3rd day post ablation

[greybantha1]

I had my bypass tract ablated on thursday from wpw.  It was a successful ablation, but later that that night and the next day I was having episodes of PVC's stronger than I had ever had them before.  the doc said it could be one of three things; from the swelling from the ablation, from the end of the bypass tract still sending off some signal looking for the now ablated bypass tract or unfortunately it could be a separate connection that was not visible during the ablation.  I keep getting feelings in my chest like my heart is skipping and I am still getting short of breath.  I feel really weak and shaky and I am not sure what to do.  The doctor said that only the next 4-6 weeks will tell if the PVC's are from the healing or a second connection.  I was put on indural 10mg to control the PVC's in the meantime, but I am only supposed to take it as needed.  I am so frustrated, I did this because they said all of these symptoms would go away and they can't seem to give me a sure answer as to why this is still happening.  I know the dangerous diagnosis of WPW is gone but I still feel very ill at ease.  Please help!

[Chriswpw]

In reply to your question.

I was in a "fog" for a couple of weeks after the ablation. Don't forget it's a pretty dramatic experience....and the medicine dose not help either. I know at first I was put on 50mg of meteprolol and I cold barley stay awake. Doc tole me it would take a couple of days for the body to get use to it.  Needless to say, if you think it's a problem....see your cardio or th EP. Thats why we pay for insurance..........

Let me know if you need anyhting or have any other questions.

[ireneo]

Perhaps the medication is giving you the fuzzies. When I was on Diltiazem, I had those few weeks of adjustment where I felt dizzy, groggy - kind of like I had been drinking. Plus I had some whopper headaches. All that eventually went away.

I understand not wanting to take the medication but we take pain meds after a surgery to help until everything is healed. The healing process takes place whether we take the pills or not.

Your heart hiccups may be more frequent simply because someone has been poking around and burning places in your heart. That's going to irritate the tissue. You should see a gradual (that's a key word) reduction in the arrhythmias as the heart heals. I'm sorry it takes so long but it's more intrusive than our typical scrapes and scratches.

[greybantha1]

thanks for your post.  My palps feel like they are a little more often now than they were before.  I was fighting taking the indural because I want to be able to know if my heart is healing on its own and not think that the medicine is doing the job, but I guess if they work it would be better that having a 2nd ablation even thought that was the whole reason I did this whole thing.  I just wanted to know if you felt kind of fuzzy in the head?  I feel like my focus is off, my vision seems a little off and my memory seems delayed, like somethings feel like it may have been a dream or did it really happen.  I'm thinking of having my GP send me for a head ct or MRI.  Maybe I am just overreacting and expecting too much too soon.

[Chriswpw]

Hey,

Speaking from experience, what you are feeling is the same way I felt right after my ablation. It takes a while to get back to normal. For me it took over 3 months bwefore I felt confident enouph to trust my heart. I actualy had another episode 6 months later, after a night out of drinking. I was then dxd with A-fib....so long story short I was put on beta blockers and have been on since the whole thing a little over a year ago. The funny thing is, after I was put on the meds, my flutters and PVC's almost went away completely. I hear ya on the process, its a slow one. But like you said, its alot better knowing th WPW is gone. For me, I almost died and am happy I got the ablation.

Take care and keep in touch. It's always good to know someone else went & is going thropugh the same thing.

Keep your head up.....

[greybantha1]

Thanks for everything.  I won't have any answers for at least 6 weeks to see what os this is from the healing ans what could be another pathway, but the WPW is gone.  My EKG shows normal and that was the scarier diagnosis.  Now I just have to stop feeling sorry for myself and learn how tho have fun again without overanalyzing every little twitch and twinge.  Gonna take awhile, but I'll get there.  What's the worst case?  another ablation?  Not so scary anymore.  Thanks for everything!  You are a blessing on this board.  Please keep in touch.  

[ireneo]

It's good to hear from you. There was a thread wishing you well on Thursday.

It does take quite awhile for the heart to heal. You'll probably notice an improvement in 4-6 weeks but it may take as long as 3 months depending on how much zapping they did in there. Don't give up yet. You may always have a few PVC's bumping around now and then but that's not uncommon and it's so much better than WPW. Just think, in a couple months you'll be doing whatever you want and realize that your heart is so quiet.