know your life were putting on edge under doctor skills. Right now you complain so bad only could give you worst recovery.  I had same problems like your husband felt, plus my back pain, my whole body muscles were under lots of nerve pain. When I got out ablation procedure, I also got allergy to cold air. I got head ache, running nose, coughing, and dizziness because I am Atrial Fibrillation Patient for 40 years. I work out 2 hours a day very day for my for my 50 years life.
I want you to have a peaceful recovery too; do more sleep, eat more health food, and walk some time. When time goes by, your body will recover. But put your body to Jehovah God hand, you will heal soon; but don’t get angry or feeling negative because that only gave you back where you had before. We are all living in the Satan world; now we under his test to rebel our true God.  
I was so scary about this ablation because I had never taken any of surgery; I had never touch Alcohol, cigarette, Monster drink, and coffee. Every day I drank 1.2 gallon water.  Still I am flesh human, my mom told me “Trust Jehovah, put your life on his hand, he will help you and heal you.”  I will pray for you too, but remain calm, do your recovery, slow walk, sleep more, eat less salty food.  My brother prey with me” Oh my heavenly father Jehovah God ; I am just a human. Please help me up again and save me. I am very weak, and pain. Please let me overcome Satan test, you are my strongest tower to withhold my life. Please be with me. Our father in the heavens let your name be sanctified. Let your kingdom come. Let your will take place as in heaven, also on earth.  Give us today our bread for this day,. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into temptation.  but deliver us from the wicked one. For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.. I pray by your son Jesus name amen."
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Avatar universal
I'm a 60 year old male and was treated for a fib with cryoablation on 5/20/2014. I have been recovering for two weeks now. On occasion I get an electric like shock across my heart after or during light exercise. Followed by an extreme loss of energy. I come right back feeling well and ready to go after fifteen minutes to a half hour or so. On a brighter note it is happening less and less and I am getting stronger compared to where I was before my cryo. I am continuing my med, 200 MSG of amiodarone twice a day. 300 MSG of diltiazem once a day. 5 mgs of warfarin a day depending on my INR. In the months to come I hope to be taken off the amiodarone and warfarin. Just side note on the amiodarone, it is a powerful wicked nasty drug and I hate it, but it most likely saved my life. I wish more people would share their experiences here or other places about cryoablation.
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Avatar universal
Is he having the same symptoms as before the ablation?  It seems as though they backed away from the cause of the SVT because of the heart block.  Testing itself doesn't cause or reveal heart block, only therapy such as cryo or radio frequency ablation.  

I hope he's doing better since.  Is he having SVT or low heart rates?  The heart block would have resolved in the lab or else a pacemaker would have been implanted if it had not.  Transient heart block is not uncommon, especially in the pediatric patient because they are working in a very small space.  They sometime try again from a further location to the AV node.

My nephew had a similar ablation last summer and it was successful.  In the months prior I noticed that he was very conscious of his SVT.  I don't fault you for wanting to take care of this early.  
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Avatar universal
How are you feeling now?  I had my heart ablation 4 days ago. I've been having tightness and pressure in my chest, how long does this last?
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Avatar universal
How are you feeling now?  I had my heart ablation 4 days ago. I've been having tightness and pressure in my chest, how long does this last?
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Avatar universal
Hi Everyone,

Any help is appreciated. Our 8-year old had SVT last year that put him in the ER twice during school. Ablation was recommended by everyone we spoke with. Three days ago the procedure took place, with an "easy" RF ablation on the right lower side, and then another (very small we're told) cyro-ablation treatment near the AV node. From the start, we said we didn't want to risk anything unusual at this age, and that was agreed to. Still, they cyro-ablated near the AV given that there was no block at any point during testing. Then after being done for some seconds, a block occurred. The doctor says cyro-ablation for SVT is not known for creating a block. But it's been three days and we're very worried. Had anyone had experience with a transient cyro-ablation block, and how long did it take to resolve? I've read of some cases online, but wonder if I can find more...

Our son is doing okay at home. His pulse is sporadic, though, and he gets short of breath with activity, but that seems common with many people in the first days or even weeks. Today seems to be a bit better than yesterday (when he had a few dizzy moments, which seem to mostly be missing today, thank goodness). He doesn't seem to have any other pain (which seems lucky given all the posts here).

We're praying. I disliked the idea of this procedure on anyone, let alone a child, but everyone was persuasive, the statistics are good, and we were with someone with 20 years experience; my wife really wanted to get it done sooner rather than later to give him a better life. I pray that is still a possibility. Thank you.  
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Avatar universal
the approach you are describing is a transseptal puncture which gives the EP access to the left atrium from the right atrium.  this is primarily used for Afib, left sided pathways (WPW) and lefty flutters.  the foramen ovale, area thats accessed, can remain open or patent (PFO) from birth.   this approach is suboptimal but negates the risks associated with the puncture.
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Avatar universal
From Canada here:
: had my ablation 10 days ago (Jan 8).  My Atrial Flutter was definitely interfering with my life.  It would wake me at night, was getting more and more frequent and was having ER visits with cardioversion.  My cardiologist recommended this and it has a success rate of 95%.  I feel great except for some mild pain/achiness in the chest.  My resting heart rate is now around 65, significantly lower than pre-ablation.  I am also sleeping much better.  My doctor fully explained the risks and it sounds like many of the people writing here fall in the 5%.  The success stories generally aren't looking for a forum on this issue.  Part of the standard routine with my doctor is that a holter monitor goes on one week post-op and I see him on day 12.  He did advise that it can take 3 months for the heart to heal and that it is not abnormal to experience some discomfort in that time.  I was wondering how long some people suffered with the chest pain.  Unlike someone wrote above, we Canadians have every right to seek a second opinion and I have over past health issues, you do not have to go to whoever they give you.  You can ask your family doctor to refer you to someone else or even at a clinic.  I did not have any wait list to see a specialist.  After my first ER visit, I was referred by ER and saw my doctor within 4 days!  Pretty good, in my mind!  I agree that it is important to find a specialist or family physician that you are comfortable with and confident about!  Good luck to all - be patient with your recovery and treat yourself well.  I know I am glad to have had this done!  
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966351 tn?1282071914
While I am certainly not a doctor, I did have an ablation for AF (one episode lasted for 9 days!).  

I had chest pain/fullness a day or 2 after the procedure, if I recall correctly (it was over 3-1/2 yrs ago). I went into hospital and they found fluid in my chest.  The gave me something by IV (a diuretic maybe?) and that helped.

Also, my heart rate jumped up and they checked it.  As an aside, I was told, PRIOR to the procedure, that heart rate is usually higher after an ablation.  And not temporarily either.

All the best,
Debb
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Avatar universal
And also my surgeon from the hospital spoke to my cardiologist and they are putting an event monitor on me again. The electrodes irritate/bruise my skin and cause rashes and itchiness. I've also developed pain in my spine,neck and one of my knees. My spin n knee make cracking noises and my body aches. And I feel tired all the time and weak. It even hurts to bend since I have soreness in my groin area. Ironically the surgeon went through both legs. I "had" Wolff parkinson white syndrome and had 2 extra electrical pathways. One on the left n the other on the right.
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Avatar universal
I've been having the same issues and when I take deep breaths in I cough and develope phlegm, it also hurts to swallow . I constantly feel tightness and pressure in my chest and frequent flutters. It's been a week already after my ablation and I still have minimal soreness in my groin area. And from time to time toward my ribs and back I get excruciating sharp pains to the point where I start crying in agony.  And I had an episode the same day I left the hospital. I got home n was tired so I went to bed but woke up because of a constant pounding in my chest. I put on my oximetry and it read my HR as 132 just from being asleep. And then it kept going up in down between the 90's and 100's... What do you think?
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Avatar universal
I had ablation in July and feel worse,I have laboured breathing,I can't lie on my left side or lie flat I was so bad I was sent for a broncoscpy as they thought I might have lung cancer.I was told this would improve my quality of life instead I feel worse
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Avatar universal
I just had an ablation on Thurs. procedure went well and cardiologist is very optimistic, but since the procedure I have a severe weight on my chest, feels like a tennis ball in my throat, and am exhausted with any real movement. I have other heart issues including vasospasms of the arteries to the heart, but those are typically under control with 50mg of atenelol. Not sure if I should be concerned by the feeling of lack of oxygen is really scary. Hope this is just a minor setback, and things settle down soon
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