Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Hi everyone,
So after 5 1/2 years of worsening afib, I decided to take the plunge and go for an ablation. My local guy was not cooling very inspiring statistics in terms of success rates or side effects so I decided to head to Bordeaux France to see some of the worlds best.
My situation currently is that I have small afibs almost every day with a bigger one once or twice a week. I had been taking Propafenone daily which was controlling it (though it was slowly getting noticibly worse) but I had to stop due to side effects. I have used it as a pill in pocket twice since I stopped months ago. I'm 43 so I'm hoping to buy myself another good 5-10 years before I have to start worrying about it again.
My question is about recovery time, especially from the younger crowd. I will be in hospital for the week of the ablation and then the following week my wife and I are heading to Paris and hoping to do some sightseeing and walking (nothing too intense). Beyond bad I would like to get back on my bike to do so light riding with my nine-year-old son this summer and I'm wondering if that's realistic.
What is everyone's experience with getting back on their feet after an ablation? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Monty
So after 5 1/2 years of worsening afib, I decided to take the plunge and go for an ablation. My local guy was not cooling very inspiring statistics in terms of success rates or side effects so I decided to head to Bordeaux France to see some of the worlds best.
My situation currently is that I have small afibs almost every day with a bigger one once or twice a week. I had been taking Propafenone daily which was controlling it (though it was slowly getting noticibly worse) but I had to stop due to side effects. I have used it as a pill in pocket twice since I stopped months ago. I'm 43 so I'm hoping to buy myself another good 5-10 years before I have to start worrying about it again.
My question is about recovery time, especially from the younger crowd. I will be in hospital for the week of the ablation and then the following week my wife and I are heading to Paris and hoping to do some sightseeing and walking (nothing too intense). Beyond bad I would like to get back on my bike to do so light riding with my nine-year-old son this summer and I'm wondering if that's realistic.
What is everyone's experience with getting back on their feet after an ablation? Any feedback would be appreciated.
Monty
The doctors did not seem to concerned about the stress I would put on my heart it was more about making sure the entry wounds in the groin healed.
Talk to your doctors.
I was in internet conversation with another much younger person who frequents the same backpacking site as me. He's a super athlete that bikes and backpacks avidly. He had pacs and increased heart rate for months after his ablation following exertion (pretty heavy bike rides etc.) He wrote that he wished that he's taken it easier for a longer period of time.
So pay attention and feel your own way. Don't get discouraged if you're not walking for miles a week after your ablation. Some can; others not. There's no one outcome.
Not staying in Bordeaux at all to do any sightseeing? It is such a nice little college town, so beautiful. It would certainly be worth a day or two. If nothing else, you could take a tour out into the surrounding vinyards. I haven't been to Paris since 1982, so cannot even guess as to what that city is like now, but of course the history there...aaahhh. What is the date of the ablation? Jais? Or Huisseguere (cannot even guess at the spelling here)? Bonne chance, mon ami!
Bill
as far as recovery - I found the ablation difficult - hard on me - but i was under a general for over 5 hours...felt like i had been run over by a mac truck for 2 days. took me a full week and then i started walking...and then more walking - it was slow but up until a few days ago when i packed and helped a friend move i did very well...had no palpitations or afib - in NSR every day since... it is a personal journey.... your body will tell you - listen to it... and good luck!
Bill,
The plan is to go to the coast for the weekend (Arcachon) and then ablation on Monday. Hospital until Friday then weekend in Bordeaux. Monday back to hospitsl for check up and then off to Paris until Saturday. Assuming everything works out that is. I'll file a full report when I'm there... :-)
Thanks again for the email contact for your friends but I think, given the nature of the trip, I may pass on contacting them. Normally when I travel, meeting new friends is the best part. Because of why am there, however, I think I may just want to pass on that this time.
Thanks again!
Monty
I understand...I just thought if you needed a place to stay, in lieu of a hotel...in any case Arcachon is INCREDIBLY beautiful, you will love it! The beaches are amazing. Supposed to be the best oysters in the world, but naturally when we were there some kind of virus had hit the oysters and they were not selling them. Have a wonderful experience, from the ablation to the sightseeing! Cannot wait to read your follow up report.
Bill