Post Catheter Ablation Experience

[CNickels77]

I am 27 y/o and just had a catheter ablation for SVT a week ago.  Since, I've been feeling a little bit weaker but have been getting better every day.  I had trouble after the ablation bringing my heart beat down to a normal pace and had to spend the night in the hospital.  The Doctor said that I was sensitive to the adrenalyne and coupled with being dehydrated would take some time to get back to normal.  Has anyone had a similar experience?

Also, any suggestions on when to begin exercising.  Prior to the ablation I had been working out about 5 days a week but I don't want to push it too hard...

[dbe1234]

I just had my ablatian done on Thursday, July 9, 2015.  I was under the impression that I would feel great ASAP.  That is not my story and after reading all the above experiences; I realize what I am feeling is normal.   I was under for 6 hrs and after the anistisia wore off I felt like someone beat me.  From under my chin; through and beneath my breast.   It felt like I was all torn up.  I had a hard time breathing while talking, with a dry hacky cough, and was uncomfortable for 3-4 days. I'm still on my meds, blood thinner and propafenone.  5 days in and I still feel like I have been drinking tons of coffee most of the day.  My insides feel very jittery.   I'm feeling a little depressed and emotional.  My expectations need to be brought down a notch.  I'm going to try and walk a little today  maybe for at least 15 minutes.  I need to change my eating habits and make better life style choices when it comes to food.  Any bpm over 80 for me while doing nothing is uncomfortable, I feel shakey inside.  I have the Galaxy S5 and monitor my bpm with S Health App.  It records and keeps a record for me to bring to the doc for my check up.  I wish everyone a speedy recovery and best of luck on your journey.  God Bless.  :)

[DeltaDawn23]

Thanks so much for this excellent summary of your ablation experience.  I am having one soon for afib and this gives me hope.

[lax18]

My son (14) had his second ablation two weeks ago for AVNRT.  The first was unsuccessful.  After the first procedure, he felt fine and went back to playing sports within two weeks.  He took Verapimil to control the SVTs.  He underwent a second procedure (both used cryo).  This time he has had issues with a high resting rate, which was transient and has returned to normal.  He tried to do some light exercising today and felt very tired and sleepy.  How long did this tiredness take to go away post ablation?  Everything else has returned to normal.  We do know that the fast pathway was ablated instead of the slow, so I don't know if that will make a difference or not.  Just wanted to know if you experienced tiredness post ablation did it go away eventually or do you still have it?

[UKRobin]

Thanks to all contributing to this site.  Reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand what is "normal" after ablation and stopped me from panicking too much.

I'm a 49 year old woman living in the UK and I had my catheter ablation for paroxysmal SVT on March 5th (10 days ago).  

Prior to the procedure I had only had two noticeable PSVT episodes, 6 months apart, for which I had a heart rate of 230-250 beats per minute and required adenosine to get down to a normal rhythm.  (I may have had previous mild episodes which resolved spontaneously, so at the time I put there raised heart rate down to stress and too much caffeine.) I had a few months on Verapamil before the ablation which had some unwanted side effects, so I was more than prepared to have the procedure as I did not want to live the rest of my life on these drugs if I could help it.

I was fortunate that my actual ablation procedure was only 1 hour long as there was only one ablation site required, for AVNRT ( I was expecting a 3 - 4 hour procedure).  I was awake for the whole procedure and although it was uncomfortable and I could feel the catheter wires enter the heart, the burning sensation of the ablation etc, it was bearable.  I was also thankful to be able to talk to the surgeon and ask questions to understand what was happening.  The post op period on the ward was 4 hours and I was back home the same evening.

The first couple of days post op were fine with the slight pain in the chest, odd flutters and the groin pain from the catheter insertion. 3 days later got diarrhoea - probably bug picked up.  This resolved within a day.  5 days after procedure I experienced some pins and needles down my left arm and left hand.  Had this all checked out (in CCU for observation for one night) and heart rhythm was fine, pulse and BP normal.  Diagnosed as pinched nerve due to muscle stress in shoulders.  Then got light headed with sensation of blocked ears and effect of vision.  Again BP and heart rate normal.  Diagnosed with sinus infection.  Now when I sleep (10 days after procedure) I feel my heart skip a beat (as if an SVT is trying to trigger but not managing to).  It's causing my sleep to be affected and I'm more anxious at night.  During the day I feel okay because I'm not focussing on it.  I think anxiousness comes with the post op effects because you don't really know what the healing process involves.  I had hoped recovery would be faster but then it seems variable from everything I've read here and I just need to be patient - not that easy though is it?

Thought I'd share my experience as reading everyone else's helped me.

[tom_h]

To tell the truth, this thread was kind of centered around SVT as opposed to AFib.  Perhaps if you started a new thread with a title concerning AFib, you'd get a response from the AFib folks. I had an ablation for SVT with 17 burns which is considered a lot.  Even with that amount, I felt the "heart ache" for a week or so following. 164 burns sounds staggering to an SVT'er but perhaps is common for someone with AFib.

[autrey13]

I am a 44 year old female, and I had my ablation done on February 19th for Atrial Fib.  I was expecting it to be very minor but it was not.  The doctor ablated 164 places in my heart.  I thought this number was extremely high....does anyone else know of someone having this many?  I was in ICU that night and stayed in the hospital several more days, was released on the 22nd.  One of the main reasons for the long stay was the medication they put me on - 160mg of Sotalol - has to be very closely monitored to see how you tolerate it.  I did well.  Also, because they were working so close to my digestive system and esophogus they put me on stomach meds for a month.  The blood thinner they put me on was $300 WITH my insurance, which was just staggering....I felt pressure in my chest, and was told it was because my heart was swollen.  I was winded, and still get easily winded.  At my followup on the 27th the doctor told me it was normal and that due to the amount of ablations my recovery would be a little slower.  I am truly hoping for success.  I quit smoking before the procedure, gave up Mt Dew and caffeinated beverages and am eating healthy.  I see this as my second chance and I want to do it right.  Still feel tired but hoping that goes away soon.....