8 weeks post ablation.

[dedeottie]

Still on flecanide and have still had no A.F. to the best of my knowledge but for the past 30 hours have felt like something is happening in my heart (trembling feeling on and off) but pulse regular and normal rate except for the odd missed beat. Any ideas?

[meadfoot]

I often have the trembling feeling in my heart that you mention and dont really know what it is all about. II have not had an ablation so cant comment on whether yours is anything to do with post procedure things. I do hope it soon passes for you.

Be well.

Dee

[Gtmoshi1 in reply to meadfoot]

How long have you had afib? I’m going on 2 years with 3 episodes. My cardio doesn’t recommend ablation for me? Are you thinking of doing it?

[meadfoot in reply to Gtmoshi1]

First episode 2007, diagnosed 2009. No not had an ablation. Will only consider it when my EP who I trust completely advises me too, so far it's not been recommended.

[jennydog]

I also went about 8 weeks post-ablation with no problems but since then I have had 5 or 6 episodes in as many months. One was picked up on day 4 of a 7 day monitor as 2 hrs of AF. These episodes tend to happen during the night and whilst I can feel that my pulse is erratic and I feel odd, I can only describe it as mild AF which I can sleep off.

It helps that I now take my 2.5 Bisoprolol at night.

I was unsure about what was happening but the 7 day monitor definitely showed it as AF. Bear in mind that I have fibrosis and a severly dilated left atrium. I was quoted 50% chance of success for the ablation so I was not expecting miracles and I can cope with what happens now. Pre-ablation I could hardly function and my confidence was shot.

If you do have incidents then a 7 day monitor may show what's happening.

Very best wishes.

[Rellim296]

A bit disconcerting, though the pulse and heart rate are encouraging. I'd be inclined to ignore it if it goes away but if it continues or happens again, why not get an ECG at your GP surgery while it feels weird. I find my portable ECG gadget really useful for moments when the heart doesn't seem to be its usual self.

As Jennydog says, a 7 day ECG might be interesting. Hopefully you'll be seeing your EP in a month or so and perhaps cutting down on flecainide.

[dedeottie]

Thanks all.I am going to bring it to my E.P.s attention when I see him in May. Hopefully will get 7 day monitor then. Hope you are all well.x

[Finvola]

dedeottie - like Dee, I haven't had an ablation and get short wavy, wobbles which seem to be on the left side of my heart only. I take Flecainide and assume what I can feel are impulses trying to start the AF - and failing!

Will mention this to my EP in August, too. Hope you keep well.

[dedeottie in reply to Finvola]

Thank you. It does feel like something is trying to start but failing. Let's hope it continues to fail! X

[rosyG]

you might have irritability because of the healing process?? May just be a few ectopics trying to start things off and can't succeed now?? Hope all goes well. We're meeting up in London on Saturday- it's a pity you are too far away- it was good to see you in Birmingham

[dedeottie in reply to rosyG]

Hi Rosie. I may make it to a London meet one of these days. It would be lovely to see you.x

[angiek]

I have AF and AFl and I (think I) always feel the AF even if it is only brief, and if I ever use my AliveCor when its happening it always shows up. I more frequently feel a trembling and slight pressure in my heart, accompanied by a 'wheezy' sort of feeling, and this does not really show on the AliveCor. My pulse feels mostly regular at these times, so I think this is probably the flutter of AFl?

I am going to ask the EP next week - Yay! a year down the line and with much hard work and persistence I have a referral at last!

[Lovedmum in reply to angiek]

Does the Alivecor result actually say AF detected?

[angiek in reply to Lovedmum]

No not always Lovedmum, sometimes I am sure 'something' is happening, and the reading is very strange, but as long as the beat is regular it always says NORMAL. I have had runs of 150 beats a minute recorded, declared Normal, so it does seem to only be for detecting AF?

[Jason1971]

Hi dedeottie, I'm a few weeks behind you in recovery, but I know where you're coming from. Mine is almost like a flutter and I think, here we go, but on checking I'm fine. I did have a run of AF last Wednesday, but I put that down to too much exercise and overindulging over Easter. I think it is probably just the healing process.

[dedeottie]

Let's hope so Jason. Good luck with your recovery.x

[Hidden in reply to dedeottie]

HI,

I would think it's the hearts recovery process...You may recall when we were all having dinner together at Birminghsm I went up to my Hotel room early because my heart was going berserk...This was 10 weeks Post Ablation...l am now eight months post Ablation and I can say hand on heart that's it's taken all this time to recover....I know exactly what you mean,you feel as though the heart is charging up to fire off but this it seems is quite normal and nothing to concern about...

I had my 6 month review recently and the EP wrote to my GP that he considers the Ablation to have been a success and the Fibullation has been cured...So try not to worry to much (easier said than done)

Take care...

Carol.

[Rellim296 in reply to Hidden]

That's good to hear, Carol

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you Rellimx

[dedeottie in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for reminding me Carol you have made me feel much better . It's good to hear from you.x

[Hidden in reply to dedeottie]

Thank you Dedeotte....

I am with you all the way....As I mentioned it has taken all of eight months for the Heart to calm as was convinced the Ablation had failed and was preparing myself for a second Ablation....

My EP said the ectopics were very normal even in people with Healthy hearts himself included and nothing to worry about but of course we do....

You are doing fine and like me you are doing everything possible to aid your recovery...

Carol x

[davegm]

Dedeottie

I had an ablation in June last year so its now 9 months or so.

For the first six months of the recovery period I had perids of a " jittery" nervy feeling in and around my heart - a feeling as if if the heart was about to go off into an AF episode. The recognisable episode of AF never happened - and hasn't done so far - and the nervy feelings have eventually subsided. I still get periods of ectopics which were confirmed on a 7 day monitor in January following the EP 6 month review.

I certainly agree with others who have posted here, and I think that you are experiencing the heart recovering from the proceedure - it takes time - more of a marathon rather than a sprint.

I have found my EP and the arrythmia nurses at the hospital to be very helpful (Liverpool) and no doubt would be the same wherever you had your ablation if you have concerns.

Best wishes

Dave

[froggy4x4]

7 months post ablation now and still no AF.

Same symptoms as you at 8 weeks, it eventually subsided over time for me but if you are really worried go see a cardiologist that cares.

On no drugs now too.

Ectopic beat beat is still there though but rarely happens, not concerned about that as I have had an ectopic heart beat since I was 16, am 56 now.

Just wish the Apnoea monkey would get off my back.

They say I have Apnoea - but I display absolutely ZERO symptoms.

So, so over their crap now.

Learning to play the didgeridoo now as the circular breathing is meant to do some great things both heart and lungs.

[creschendo in reply to froggy4x4]

Hi froggy4x4

Are you in Oz ?

I have signed up for the Digiredoo course at Sydney Community College starting next week, also hoping it will help with the Sleep Apneoa

Ric

[froggy4x4 in reply to creschendo]

West Oz Ric. Half an hour on the Digiredoo every single day and it is paying dividends already, I can feel that soft part of back of the throat toughening up. I'm also trailing a snorban mouth guard from the US, which only arrived in the post today. Have to try alternatives as CPAP has the exact opposite effect on me. CPAP caused my AF into almost persistant. I have no faith in any sleep specialist recommended treatment as everything they have tried on me has failed miserably. Im forced into this crap because of the commercial drivers licence I have. I show no symptoms of Apnea and the treatments for apnea has had an adverse effect on my AF. I'm 7 mths post ablation and dont want to risk getting AF back. Im on that medical merry go round at the moment - wrong diagnosis once again.

[creschendo in reply to froggy4x4]

Thanks Froggy, I'll see how the Didge works for me. All the best, Ric

[froggy4x4 in reply to creschendo]

The Didge is working for me, in terms of opening the back of the throat a bit more that's sure, but hey? Be persistent and patient with yourself as what is really, really important is not so much the sound you make, its perfecting the circular breathing that pays dividends.

I'm up to about 15 minutes without a break in sound on the ol' Didge now.

I trailed the snorban mouthguard last night and it seems I can use this, though I feel no different in the morning as I normally am but at least that treatment is not adversely effecting my heart as did CPAP - in a very, very bad way.

CPAP put me in an extreme state of fatigue, very, very dangerous when using CPAP for me to be on the road.

I see the idiot sleep specialist tomorrow too, not looking forward to that as these guys have failed miserably in any suggested treatment - I don't have a choice if I want to keep my drivers licence after being wrongly diagnosed IMHO by their pathetic ways of testing sleep patterns - I just do not trust the outcomes as none of it makes sense and I - the patient - cannot see any real evidence, just dribble on paper.

Noting that last September I drove by towing a large off-road trailer from Perth to Pumnu via 4wd vehicle - carrying 40 BMX bikes to the Punmu primary school as a not for profit venture.

Three days up via Marble Bar via Telfer and then two days back via Skulls Springs Road, Nullagine and Mount Newman. That's 2000km on road and 1000km off-road in 5 days.

If I had apnoea - sleep issues - there is no way I count have done that and that effort was 4 weeks post ablation too. On the 6th day I could have easily got behind the wheel and drove another 1000km on road, too easy!

These sleep specialist don't live in the real world. I'd love to see them do the same, that's for sure - they'd probably fall asleep at the wheel and crash into a tree or worse, into oncoming traffic.

I know my limitations in terms of managing my fatigue, when to stop and when to keep going.

Good luck with the Didge mate and please consider managing sleep patterns by doing your on research on anything sleep issues - we all know our own bodies better than some other person making assumptions based on treating us all like a bunch of cattle, we are all very unique individuals, so don't go to a sleep specialist, I've not come across one that is not dodgy yet.

Everyone can always trial a CPAP machine from a chemist than having to go to a sleep specialist and spend thousands of dollars. They don't mention the Didge as with that treatment there is no $$$ in it for them.

CPAP works well for many, it just doesn't work for me.

[dedeottie]

Thanks to you all. I am sure you are all right. Take care of yourselves.x