AF symptoms following Ablation

[Hel1958]

Does an ablation stop AF symptoms, or just mask them. I have felt great not having the palpitations, but I have noticed that at times when I would have had heart thumps before (eg excess heat, alcohol) I now get a tight chest feeling and an ache. Is this coincidence?

[johncb]

How long since your ablation. I had some strange things happen for about 4 - 5 weeks after mine but has now settled down nicely with only an occassional ectopic maybe once or twice in a month or so.

[franksavage in reply to johncb]

Do you continue as normal and have TWO a month John? wow that's brilliant!!?

Was that following an ablation, and forgive my daftness, but is an ablatioon the one with the two paddles that shock you? i suffer terrible with the af's and havent had treatment yet! if not for this site i would be lost!

Thankyou

[johncb in reply to franksavage]

Hi Frank, yes it was an ablation (not the paddle job) and I did have some strange heart beats for a while afterwards but finally settled at about 5 - 6 weeks. I had the ablation in early Feb 2013 so getting close to two years now. The best thing I ever did was get away from the Cardio and go see an EP, so now I don't take any drugs apart from anticoagulent, which I'm not sure I really need, but I have no hassles with it at all and I guess it is just a bit more assurance. I would recommend you also consult an EP and at least listen to what he has to say.

[Hidden]

My ablation stopped my AF totally from day one, but I did feel funny and tight at time in my chest for some time, can't remember how longs, maybe a few weeks??? Anyhow, that passed and then couldn't feel anything, not even my heart which was a bit weird but very nice.

Koll

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

After my third ablation the AF has stopped completely, and it is over a year now with nothing to report. So pleased that at last I can live a normal life! Hopefully yours will settle down in a few weeks.

[franksavage in reply to Hidden]

i do apologise ive replied in the wrong box...but the question is the same Carrie? AF stopped completely?

[Hidden in reply to franksavage]

Yes, I'm happy to say. I understand that catheter ablations can last for a variable amount of time, even years, so I am enjoying every minute. Nobody can say if or when the AF will return. Hope this has helped. C.

[franksavage in reply to Hidden]

Dont you get the af's now Koll?

[Hidden in reply to franksavage]

I've had a tiny bit but nothing really. But now got something else, not sure what, bunches of ectopics I think. Just another form of arrhythmia. On drugs that are working great so no ablation on the cards for me till they stop working I suppose?

Koll

[franksavage]

Thanks Koll.

These Ablations? they are the shock with the paddles right?

[Hidden in reply to franksavage]

No, they go inside you and "burn" tissue to stop the fibrillation. I'm not technical, someone else will explain. Or just Google ablation for atrial fibrillation. There are different types.

K

[franksavage in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Koll, i understand what it is i just get mixed up with the names for each proceedure. Thats great! Ive had a little re read of all the posts and its give me a bit of hope to go out today! Thanks all..

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to franksavage]

Hi Franksavage

Just for info, the "shock is called a cardioversion, often abbreviated on here to CV, and it's a fairly quick procedure, often done to people who have just gone into AF, or longer term people just to check that they can come out of AF. Regretably unless they catch it early or you are very young, most CVs revert to AF at some point, but they are a good indicator of treatment options.

An cather ablation (most of them are catheter, but there are different types) is a bigger procedure where they go into your groin and then up into your heart in a Cath lab, and try and find the areas in the atria which as shorting out the electrical circuits and then using very small burns on the muscles try and correct them.

Hope this helps

Ian

[franksavage in reply to Beancounter]

Thanks so much Beans! Helps a lot my friend...

[Jlaine in reply to franksavage]

No fyi that is called cardioversion. But they apply pads to chest now . Nomore paddles. Ablation is a completely different far more technical procedure whereas they cauderiza nerves and cause scar tissue to form intentionally to block overactive nerve stimulation from passing thru! Just sharing info with you

[woo1]

My husband was recently diagnosed with AF and is down to have a cardioversion in early Feb. They have already told him that is likely to revert back to AF quickly. I don't understand why they don't just offer him an ablation straight away as the success rate is better and means he can get back to his active life! He is only 55 and doesn't smoke or drink to excess so he's low risk for a stroke. Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone else has had a cardioversion and what's the recovery like for it. Is a couple of days adequate for recovery? Look forward to hearing from you.