3 days post ablation

[Kim_1970]

I made it through ablation.  What an experience.  I was very nervous and I think I talked a lot and asked so many questions.
They put me out though and I do not remember anything 2 seconds after getting on the EP table.
It took 4-5 hours as I guess the x ray machine broke during and they had to get another portable one.  OH my.
Dr said it was not svt as he thought.  It was atrial arrythmia.  So he did the pulmonary vein isolation. He could not provoke any svt during ablation after many attempts.  My 30 day monitor prior to ep study was quiet.  All I had was pacs. He did mention a fast chaotic atrial which he mentioned me being able to be tipped by a feather and being sensitive.
I know the episodes I had in the past were major.  We caught one on holter and he saw it and thought it was atrial. He said atrial tach "hides" a lot and thats when he does the pvi and that gets it 80-85% of time...
He thought that going in and explained it to me.

I feel winded, breathing a little inhibited, chest hurts, groin is tender, heart feels kinda sore, very fatigued. Also feel kinda shaky inside sometimes. Sometimes my heart feels a litte shaky.  All that must be normal???

I am on Pradaxa, Prilosec, 10 mg Corgard - said dose for 6 yr old, to keep the adrenaline away from my heart.
Also said my potassium a little low so prescribed me potassium and magnesium.
My Dr is a very good and world renowned according to some but I feel like we do not click at all.  That makes me bummed as I usually find it very easy to get along with people.  
I do hope he fixed me.  After ablation I cried so much and he said something like I was not listening to him.
He was not liking the fact that I did not want to take meds prior to ablation and I explained about the tinnitus being the reason.
I have been to 2 audiologists and ent and they all agreed that some meds cause hearing problems which I now have.
I was on Demerol and was very loopy and forgetful.  I still feel kinda odd.  Is that the general?
Anyhow any input and advice is appreciated.

Glad to have it over with... and hope I feel better soon.....

[MichelleP_3811]

I am so glad to hear you are home safe and sound and that you were sedated enough to have fallen asleep.  I guess time will tell if his attempts were successful but if he is as experienced as you suggest, he very well may have enough knowledge to know where to fix without a clear road map.  Sometimes with that skill level the doctors don't have the best bedside manner.  They don't quite understand why we may be upset and they aren't sure how to deal with it.  I know I had a gastroenterologist who was very upset with me because I cried.  But he did one test, told me I was fine and then was going to write me off.  I also had another doctor get mad at me for a few things but you have to remember that they are humans just like us.  I just think they are so educated about our health issues they it doesn't seem like a big deal to them when it does to us and they just don't know how to handle upset patients.  Some people in general don't know how to hand upset people and doctors are no different so try to not take it too hard.  But continue to try to stand your ground.  You know what is right for you.  And you and only you are your best advocate.  In any event, being upset makes me very nervous around people and as such I have issues fully connecting with the person there.  But just continue to be honest with your doctor about your feelings and concerns maybe even pointing out that you aren't challenging him but just need to understand and he may very well come around.  Honesty, clearly stating what you are feeling and why, seems to have gotten me the best results.

As for the meds you are now taking, they are only temporary correct?  I am not sure if atrial tachycardia is similar to afib and as such you would need to be on a blood thinner indefinitely but after your heart is healed and if your bp is fine I would question the continuation of any meds.  From what my doctor told me bp meds really don't prevent svt episodes.  I guess your doctor's reasoning is it seems to calm the heart which may be a bigger trigger for your type of svt.  This would tell me that adrenaline and caffiene and even exercise would be big triggers for you.  For my type of svt avnrt pvcs were my trigger, which he was able to prove in the my ep study, while for most pacs are the biggest trigger for avnrt.  So if he does try to insist that you continue on the meds ask him to explain why your situation warrants it when you have read that bp meds don't help much with arrhythmias.  If he gives you good valid sound medical reasons then try to keep on the meds.  It sounds like it is a super small dose.   And if it is necessary for your type of svt to be on a blood thinner then really do heed that advice because I know with afib the risk of stroke is the main reason for the blood thinner and if your svt is similar in nature than I can see a need for the med.  But I am not educated enough on your type of svt so definitely question your doctor and simply get him to explain the science to you.

As for how you are feeling it all sounds very similar to me.  The fatigue is likely from your heart being paced.  I was only paced for an hour you were for around 4.  That is quite a work out for your heart.  It could be why you feel shaky or it could be that you may be having some pac activity.  I know when my ectopics are stuck in a groove my heart feels unstable or shaky as if I could drop a beat at any second.  But it was very pronounced after the ablation and was like that for a good three months though I also fell into a bout of high number of ectopics.  If that doesn't happen to you then I would think your heart would calm down much sooner.  In any event, give it at least 3 months to start to feel fully strong enough to be back to normal and a good 6 months to start to feel stronger than you felt before the ablation.  If you are allowed to exercise after about a week's rest take it slow.  I think I may have exaggerated the ectopics by pushing my exercise a bit too fast and hard too soon.  So just baby yourself as much as you can so the muscle that is your heart has a chance to take a break and recoup.  In any event I foresee that you will indeed feel much stronger each and every day.  : )

Michelle

[Kim_1970]

The Dr just called to check on me and was very kind.  He said that arrythmia is now a thing of your past. (THATS WORTH A MILLION) to me!  :)
Said the chest discomfort is fluid around my esphogus  (sp?) and as thats where he was working.  Pulmonary Vein Isolation.
Prescribed me a cough syrup and water pills for a week.
The procedure they did is similar to afib yes thats why blood thinners for 6-8 weeks.  Then baby asprin for a while after that.
The antiacids/ prilosec is to prevent any acid reflux getting in to my area causing irritation.
So the meds he is giving me are to prevent bad stuff so I guess I am on board with that.  They are temporary.  
Thought the "Neptune" patches that are from seaweed that they used to clot the entry spots was kinda interesting....  My "holes" look great.  They feel worse than they look..
My chest is actually stiff and achy, so I will send someone to gather those meds for me.  Also said I can take Motrin for inflamation of everything too..
Thanks Michelle!  
One day at a time......

[MichelleP_3811]

Wow a call on a Sunday.  I am impressed.  And it sounds like he is pretty confident he fixed you.  Time will tell but it is nice when they feel that confident.  I didn't get the neptune patches  They put rather large gauze bandages under some tape that actually made it a bit hard to move around but it was only for a day.  Well feel better soon and keep me posted on how you are doing.  : )

[tom_h]

Glad to hear you came through it.  Yes, I felt easily winded for week or so, and the bruise on my leg was a doozy.  Hope your arrhythmia is behind you now, but expect some blips and jumps for a while as your heart heals.

[Kim_1970]

Had some weird beats tonight and I got a little nervous and really cold.  I got up and walked around a little and I warmed up?...
My mom said sometimes blood thinners can make you cold? It went away and I feel ok now except weird cough and the tightness in chest, oh, and the groin ache.
Taking water pill in am and they said that will make "water logged" feeling go away in couple days...
I hope I sleep better tonight.
Knowing all this is "normal" makes me feel so much better....

[Kim_1970]

I guess he said he did not see any svt at all.  He said it was an atrial arrythmia.   I still do not understand because he said on my 30 day monitor all he saw was a few 5-10 second ----- (forgot what he called them)
But why I did ablation was because of the crazy beat episodes that lasted 45-1 hr and made me so dizzy.
He did see one of those on the previous holter monitor in January and said it was in the atria and said it was chaotic and fast.  So I am hoping he blasted the atria well with the pulmonary vein isolation. I just want to be better and get back to a normal life and forget about all this heart stuff..... :)
Thanks again for everyones support!  Really appreciate it!

[SDalb]

Glad it is behind you.  Yes, those are common symptoms that you are feeling, sore, winded and fatigued.  I agree with Michelle, take it easy while you can, and let the heart heal.  Don't get anxious if you feel some palpitations.  They happen sometimes.    Keep us updated.  

[gothic_beauty]

So glad you survived Kim! Weird that your problem actually wasn't svt: I thought that your Holter monitor would have shown it for what it was. At least you have more knowledge now, though. I've never had an ablation so I can't speak from experience or anything, but it sounds like you have a very experienced doctor who knows what he is talking about and is going to make sure that your heart keeps on ticking like it should! I know you're going to feel better soon!

Take care and keep us posted.