post ablation recovery

[jaykay10]

Hello, I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience to me?
I am a 37 year old male, usually fit and healthy, however, I had an surgical ASD repair when I was 5 years old and as a consequence I have had two episodes of atrial flutter. The first episode corrected by DC cardioversion, then no further problems for two years, then in August this year sudden onset of SVT and atrial flutter. Had a right atrial chamber ablation fo multi foci 10 weeks ago, I take no medication, no problems since other than the following: -

1. I seem to get lots of skipped beats and extra beats, how long before these irregularities subside?
2. I seem to get a flutter/irregular sensation as soon as I awake each morning, I am comming to the conclusion that this is also positional (if I lay on my left side it seems worse), anyone else experienced this?
3. Following exercise, my heartrate usually takes up to 2 hours before it returns to normal rate, however, it remains irregluar on and off for up to 24 hours.

[lene808]

I had PVA surgery on 11/08/07 and I'm a 46 y/o female. I have a long hx of this problem. I've always dealt with PVCs and skipped beats, but post surgery once these started, I'd head right on in to A-fib. I'm still heavily medicated post surgery and I'm not certain of my success. I too cannot sleep on my left side too much as my heart starts acting up. Also, following surgery I had more problems in the a.m, than p.m. I've only exercised about 2x post surgery and each time I experienced episodes such as yours. For that and until I know more about my recovery, I'm staying away. Perhaps you need to look in to further medication(s).

[Bromley]

Hi.  I had ablation for a completely different problem, but I will tell you that it took quite awhile before I felt normal again.  I did experience a lot of new symptoms after the procedure, inlcuding a tendency for positionally related stuff when laying on my left side.

Maybe stay in touch with your doctor, and if he isn't supportive or listening enough, get another one to help with your post operative care.  One thing that might help when you are ready is to monitor your heart and use a diary:  this allows you to correlate your physical symptoms with your EKG.  Other than that I found that trying to get back into my routine was what helped with the recovery process the most:  mainly getting back into some light exercise and normal work routine.

Good luck.

[lene808]

I do plan on getting back in to my exercise, but SVT has now come in to play. My heart does seem to be calming down with the A-Fib, but I now know that I need another ablatoin for the repair of the SVT (UGH). I am starting to feel better. Sense researching the web and realizing many people are going through the same things such as me, it's calming to know I'm not at this along. In the end, I looking at a great recovery (hopefully), I've just got to get some minor touch-up and get off of some of this heavy medication; amiodarone, cardizem and corgard.

[Jan1130]

I had a PVI Ablation on 1/11/08.  I have really struggled with this recovery.  I have had sinus tachycardia, skipped beats, a-fib and an overall horrible feeling of being dizzy, unsteady, anxious, etc... My physician states that I should be feeling better soon, and that all rhythms should be considered normal for a while.  At this point, I realize its very early, but I'm starting to worry that the ablation has triggered more symptoms than I had.  Anyone have any thoughts about this?  

[Mary520]

I have been having a hard time with my recovery, as well.  I had an ablation done for svt back in mid December. The doctor said that he thought that he had gotten it all this time around, however, I am now having more symptoms than ever before!! I feel like my heart is reacting to any type of movement that my body makes right now; I have to go around my entire day in a defense mode.  How do you know that you have had sinus tachycardia, skipped beats, etc.. since your ablation?  Did you wear a holter monitor to confirm?  I'm just wondering because my doctor won't tell me anything about my symptoms until he sees my results of the holter monitor.  So, I can relate to how you are feeling at this point; I guess we will just have to wait this out to see if our symptoms "subside" and we can start feeling normal again.....take care!

[mommyto4]

hi there, i just wanted to say that yesterday was 2 months post ablation for vt and pvc's and my heart still jumps to 140 beats per min just when i walk up my own steps!!!!!!!
i am trying to ignore this but i still have shortness of breath
my cardiologist is thinking it has nothing to do with ablation and that i might need some meds to reduce rate but i am waiting it out and trying to go on with my life and started exercising!!
i wish you all the best
maria

[Jan1130]

Wow... sounds like we are all in the same boat.  I just know about my rates/skipped beats, etc... from taking my pulse.  I am waiting for my doctor to call me today to see what he wants to monitor to look at the skipped beats - they are the scariest because they make me feel so dizzy and unsteady.  And, there is an amazing bounding in my chest when that happens,,.. feels like the beat is going to explode out of my chest.  I'm hoping for the best though!  I want to feel normal again.

[kingschildchild]

Hi All,  Now I'm concerned.  I am scheduled to have the atrial ablation January 29, but after reading your comments I am wondering if it is worth it.  My surgeon indicated recovery is only 2 days! With some limitations for a week or so.  I have had AFib for almost 10 years and have breakthroughs quite frequently.  I'm tired of it all and having to be on medication for it.  If you had it to over, would you?  

[carrera911]

Hi,

I wish I could have found this forum two months ago!  I had a PVI ablation 11/20/07 and felt like **** for several weeks afterward.  I am a 60 year old male.  Gradually started feeling better, but I really wondered what was going on.  I have symptoms/feelings like many in prior posts.  After conflicting advice from my local cardiologist and the UCLA electrophysiology staff I went to an exercise cardiologist.  

He is testing me at six week intervals and prescribing a exercise routine based on my VO2 sub max test results.  I am allowed 10 hours of cardio, in two zones, a week.  He is withholding approval for long strenuous events until he sees how my heart recovers.  Check out his website:  www.drfalsetti.com

I am currently on Rhythmol SR and warfarin.  The cardiologists divided opinions are to stay on Rhythmol 12 weeks after the procedure to "we'll see how you're doing".  The warfarin should stop after six months, I hope!  My resting heart rate is still too high, in the 60's when it settles down...

[sueinns]

I had my ablation done 10 days ago for left SVT.  I was given a 95% chance of it being successful.  But, I was told that my heart would probably race on occasion for the next 6 weeks or so while it healed.  I did not have ablation for PVC's, which I also have.  Recently I have been having a lot of  PVC's (was told this could happen as well) but there is a big difference.  Before, the ablation, PVC's always brought on SVT.  It appears that I am now only dealing with the PVC's.  

Unlike some folks, I don't get thousands a day.  Some days are worse than others but I can ignore them for the most part.  They don't really affect my working out - with SVT I had incredible intolerance (dizziness, breathlessness) to any kind of activity that got my heart rate up.  

I haven't felt this good in a very long time.  It's still too early to tell what my final outcome will be, but I do notice a big difference in being able to exercise at a much higher intensity.  I did some light exercise just two days after the procedure and was back running again 5 days later.  The concern is the healing of the incision site(s), not the heart.  

[rogwan]

I am 58 year old male. I had a second Pulmonary vein isolation ablation in London on August 7th 2007 which held me in sinus rhythm for 3 weeks - a miracle after 30 years of PAF and 3 of permanent AF. At 3 weeks all hell broke out with ectopic/AF/tachycardia beats. I was put on verapamil and flecainide which to my surprise and pleasure reverted me. (They had ceased to work pre ablation and infact were causing a lot of the trouble as had amiodarone). I weaned my self off both within a month and now 5 months later am functioning at 90% v. 40% this time last year. However I still have a frequent number of ectopic beats (SVTs) and also have trouble going from vertical to horizontal and lying on left side. Also I get bouts of tachycardia lasting seconds. I spoke to a Doctor at my local GP clinic who has had an ablation himself and he said that it seems to take about a year to experience full recovery." The brain needs to catch up with the heart because it has been  'listening' to every beat pre ablation so is geared up to report every malfunction". I have 'tested' my heart  recently eg attempting to walk over a beloved steep hill but gave up halfway . I felt as though my heart was beating in my throat and was poorly for 2 days. My wife pointed out that had I had a broken leg I would accept healing times and aching days etc so treat the heart the same. Live your normal life - exercise with walking and /or Yoga;Tai Chi or some other gentle work out... and give it time. My cardiologist at my recent check up in London pronounced me cured and made me feel his ectopic heart beats!!.

[JonF]

rogwan is right. Ablation procedures can be traumatic on the heart. If you raked a red hot poker over your skin, you wouldn't expect it to feel completely better right away. People who have been dealing with A-Fib are hyper-sensitive to what their heart is doing, even more so after an ablation.