Going back to my workout after ablation

[livelong1959]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and guess I need some advice from those who have gone through what I have. I have had PSVT and PVCs since I was 19. I'm 56 now and just had an Ablation 2 1/2 days ago. Not sure what I  expected but still feel short of breath and have flutters.  I have always worked out religiously up until about 3 mos ago when my arrhythmia left me so tired I gave up working out at the gym in favor of less strenuous things like walking fast. Will I ever be myself again?  I feel weak like a kitten and this is just not me. Any advice?

[livelong1959]

Thank you so much for that!  I haven't been to the gym yet but have been walking.  Truth be told, I'm a little nervous to get back to the gym for a serious workout. I haven't gotten up the nerve to go balls to the wall yet!  This summer has really been eventful for me health wise. I failed to mention that a month before my Ablation, I was bike riding (brand new bike so excited to ride for the first time) looked up, snake on trail and didn't want to run over it, stopped too fast throwing me off my seat and crashed down on the crossbar. I started bleeding from the trauma profusely (you can use your imagination as to where I was bleeding from) but had to get myself home. Got home went to ER, 6 hours later was released cause bleeding stopped. Woke up next morning and bleeding started only it was worse. I was alone all day and had to keep changing dressing every hour! At 2:30am my husband found me on the floor and I was almost unconscious so he called paramedics and back to the ER I go.  I had lost a lot of blood due to the trauma. Finally after US and other tests they got the profuse bleeding to subside and they let me go. So I then spent the next 2 weeks at home recovering from that and then on to the Ablation.  So my body has been through so much trauma lately and I've been taking baby steps back to working out. Thanks for all the kind words and advice. You and Michelle have made me realize that healing takes time and your body does it on it's own timeframe. My husband and daughter are great but if you've never had anything go wrong with your heart you really just don't get it when something goes wrong. The accident was certainly something I didn't need either.  It's just really nice to be able to communicate with people who get it.  Thanks for being there.........and hope this finds you well.  

[tom_h]

Hi and congratulations on getting your life back.  Michelle and I both had near lifelong SVT.  Mine started at 6 and I finally got it fixed as I approached 60.  Like you, I am very physically active, and all my life just dealt with it.  It was very responsive to valsalva to slow it down, and I guess that's why it took so long for me to get it fixed.

You should be able to start working now if your groin feels up to it.  I was actually skating one week after mine doing slow warm-up laps with my son pacing me to keep me from going to fast.  I felt good, but definitely a bit weak still.  Within 6 weeks, I felt really good, and ready to go balls to the wall again, or at least as fast as an old man can go.

For the first couple of weeks following my ablation, I would experience episodes where my heart for ache for a minute or so.  It was enough to make me stop and double over a bit until it passed.  I discovered that Ibuprophen worked good for that.  My EP needed to place 17 connecting burns dots to bridge my wide accessory path on the left side, and he said that accounted for the pain I felt.  Do not be surprised to feel skips and occasional jumps for up to a year following your procedure.  Short runs of SVT which fizzle out after a dozen beats are not uncommon.  Remember, the path is still there.  It's only been bridged with the burn.  The path itself is not removed.  Good luck with the recovery!

[livelong1959]

Hello!  I just wanted to tell you that your advice was spot on.  Feeling more like myself more and more everyday and tomorrow I go back to work.  Hope this finds you well. Thank you for responding and I hope you have a great rest of the day! Take care.

[livelong1959]

Thank you for the kind words and advice.  It's nice to hear from someone who gets it.  I'll take it one day at a time.  Regards (-:

[MichelleP_3811]

A couple of days isn't near long enough for your heart to recover from a lifetime of svt.  I was told not to work out for at least a week but afterwards I could go back to it but for me I had an elevated heart rate for 3 months and a lot of ectopic activity for a good year or more before things finally settled down.  I still get the ectopics but they aren't as bothersome as they were at the start.  Your heart has been worn down a bit from the svt but it is a strong muscle and it should recover the longer you go from having an svt episode but it takes time because it has to keep working while it is healing unlike a broken bone you can isolate and not use.  So to answer your question, yes you very well will feel yourself again one day but just give it some time and patience.  Ease back into your workouts and push father when you feel stronger but rest assured you will feel stronger one day.  until then just rest and relax.  Take care.