Post Ablation Recommendations

I have had two ablation procedures, both RF, both with TEE. I felt like I needed to take it slow for about five or six days, and then I naturally picked up the pace as the days went on. By day Seven I was doing pretty much normally.

Both times, I was given Sucralfate syrup, a white, gritty, thick, sweet syrup that I was to ingest, 5 ml, one hour prior to eating, so three times each day, for three weeks. This was to protect the endothelium of the inner trachea from possible damage caused by any GERD or occasional reflux. In turn, this was in case there was minor burning of the esophagus caused by the RF wand. The TEE was meant to help to locate the wand more accurately relative to the esophagus in order to minimize the risk of inadvertent burning. Also, a proton pump inhibiter called Pantoprazole, one tablet each day.

I also had sleep issues. Mostly startling myself awake, ruminating. It was bad enough the before the first, or index, ablation when I had an angiography as part of the workups in the month preceding. I asked my GP about it, and he prescribed Zopiclone 5mg to be taken a few minutes prior to bed. My pharmacists knows about my sleep apnea, and mentioned that he doesn't like filling orders of Zopiclone for the dosage of 5 mg for patients with OSA (obstructive sleep apnea), and asked me to consider taking half a tablet instead. I did, and it worked very well. So well that I halved the half next time I elected to help myself with Zopiclone, and that seemed to work well enough. So, I mean 1/4 tablet. I did this every third night so as not to be habituated to the drug, and I did the same with a 3mg tablet, sub-lingual, of melatonin. The idea is to do without anything for a night or two, and then to take one or the other. I felt it was likely to get me through the rough patch, which was done inside of a month.

I hope that helps.

This helps a lot, Thanks so much!
My procedure today went pretty well. Checking in at 6:00 am. and was discharged a bit after noon. So far no issues similar to what I had with the previous procedure. As you mentioned, I also got a prescription for a proton pump prohibitory last time, but it never came up with this one
I’m feeling really lucky with this one so far and will update here if anything develops. Thanks again!

One Week Update on This:
The day after the procedure is when I encountered most of the post procedure issues I had been told about : Very bloated (gained 7+lbs from the day before) very tired, wobbly then chills followed by sweating, difficulty sleeping and then shortness of breath for several hours (that was the worst part). Each day it got better and today feel almost back to normal. Lost most of the gained weight and will start getting some exercise in a few more days. Heart rate back to mid 60’s and I can actually feel my pulse at night. So definitely worth it.

Soooooo glad to see that you have come through it well, and that you're gaining confidence and ease again. Yes, after months or years of in-and-out of AF, and then finally hearing the welcome 'lubdub, lubdub...' at night, it's almost disconcerting. Mine is quite loud, enough that I check my waking BP about once a week just to be sure everything is okay. I use my Galaxy watch, and trying not to move much, I turn my wrist, open the app, and set it to run my blood pressure while I let my forearm rest again. Inside of 30 seconds I get a reading and am rewarded to see a set of pressures like 118/65. I dunno what it's like the rest of the day, but I can be confident of normal sinus rhythm and a low, resting, BP at night. Good stuff!

Congratulations for persevering and enduring, and for coming back to share your experience!

BTW, rereading my first reply to you, I goofed and said the Sucralfate is to protect the trachea. I'm glad I didn't get it into my trachea because it is really meant for the esophagus. D'OH!!

Thanks! You’re right, it is really nice to feel my heart beating regularly again.