Cryoablation

[MaryLL]

I just had another ablation for my a-fib. This time it was a cryoablation on 2/6/12. The first one was the electroablation 5/19/10. My condition worsened to where I was having episodes a few times a month. The cryoablation recovery was much easier as with the first one, I was under for 10 hours and had a hard time readjusting. This one was 6 hours. In the first 3 weeks, I had 3 very small, short episodes. Then a day before the month mark, I had a large episode. I ended up in the Urgent Care Center with a 165 erratic heartrate and blood pressure of 50/30. They quickly cardioverted. I have been exhausted since (a few days).
I am asking my doctor to write a letter to my workplace so that I can work 32 hours instead of 40 hours a week. I know that being exhausted and working in a stressful environment isn't helping anything. However, I am 65 and can't afford to completely retire yet. I go to work, come home and fall in bed for a couple of hours before getting up and having 2-3 hours before bedtime again.
I'm not sure why I'm writing this except that I am feeling really depressed since the cryoablation. I feel like a-fib has stolen my life and I am this exhausted person who goes from work to  bed and has no life. I know the meds make me tired and fatigued, but can't last for 10 hours without them without an episode.
Yes, I'm whining...sorry, bad times here. They will get better, always do, but argh! I really try to embrace life but I hate a-fib right now.
Thanks for listening,
MaryLL

[MaryLL]

Thank you Michelle!
Yes, I'd rather have fatigue from medication than a stroke or worse. I'm still in the healing phase (2-3 months) from cryoablation so hope it gets better. If not, we can try again.
Hope you are well, take care,
MaryLL

[MaryLL]

Thank you so much for your post. My sense is that less work will help and I appreciate your validation.
Congrats on your increasingly good health. I appreciate sharing so much, I feel better already!
Take care,
MaryLL

[DeltaDawn23]

Mary -- I can totally relate.  I retired July 2011 at the age of 66 and the last year I was offered time off for cost reduction and worked a 4 day week.  It helped a lot.  I have now been on Norpace XR for a year and no episodes of Afib.  The medicine makes me tired, but beats the heck out of being hospitalized.  I had the same work experience.  I was just working, slumping in front of the tv, going to bed and starting over the next day.  If I had it to do over I would've retired sooner, as there was a LOT of stress.  My condition worsened over the last 2 years I was there and I attribute it to the stress.  I found the electroconversions exhausting also, and the cardiologist  seemed to think it was no big deal, I should've been able to go back to work a few days later.  Luckily, my family doctor said I should rest and let the cardioversion "take hold" and gave me more time off and my short term medical insurance paid for it -- or 2/3 of my pay.  You might want to check to see if you are eligible under the FMLA federal law to take weekly time off, if your place of work employs a certain number of people. It would be worth checking out.  Afib can suck the life out of you.  I am considering going off the meds after a year with no episodes, but it's a scary -- I DO NOT want to end up back in the hospital.  Good luck to you.  Let us know how you're doing.

[MichelleP_3811]

From what I have read cryoablation isn't generally as effective as electro due to the fact that the heart is much more capable of fixing itself from the freezing than it can from the zapping.  I don't think it is not without merit but it sure does sound like it failed in your case.  Well stay strong.  Hopefully with a little distance from all the trauma our hearts go through with an ablation you will at least feel a little stronger.  My best to you.  I hope you can eventually get this resolved for good.  Take care and hang in there.