Post-Ablation, Rough days, getting discouraged

[justdee]

I'm having a hard time right now. I had my ablation on June 12th 2017, so it's been a little over three months. The last several weeks my heart has been skipping a lot!! (palpitations) at night while I'm sleeping and it wakes me up. I get anxiety so bad when this happens, I think it makes me feel worse. My heart has been skipping all morning today..... Feeling discouraged...... is this a normal part of the healing process? I see my Electrophysiologist next week for a follow up

[BobD Volunteer]

Anxiety often makes thing s appear worse than they really are. Do you know if what you feel is actually AF or merely ectopics which are very common after ablation? Next week is very close so try not to be discouraged . Make a log and show you EP what you are feeling. Take you pulse and log if it is actually irregular or just the missed beats, ectopics or even just a bit of tachycardia. There is still plenty of time for things to settle up to six months.

I never have AF these days nine years after my last ablation but often get patches of ectopics and ultra short (five seconds maybe) runs of tachycardia which I'm sure everybody gets but we AFers just darned well notice them all. It is a bit like those annoying nervous ticks when an eyelid flutters even when only you are aware of it. I had one in my left bicep the other day. Kept doing it for hours till I punched it.

[justdee in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob! It is ectopics, not AF. I had my procedure for constant PAC's. I have a cardiac loop implanted in my chest so it is recording everything my heart is doing. I am happy about having it. I feel so terrible when the skipping happens. I get lightheaded, dizzy and I'm sure the anxiety doesn't help me either. I've noiticed my heart will beat three or four beats then pause, it might go seven or more beats and pause.... then I'm fine for awhile......I'm just such a worry wart! You explained it perfectly with the nervous tick feeling, it does feel like a eye flutter. So ready to feel better

[RichMert in reply to justdee]

Those feelings with the Ectopics are just damn weird. You cannot help but expect the worst but if you stand up or just do something to elevate your heart rate, it will probably stop. I could switch mine on and off on one occasion just by totally relaxing, this brought the Ectopics on (odd I know). I was hooked up to an ECG machine and the paramedic thought it amazing that I could spot one odd beat even though I was unable to see her recorder.

[justdee in reply to RichMert]

I can do that too!

[Spoiler in reply to BobD]

If I get any flip flop feeling in my chest, I am like oh no.. xx because my afib always requires ER and cardioversion! My longest span in the beginning was 20 months. The shortest was 6 days. Currently on nothing but metoprolol and warfarin, so I am on eggshells. Only drugs left are the two I have refused. Multaq being one of them. Flecainide was awesome at only 50 mg twice daily for 7 months, but failed the stress test with Vtach. Tikosyn resulted in a cardiac arrest after 2 pills. Pretty much out of drugs. So...... The last two times I went into afib I waited 2 days before going to ER. So so frustrating and depressing. No vacations any distance the last 3 years.

[justdee in reply to Spoiler]

How scary! I hope your days get better!

[Dodie117]

Are you following Dr Gupta's talks on ectopics. The breathing exercises are really worth trying.

My heart took 5 months to settle after ablation. I am AF free since then - almost 4 years. So don't give up yet and try to calm the anxiety with the breathing exercises.

[justdee in reply to Dodie117]

I have started the breathing exercises again. It does help, I just wish o could stop the worrying.

[greg35 in reply to justdee]

Hi Dee I also have the dreaded ectopics had 2 ablations this year and will probably have a third still having them! my last ablation was May this year so 5 months on still not "cured" is anyone ever cured of ectopics? would love to hear!

Regards Ingrid

[justdee in reply to greg35]

Two ablations this year! I'm sorry, I pray I don't have to have another one. It's been awful for me, not what I had expected. Just when I think the ectopics are gone, I start having them again.

[greg35 in reply to justdee]

I know Dee when I have a good day I am so happy I think I am cured then bam next 5 days can be so bad! there seems to be no rhyme or reason my EP says my case is complicated! what can you do just try and "keep calm and carry on" as if we only could! lol I hope you are feeling better keep us posted and let us know how you get on.

Regards Ingrid

[justdee in reply to greg35]

I go to the Doctor on Wednesday. I will let you know what he says.

[justdee in reply to justdee]

Went to my doctor yesterday. Tuesday evening I had palpitations for six hours straight, every two or three beats. Luckily I still have the cardiac loop so he was about to see what happened. He prescribed me Flecainide twice daily. He says I'm still healing and I go back in one month. Trying to stay positive.

[justdee in reply to Dodie117]

Lallym, so at 5 months you were still having issues? Were you questioning your procedure like I am? Did you just wake up one day and they were gone? Did you have chest pain once in awhile too? I'm trying to be positive but some days are more tough than others.

[Dodie117 in reply to justdee]

The time between events just lengthened until at six months I realised I'd had no irregular heartbeats for a month. I then gradually started to believe it had worked. Until then I was hopeful but doubtful.

I don't think I had any chest pain.

So try to stay optimistic and good luck.

[justdee in reply to Dodie117]

Thank you and the best to you too!