Did I speak too soon

[jobristol]

Nearly 5 weeks after Flutter Ablation, all was going so well when on Saturday afternoon I feel what seems like some ectopics then quickening heart beat. My kardia records possible AF! Then get lots of normal, occasional unclassified and further possible AFs, this all in a matter of about 20 mins. Then NSR until late evening and get some more. Sunday NSR, Monday all day NSR until late evening when I feel heart quickening and get a few more AF readings. This morning NSR! I was told I could get AF after ablation as I originally had AF before cardioversion (which last 2 weeks in NSR) changed AF to Flutter and that I may then need further ablation. Is it too early to tell, is this just a blip or is AF setting in, feeling a bit disappointed. Have emailed arrhythmia nurse copies of ecg as she asked me at pre-op to do this should I get any abnormal readings, so await her reply!

[BobD Volunteer]

As we keep saying to people this is far two early to think of failure. It takes three to six months for full recovery and this sound quite normal. Try to relax and not to obsess about it as constant checking will only increase you anxiety and make things worse.

[jobristol in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, sound advice as always and I will try to heed it. I know I’m checking too often, will try to only check if I feel anything.

[Fastbeat]

Sounds like good advice from Bob, it's early days.Easy to say I know we are all so aware of our heartbeats all the time when we have AF.

[jobristol in reply to Fastbeat]

Thanks Jane, Arrhythmia Nurse emailed me back. Apparently none of the readings I sent to her showed Atrial Flutter or Fibrillation, it’s Atrial Ectopy, so ectopics causing the rogue readings. Said nothing to worry about all pretty normal, which was a relief. Jo

[Fastbeat in reply to jobristol]

That's good to hear

[Barry24]

I assume that you diagnosed with atrial flutter only prior to your Ablation for it. Bear in mind that 50% of people with Atrial flutter tend to have AF as well.

For instance all my ECGs said l had atrial flutter only, on the treatment table just before my EP started the Ablation procedure, my heart went into AF.

According to a well known EP based in America, atrial flutter does not start be itself.

Regards

[jobristol in reply to Barry24]

Original diagnosis was Fibrillation but after cardioversion and a few months on Amiodarone it turned to Flutter with the Amiodarone making me have chronotropic incompetence so it was stopped hence the ablation for flutter. No AF showed during ablation but I was warned it could start up again after, but arrhythmia nurse after reading ecgs sent to her says no AF or Flutter showed and that it’s ectopics causing the rogue readings and it’s all pretty normal at this stage.

[Barry24 in reply to jobristol]

That is great news. It is a fact that drugs like Flecainide and Amiodarone may cause atrial flutter.

Good news and l wish you all the best in the days/months ahead.

Regards

Barry

[jobristol in reply to Barry24]

Thanks Barry. Jo

[Hidden]

I was told that it can take 3 months after ablation for the inflammation caused by the procedure to settle down. During this period abnormal heart rhythms are apparently not uncommon and do not mean the ablation has not worked. Try not to worry (easier said than done I know), when I get stressed about having palpitations it always seems to make it worse.

[jobristol in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Narzis, Arrhythmia Nurse came back said ecgs showed no AF or Flutter and that it was ectopics causing the rogue readings and that it was pretty normal so not to worry.

[bmand]

It's my understanding if you had an ablation for futter, this does not do anything to change Af. There are ablations for AF which are much different than an ablation for flutter.

I had an ablation for flutter the end of May this year, afterward, I still had AF. 2 weeks ago I had another bout with Aflutter. Went to hospital and then diagnosed with A Typical Flutter

I am now scheduled for an ablation for A typical futter again this will not have any effect on my AF

[jobristol in reply to bmand]

Thanks Bmand, original diagnosis was Fibrillation but after cardioversion and a few months on Amiodarone it turned to Flutter with the Amiodarone making me have chronotropic incompetence so it was stopped hence the ablation for flutter. No AF showed for months before or during ablation but I was warned it could start up again after, but arrhythmia nurse after reading ecgs sent to her says no AF or Flutter showed and that it’s ectopics causing the rogue readings and it’s all pretty normal at this stage.

[bmand in reply to jobristol]

I was put on amiodarone I thought it was going to kill me that stuff is poison. I stop several months ago and I still have some of the effects.

Your ablation was it just for flutter or a typical futter. Thanks hope you do well going forward.

[jobristol in reply to bmand]

It was for a typical.

I felt awful on amiodarone, stopped in March this year after insisting with cardiologist that there was no point in continuing with it as it wasn't keeping me in NSR. My GP also agreed with me and wrote to cardiologist it was only then that cardiologist referred me to EP who has now added amiodarone intolerant to my notes so I will never be put on it again, thank goodness. It was only after about 3 months of stopping that I felt so much better. Thanks for your good wishes and I hope your ablation goes well.