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Recovery After Ablation
I was diagnosed with HCM about a year after my dad died from the same disease. His death was a blessing in disguise bc it caused me to be more proactive about my health. About 9 months ago I had a ICD installed. Everything went well. Two days ago I had an ablation to address the AFib I was having. Just looking for advice on recovery. Today I don't have much chest discomfort. Groin sites are not in much pain. But I'm literally sore all over my body.
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After my ablation I was in ICU for 4 days. You should start to see improvement in a few days. Those of us who have HCM/HOCM learn to live with discomforts of chest pain, shortness of breath, episodes of being light headed and dizzy. Our most important task is to assure our close relatives have echocardiograms to stay on top of this hereditary heart disease.
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2 ReactionsHello @dreher1988, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm so glad that you found this forum. I found this article on Mayo Clinic. You may already know some of this information, but it does address your soreness.
I am sorry to hear that you lost your father from HCM...and that you have it too...it sounds like you are able to use this experience to be proactive about your own health. Do you have siblings? If so, have they been tested?
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1 ReactionThankfully no. It's just me. I believe I'm fortunate and was able to catch it somewhat early. I'm 36 but have had on-off issues of vtach, mainly for years. Prob Afib too just never realized what it was until I went to the doctor. My HCM is not obstructive as of yet. I'm hoping meds will keep my heart wall from thickening any more and that the ablation will help with my crazy heart rate. I'm on some pain killers so sorry if this message is all over the place.
My biggest issue has always been fatigue. Nothing else. I'll have every once in a blue moon an episode of vtach and will feel like I'm about to pass out. It'll usually go vtach and then afib. Just doesn't happen much. But the fatigue has drug me down for the last year or so I would say.
It's what we live with
Hang in there
May I add that genetic testing can be considered? If the mutated gene responsible for your HCM can be found, your relatives can then be tested to find out if they have the same mutated gene as well. Those who do can be proactive in caring for themselves. Sometimes, as in my case, no mutated gene was found - yet - 123 genes at that time were known to cause the HCM mutation - more can be discovered. In that case, relatives can choose to have echocardiogram screenings periodically as recommended by their cardiologists.
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1 ReactionYes fatigue is a forever symptom for me even after having an alcohol septal ablation. However, I now have stiff heart syndrome which could be contributing to my fatigue.
I hope they also put in an ICD or a pacemaker for you.