Off-Topic Heart ablation?

[Daffie]

HeLLo! Has anyone had a heart ablation? I’m scheduled next month. I know everyone is different but wondering what I might expect as far as energy after and how long it took to get back to normal exercise routines and stamina?
Thank you,
Debbie

[DD546]

Hi Debbie. I have not had an ablation, but one may be in my future. For the time, I'm trying to keep my afib under control through, diet, lifestyle, yoga and Qi gong, and supplements. Most of the time it's manageable. There is a very helpful forum dedicated to afib http://www.afibbers.org/forum/list.php?9. There are a lot of people on that forum that have had ablations, and the posters are usually helpful and willing to answer questions. I wish you the best. Afib has definitely changed my life. The irony is that afib is very common in fit healthy people. Go figure.

[Hattie]

I haven't had an ablation, but it is a topic I am familiar with as I have had paroxysmal afib for 6 years and know one could be in my future. I am seeing an EP and take flecainide, metoprolol and Eliquis which are keeping it under control. Feel free to pm or email me.

There is an excellent website stopafib.org which has much info. They sponsor yearly conferences where top specialists in the field give talks on subjects such as ablations, meds, and so forth and answer questions from attendees. You can sign up at their site and download the talks which are free. I listened to the 2018 conference which was was very informative.

Another site is a-fib.com They have quite a bit of info such as questions to ask your doctor before getting an ablation, treatments for afib, etc.

There is an afib forum afibbers.org/forum where afibbers discuss topics like ablations, meds, triggers, etc. This forum was founded by Hans Larsen, a doctor with afib, and has been around for about 20 years.

[cataddict]

I had an EP study, AKA ablation, about 17 years ago. I had Wolfe Parkinson Whyte syndrome with extra electrical pathways, 3 total to be precise. You didn't mention the reason for the ablation, which could make a difference in your experience. I didn't have afib. I didn't experience a change in energy level, the worst part of recovery is that I had a bad reaction to what I can only figure out was the bleach in the sheets that I lay on in recovery. I can only compare it to diaper rash. Ugh. I also had a small scar on the spot where they inserted the needle, but it's pretty much gone this many years later. They told me to wait a few days before going back to my regular exercise routine, and I didn't have any ill effects from it. Feel free to PM me with any questions!

[Daffie]

Thanks for everyone's replies. I don't have afib. I have an extra circuit. Also a delay in electrical signal from top chambers to bottom. Small area at top of heart not pumping as hard as it should. I will be having more tests done right before procedure including a genetic test. My older sister died in July. Not conclusive as to why but she had severe episodes of heart racing for years. I'm so sad she didn't find a doctor that could have helped her. Years ago she was told it wasn't life threatening and nothing could be done.

[donnamp]

Daffie - I'm so sorry about your sister. My DH had a an ablation about three years ago for a-fib. As far as surgeries go, it was pretty easy. He went in on a Monday and came home on a Tuesday. I believe he was back at work on Thursday/Friday. His only issue was the blood thinners they used before the procedure causes some excess bleeding/bruising at the site where they inserted the catheter. It was a successful procedure as he hasn't had a-fib since. I wish you the best of luck!! And, lots of Hugs, too.


Donna

[Daffie]

Thank you! Donna!
My job involves physical labor so I am supposed to be off for a week.
I’m glad your husband is OK!

[Gibbee]

My DH had a cryoablation in January 2015 at Mayo Clinic. His Afib was out of control. Drugs and multiple restarts had failed. Our major hospitals in the area had lost all of the cardiologists who did ablation procedures. We were going to go to Barnes, but I felt like we needed another option to traditional ablation.

Out of desperation I found out that Mayo was doing the cryoablation procedure and it was relatively new at the time. We were able to get in to one of the two surgeons within a couple of weeks of scheduling the appointment. After the evaluation and additional testing, we got in and had the surgery done on a Thursday morning at the Jacksonville, FL Mayo Clinic hospital. DH was allowed to get up 12 hours after the procedure and was released the next morning (Friday). He felt so good and his color was great. He even walked with me to the hospital cafeteria to eat a late breakfast with me that day. He rested the rest of that Friday and we flew home on Saturday. (We did go out to dinner to celebrate, though, since it was my birthday the day he was released from the hospital. )

DH has been in rhythm since January 2015... and I still think his Mayo heart doctor is amazing.

DH was told he could return to work the following Monday but that he had a two week lifting restriction (restricted to 5 lbs if I remember correctly) to allow his heart to heal and body to recover from the stress of so many procedures over the previous 6 months. He did go back to work that Monday.

DH wasn't an exerciser but he was a freight and inventory manager at a major sporting goods retailer and lifted multiple items and heavy items on a daily basis and would often average 25,000 steps or more in a day.

[mandie123]

I've had irregular heart rhythm for over 40 years.At first,they diagnosed me with mitral valve syndrome,but just had a stress test and said no prolapse but I guess my valves don't work well? I go every year to the cardiologist,one said I could have an ablation,but too scared.Two of my neighbors had ablations though and did fine.I do alot of stuff to try and control it.

[Daffie]

Gibbee, I’m sorry your husband went through so much and for your anxiety too!