3 1/2 weeks post ablation

[GrannyE]

I had 5 days of no A/F post a difficult ablation with all sorts of complications and have been back in permanent A/F ever since. Has anyone else had an ablation with their A/F returning so soon and then disappearing again when the lumpy groin, fluid on lungs, and tummy upset goes? Will the A/F go away by the 3 month mark? If it does not then what is the best way forward?

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Have you notified your EP that you are back in AFib? I only had 2 days post ablation with no AFib and then I was back in it for the next two weeks. Remember, your heart has had big trauma being burned (or frozen with cryoablation) and it is not happy, so with all that inflammation so AFib is not unexpected. The blanking period of healing is 3-6 months and there can be blips along the way. When I went back out of rhythm I was put on a new rhythm medication and then cardioverted, the first cardioversion 5 days after the ablation only held for an hour, so my EP waited till the meds had longer to work, and then the next week the next cardioversion worked and I've not had AFib since, and that was 2 1/2 years ago. While you don't want your heart to get back into the bad habit of AFib, don't panic and talk to your EP about the plan. Meanwhile recover gently, to protect your heart.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to SRMGrandma]

Perfect response Grandma. You got there first!

[GrannyE in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you will get in touch with the Royal Brompton.

[GrannyE in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you. My ablation was just over a month ago now. According to my Kardia Alivecor I have had a few episodes of non A/Fib and have been free for two days now. I have not had ectopics since the ablation which is a great boon. I am hopeful that my heart will settle down to be AFib free given more time. I have been taken off all meds except apixaban 5mg twice daily. Sometimes my bp goes up rather but then it comes down again without me doing anything. Am hopeful.

[Buffafly]

Upset stomach, fluid on lungs.......are you sure nothing else is going on? I had an upset stomach after my ablation, eventually ended up in hospital where I was nursed in isolation because the hospital was concerned I had brought some dreaded bug back from Harefield. I was diagnosed with diverticulitis in fact. I expect you have seen your GP?

[Hidden]

Are things settling down after your ablation? Hopefully no news is good news!

[GrannyE in reply to Hidden]

This past week or so my lungs have cleared up but I have a bit of a residual cough because of the irritation. Also during this last 10 days have started to drop in and out of A/F but ne’er a day without any A/F whatsoever. Still miles better and am starting to be hopeful all might yet be well. Also my bp has settled down without pills but it is a bit high in the evening when the A/Fib tends to kick in again. Heart rate a bit fast between 80 and can rise to 96 even when sitting. Notice that when stressed or have done too much the A/Fib comes back. The ectopic are less frequent. I think my heart had a bit of a trauma and it may therefore take longer to settle down. Am seeing cardiologist at the Royal Brompton early January so will see what is happening.

Thanks for asking. Def better than I was before the ablation but not right yet.

[Hidden]

Glad to hear you are on the mend. I sense your mental resilience will get you through this. Stay inside, stay warm. Come the spring this will likely all be behind you.

[GrannyE in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I am hoping that it will right itself given time.

Some of the time I feel ‘normal’ now.

Nice not to have the heart pounding. Have not had to sit down suddenly since the ablation and feel more confident so much so that given another week or so might even be able to have the small grandchildren on my own which I no longer felt was safe just in case I had a bad episode and could no longer supervise them properly and stop them doing anything dangerous.

Prior to the ablation I sometimes had to lie down very suddenly and put my feet above my head if I were at home, or sit down on the floor in the supermarket, wherever, and wait until I felt better.