I’ve been offerred a cryo ablation at the beginning of June after waiting over 2 years. I have holidays booked a fortnight after. They say there is no issue with flying and my first holiday is a 10 day break in Turkey where I can be very chilled and relaxed for 10 days. Then I’m back for a day and off to Portugal for a weeks walking that varies between 8 and 15 miles a day. Nurses are saying it’s fine., it will be 3 weeks after, I’m not so sure as I hear varying reports and recognise it’s obviously very individual as to how quickly you recover. I can still postpone the trip but don’t want to if it’s likely I can do it. Any thoughts please
post ablation exercise: I’ve been... - Atrial Fibrillati...
post ablation exercise
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KaliBill
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I think it would be a mistake to travel twice abroad so soon after your ablation. You can’t predict now, how your heart will be behaving.
Air travel can be stressful in these times of delays, cancellations and general chaos at airports.
In your position, I would delay an overseas trip for at least 3 months. I think the cardiac nurses have given you very poor advice.
Quite 👍 agreed
I wouldn't travel after 2 weeks I'm afraid.Bet none of those nurses ever had an ablation.
Ne razumijem na kakva kašnjenja letova mislite...leti se kao i uvijek...ne vidim uopće haos u letenju....a ablacija nema veze s letenjem...ja sam imala ablaciju prije 4 godine i kardiolog mi je rekao da mogu letjeti nakon nekoliko dana ablacije.A srce će bez obzira na letenje reagirati.Nece se ništa loše dogoditi...a letjeti ste i ranije prije ablacije i živjeli prije ablacije.Ako želite letjeti i uživati u životu letite ako želite malo pričekati, pričekajte.
Sve najbolje.
Well my Croatian isn’t great, so using Google Translate, here is your post in English.
“I don't understand what kind of flight delays you mean...we fly as always...I don't see any chaos in flying...and ablation has nothing to do with flying...I had an ablation 4 years ago and the cardiologist told me that I can fly after a few days of ablation. And the heart will react regardless of flying. Nothing bad will happen...and you flew earlier before the ablation and lived before the ablation. If you want to fly and enjoy life, fly, if you want to wait a little, wait .
All the best.”
*********************
In response I would say that modern day air travel in the UK can be very stressful. And that’s really not helpful so soon after an ablation.
You would be very unwise! Really! Please read the Patient leaflet on here,Preparing for and Recovering from an ablation. Think about it.
Your heart is going to be interfered with,parts frozen/burnt.
You will have a groin wound that will need careful attention.
You are likely to experience more AF activity during the following few weeks as part of normal post proceedure.
You really will not be trotting about doing 8 to 15 k walks!
Very irresponsible/ignorant of the nursing staff to give you that impression indeed.
Please think carefully or you will undo all the work the surgeon will do and you will be wasting your time.
I would have asked the arrythmia nurse if they had ever had an ablation?
In addition to the cautions above consider:-
Have you read the Recovering from Ablation leaflet? You will note that it’s common to have raised HR for some months following ablation. Combine that with long walks in the heat of summer along with danger of dehydration, really?
How old are you, how fit are you?
Recovery is VERY individual, if you go on either or both holidays make sure you have jolly good travel insurance with private medical cover and ensure you have declared the procedure date. Also consider you may be bumped - on the day. That happened recently to one poster on this forum.
I flew to Spain 10 days following ablation, we had a home there, but registered with private clinic & paid for Emergency helicopter cover where the team come to where you are. All I did was stay in the air conditioning with occasional dip in the pool. Every time I ventured further than the pool I had horrible ectopics which were more disabling than the AF.
Maybe do a bit more research.
Thank you, I think my research had gone towards asking the question on here for real people's opinions rather than the nurses whom I'm sure are partly just trying to be reassuring
Da ,to ste u pravu, što se tiče napora i sl..ali samog letenja avionom ne smeta...naravno da se ne treba opterećivati jedno vrijeme nakon ablacije..ali putovati nakon nekoliko dana se moze ako letovi nisu dugi...unutar Europe.
English Translation
Yes, you're right, as far as the effort and the like... but flying by plane itself is not a problem... of course you shouldn't strain for a while after the ablation... but you can travel after a few days if the flights are not long... within Europe.
BobDVolunteer
I will add below links to the two fact sheets and endorse all else that has been written.
healthunlocked.com/redirect...
healthunlocked.com/redirect...
Thank you, I think you posted these last week and I downloaded them, which tbh is what has made me question the view of the nurses and their attitude if "it will be fine"
You’ll find the two info sheets on this link
heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
I made sure I had nothing planned for at least 3 months and I’m glad I did. It’s not just the physical but also the mental stress and anxiety if you find you can’t do what you thought you could. Overdoing things too soon can reduce the chances of long term success.
Just my opinion from experience.
Best wishes
I would add that if the walks are in a group you will be very unpopular if you can’t keep up!
Agreed I'm lucky enough that if I am reckless enough to go ahead which is becoming more and more unlikely reading all this advice, that I'm with family one of whom is a theatre nurse but it's the Portugese Camino walk and I don't want to spoil their experience and I want the full experience not doing a few miles and then getting a taxi which they kindly suggested
They both sound like wonderful holidays, very envious, had you thought of asking for the ablation date to be changed? Usually if you have a planned procedure they ask if you’ve got anything else planned but two years ago you wouldn’t have known so it’s reasonable. Don’t go into detail about the schedule or they’ll think you don’t even need an ablation 😂
Nothing to do with your situation - just a bright aside. My son and his family did the walk from Portugal to Santiago a couple of years ago, and the eight year old managed perfectly well, with no ill effects.
i am a relatively fit 57 year old. I went back to working out 8 days after my ablation and I struggled. I am now four weeks post ablation. I walk my dogs every day but more than a couple of miles really wipes me out. I’m currently in Colorado for my daughter’s graduation and I am really not enjoying the altitude. My heart is much faster and I wasn’t sure at one point if I was going into afib, sitting on the very cold benches may have tried to trigger something. I did a fast 2.5 mile walk because I didn’t want to wait for an uber but that was my limit. Usually I would relish a hike up a mountain trail. I know right now I couldn’t manage it. You may be lucky but I think the majority wouldn’t be able to do what you are planning to do so soon after an ablation. I thought I could handle alot more at this stage than I can. They tell me it takes 8-12 weeks for the heart to heal….oh, and the nurse originally told me I could fly 5 days later for the graduation if i had taken the May date for the procedure. I know there is no way I could have managed it.
Thank you
Not the walking! By 3 weeks in you'll be happy to do short gentle walks on the flat and not in the heat. That's my experience from 2 ablations. Anything strenuous in the heat will be too much too soon. As an example- 4 weeks after my last one I climbed St Michaels Mount in a headwind. I was lucky to only get tachycardia.
Thank you for both your responses , I've struggled since my diagnosis to accept this 'thing" that impacts on me so some of my hesitation in cancelling is down to pride or pig headedness depending on your view. I hope the trip to Turkey lying in the sun will be OK and I have a couple of weeks to decide without a huge loss of money if I don't feel well enough to go. The walking one is a different kettle of fish. I've appreciated everyone's real experience
Hello KaliBill, this is just my personal experience and everyone is different in their recovery. I’m now 13 weeks post ablation and it’s been a rough road to recovery. I certainly couldn’t have gone on a walking holiday so soon after and am only now starting to feel better but suffering with lots ectopics which are worse to me than the AF. I think you might enjoy your holiday more if you took it at a later date.
Just another thought, speak to the consultant’s secretary, you may be able to change your date for after your travels. It would be a shame to cancel and then your date gets moved as happened to me twice and is a common occurrence.
Best wishes
I had a Pulsed Field Ablation 6 weeks ago and no way could I manage that. Know it’s individual but the fatigue is very very real, don’t think you’d be able to manage honestly.
I certainly wouldn't, you never know how you will feel. I am surprised you can get insurance so quickly afterwards. I definitely wouldn't do the walking holiday especially in the heat. My instructions are not to fly for at least 4 weeks post ablation.
I am only considering a holiday abroad now and it's 7 weeks since my ablation.
Insurance is a good point…..
I was just up to a short walk at 3 weeks maybe 2/3 ml .It was also the time I experienced severe 9 out of 10 aching in the left of my back & chest .I tried returning to my gentle excercise classes at 7 weeks and had to leave it a week or 2 longer.And the walking Holiday a no no at that stage.
I have just resumed distance walking in Yorkshire. Some hills took some doing and I am 7 weeks post ablation
I'm in my late 40s and pretty fit and I needed months to recover after my ablations. I couldn't manage more than a short walk around the block for the first few weeks, with rests along the way, needed about 6 to 8 weeks off work, and probably wouldn't manage what you're planning now...18months later. But I had 3 ablations close together and other complications. Its difficult to predict but I'd definitely say your plans are ambitious and the nursing team are underestimating the impact of the procedure. I've always wanted to do the camino, and hope you get there, but prob worth postponing a wee while, so you can enjoy it.
You also need to think about insurance. I haven't travelled abroad since my procedures in 2021/22 partly because of that (I'd been in and out of hospital a lot so I think insurance companies would hike up the premium) as well as not wanting to unsettle the heart following the last procedure. But I'm sure others would be less cautious.
It's so reassuring to read your post and realise that I'm not the only one who was 'useless' after each.of my ablations. Though obviously I'd prefer it if you had recovered quicker! And me!! 😂
Indeed. Would have been nice if we'd both bounced back effortlessly.😆 But sometimes things are worth the effort. Never thought I'd be in NSR for this long. Hope you're doing OK too. 🤞🏻🙏😊
Waiting for fourth ablation 🙄, luckily amiodarone is working wonderfully 🙏🤞🙏🤞
Oh, definitely good luck for that fourth. I'd do it again if I need to. Really hope it goes well for you 🙏
Thank you 🙏
Hello KaliBill, I’m day 2 of quite an extensive , long ablation and would echo what the other replies have said , no to the walking holiday . However the relaxing one should be fine as long as you stay well hydrated , avoid alcohol and do take it easy . I’m going for a week in Dorset 4 weeks from now and know that I will struggle with the hills as my fitness levels will be less . I too understand your frustrations over this condition . I was only 52 when it hit and had awful cardiac care . I was actually told by one registrar that I saw after 6 months of being in persistent AF that I could ‘live with it ‘ , when I couldn’t climb a set of stairs without resting !!!! I had to go private to be referred for my first cardioversion , and this was pre Covid .
I was 29 when diagnosed and after developing an allergy to flecainide I was told that I was not a candidate for cardioversion or ablation, couldn't tolerate meds, so was discharged. I was told to come back if it got worse. Well it stayed about the same level of impact for the next 17 years. And I guess I got used to it. I had been to gp in that time and had been in persistent AF about 10 years, but never referred back to cardiology. Then when it did get much worse, gp sent me to a and e...couldn't breathe, couldnt get heart rate down, chest pain much worse, dizzy etc... I was diagnosed mild heart failure that had been caused by untreated AF and rapid heart rate. Took me a while to get over being pretty cross with the original cardiac team who all but dismissed my symptoms.
In a better place now thanks to a much more proactive cardiologist and I am much more proactive about my needs as a patient. Lesson learnt!
What a story ! So glad you are finally in sinus rhythm . Best wishes
Persistence paid off. Glad you were proactive too!! 😊
Absolutely , there was no way I was going to be thrown on the scrap heap at 52 !!! I now need to recover from this ablation and see what happens with my heart when I eventually go off dronedarone as I don’t want to keep taking this drug long term . It’s not knowing the long term effects of it for me . I’m thinking that my next option would be a mini maze when I’ve got my BMI down to a more acceptable level , and obviously only if I’m a suitable candidate . I’m already wondering if the full ablation of the vena cava could have been achieved from outside the heart .as opposed to internally with catheter . Time will tell . I’m now going to rest up as I feel totally wiped out . Best wishes Amanda x
Hi KaliBill. Recovery rate is very individual with a wide span of possible outcomes depending on the individual’s circumstances and possibly a dose of luck. The responses so far have been very cautionary. For the sake of balance I will include mine.
I had my first Ablation at 54 and before I’d joined this forum so only really was aware of my own experiences. It was for typical AFlutter rather than AF so it was on the right side not the left side so no requirement to pierce the septum and so this makes it a little less invasive. I relied on the patient leaflet (same for both AFlutter and AF) for info and the focus of that was very much the risk from the groin wound.
I was relatively fit and healthy, though had treated raised BP and had had a TIA 3 years earlier. I was quite active doing some cycling and running though this had been significantly impacted over the previous 6 months by the A flutter.
Presumably if you are planning the Camino, you are relatively fit and healthy?
As I was not advised to restrict my activities post procedure, once my groin wound was considered ok, I quickly went back to normal activities. On checking back on my Garmin, 7 days after my ablation, I did a 5 mile run and later that day a 1 mile swim. Day 8 was 15 miles on a bike and after that, daily activities. At no point did I feel any reason to let up.
Had I already been on this forum, I suspect I would have been far more cautious, but it goes to show, that outcomes will vary considerably and that there is no certainty that you will not be up to reasonable activities relatively soon after and certainly not a presumption that there will be a long and slow recovery.
Apart from how you will be physically, there is the consideration as to whether levels of activity will impact the long term success of the procedure. That’s one maybe for the consultant?
If possible, it may be you could be flexible and advise your friends you may have to drop out, and see how you feel post Ablation? Is it possible to do the Camino part walking / part bus each day depending how you feel?
Whatever you decide, best of luck with the Ablation.
I recently read if someone running after 9 days. My EP said I could run after a fortnight....In the event I was worn out for three months especially for walking although weight training and stuff like yoga was ok. I used an ebike after a few weeks and was cycling (non electric) after six weeks or so.
If I walked I would just literally run out of energy all if a sudden, very odd. It was four months before I could walk a brisk 4 miles and 5-6 before I added some jogging.
Sorry, to be such a killjoy and I hope you are more like "9 day running (wo)man" than like me. Good luck
🤞
Ps should have said that I was pretty fit before all this but then afib occurred and so had five weeks in hospital at one stage. In 20 months I had three ablations and about seven cardioversions so I was already pretty out of condition before each ablation. Hope to go in for the fourth much fitter.
I would ask them to reschedule the op tbh 😀
I have no experience of any procedures, but if I was your family or friends I would constantly worry about you which might spoil their holiday. And if you WERE poorly, it certainly would. I'd try to postpone your procedure..... a few weeks more waiting now won't make any difference!!
A difficult decision, there are too many maybe's. Others experience may or may nor be yours, you can’t know until you get it done unfortunately. My first ablation was a long road to recovery, my second eight weeks ago has caused me no problems at all and I was back exercising after a week, and the sinus rhythm is great. Best of luck and I hope that you feel well enough for your holiday, just make sure you have access to medical care if needed.
Hi - very interesting comments on this thread. I had a pulse field ablation yesterday. All went ok they said apart from fainting just before discharge - had to stay a bit longer. I’m tired & sore. I asked about being signed off work but they were very dismissive and basically said I would be fine to go back next week. I will need to ask my GP surgery for a fit note as I fully intend to follow the advice on the fact sheet! Good luck for your ablation.
For up to 3 months after an ablation you can have bouts of afib, PACs and tachycardia doing very little, I cant imagine what becomes possible if you're over active. I guess it will depend on what type of afib you have, how much they ablate, what shape you're in and how you feel. I took some short walks after a couple weeks and started back to a fairly regular schedule after a month based upon how I felt.
If you go forward with this I would recommend having a med you can take for afib or PACs like flecainide.
Thanks, yes that is my plan to ask if I can have a pip just for the first few weeks, to cover the relaxing holiday as i have read its not a sudden yippee its cured!! From the comments on here I am going to err on the side of caution and postpone my camino walk. The Turkey one isnt such a financial loss if i find after 2 weeks Im in no fit state to go or insurance is too much
Just sharing my experience: About three days after my ablation, I helped my wife move some potted plants on the patio and experienced debilitating angina-like pain which forced a halt to all exertion of import. They attributed the pain to coronary artery blockage and put in a stent to correct which was successful. Doctors said we could take the trip we had planned, but we canceled, in an abundance of caution, despite the rehab nurses telling me I was the most fit 78 year old they had ever treated. Looking back, we certainly could have traveled without a problem, but it would have been difficult for my wife had I collapsed in an airport somewhere while throwing luggage around.
Hi!
Your trips sound amazing and you have gotten some great advice. I just want to put in my 2 cents worth. I had an ablation on April 2nd. I took it very easy for one week and then I started walking. Very slowly at first. I got winded easily. Took breaks and listened to my body. Starting about week 4 I was feeling very good. Upping my pace and really felt like I had ample energy and this has been continuing. Walking almost daily. 45 minutes to an hour. Less than you will be doing, but much more than I was able to do preablation. I feel great. No bouts of afib. I know all can change, but I am certainly enjoying this reprieve.
One thing to think about is a back up plan. The trip with all the walking. What would you do if you needed to slow down and do less? Is it possible? Would you still have a good time?
gosh!!! Think the advice was very cavalier. I’m due ablation Tuesday my second one. Button down the hatches I’d say as honestly your body would pull the reins in on you if you went in a walking holiday. Last time I felt like it almost talked yo me saying hey you’re doing too much.
Sue
you have received great advice here - unfortunately the professionals giving us advice have not had the first-hand experience! I have an amazing cardio and EP but they’re notion that I’d be off and walking , working etc in a few days was way off! Save your trip for when you will truly be able to enjoy it and your companions!
I had my ablation in February, I’d a weeks residential course 2hrs from home a few weeks later. I was concerned I shouldn’t go, but it was in this country, husband drove me so if I had to leave he could get me. Relaxing is what is needed, you can’t guarantee how it’ll affect you, everyone is different. The walking holiday I think is pushing the boat out! I am currently’wired up’ ECG for the Professor to see how effective it’s been, got till Tuesday, is for 7 days! I doubt if I went NHS I’d have got this, my insurance is paying. Recently been busy doing more than I have done in weeks and been shattered much to my surprise! AND my ablation was February!
You just don’t know how it will affect you. I’m 67 end of this month.
Thanks for the reply, I'm 67 and am lucky enough that this offer of an appointment is nhs but at the private hospital hence why I would prefer not to try and put it off. Who knows how long it might be until the next one. I'm at the point of telling the holiday company I'll postpone. It will be there next year 😁
Good idea. I saw NHS consultant just before Christmas, he said it’d be 3 months not heard a ruddy thing since!! I believe the longer you’re out of rhythm the harder it’ll be to get a good out come, so I didn’t want to wait wait and wait! But I’m fortunate for private insurance and they’re covering it. Yes best to have it, if you postpone you could be long time waiting again! Good luck
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