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Acid Reflux after ablation?
I underwent an ablation back in September for SVT and have had acid reflux ever since (no noticeable symptoms before then). The catch is that they didn’t actually ablate. They put me under, sped my heart up, but didn’t go through with it because the location was too risky. They did have a catheter in my neck though which is the side many of my symptoms were on. Since then I’ve dealt with a variety of reflux symptoms. I had an upper endscopy that came back clean. My care team says there’s no way the 2 are related, but I had 0 symptoms before the ablation and have had them every day for 4 months since then. Has anyone had this issue and what can I do about it?
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It's not likely that the two are connected, especially since you didn't have the ablation. (Not a doc) but I had an ablation and I developed acid reflux later. I have no symptoms with the acid reflux other than having to clearly my throat a lot. It came on rather quickly. Any chance you have a hiatal hernia? They would have seen that in the endoscopy.
I can only relate my experience, but I had a diagnostic angiogram inserted through the right radial artery before my first ablation, and then I had two ablations (the first failed almost immediately). I was not prescribed anything for my esophagus after the angiogram. However, both ablations required a TEE (trans-esophageal echocardiogram) which means a probe down the throat after I'm out. Due to both the heat during ablation and the placement of the endoscope itself, I was prescribed pantaloc for three weeks and also the sweet, gritty syrup which, I think, is called sulcrafate. Taken about an hour before meals, this solution was to coat the esophagus in case it had been burned by the procedure, or in case the TEE irritated the esophagus. Either way, the esophagus is in some risk of serious damage, so this is precautionary in case one DOES have GERD or simply heartburn.
I have found great relief from Pepcid tablets with the large red dome cap. In fact, I often bite a tablet in half and let that dissolve. It provides quick relief. You can have two a day, but they should not be taken regularly or for many days at a time. Consult your doctor if you have persistent heartburn.
My cardiologist said my esophagus “caught some heat” during my ablation and he prescribed a med for one month. When I continued to have digestive problems my doctor told me to see a gastroenterologist. After a year the symptoms have pretty much gone away.
How long did it take the symptoms to subside? It’s been about 4 months since my ablation and things are about the same. Nothing too bad but I’m worried about esophageal cancer more than anything. I’ve also been proactive about everything, like changing my diet and sleeping on my left side.
In my endoscopy everything came back completely clean which surprised me. So I would assume I don’t have that unless they missed it. I’m going in for a manometry next week to see if my esophageal flap is working properly, don’t really know what else to do
It really did take about a year, so it just gradually improved
That’s comforting to know. I can take the symptoms I just don’t want it to be permanent. Thanks for the response.
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