4 day

[Ruben1]

today is may 4 ady after the procedure, i had cardiac ablation related to WPW.  they had to do ablation to my right heart but also they did a hole to the septum to do abletion to the left side of the heart also. i havent done any exercise just walking 1 block yesterday. I was running 6-7 miles every monday, wednesday and saturday sometime 13 miles, last yeard was running more than ever, because was preparing for 1 marathon octuber, 1/2 half marathon on november and full marathon on dicember which i finish but get tire easy and has to walk for long miles, did pretty bad,
on november when the half marathon i felt pretty bad after the run had to go home, couldnt go eat after like i always do after each run, i start having chest tigthness of the chest , getting tire easy, so i schedule an appointment to do an EKG which report WPW , I call my physician he schedule appoint with a cardiologist then this doctor send me with an electrophysiologist, I had the procedure on May-6-15, I and getting anxious to go exercise. My daily rutting was, last year, weight lifting 5 am 45 minutes 5 days a week,  30 minutes cardio every day 6 days  week, and run every other day 6,7, til 13 miles depending if i have to do a marathon, i have full time job, wife two kids.
after the surgery the doctor told me to use commen sence , no to start to soon on exercise, that i have to wait til his next visit, which will be in 2 weeks, I am worry if every thing will be the same after. I am just gaining weight try to stick to a diet which is hard, i use to eat every 3 hours and now, it is hard.
Any output will be helpful.

[researcher09]

It's not difficult to locate WPW unless it is the right free wall where it is 50/50 with available curves.  Sometimes, WPW is ablated and some other arrhythmia presents.  This was what happened to Ruben.  The EKG must have indicated a left side source for the EP to go there.  I am guessing it is sourced around one of the PVs as that is where a lot of triggers are located.  I hope for Ruben's sake that the EP was able to map it and zap it.  If Ruben can get a hold of the ablation report, it will say in there exactly what was done.

[tom_h]

By the way, Ruben, were you awake for this or under anesthesia during the procedure?  I'm pretty sure if you were fully conscience at the time, you would have known in some way if you were experiencing AFib.  Also, other than the assumed dose of Heparin administered during the procedure, did they give you any kind of drugs to take until you are seen in a follow-up in perhaps in a few weeks; possibly anti-coagulants (aka. blood thinners)?

[tom_h]

"Catheters cannot puncture the atrial septum wall by themselves..."

Very good! But I was using general terms. I'm curious, what makes you think it was AF or AT?  A good EP who finds an accessory path SVT (like WPW) on the right side will also map the left side as well.

[researcher09]

Catheters cannot puncture the atrial septum wall by themselves.  A needle and sheath introducer are needed.  And where you locate the puncture will affect the whole procedure so it is not a trivial exercise.  Since Ruben's right side was ablated first for WPW, I doubt it was AVRT that the EP went after on the left side.  The notes from the procedure will tell exactly what the EP mapped and ablated.  My guess is that is was AF or AT.

[tom_h]

I too had left sided AVRT, or Type A Pre-Excitation with orthodromic conduction.  There was no A-fib present.  Most of the AVRT's occur on the left sided, and of course the way to get there is by a transseptal puncture.  The catheter literally pierces the septal wall of the atria.  The primary concern from this procedure is clotting.  Heparin is often administered during the procedure to insure minimal chances of developing a clot.  Heparin has a very short half life, and is gone from your system rather quickly, usually by the time you leave the hospital.  The puncture may leave you with an occasional dull pain that can make you pause for a moment and double over until it passes.  I found that a couple of Ibuprophen tablets really do the trick here.  You should have been given a discharge sheet upon release from the hospital.  On it should be instructions on recovery steps.  I believe mine stated to abstain from heavy workouts for 30 days.  This gives your heart enough time to completely heal.  I found that period of time was exceedingly generous, but at the same time, I knew my limitations and though working out, I did a light training, and didn't push it until I was permitted to.  You're almost 50 years old, and like me the best years are behind us.  There's no prize, medal, or plastic trophy worth pushing your heart before its time to.

[researcher09]

Your procedure was much more than WPW as the EP had to do the transseptal puncture to ablate something in the left side too.  So I am guessing you had AFib.  Listen to the doctor and take it easy, the heart could take as long as 6 months to completely heal although I think you can start exercising much sooner than that.  Extreme athletes have a higher tendency to develop AF so you may need to moderate your regiment.

[tom_h]

Congratulations on getting your life back.  Did they say if the procedure was successful?  I was back to work in a couple of days, and began some very light workouts by day nine with skates on and my son slowly pacing me.  Within a month, I was back into it pretty good, and within 8 weeks, I was back 100%.  There's nothing preventing you from doing some light distance walking now, but I'd hold off on the running for a little longer.

[Ruben1]

thank you

[MichelleP_3811]

Your heart was irritated by the ablation and needs a bit of time to heal but once you are cleared to start to exercise again you will build up your heart's strength again.  Take it slow and steady and you may feel even stronger than you ever have felt your whole life.  I know I did.  So just have a bit of faith and patience and you will be back to your marathons before you know it.  Take care.