I've recently had an ablation and I am now having different heavier type of palpitations.

[Gracie07]

I have been on 400mls per day of Flecanide which I've been told is a huge amount as I'm less than 8 stone. These have not been lowered and I've stopped having flutters but I am now having a deeper heavier palpitation that's in the centre of my chest that's leaving me shattered and feeling awful afterwards. My heart rate keeps dropping to between 30 and 37 BPM too. This comes and goes. Is this normal after the procedure? Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Gracie, It normally takes about three months for the heart to settle down after an ablation so strange goings on are quite normal. That said I feel that your low heart rate needs to be mentioned to your EP. Do you have access to an arrhythmia nurse or can you contact your EP or his secretary direct? Yes your flecainide dose is very high and again maybe this could be reduced with benefit. I don't normally subscribe to this but perhaps if you feel really bad you might go to A and E for some comfort if you can;t contact anybody else.

BobD

[Gracie07 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I had my flecanide increased due to the low heart beat. Originally I was on 200ml per day but my heart rate was dropping so they upped the dose. Then it improved for a while and they increased it again and the same happened.

I'll visit my consultant again

Jo

[Hidden]

Hi Gracie

Are you feeling anxious? It would be very hard not to feel anxious even if you are outwardly stoic, then maybe you could try a tranquiliser at A&E or your doctor? If it has an effect, then you'll know anxiety is making it worse, and knowing helps reduce the anxiety, so hopefully you won't then need any more. If it makes no difference then you know it's not anxiety making it worse.

I had a truly terrible night, thought I was a gonner to be honest, so popped a Diazepam instead of calling 999, and it worked quite quickly. Never had another really bad event since (yet!) so not needed any more pills.

Good luck with it

Koll

[Gracie07 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks it's an option. I hate calling out the emergency service as they always think it's panic attacks.

Thanks for your reply

[Lucybod]

Hi Gracie

I have never had an ablation but reading other people experiences, it looks as if it takes a time for the heart to settle down as BobD says.

That is a high dose I took 300mg in 24hr and my heart stopped in Sainsburys (see warning about Flecainade for my story) I am 9 stone 8 lbs, but you may have the fast heart beat AF therefore unlikely to happen, mine is where my heart stops for 1 sec then may do two fast ones , it's just goes out of rhythm. The flec was all wrong for me. I also take Bisoprolol

Which also slows my heart down. I think the cardiologist didn't know what type I had. Not enough testing before giving the drugs.

[Gracie07 in reply to Lucybod]

Hi Lucy, I am on Bisopropol too, but originally my heart kept racing over 200 BPM so I was given the bisopropol, it didn't work so I was put in Flecainide and the symptoms gradually come back which has lead to an increase. I've also got the problem of it dropping. The hospital is a little baffled but hopefully the ablation will work.

Thanks for responding

Jo

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Gracie - I would guess (and it is only a guess) that 400mg of flecainide is taking your heart rate down much too low. Once while taking medication my heart rate went down to 38 and when I told my doctor he was horrified and immediately reduced my dose, saying I would go into heart block. I have to say when my heart rate was low, it made me feel weak and wobbly. Please talk to someone today about your heart rate.

[Offcut in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I agree that it does seem a very high dose and a visit to your EP or doctor A&E I have had 3 Ablations and had different after effects with each time is the thing here. But worrying to much can make your systems feel so much worse. Which is not an easy thing to do. You have not said how long ago it was? I was told that 1 week I was to do nothing and week 2 not lift anything heavier than 2KG.

[Gracie07]

Thanks for your replies they have been very helpful. I'm having good and bad days but I can feel some improvement in my heart since the ablation. But my Flecanide was increased due to my heart dropping to 30 BPM. It's not happening as much but it's still happening. I will visit my doctor again. Thanks for taking the time to comment