Guys
I had an ablation 2 years ago and its been great for that time.
Just recently, over the past 6 weeks or so ive had more palpitation, headeaches, tighness around the chest area, lightheadedness all the classic signs of AF.
My heartrate seems to have alway been steady and regular.
Being busyvduring the day i have not noticed the it much but on the night time i do not sleep fully through the night.
I just wondered has anyone experienced this?
Unless you have access to a cardiologist or an Arrhythmia Nurse, I suggest you see your GP and ask for an ECG to be carried out. If you know how, check your pulse, but until you have the basics checked, you will only worry and that is likely to make things worse.....
Hi 3papagee
Yes I have noticed that I am hardly ever aware of my irregular heart beat when I am on the go or even on the treadmill at the gym.
But sitting down or lying on my left side in bed, I am very aware of any change from my usual persistent slow atrial fibrillation, like runs of atrial flutter or atrial couplets/triplets.
I have been in NSR for two years post ablation (actually took me 2 1/2 months after ablation to finally achieve NSR). In the last few weeks I had one very brief episode of rapid heartbeat which was shut down within what seemed just a couple of seconds and one little 'run' of extra beats. That said, I have had a lot more ectopics over the past 10 months which, of course, has caused me to think that the AF is finding a way through the ablated pulmonary veins. Nothing much I can do if that is the case, just try not to think that way and see what happens. My EP said the ablation could last 15 or 20 years but we all know that AF can find a way back in at any time. So, let's use the some analogies to get perspective - I could get hit by a bus or I could win the lottery or gethit by lightening - all of which could happen but aren't likely. Take care.
Since you are noticing it at night and not sleeping well, suggest you ask your MD about a sleep apnea test. I had 2 ablations earlier this year, and then was sent for sleep test which showed moderate/severe sleep apnea, now treated with CPAP. The EP and Cardiologist told me that the chance of ablations being successful long term, if had significant sleep apnea at night, was less than 50%, perhaps as low as 10%. Sleep apnea has become a very high focus item with US EP's and Cardiologists over the last few years. Some people have obvious symptons like snoring, etc....but I had none of those, and still had significant sleep apnea issues. Was having average of 30 events per hour not breathing for 30 seconds, one incident not breathing for 51 seconds. With CPAP treatment the 30 events per hour has been reduced to around 5, and sleep much better.
76 years old with A F
apixaban and hematuria 
shortness of breath
3% Afib burden and proposed medication
