ablation--- changes that come

Had a successful ablation a couple of years ago and still remain afib free. A post below from Sue and a response about the autonomic change caused by an ablation got me to thinking about the changes and some that have never been brought up.

Like many vagal afibbers, after the ablation my heart rate went from a regular high 40's to the 80s and has now almost exactly 2 yrs. later settled in around 60. I think this is pretty standard with successful ablations.

I thought strength and stamina came back in 3-4 weeks though looking back it may have been 4-6 months. But I think that some things did change. My bowel habits were just a bit different post ablation.. not a big change.. just slightly more frequent and urgent. My stomach seems more sensitive to spicy food, and here is a strange one.. when I resumed alcohol it was not as pleasant and relaxing as before the ablation, and still is not to this day. I used to enjoy a cigar from time to time and some of that pleasure is gone. My entire system remains just very slightly more amped up than before the ablation.

Having said that, let me also say that I feel great. My exercise tolerance is as good as it can be. Regular NSR is great!

Just wondered if anyone else had noticed any "strange" changes from a successful ablation. I'm sure this sounds like some sort of "mental"issue and I dont deny that possibility.

Greg

After my ablation (7 long years ago) I was back to normal in a couple of days and nsr felt great, but I was very overweight and unfit having not been able to exercise, or even walk very far, during 18 months of persistant AF. It took me about 6 months of exercise and dieting before I got to where I am now - fighting fit and still slim.

Gill

Greg,
I am 4 days post ablation. My resting HR in the ER last month was 35. On the table before the procedure is was 44. Post ablation it is hovering in the low 60s. I have only felt I epsiode of a rapid heart rate since the procedure. I was on coumadin for a little over 4 weeks prior to the procedure and the EP says I will continue to take it for at least 3 more months. He also prescribed Protonix. I have not noticed any changes in bodily functions being on the meds or since the procedure.

On another note, tell me more about the brusing from the vein punctures. My neck is a little sore but not too bad. My groin puncture has turned all kinds of colors and the bruised area seems to be growing daily. There is a slight tenderness over the puncture site but nowhere else. How far out is maximum bruising achieved?

Tim - best wishes to you with your ablation recovery process. Usually, you'll have maximum swelling in 72 hours so bruising will go right along with that. As far as bruising goes, everyone is different and of course, it depends on how aggressive the insertion placements and removals were. I bruise easily and learned that Arnica gel is good for this type of trauma caused by the catheter insertions. I used that along with the essential oil of lavendar (steam distilled organic). This helps both with sensitivity and the discoloration and speeds up the process a bit.

Be patient and take tender loving care of your newly burned heart so that you recover well.

Best to you,

Jackie

Gill,

Can you define "persistent?"

Thanks.

g.

Hello Gregg, i needed something to distract myself from myself so i put the word persistent into the search function and found a good definition in an older post here:

[www.afibbers.org]

Enjoy.

PeggyM

Gill, thanks for initiating an interesting anecdotal review thread. Hopefully many will share their experience. Perhaps Hans might even do a survey.

At 3 months post ablation (PA), my experience very closely mirrors yours... from anticipation to reality. I'm 65. Except for a very few PAC's, in NSR.

My pulse too jumped from the 40's to the 70's, and is now about 60. That this is common for vagal afibbers is new to me - where did you come to that understanding? And do you have any explanation?

About 10 days (PA) & believing that this ablation "procedure" was so benign ("the worst thing about it is the catheter access") I tried a short run - before the "procedure" I was running 5 miles @ a 7:30 - 8min pace. Within 100 yards, I KNEW that I was NOT ready for prime-time... burning in the chest, general fatigue, WOW. Now, 3 mos later, altho somewhat improved (can do a couple of miles @ 10min pace), I am heartened to infer from your writing a longer recovery time. Curiously, I can complete an arduous 3 hour hike with little discomfort... seems it is just the nearly anaerobic aerobic that produces what seems like an insufficient cardio response.

My response to alcohol is also quite similar... a former wine lover, I no longer enjoy (or can really discern great from mediocre) the pleasant effects & attributes formerly provided by a glass.

Not sure if my GI changes (looser, a bit less regular) should be assigned to surgery or meds, but there are real changes. My general sense of things seems to be a bit more dulled PA, that which motivated / inspired have lost a bit of edge - perhaps from just a heightened sense of mortality after the rigors/surprises of the "operation".

Food & Sexual appetites have remained constant for me and, altho I continue to enjoy and tolerate them, spicy does seems spicier & hotter.

Having just discontinued the anti-arrhythmic and with the hope of improved physical stamina and future discontinuance of warfarin expands the sense of this all as a work in progress.

Joshua,

Thanks for putting your experiences down. In my prime running days I was a sub 3 hour marathoner. Now with a family, I have changed to 1/2 marathons and trail races. Prior to my procedure I was logging 45+ miles a week in addition to other training. About 1 month out I was so frustrated with my heart rate response I stopped running. I saw my EP yesterday I am cleared to resume full duty at work and all other activities. I am only taking coumadin and Protonix. I was ready to accept the loss of my fitness due to detraining for the past 6 weeks. Now I understand that my training will really start back at square one.

After my 3rd ablation, (4 years go) ive noticed that my main change has been far more ectopics/pacs/pavs etc. I get them all the time.they tend to cycle.Ive recently lost 35lbs, and athey dissappeared altogether for a few mnoths.I thuoght great ! ive cracked it, but they retuned.I do a high intensity strength (nautilus) w/o once a week, it spikes my hr pretty high, but has given me excellent cv fitness and a load of muscle, which is handya t 50!
usually ill suffer for a few days, with the ectopics, they then taper off, till the next w/o and then after the w/o increase slighlty again.the past few mnoths has been pretty sressful(emiotionaly) and consquently the ectopics have increased. perhaps its time to try some magnesium therapy. nor sure if this will help?

Paul - definitely time to start with magnesium and then adding potassium... and I'd consider CoQ10, carnitine and ribose as well. I've posted frequently about my post-ablation afib breakthroughs after 4 years and find that this fivesome is essential in keeping away ectopy and/or afib.

Jackie

Thanks Jackie! colud you direct me to your post recommendations for dosing etc?