I started the AF episodes 3 years ago. They were 1x 6 months, 1x 3 months... now 1-2 per each month. So I have been told the ablation would be the best solution. I use the "pill in the pocket" method at present with Flecainide and Metoprolol and it takes about 5-6 hours to stop the episode BUT I feel each time I take it, more episodes pop up and sooner. I now have palpitations almost 24h/day (that don't register on the ECG). I am wondering - would the ablation help these or is that pure stress? I am quite frustrated as the symptons of : palps, shortness of breath, and light-headedness a bit if I lean over.... are almost all the time. I am quite calm during the rapid AF episodes (which always surprises the hospital if I go), but the rest is starting to tire me even more. Ideas? your experiences?
Thanks in advance
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iris1205
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Ablation may well sort your problems out Iris but be prepared to have more than one as first time doesn't always work. I had three before my AF stopped but still get ectopics, those "missed beats" from time to time. AF begets AF so the longer you have it the more you will so don't delay if you are offered an ablation as the sooner you do the better the chance of success. Many people are afraid because the doctors always tell them the things that can go wrong, mainly so you don;t sue them if they do (very very rare) . It is really a non event frankly so long as you can lie flat for several hours but take plenty of time to recover as it takes three months or so for the scar tissue which blocks the rogue impulses to form so you may not feel better straight away.. I can say with confidence that QOL is MUCH better post ablation procedure.
Thanks Bob, I have a small group of doctors who think that AF is stressed induced which is why I am concerned about such a big procedure - if I don't reduce stress. I have, with breathing, reduced heart rate but not the AF. So I am concerned I will still be left with these non stop palps. There is also one Cardio who says AF can go as easily as it came on, and the ablation is not to be taken lightly. Arghh... Thanks for all of your input, you are quite a supporter on this forum. Best to you.
Bob you are very helpful, I had an ablation 6 months ago after several Cardioversions that did not last more than a few weeks, then went into AF 4 months later, had a cardioversion again that lasted 6 weeks, now will have another ablation. I am hopeful, and you have helped more than you know my friend. THANK YOU.
Good luck with your next ablation. Your story sounds similar to mine. My second lasted 9 months but my third is still OK nearly six years later. Glad to have helped.
I've had two ablations, the first didn't work. If you have it I'm sure it will help with your palpitations although I think you are stressed as well and this can cause palpitations.
Unfortunately I had a water infection which sent my heart back into AF so I'm not sure what will happen now. I'm back on calcium channel blockers again.
Don't be worried about an ablation it'll be fine and you'll feel much better quite quickly.
Hello, I had an ablation in 2009 and it was successful first time for me. I just had paroxysmal AF with no high BP or any other heart problems, and I was lucky. I considered myself 95% cured. I could not have gone back to work after a week as the doctors suggest, and it does take several months to settle down so I had a couple of days with very bad tachycardia in the early months. I also have odd thumps and flutters now, mostly stress related though I am still better generally if I avoid fructose in my diet (this was a clear factor in the frequency of PAF episodes for me) Occasionally I have a worse day when I can get a bit dizzy and maybe breathless but I am much better than I was and have not taken any medication since the ablation so I am very happy that I had it done.
Thanks Bonnie, I am not afraid of the ablation itself, just not knowing if I NEED it. If it would stop the daily breathlessness and palps I'd do it tomorrow! I know this is a juxtaposition for most, but my AF episodes are 1x per month... the rest is 24/24! The worst for me would be coming out the same on the other side
I wondered when you say they don't show up on the ECG do you mean that they just haven't done the ECG when you are having the palpitations? Or when you feel them but nothing's picked up . Ablation would certainly help the af but as Bob says it might take a couple of goes, but not sure it would help the palpitations. See an EP and discuss it with him. Good luck and do let us know how you get on
The AF episodes show up clearly, PACS, SVT, and rapid AF, but the non stop palps don't show up on the Holter monitor. I work full time so it doesn't stop me from working and I am not stressed at work - my own business, but the palps are stronger and leaving me breathless these days hence I am very curious if anyone else had simple palpitations resolved by the ablation. Thanks for your thoughts
Thank you all! I've been bounced around so much from cardiologists - behaving as if it is stress only that I don't have the confidence to make the decision for the ablation. The EP says I have repeated documented rapid AF (130-190 lasting 5-12 hours) and all palpitations aside, warrants an ablation. For the moment the 24h day palps and breathlessness are far more disturbing than the intermittent episodes of AF! One cardio said the meds are bad and the ablation isn't a walk in the park.... yikes! I have the best EP in the city, but as the expression goes... if the only tool you have is a hammer - then everything looks like a nail!
Hi Iris1205. Had a Maze Procedure during open heart surgery.Have also had 2 ablations the first didnt work - was back in AF before I left the hospital and the second was 2 weeks ago which seems to be holding!! Had 24 hr palps, shortness of breath, chest and back pain, angina, light headedness and felt pressure in my head if I bent down.(Im 36) Also it felt like there was a bird stuck in my ears flapping trying to get out! The ablations arent too bad - like an angiogram but totally asleep. They recommend 2 weeks to recover but that differs with everyone. Also take a lot of meds which arent nice - lasix, aldactone, cozaar, metropolol, cordarone and my personal favourite warfarin -not! Go for the ablation! its a few days of discomfort but you will have a better quality of life .
Thanks - that is helpful. The AF episodes are more often soit is worth doing just for the AF, before the 24h palps, breathlessness was almost worse - now they are on an even course! Sure hope it takes care of both. Deciding on a date now, will be in 4-5 weeks. Thanks for giving me hope that both might be addressed with the ablation!
Your symptoms sound very familiar. I had a catheter ablation which was like waving a magic wand - I felt perfectly Ok in a few hours, was completely free of palpitations/AF straight away. However, I was put onto 100mg x 2 of flecainide and thus don't know how successful the ablation was. When I was dropped to 50mg after 3 problem free months, within 4 days I had an attack of AF, and have been on flecainide ever since, now 150 twice a day.
Thanks Rellim! I appreciate your response as I have only heard cardios say: palpitations are pure stress, hormones ...... though I never had them before the AF. I loathe the episodes of rapid (and long) AF but I am not afraid of them... I usually stay home to get through as they go ballistic at the hospital about it. I can easily admit that I am stressed, driven.. but not in panic or anxiety. So I am so surprised that the palpitations don't show anywhere, which is why I asked if anyone else had seen there palps disappear with the ablation, as well. The breathlessness as well, which is increasing daily. You are the first to respond in this manner!
I am SO sorry you have gone back into AF. Any talk of another ablation - with another EP?
I use the "pill in the pocket" method as the Flecainide makes me worse if taken regularly. THAT is only my experience and we all have different requirements and outcomes. All my best to you, hoping you find a solution soon. Thank you again so very much.
Glad that was helpful, Iris! I don't have any breathlessness, just the silly, erratic heartbeat, which just develops every now and then, almost always during the early morning. It disappears again, usually in a few hours, sometimes continuing until the middle of the evening. I don't know what sets it off, nor what makes it go away. It can happen twice in a week or be absent for a month or two. I've had different advice about how to deal with it, including don't leave it longer than half an hour to seek advice. My GP says if I'm feeling OK, then sit it out as you do because, as you say, they go ballistic. Hard to know what to do as I have turned up at Primary Care and been ticked off for leaving it so long. They were all set to bundle me into an ambulance when bingo! it was suddenly normal and I went home.
I agree that the episodes don't feel frightening, just very annoying. But I do feel that life as it is could suddenly be snatched away by a stroke.
Yes, I a do have a second ablation lined up. It would have been earlier this week but I am having trouble with an INR which is currently 1.8 so there's a wait until it has been stable at an acceptable level for a month. In the meantime, I have started to take flecainide last thing at night (used to take it about 6) to see if that will control the AF better whilst I get the warfarin within therapeutic range. All so tedious and unsettling.
Thanks again, I hope you get the INR under control so you can get a touch of the magic wand again. I've phoned my EP to talk about going ahead with the ablation. Relief would be such a joy!
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A bit of a Quandary 
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