Ectopic Beats

[Swale]

Those of you that have had an ablation do you still get ectopic beats?

I have had two ablations, my second was February this year bur recently I have felt an increase in ectopic beats. I was curious to see if I was alone in this or not?

Thanks.

[maxkayblue]

I had cryo-ablation for AFib in May of this year. For the first couple of months my arrhythmia's seemed to be occurring less frequently (PAC's). Over the past several months they have become worse than ever. Many days they occur non-stop having couplets, triplets and quads. I have been taking 200mg/day of Amiodarone for about 10 years. My cardiologist has just changed my medication to 10mg of Flecainide 2X/day to see if that will help. He says that the increase in arrhythmia's could be due to scar tissue from the ablation. I thought the ablation would help. I've had one episode of AF since the ablation. Now I have more PAC's.

[Hidden in reply to maxkayblue]

I feel really sorry for you.

its certainly not just as simple as first written up but at least those having this now are not considered psychiatric as they were in my time, before the catheter oblations were invented. Jansang

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopics seem to be quite normal. All people get them but apparently we ablatees notice them more. I was told once by a leading EP that they are a good sign in that the heart is trying to go into AF and failing.

[Swale in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I have just been reading a few of your previous posts regarding ectopics. I guess I need to try and relax and forget about them, as my recovery from my second ablation has been going well.

Thanks for your reply.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Swale]

Not easy to ignore I'm afraid. I had three or four months of complex ectopics missing each beat from three to eleven and back to three. Sorted eventually after Bowen treatment to relax the vagus nerve. Either that or it was coincidence.

Relaxation must help.

Bob

[Swale in reply to BobD]

I'll have to research 'Bowen treatment' as I've not heard of it.

I have had bouts of ectopic beats in the past and after a while they slowly decrease. But each time I'm aware of our old friend AF.

Thanks again.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

That is interesting. My Cardiologist found my vagus nerve was affecting me & called it vasa vagal.- also suggested that I had a complaint called essential quivers -- obviously a brain thing.

all electrical after a life time of severe atrial fib. & tach. Oh Dear, what we have to suffer. Jansang

[Independ in reply to BobD]

As someone who has had four ablations, one for atrial flutter and three for atrial fib the last one seeming to have been successful for the last three years, I have started to have what I have been told are ectopic beats, although the incidents of these have not been recorded. I'm wondering whether they are ectopic! They only last for a few seconds, but on three occasions I have nearly fainted and they feel like when I used to have 8 hr AF episodes and right at the end before it clicked into normal rhythm I would momentarily feel as though I was going to black out!! Most episodes fortunately are not like this. I have been referred for NM MPS Tf stress gated test which I am a bit worried might affect my ablations. Do you know anything about these tests and whether it does have an affect of ablated hearts. Would be much appreciative if you have any information regarding this

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Yes, I heard that also about being more normal & partially a good sign.. but when one gets masses of them, I believe it is not right - as I do over 100 a day. But, at least that explanation gives us a sense of gratitude. I could not have endured any more fibrillation & tacycardia. attacks. - day & night as I had them.

[Therealsue]

I get loads of them and they still spook me even after nearly 18 months clear of AF. I find that stress makes them worse.

[Swale in reply to Therealsue]

Thanks , I guess it's a vicious circle. I get a little stressed when I get the ectopics then stress about being stressed!!

[RichMert in reply to Swale]

You sound like me

[Hidden in reply to Therealsue]

Yes, I agree - I find it hard to relax with all this, but a Christian friend told me she would never have got through stress without learning to 'give it over to the Lord' - not easy in severe attacks', but for stress, I find it is comforting to know we are in Higher hands.

The old bible says, "Cast your burdens upon the Lord" I now try to remember that!

[Hidden]

My ablation worked 99.9% for AF but after 8-10 years I started to get loads of ectopics, in fact virtually constant. They may be normal but not in that quantity, so back on drugs for now which are working great, fingers crossed.

If you're getting masses of them I'd go see your EP.

Koll

[Swale in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Koll, if they persist then maybe I'll have a talk with my EP.

[Bob56]

I had an ablation approx 4 months ago and whilst I have been AF free ( apart from a few early wobbles) my ectopics have actually been worse than before the procedure. My EP said that he hoped the ablation might have helped ( mine are PACs) but it was perfectly possible to have ectopics without AF. As they are generally classed as benign there isn't the same urgency from the medical profession to try and stop them although I'm prescribed a small dose of bisopropol to "take the edge off" as my cardiologist puts it. I hate them and as has been said the more heart aware you are the more you feel them. Unlike my AF I feel they are exacerbated by stress so anything one can follow for relaxation, CBT, Bowen etc might help ( although I'm still searching). You are definitely not alone!!!

[Swale in reply to Bob56]

Thanks Bob, I seem to get a bout of them and then they ease for a while. I think I just need to work out how not to get too stressed about them.

[kakapo]

I had trouble for 20 years with ectopics before I got AF . They were pretty random and occasionally bad enough to be quite disturbing. Once I got AF it became quite different. I used to get an AF attack every two weeks or so and it was always preceded by increasing levels of ectopics followed by no ectopics for a week or so after the attack. The day before my ablation I had the worst ectopics I've ever had for about half an hour and if I hadn't been in the hospital I would have gone. Since my ablation (16 months)I have had the odd short run of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia but if I'm getting ectopics they are not bad enough for me to notice.

[RichMert]

I had 2 ablations almost 2 years ago now. I get bouts of what I think are ectopics (one beat feels like it has been crushed or distorted) every other minute mainly in the evening. This can go on for a couple of weeks then I get a 6 second flutter (I suspect) and as bad as that feels, it seems to put it right again for a few months. For the record, I take 1.25mg Bisoprolol and a Magnesium supplement. Not sure Bisoprolol is making any difference to be honest but will ask Dr later this month.

Could be psychological but I think the Magnesium reduces the frequency or intensity of the odd strange beat.

[Hidden]

Yes, I had an oblation for my extra AV Node I was born with. I also get ectopic beats

over 100 daily. Not nice -

I also get lots of other irregular beats & have now had to go on to flecanide - as I am 83 these are worse as I age.

I think we should all pray for each other, don't you. This suffering is awful is it not? jansang

[Swale]

Thanks for all your replies, it does help to reassure me.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I didn't have any after my first ablation, but had one persisting after my 2nd ablation 5 months later.... which hung around for over 3 months before it settled.....

[Swale in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks , I'm now almost ten months since my second ablation and my ectopics seem to come and go. At the moment i have them!

I was thinking about taking some magnesium supplements to see if that'll help.