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What downside have you experienced after an ablation?
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Mar 23 12:28pm | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
gloaming - as you recall I had my first ablation March 4th. I had a terrible sore throat, cough and mucous so under doctor’s orders I bought Tylenol cough and cold over the counter which did the trick. Then it’s the tired feeling throughout and I have a good day followed by a bad day. I’ve also had four episodes of palpitations which stop on their own - I was told to expect this. Just wondered how long you think this awful tiredness throughout my body will last. I get a holter test in April as well as a followup appt.. Thanks. Andrea.
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Andrea, I could only guess with the same accuracy as you. I can't explain the feeling of exhaustion. If you are in NSR 99% of the time, that is good, and the early blips are to be expected. Hopefully they will diminish in frequency to 'zero,' although nobody should expect to be free of the occasional PAC, even those with no history of heart rhythm problems.
You may be experiencing a weird form of psychological 'relief', the feeling a tired body has when it can finally relax and fall asleep. We call it the 'sleep of the dead.' There may even be a small component of depression, but my guess is it's a form of anxiety, maybe even because you're still getting some palpitations and you are nervous about your prognosis. You have been under strain, you ARE exhausted, and you need for time to pass, for you subconscious to let go, to stop fretting, and for you to begin to believe that you are recovering....normally. The same way everyone else has to. It's just that you're the only 'you', and your body and mind get to play the game the way they want to. For you, it's being exhausted. I wouldn't fight this or worry about it. Remember, some people report a steady heart rate that runs for months after an ablation in the mid to high 80's, some even higher. I dunno about you, but I wouldn't be pleased with that. Yet, most come back to their forumites and report that their heart rate has returned to near-normal, maybe mid-70's, which took a long time, and was worrisome, but here it is in the much more relaxed stage one hopes for.
The Holter will tell the tale, especially if you wear it for at least 15 hours, and if you do what you feel is normal for your routine during that time, including a brisk walk or a treadmill...whatever. And further, my expectation would be that you would have been asked to cease all medications but for the DOAC like Eliquis, and maybe a statin or thyroid medication, but that should be about it...with doctor's instructions followed strictly. Then, the Holter will give everyone a veridical assessment of your heart's tendent rhythm.
Please try to relax, put your mind at ease, try to spend time on other matters, and in time your heart should calm...and so will you.