Ectopics

Hi

Iam now 10 months post Ablation for PAF but experiencing a lot of ectopics . I don't need to be doing anything specific.Had 72 hour monitor which showed on AF.Has anyone else had this experience and if so I would appreciate any advice.Could this be the Ablation failing?

Thank-you

[Finvola]

Hi - I haven't had an ablation, but am in the meddle of a run of the blasted things at the moment. There are some things you can do which may see them off and, for me, the best is slow, deep breathing. For at least 5 minutes (I do 10) relax and breathe with your diaphragm, taking no more than 5 breaths a minute. I find counting helps me to concentrate - breathe in for a count of 5, out for a count of 7.

Some people have triggers for ectopics - sugar, alcohol and chocolate are common, as are large meals and eating something which is hard to digest.

If you use the search box at the top right for Gupta ectopics, you'll find some very helpful videos by Dr Sanjay Gupta - one of them describes the breathing exercise.

Try not to worry - ectopics are a plague to all of us.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopics are not AF and can never be AF. They are a perfectly normal function for everybody usually up to 200 a day. Ablation may apparently increase the number one has as it prevents AF which sometimes hides the ectopics so we notice them more afterwards. Do try the breathing exercise. I have had days when I got up to 2000 a day until I learned the breathing trick.

No it doesn't mean your ablation has failed.

[higgy52]

Hi I had my Ablation nearly 9 months ago, Heart rate was 120 gradually gone down a bit with help from bisopolol to 98, just latley lots of eptopics on Sunday night Heart was all over place Eptopic beats every over beat or 2, Then went back in normal rhythm heart rate 57 for 3 days now, hope it stays that way, still on Amiodarone.

So dont give up good luck

[Oldcarol]

I am 15 months post ablation and was told not to worry about the ectopics. They are occasional and do not turn into afib.. I haven’t had any long continuous episodes of afib, but I occasionally feel a “vibrating” in my chest, but it goes away if I take a deep breath. I am sure it is afib episodes, but nothing like before the ablation. Heartrate stays regular at about 70. Doesn’t sound like your ablation failed. It just may take more than one to get all the “spots” that are firing when they shouldn’t.

Best of luck.