Fatigue induced by ablation?

[mountain mel]

I had an atrial flutter ablation and insertion of an ICD done 6 weeks ago.  I am taking diltiazem120mg/day.  I am have increasing bouts of fatigue, making it difficult to work or exercise at age 57.  In March 04 I had an artificial aortic valve put in.  I was is good physical condition. My surgeon said that masked the poor state of my calcified congenital bicuspid valve.  Leading up to the surgery and afterward I experienced Afib, usually when I drank red wine.  Recovered fine, took Lopressor for 18 mos. experienced fatigue and impotence.  Got off that and onto a calcium channel blocker. Was diagnosed with ADD.  Began taking Ritalin with my cardiologist's approval. Fatigue and ADD went away. To get off BP and LDL medications, I went on the fat flush diet lost 20 lbs. (am now trim) reduced BP and LDL and went off medications, except for Coumadin. BP and Afib crept back up this summer. Afib had decreased to about once a month with the diet.  I occasionally took Procardia, a CCB.  Typically I would drink 2 beers most evenings and 1/2 bottle of red wine most Fri a& Sat nights. In early August, I was down the street from my home, had taken Procardia that day, had had 5 drinks over about 4 hours (more than usual).  I dropped.  Cardiac arrest.  CPR was quickly administered. The ambulance arrived in minutes. And, I was brought right back with their defibrillator.  It was VF.  I was alert and sharp for my five-day hospital stay. My artieries were clear.  LDL was low. Everyone deferred to the EP docs.  During the ablation they tried to induce atrial flutter and other arrythmias but could not. I am convinced that the ablation is the cause of my fatigue. Usually I could literally work myself out of fatigue with lots of exercise.  No more.  A combination of Ritalin, Procardia and alcohol probably put me into VF. I stopped taking Ritalin.   I drink less. What is causing my fatigue?  I notice daily occurences of arrhythmia, but at rates too low for the ICD to pick up on.  Mel

[Michael J. McWilliams, M.D.]

I am sorry to hear about your recent health problems.

I am not sure what they would have done during an EP study/ablation to increase your fatigue.  If there was no complications --- like ablation of the AV node -- I am a lot to explain this and am not sure that it was the EP study.  If had worsening fatigue after the arrest, I would think the arrest is more likely to have caused problems.  Have you asked your EP doctor directly what they think?

I hope you have a speedy recovery.  Thanks for posting.