You might remember I had my ablation April 15, since then I've had many Afib episodes and they seem to last longer. I am now wearing a 14 day monitor so my E-P can see what is happening. Today when the Afib started I measured my heart rate with my portable blood pressure cuff...I've done this countless times in the past, and even in Afib my pulse rate never was above 90. Now, it's been over 115-130 for hours now. I have a call into my E-P but haven't heard back from him yet. Should I be worried. Should I go to the ER, I hate doing that because I don't know what they could actually do, but this is a first for me, so I am concerned and feel worse. I've taken my usual dose of the beta blocker early in order to help with this, but thus far hasn't seemed to have made any difference with the pulse rate. Thanks.
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regalone
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Sorry, very sorry to hear that things are continuing to fail to improve, regalone, but evidently your EP is aware.
As far as the present predicament goes, I too am reluctant to go to seek help, even with a heart rate well into the 100s unless I feel really unwell or go very pale or feel things are so peculiar that it would be a good idea to have a picture of the situation for diagnostic purposes. But you have a monitor already. Should you be worried? Well this is demonstrating a problem, so in a way it will move you forwards. Is it harmful and should you seek to get it sorted? Depends on how physically bad it is feeling. You posted 3 hours ago, so how is it now?
These are reactions which can happen typically after an ablation.
keep up the BBs until you see the EP. They will probably give an anti arrhythmia med to keep things calm during the blanking period (3 months post ablation).
I had an ablation 7 weeks ago and all went ballistic- 180-215bpm with AF and Flutter so I am back next week for part II! Other than the AFib... I have a healthy heart and good BP. The fear of the unknown is past and I am trusting all will fall into place after the 2nd one.
You might only need the the meds to get the heart to calm so it can go through the necessary scarring /lesion process.
My thoughts are with you- courage - something we've all developed with this condition.
Thanks to you both for your quick responses. While I am still experiencing Afib now, my pulse rate is down to the 80s, so I am less distressed than I was when I wrote the first note. I am now expecting to have to go through a second ablation, and yes, it is a bit less scary to consider now that I know what to expect. Just not sure when that would be scheduled, based on my heart's need to heal from the April ablation.
After extensive reading - there are multiple responses. Some return ASAP, some wait. Mine felt my episodes were so extreme and with new found blips that it was best to nip things in the bud. I also loathe the Flecainide and feel although it stops the big episodes my instincts say that it is worsening the overall situation. Again, all so individual in our responses and doctors' methods. I so hope this gets sorted out for you soon. All the best.
That's sounding much better. Your EP will hopefully be able to sort out medication in the short term if needed and an ablation as and when appropriate. A bit of luck you hadn't just handed in your monitor. It should demonstrate what's been going on.
It's difficult when you think your ablation will work a treat and it doesn't. I was doing really well, I thought, but have had two lapses now and will just wait and see. But yes, once you have grasped the ablation nettle you don't have the same fears about a further one.
Do we all know what to do if this happens to any of us see above postings , what is the right time to get help, is it when our pulse rate is over 180 ? what it the most our pulse should be allowed go before before we get help, half the problem is fear or worry, its not knowing what to do.
I'm sorry regalone hope your soon feeling better keep in touch we do take note of your postings.
My GP once told me to seek advice if my pulse went over 135. Personally, I wouldn't go to A+E unless my heart rate was consistently over 140 and had been like that for many hours. Obviously if my pulse was a lot higher and I felt really ill I would probably seek help a lot sooner. There's no harm in obtaining advice by making a telephone call to the experts and it's stops the worrying which probably contributes to keeping the heart racing away.
Have your episodes of AF been recorded on an ECG? Talking to my cardiologist last week I told him how my pulse had gone from 60 to 90 for a few days, making me feel very odd, and he appeared amazed that I hadn't been to get my heart monitored to see what was happening. As my pulse can go over 180bpm when I have an attack of PAF I thought 90 was too low to bring to anyones attention. I've had two ablations so I can only guess it's more important if a third one may be needed to find the source of the extra beats.
My EP says I can sit it out at home, I am on anti-coagulants, and I have been doing this for 4 years! I have gone as long as 15 hours, if I were to go much longer I would go to the ER. We have up to 48h to be cardioconverted from my understanding without concern.
I agree completely with regard to seeking help whenever one feels it would be necessary. No question there. I was headed to the hospital when, after several hours, the AF dropped out and I was back in NSR.
Just a comment on all of the above. Regalone, so sorry to hear about this, obviously it is worrying you so if you went to A&E to be checked out would you feel more reassured? If so then go because at least they will monitor you and give you an ECG so your EP can see what is happening.
My GP gave me clear parameters - if you have any chest pain, if your heart rate exceeds 200, if an episode goes on for more than 24 hours, if BP falls below 90/70, if I felt consistently ill. This is because I have hypotension and BP regularly falls below this when in episode but I imagine also applies if BP rises too high. He also said if you are worried don't hesitate.
This happened to me after 1st ablation, I have an AliveCor so emailed tracing to EP on a daily basis so he could monitor and adjust the meds accordingly. I had bouts of ATachycardia, AFl which did not disable me and then several very disabling AFib episodes for which I was hospitalised. Your BP monitor will not give you an accurate heart rate reading if you are in AF, I found the reading was often way different to my pulse monitor or AliveCor.
Hi, first and foremost although you only have a bruise to show for it, remember they have been in there mucking around with your heart and unless you are incredibly lucky it will play up for a while. Mine took at least 3 months and had to wait 6 months before they did the next one. As for going to a/e, I was advised if it went on for longer than 2 hours, or I got chest pain, or couldn't cope with it, then get myself down there, but we lived fairly close to the hospital . It was also then on my records, and they can see what is happening. After my first one I went into atrial flutter and had a cardioversion which sorted it out.
I spent a couple of weeks with a HR of 140 post one of my ablations. It probably isn't AF,more likely atrial tachycardia which is fast but regular. As Eilleen says it take three months for things to settle down and a lot goes on in that period. . Don't be to downhearted but do try to speak with the arrhythmia nurse attached to you EP as she can help to re-assure you. In my case I went in for a DCCV (Cardiovrsion) which sorted out the problem.
At the end of the day it is how you deal with these things and experience and knowledge make that easier.
Thanks to everyone for your helpful suggestions and input. My pulse rate did go down even though the AFib episode did continue for several hours longer, but I wasn't as concerned. I never had chest pain, so I didn't go to the ER. This morning my heart is back into normal rhythm. I know that my heart is still healing, so I do hold out a bit of hope that once it's healed I might not need another ablation. I never did hear from my E-P last night, but will call his office when they open this morning to report. I am right now wearing a 14 day heart monitor so I know they'll see all this once it gets read next week.
I was with my EP yesterday and told him that my pulse rate is around 95-105 most of the the time these days. He told me that this was no problem as long as I was in rhythm.
I had my ablation in November and I had a lot of episodes after. It took 4 months for it to settle down but now all quiet an no episodes for the last two months. So maybe your heart is just reacting to what's been done to it. Good luck and I hope you can get some relief from it soon.
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