It has been 25 weeks since my long post ablation flutter episode and over seven months since my first and only ablation. As an avid runner, I had recovery questions going into the ablation that many fellow afibbers kindly helped answer. So while things are still fresh in my head, here's a recounting of what I learned post ablation to return the favor for others who might have the questions I had. My last run before my ablation was a brisk 11miler. 2 days later, as they put me under for my ablation, I wondering if running would change for me for the better or for the worse. So I figured I would put this information out there for someone who might come here like me seeking information about running and exercise, post ablation.

So what happened? 2 days after the procedure, I went into Aflutter. I was just sitting around when it happened and I was SOOOO Discouraged even though this forum and others and my EP warned it was possible. Fellow afibbers here advised me to relax, after all, I was still in the so called blanking period. It went away in a couple of days and I was relieved!

Three weeks later, my runners brain getting the best of me, I decided I would start back into running gradually. I wanted to test things see how things felt. My curiosity was getting the best of me.

I ran a 3 mile trail run on a Monday and then repeated the same run a couple days later. It was doable. I felt OK but my heart felt like someone was squeezing it from the inside. I attributed it to the Flecainide (a drug I grew to hate). Then 2 days later, I went out for the same run and exactly 1 mile into it, I went into Aflutter. I was SOOOO Discouraged. OK I figured I would ride it out. After all, before the ablation, I had always converted on my own and never needed cardioversion. My EP agreed. Well days went by and I was still in Aflutter. When I was approaching the 2 week mark, I was SOOOO SOOOO Discouraged because I could not shake it on my own. My EP and I decided to cardiovert. It was my first ever. My thought was, MAN, I am WORSE OFF after the ablation because now I can't convert on my own any more and running now throws me into aflutter. So I went through the conversion the worst part was the lunch they served me after I did not eat it though.

OK, I decided to take a break from the running and allow for more recovery time. My plan: to start running 7 weeks later once I was off the Flec and well out of the blanking period. The Flec really made me feel weird, especially during the running I tried. In fact, I blame the Flec more for my post ablation aflutter than the procedure (but note that I am a drug hating left wing outdoorsy funloving person who doesn't like feeling chemically or socially suppressed :-).

So 14.5 weeks after my ablation, I went for a 1.5 mile run. I was SOOOO encouraged. No more squeezing heart feeling! I ran a 3 miler the next day and a 3 miler that day after that. Then a couple weeks later, going on about 17 weeks after the ablation, I went to 5 mile runs and then 6 mile runs. No issues. Happy. Happy. Happy. By 21 weeks after the ablation, I was doing up to 8 milers and stretched those to 10 milers over the next couple of weeks but limiting my mileage to around 30 a week. So my training strategy was run real short on recovery days and stretch out the long run and periodically combine short runs into an extra long run as I slowly got my endurance back. My heart really didn't feel any different than it did before the ablation.

From week 23 through week 26 after, I was unable to run at all because I was traveling in Asia in places I did not want to push my luck because of the pollution. BUT I think this was a good break for me. Give my body some time to repair from the wear and tear I had introduced it to. But got back into running at week 27 after the ablation and pushed it from 5 mile at the beginning of the week to a 10 mile run at the end of the week. I felt good. Not great and effortless but like my heart and body were able to handle it. Then over the next couple of weeks, I pushed my long runs to 11 miles, then 13 miles, and then 14 miles. I was I was SOOOO encouraged. Note that I am running slow and steady (8.5 to 11 minute miles depending on how flat or hilly the course is I am running and how energetic I fell but happy to be still running given my mid fifty-sh age.

So that brings me to the last 3 weeks. During that time, I have started to run hilly routes. As you might guess or know, running hilly routes is completely different from running flat routes. It puts way more cardio stress on you. I felt it was time to test that out. I was able to get up to a 13 mile run with some good hills yesterday. But wow, when I ran my first route with good hills over a week ago (about 5 miles), it was SOOO hard. But here's what I thought about. I've got scar tissue around where my pulmonary veins connect to my atrium to prevent the afib. Worst case, over time, I can get abnormal narrowing which can effect my performance and health.

So far, from what I can tell, I have acceptable wind doing the hills but can't tell yet whether my uphill performance will be effected. I have only done about 550 vertical gain on the steepest run I have done so only time will tell.

So 7.5 months after ablation, I have gotten through 2 disappointments but seem to be improving since. Once in awhile, I might feel a second or 2 of flutter but it goes away as fast as it comes. The things I used to do that would trigger afib (sudden posture changes, eating late etc) aren't causing me any issues. I am hoping Afib stays away for awhile but realize that ablation is considered a treatment, not a cure. The question that remains in my mind from a running perspective is whether I will be able to obtain the level of fitness before the ablation. Only time will tell. And finally, I have not started weightlifting again. Being very cautious there since in the months leading to the ablation, my weight training sessions almost always were followed by Afib episodes which started while I slept the night after a training session. I will start that again at some point but don't want to push my luck. Upper body exercises really put stress on the heart so taking my time there. Everyone is different and this is just what I have experienced. But hope this provides a good example of one person's experience....so far. Thanks again to all who provided me advice and encouragement.