Difficulty exercising after aFIB and SVT ablation

Some people have minor bouts of arrhythmia now and then during the 'blanking period.' Some don't. Some have so much ectopy that their ablation obviously didn't work and they'll have to go back for a re-do.
Some people are biking and hiking literally two days after their ablation. Some report that they still haven't recovered full functionality months later.
Some report that their hearts calmed down very soon and they have felt great ever since. Others report high resting heart rates in the high 80's for literally months and months afterwards, although almost every one of those that have reported this undesired outcome have later come back and said their heart returned to its normal rate after about a year.
From this you should take that we all naturally deal with what has been done to us and what we have experienced that got us there, meaning the disordered heart. Your system is dealing with your operation normally, as much as that may seem unfortunate or unwanted. I think you should keep doing what you are doing, but don't push it. If you're tired one day, or even a whole week, give it a rest! You can resume your regimen the following day or week. What you don't want happening is a return to high amounts of ectopy or arrhythmia. That would be a sign that your operation was probably not going to be successful ultimately. The research suggests that this is especially true later in the blanking period. Those who have short runs of ectopy in the first four or five weeks have a better prognosis than those who think they're home free for the first couple of months and then suddenly they get breakthrough arrhythmia again...that's a bad sign. The idea is that your heart 'should be' calming and repairing itself as time goes on, so ectopy after several weeks suggests the calm heart is welcoming the pre-ablation conditions of unwanted electrical signaling.
Honestly, don't fight this. Decide you're going to enjoy puttering and letting your system climb down from off the wall. A day will come when you'll bounce out of bed and you'll know you're ready to start reclaiming normalcy again.

Some people have minor bouts of arrhythmia now and then during the 'blanking period.' Some don't. Some have so much ectopy that their ablation obviously didn't work and they'll have to go back for a re-do.
Some people are biking and hiking literally two days after their ablation. Some report that they still haven't recovered full functionality months later.
Some report that their hearts calmed down very soon and they have felt great ever since. Others report high resting heart rates in the high 80's for literally months and months afterwards, although almost every one of those that have reported this undesired outcome have later come back and said their heart returned to its normal rate after about a year.
From this you should take that we all naturally deal with what has been done to us and what we have experienced that got us there, meaning the disordered heart. Your system is dealing with your operation normally, as much as that may seem unfortunate or unwanted. I think you should keep doing what you are doing, but don't push it. If you're tired one day, or even a whole week, give it a rest! You can resume your regimen the following day or week. What you don't want happening is a return to high amounts of ectopy or arrhythmia. That would be a sign that your operation was probably not going to be successful ultimately. The research suggests that this is especially true later in the blanking period. Those who have short runs of ectopy in the first four or five weeks have a better prognosis than those who think they're home free for the first couple of months and then suddenly they get breakthrough arrhythmia again...that's a bad sign. The idea is that your heart 'should be' calming and repairing itself as time goes on, so ectopy after several weeks suggests the calm heart is welcoming the pre-ablation conditions of unwanted electrical signaling.
Honestly, don't fight this. Decide you're going to enjoy puttering and letting your system climb down from off the wall. A day will come when you'll bounce out of bed and you'll know you're ready to start reclaiming normalcy again.

Wow, this is really a useful response. I will be patient but will attempt to push it physically with no expectations. If I go on an 8 mile hike and make it only 3 miles, I will consider this a good thing and try again in a few weeks. I appreciate the very thoughtful response.

I understand. I'm going up on a 6 mile+ hike at about 9k' this thursday (June 19). That will tell the tale... I'll go until I don't think I can make it back but I think I might make it at least 4 miles... the bonus would be to make it all the way to balanced rock (6+mi RT). It won't be overly hot at that altitude...

Some people have minor bouts of arrhythmia now and then during the 'blanking period.' Some don't. Some have so much ectopy that their ablation obviously didn't work and they'll have to go back for a re-do.
Some people are biking and hiking literally two days after their ablation. Some report that they still haven't recovered full functionality months later.
Some report that their hearts calmed down very soon and they have felt great ever since. Others report high resting heart rates in the high 80's for literally months and months afterwards, although almost every one of those that have reported this undesired outcome have later come back and said their heart returned to its normal rate after about a year.
From this you should take that we all naturally deal with what has been done to us and what we have experienced that got us there, meaning the disordered heart. Your system is dealing with your operation normally, as much as that may seem unfortunate or unwanted. I think you should keep doing what you are doing, but don't push it. If you're tired one day, or even a whole week, give it a rest! You can resume your regimen the following day or week. What you don't want happening is a return to high amounts of ectopy or arrhythmia. That would be a sign that your operation was probably not going to be successful ultimately. The research suggests that this is especially true later in the blanking period. Those who have short runs of ectopy in the first four or five weeks have a better prognosis than those who think they're home free for the first couple of months and then suddenly they get breakthrough arrhythmia again...that's a bad sign. The idea is that your heart 'should be' calming and repairing itself as time goes on, so ectopy after several weeks suggests the calm heart is welcoming the pre-ablation conditions of unwanted electrical signaling.
Honestly, don't fight this. Decide you're going to enjoy puttering and letting your system climb down from off the wall. A day will come when you'll bounce out of bed and you'll know you're ready to start reclaiming normalcy again.