Ablation for afib now have a side effect from anestheia

[kaskade]

Hi
I had an ablation for afib that was done about 2 months ago and everything is going well so far except for one thing:
I am having unpleasant sensations in my chest like mild "heart burn," which I've never had before.
I keep burping and hiccuping and feel like there is a bubble in my esophagus.
Do you think this is a complication from being intubated (put under anesthesia with a tube)?
Thanks
Kas

[SDalb]

It has been just over 2 months since my PVI ablation.  I too have had similar sensations.  In my case, I found that I cannot eat much and it feels like I am stuffed.  When I bend forward at those times, it is a sharp pain in the upper abdomen.  I mentioned it to my doctor, and he seemed unconcerned.  He gave me something for indigestion.  The symptoms have lessened with time but I still have them.  I feel the same air bubble some times in the esophagus.  This too seems to be getting less as time goes by.  I know this doesn't help you figure it out, but I am glad to see it is not totally unusual.  It has been 56 days in NSR!  

[cindy707]

I agree w. Jerry that you need to bring this up with your doc or better yet the doc that inserted the tube.  You may have just gotten a little irritation from the tube because intubating is not a gentle procedure trust me.  With my professional history i have intubated alot of people at one time or another during emergencies and trust me we don;t take time nor do they in an EP Lab to jell up the tube....altho the tube is flexible it is still depending on the type they are using is either rubber or a harder plastic and when you think about the interior of our bodies...it is 98.6...warm and moist inside and suddenly you are having something forced either thru your nose or down your throat that is cold and foreign...its not so much when the tube is removed as when its inserted.  Alot depends on how big of a rush the doc was in when he inserted it and if he/she got it in the first time or had to re insert.....i would call the doc it may be something that they will suggest something homeopathic for you to help it heal up a little if it is an irritation but only the doc will know for sure......

[Jerry_NJ]

I hope you have discussed with a doctor, and had the doctor examine your throat for physical damage.

I have had a "breathing tube" in my throat as has my wife, both during major surgery, a heart repair in my case.  I don't recall having any problems other than getting the tube pulled out. In my case I was on a heart/lung machine so the breathing tube had to be left in until I regained consciousness and was able to breath again on my own.  That was an unpleasant experience, but there was no lingering discomfort.  My wife said she had a some throat discomfort for a few days, her surgery was on the 16th of this month so she is still recovering....and not now having any throat discomfort.  

Guess hearing from someone who didn't have your experience isn't much help.  Perhaps it is helpful to the extent that it suggests you should expect better than you are experiencing and you should check it out with your doctor.