Post Ablation

[coffeen]

I had an ablation done 11/02/09 and my question is this...anyone out there who has had an ablation did you experience indigestion or a feeling of "fullness" in the chest?  I have had so little problems with indigestion prior to the ablation.  Several hours after the procedure I asked the attending nurse for something to ease this feeling.  So, this is why is connect this problem to the ablation.

Thank you,

Coffeen

[coffeen]

Hi and good evening....had the EKG this morning and as I expected it turned out O.K.  But I still do not not know what is causing this. I have decided not to worry about it unless it gets more bothersome.  My Dr. did tell me to take Pepcid AC and that helps some.  However, as I mentioned in my last note I have only had this problem one other time in my life and it started right after the ablation.  I go for my followup on 12/7 so if it is  not gone by that time I will certainly bring it up with the Dr.  Anyway, I do hope you are doing well and thank you for your concern and your note.  Coffeen

[ptadvoc8]

Glad to know they are going to check it out with an EKG -- I'm one who tends to want more info rather than less, and chances are good that the results will reassure both you and them!

I have no idea what they mean by "backflow" -- the only thing I can even possibly think of is that sometimes one or more of the heart valves will leak ("backflow") a bit after ablation depending on the route they took to get in and the type of catheters they used. The studies I've read say this is usually not much of a problem and tends to self-correct in a few weeks. Some facilities used to routinely do Echo-Cardiograms post ablation to check the valves but when they realized that most "leaking" valves were not leaking a few weeks after the procedure they decided it was not cost effective and now only tend to do it when they think there might be a problem.

But, since you are having an EKG, rather than an Echo, "backflow" must refer to something else... An EKG will be able to give them a really good idea as to what your heart is doing post ablation, so it seems like a good idea. I had a holter monitor just a few days after my procedure and I was worried it was going to show something uncomfortable because I was having so many palpitations, but it really just showed how well things were going since, while it seemed like a lot of palps to me, they said it was only about one-quarter of what many people experienced in the days right after ablation. Hopefully, your EKG will be able to reassure you in a similar way.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow -- be sure and let us know how it goes!

[coffeen]

Hi,  talked to the PA today at the Heart Hospital and the doc wants me to have ekg tomorrow due to the indigestion after the ablation.  They said it might be "backflow" but did not explain what that is.....Do you know as you seem to be very informed.  Also, I  saw your note dated 5/09 looking for input re ablation  experiences.  I agree with you 100%...The ablation business is really big business....If you would like some input from me let me know....

Coffeen

[ptadvoc8]

Hi -- Great to hear from you!! However, so sorry to hear about the indigestion. I have read of others experiencing this in the post ablation period -- often discomfort around the heart is perceived as discomfort in the stomach and/or heartburn and indigestion --  and visa versa. They say this could be inflammation from all the catheters or even pain from the RF "burns". I have even read a couple of people say that during the procedure they felt like they had bad "heart burn" when they were applying the RF to the heart -- which makes perfect sense to me since they are "burning the heart".

I did not have any heart burn or indigestion, but I did have some very minor chest pain for a day or two afterwards, but since I had cryo and my chest discomfort was so minor, I assumed mine was inflammation from the catheters.

If this continues to bother you or if it becomes worse, or if it just really worries you, go right ahead and ask your EP specialist about it so you can either get some relief or be reassured.

When you are feeling up to it, let us know how it all went and how you are feeling. You are one week out now so hopefully you're feeling pretty good, but it took me several weeks to really start to feel really energetic again.

[chuparosa]

After my ep study I felt very queasy, I could not eat anything, but I think that was due to the "twilight" anesthesia.