I feel worse five weeks post flutter ablation

[caznear68]

I seem to be having lots of short runs of a fast heartbeat which are there day and night.I feel very worried about this and wander if others have had it after flutter ablation.They can last seconds or minutes but are persisting.I am not sleeping because of this so feeling really fed up and tired. Ep stopped both flecainide and bisoprolol after the ablation so just taking Rivaoxaban at the moment. it feels like every time I move they kick off!!

[jedimasterlincoln]

I've had 2 PVI ablations and 2 flutter ablations. I think you're always going to get some "skips and bursts and wiggles" in the heart post-op in the first 6 months because you've been stabbed in the heart effectively, regardless of work carried out that's a major muscle which is going to be affected.

5 weeks is still "early days" and it doesn't mean something has gone wrong if you're feeling bits of skips now.

I don't think I've ever stopped both the flecanide and the bisoprolol post op (I'll have to check my previous posts) until about 6 weeks after.And even then it caused some concern on here despite EP guidelines. One occasion it was done on a reducing dose over a month or so.

[Hidden in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I agree that short runs of a fast heartbeat are the sort of thing that's not unexpected and I'd be annoyed and a bit disappointed but not particularly alarmed, especially if they go very quickly.

I started taking flecainide after my first ablation* and wasn't taking it when I had my third. Before the second I was on 150mgs twice a day and this was cut at once to 100mgs x2, and then to 50mgs x2 after 6 weeks. It was discontinued completely four months after the procedure.

(* My first ablation was for tachycardia although I actually had undiagnosed AF. I'd not been on any medication beforehand apart from atenolol and lisinopril for blood pressure.)

[caznear68 in reply to Hidden]

Yes Rellim2 I am annoyed at it and I thought it was odd stopping both Flecainide and Bisoprolol ,I was put on bisoprolol originally for the flutter but have taken flecainide for years 50mg x2 daily for AF. I won't be due to see EP for about another 8 weeks yet. I feel more debilitated than before the flutter ablation at present. Thanks for listening and hope you are doing ok.

[Hidden in reply to caznear68]

I've not much to complain about, thanks.

I think EPs each seem to have their own way for patients to go forward. If you do take medication, you don't know if it is masking the true state of play, so it could be said that it's perhaps not the best. Your flecainide dose was quite low too so stopping it is much like cutting a larger dose down.

Your monitor will be welcome and certainly should help to pinpoint the activity you are experiencing. But hopefully it may be more a bit of tetchiness than a sign of a big problem. It's always possible the fast beats will die down just before you get the monitor!

[Tapanac in reply to caznear68]

Yes like you I'm a bit concerned as I had an ablation in March and since for some reason my EP has stopped my flecainide which was keeping me so beautifully stable since last December, I am now having flutters/palpitations/missed beats and so uncomfortable and breathless on exertion.

Your 5 weeks is very early days so hopefully it will improve in time for you

[caznear68 in reply to Tapanac]

sorry I am late answering you Tapanac! How are you feeling now? I don't seem to get breathless with the fast beats, was yours a flutter ablation as well? Just seems a long time for you to still feel this way!! I take it you have had your EP follow up by now! regards

carol

[Tapanac in reply to caznear68]

Hello I hope you are feeling better now. No I'm not much better unfortunately as during the night on Saturday I had my original very very fast irregular heartbeat again. Touch wood I hadnt had this since I was put on flecainide last December after being taken into hospital by ambulance eleven times.

After the ablation in March which I did ask if it was necessary as I was feeling good and they said yes, again I was ok until the consultant for some reason not given, although a sister or nurse did say she thought it caused a different type of flutter after an ablation, stopped the flecainide. Since then palpitations, missed beats and now scaringly the fast irregular heartbeat. Before December when I was taken into hospital it ra bed between 240-250. It wasn't as fast I'm sure on Saturday which lasted about 4 hours and sundaynwhixh lasted about half hour, but worrying enough.

I did phone my GP this morning (can't get hold of the hospital) and he said if it gets worse I'll have to go back on the flecainide.

I have read on this forum that lots of people stay on the flecainide and I appreciate that the consultant would like to cut down on all tablets, especially as they all cause different side effects, but....?

Anyway I do hope your ablation stays a success.

Best wishes

Ps..I was admitted for a fibrillation, but I gather the latest ecg before the ablation showed a flutter which is presumably how they ablated

[caznear68 in reply to Tapanac]

Makes me feel a fraud at the moment to hear your story, scary at those rates!! I have had some of those which is how they found my flutter. I may have to have the AF ablation apparently if it rears its ugly head. I do on occasions have a settled couple of hours in the day when it feels normal so I value those. I am trying to get on with it as best I can. I hope you start to pick up yourself in the near future,keep us informed, take care

[Tapanac in reply to caznear68]

Thank you. If I'm honest, and this will probably sound silly, but I don't actually know the difference and how atrial fibrillation or flutter is defined when I have irregular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation/flutter, palpitations, ectopic beats. Which is which I wonder and how would one describe AF afl amongst that lot????

[caznear68 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks for your kind advice, I can cope with this at times then others seem to get me really fed up and anxious. I am trying to get some short amounts of exercise walking locally, today was particularly bothersome with the fast beats which make me feel odd!!

I am due my post procedure 24 hour monitor next week so hope it picks these up. I don't think its the AF kicking in as it appears to be fast but regular and then reverts itself.

Thanks again.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble sleeping. So very tedious.

There's more, posted by mistake in reply to Jedi.

[KMRobbo]

Do you have A Fib as well as the flutter? If you have not then I can understand stopping the flecainide as it can promote flutter and make it worse if you have it ( I know from my recent experience) .

I had a flutter ablation for reentrant flutter 26th Feb 2018. I still get the odd run of missed beats, which initially went into a run of fast heart rate. I decided to try to ignore them ( which was easy for me as they only lasted a short time and was infrequent. ) I actually think the fast hr was owing to consciously going into " oh no! AF or flutter is back!" , as since I decided to ignore them I don't think I have noticed the fast hr.

[caznear68 in reply to KMRobbo]

Sorry KMRobbo, haven't been on line due to having aussie visitors! In answer to your question I do have AF but that seems to be behaving as I am very symptomatic of it. There are regular fast beats which give me chest tightness and have seemed to get worse! I have had the 24hr monitor last week which I hope has caught some of what is happening and I see the EP on 11th Sept, cant wait now!! I am not sleeping well as they kick in which ever side I lie or sit. Last night and today have been really bad cant move for them kicking in, surely that isn't right!! I was more comfortable with the flutter! Not sure what re-entrant flutter ablation is? I am trying all sorts of breathing and relaxation stuff to try to cope. The longer it goes on the more worried I become which isn't helpful. Thanks for taking the time to answer all support helps.

carol

[Drummerswidow]

I had my ablation on the 31st May this year. I to say I felt terrible after and had to be readmitted to the local hospital. I’m still on my Flecainide and Bisoprolol. I’m being seen in September with a view to stopping some of the medication. I was told to keep on with the cardiac drugs as I could go back into AF and it could be the worse episode I’ve had!!

Five weeks is early days. Just try and relax on it all.

[caznear68 in reply to Drummerswidow]

sorry this is late Drummerswidow! In what way did the ablation make you feel and why did they re admit you ? Was yours for flutter too? As you will have seen both my Bisoprolol and Flecainide were stopped. I am trying to not to stress but finding that hard when the fast beats are happening!! Thanks for listening.

Carol

[Drummerswidow in reply to caznear68]

On the whole very tired and suffered with migraines and some chest pain. All of this is normal but I expected to be like superwoman! I went back to work too soon but I’m self employed and live alone. I had chest infection/ ? Pneumonia post anaesthetic. Again a possibility post GA. However I am now feeling better. I was in permanent AF prior to ablation. My EP and GP told me that I would stay on my drugs until my appointment in September because I could have runs of AF , AFL.

[caznear68 in reply to Drummerswidow]

You sound like you are getting on and doing better now, long may that continue for you,luckily I am retired now (well from paid work) so I am able to have a day off sometimes. Well done for coping on your own must be hard when you are feeling horrible!! look after yourself.

Carol

[Drummerswidow in reply to caznear68]

Got a 24 hour monitor on this weekend to check for any episodes of AFib. 🙄🙄

[GrannyE]

For what it is worth I agree with jedimasterlincoln that 5 weeks is very early days. Your heart has been grossly insulted and it is not surprising it has taken umbrage. I did not feel the benefit of my ablation until at least 3-4 months afterwards. In fact I was considerably worse! Had mine last Oct and am now miles better than before I had it done but am still dropping in and out of AFib but it is manageable and I can live with this. Give yourself time to recover and don’t stress about it too much.

[Maura5 in reply to GrannyE]

That’s reassuring, I had my ablation 4 weeks ago and I too feel considerably worse than before with frequent bouts of AF and lots of ectopics, I’ve seriously wondered why I had it done!

[caznear68 in reply to GrannyE]

How were you worse GrannyE? also was yours a flutter ablation?

thanks

carol

[GrannyE in reply to caznear68]

I came out of the ablation 1stone heavier due to all the cooling fluid they pumped into me during my 4hour ablation. Had ablation because of flutter, ectopics, wild thumps, heart far too fast etc. My whole body revolted post ablation and I was an emergency and had to go back into the Royal Brompton for a while. Gradually my inflamed heart in its liquid filled sack calmed down, while the liquid gradually emptied out of my lungs and the liquid stopped oozing out of the various puncture wounds in my groin. My heart was still in AFib BUT the wild swings and the huge thumps had stopped. Well you did ask!

As I said I am enormously better now 10 months afterwards and am delighted I had it done. Still get the odd bit of AFib but it settles down again. Heart still too fast for my liking but I gather that is normal for at least a year afterwards. Sitting still writing this it is currently 85 and the slightest bit of exercise it leaps right up. The last 4 or 5 holes of the end of a round of golf it is up to 110-150

Hot weather is difficult for me too still.

[GrannyE in reply to GrannyE]

Only meds Apixaban 5mg x 2 daily

[caznear68 in reply to GrannyE]

Well right I did ask!! You did go through the mill bless you. I am so pleased you are feeling much better now though, onwards and upwards for you now. I hope to get these fast beats sorted soon they are very debilitating and to day numerous bouts per hour. Good luck with everything.

carol

[GrannyE in reply to caznear68]

Good luck to you too. We just have to carpe diem and be grateful for what we have. Stress is the worst. Have you tried deep breathing? I find it very helpful. Try stroking the vagus nerve, and if all else fails lie down with your feet above your head. That helps with the dizziness.

[caznear68 in reply to GrannyE]

lovely thanks will try .

[Bshersey]

I had an ablation Feb. 28. I have had episodes of fast heartbeat on and off since then. They came regularly for the first month. Went away, and then came back with hot weather. Now I get them when I start to exercise and they last anywhere from 5 seconds to 5 minutes. Not real high. They peak at about 95-100 bpm. I asked my cardiologist and she said, basically, you may get those for the rest of your life. They used to really bother me. But I have become much more used to them and now I don't pay much attention to them at all. I assume they will eventually go away.

[Mary-miles in reply to Bshersey]

I am similar to you Are you on any meds for the A Fib

[Bshersey in reply to Mary-miles]

I am still on sotalol: 120 mg 2x daily. EP stopped Eliquis and metoprolol.

[Mary-miles in reply to Bshersey]

Thanks .I wonder why some Drs take you off blood thinners and others say you should stay on them.I am trying to wean off atenolol but am afraid to as the episodes are not too frequent right now and I want to leave well enough alone.

[KMRobbo]

I had an ablation in the right atria for re-entrant flutter. I am not sure how I picked up the description now, I think it was on some notes of me that I saw. it is a circular flutter that feeds itself - - I think it is the same as what is it is also known as circular flutter - see point 5 on the line to Dr John Mandrolas website entry on flutter with diagram.

drjohnm.org/2013/08/atrial-...

if it does not link just copy and paste it into your web browser

if you still have afib I am surprised you are having the meds stopped but I am not a doctor, and maybe the what you have is different to what I had.

[caznear68 in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks will take a look.