I can't comment on ablation but I completely agree with almer. I have had a pacemaker since 2022 (Sept). In the year I have had it, I too have returned to the gym 3X a week for lifting, balance and agility. If you have bradycardia like me, it gives you your life back. At first, I was really worried about it, afraid to do anything, touch anything, or go anywhere as I was worried about all the things that could go wrong. It is natural to be afraid and cautious. It takes time and returning slowly to regain your confidence. As well as the gym, there is yoga and pilates. I am 76 years old. I too am an overthinker. The procedure was relatively short. I was sedated and not anaesticized and actually found it interesting. I have a Medtronic. They have an excellent website for patients, and a help line to call for any question (there are no dumb questions). Keep us posted on your progress.

I’ve had my ICD for 2 years now. When it was implanted I stayed for a total of 7 days. This was due to the tachycardia that I was fighting at the time, not because of the procedure itself. Each case varies, but I would imagine that a pacemaker procedure with no complications has a fairly quick turnaround time.
As far as the electrolytes go for myself, I have been told by every doctor that I’ve seen that keeping my electrolytes balanced is a big part of my heart health. Potassium and magnesium are the most important, but I need to replenish most anything lost while working.
I think this is the general rule for most heart health care, but can certainly differ among folks.
The biggest thing that I had to overcome was the fact that there is now something foreign in my chest. It takes a bit, but eventually you’ll forget it is there and continue on with your life as you were before.
I have no regrets about having mine, and have honestly found very few limitations because of it.
Overthinking is just part of being concerned, it’s natural. It’ll be done before you know it, and you’ll be back in action.

I had the av node ablation. It does nothing to stop Afib. In fact my Afib is now constant and my 2 flutters are also constant. At times when the flutters and Afib collide I feel as if my heart is beating sideways and at first I had vertigo whenever I moved my head…. Can only sleep sitting in a recliner over 40 degrees angle…. That lasted for almost 2 months…
I started with Afib my history is much like yours minus the open heart surgery….

I’ve had 4 ablations. The first 3 left me with a new flutter after each. My Afib/ flutters were off and on for 20 years. The 4 th ablation left me with 2 good weeks… then the Afib et al came
Back off and on however, I was unable to walk and breathe at the same time. 5 steps and I had a heaviness on my chest and lost my breath. Required 2 liters of oxygen day and night..
After av node ablation I had 2 great weeks… thought I was cured…. Then Afib and all flutters came back! Constantly.

I got the av node ablation because my heart rate was over 165 for over a week and nothing we did could reduce it. For that it works great! I have had a pacemaker for 21 years…. Until the av node ablation it only worked when I was in Afib because my heart
So…
If you need to get the AVN for other than Afib reasons talk to your doctor…
But get the what ifs covered….

You can’t have any MRIs EVER
Expect to be in Afib all the time..
I swam 3 miles a day daily before I got Afib. I was never able to get more than a half mile a day afterward and haven’t been able to swim more than three or four laps in my backyard pool.
Good luck with your decision.

I had a pacemaker implanted in 2014 and have been playing singles tennis ever since -- until recently. A couple of AFIB incidents have caused me to stop playing because of intense breathlessness and fatigue.

A pacemaker won't impede your exercise capacity, but AFIB will. The device can be set to allow a higher heart rate -- and to distinguish arrythmias from an exercise-induced pulse rate.

My understanding is that a pacemaker will not cure AFIB. I am 100% pacer-dependent and still get AFIB.