Sad about second ablation!

[SportsHaggis]

I’m 40, relatively fit, none smoker, none drinker, no high blood pressure, no caffeine. Yet still have periods of AF around every 4 days. Anyone else similar to me? I’m awaiting a second ablation and feeling very low about it all!

[Hidden]

Was your first a cryoablation? If so, it's not unusual to have a second RF (Radio Frequency) ablation because if the tissue in the pulmonary veins is irregular, the expanding balloon used to freeze the tissue can miss bits causing electrical impulses to break through. I know because it happened to me. Even if it was not a cryoablation, it can be necessary to have two or three to be fully effective. Try not to be too dejected....

[SportsHaggis in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that, I’m feeling very sorry for myself at the minute, I’m really missing sport which was my main hobby.

[Marytew in reply to SportsHaggis]

Really sorry that you are feeling low and I understand how it can get to you. Regarding missing sport – that is very hard but have you read of the stories of the two gentlemen who have AF but managed to get back to fitness to the point that they each ran the London Marathon in support of the AFA, as it might give you some hope for the future. The gentlemen are Mark Hyem (who ran in 2018) and Ian Thom (who ran this year). Their stories can be found on this site under ‘Get Involved’. I realise running may not be for you (and it isn’t for me) but I found reading about what they did kept me going when I felt low.

[Hambo444]

When you say periods..how long? I had an ablation and still get periods of af for 3-5 seconds every now and again. I am guessing I will probably be offered 2nd ablation.

[SportsHaggis in reply to Hambo444]

Hi, I had ablation in January and the episodes continued, I have them every 4 to seven days, they last between half an hour and 4 hours. I normally take flacanide when they come on.

[Kevwray]

Hi - 6 weeks after 2nd ablation and like u was fed up. The 2nd process found one pulmonary vein had a slight failure on the previous cryogenic burn so was good to get done. My recovery this time has been much easier so as a fit 48yr old who doesn’t smoke or drink was in the same boat as you. Just get it done & good luck!

[SportsHaggis in reply to Kevwray]

Thanks for that.

[estrennen]

I had my first ablation 3 weeks ago. I also had paroxysmal Afib twice/week and would last for 24-36 hours. Like you non smoker, non drinker, no caffeine and my passion is running. Since the ablation I haven't had Afib but have had pretty frequent bouts of PVCs. They said they will eventually go away, but right now it's a bit disappointing. I'm trying to be patient but not easy. Keep believing that you'll get this under control and managed. That's my plan. Good luck!

[SportsHaggis]

Hi interesting view, I did think that sweets maybe a trigger, I don’t as a rule have much sugar, ie tend to drink tea and coffee (both decaf) without sugar, I do have honey, and am partial to a piece of cake. I do agree about dehydration and I do drink a lot of water. I will have a sugar free week and see what happens.

[Hidden in reply to SportsHaggis]

It might take 3 or 4 days the first time you go without sugar - it takes longer to clear your system of sugar if you have a lot in it. Remember - there is sugar in carrots, peas, apples, lots in potatoes, almost everything (not avocados though). You should be able to eat 30 grams or so a day, as long as your threshold is up over 50. You might have to eat sea foods, meat, and veggies with low sugar. I use the following URL to find out how much sugar is in things: fatsecret.com/calories-nutr....

Good luck. If it works for you let me know.

- Rick Hyer.

[HiloHairy]

Somewhat similar; I'm older than you are but very fit and have 12 hour A-fib events every six weeks or so. I've gotten an okay for an ablation but I am very apprehensive about the healing time. I work out and/or swim everyday and can't imagine laying on the couch for months watching the rest of my body deteriorate. I know that many here have high blood pressure, obesity or some other serious health problem. I don't know if my recuperation time would be like their's or not.

After your ablation how long did it take for you to get back to your normal routine?

[SportsHaggis in reply to HiloHairy]

Sadly that’s the problem my first ablation didn’t work completely and talking to the consultant it can take a few times to work, it maybe that I healed too well. With regards to sport I haven’t been able to get back into my old routine, I haven’t rowed or run since June 2018, I was walking and doing body weight exercise around May June 2019 and mountain biking till mid July upto an hour, but the AF has worsened to the point that I now struggle to walk more than a couple of miles. I’m hoping this second ablation can get me back on track.

[SportsHaggis in reply to SportsHaggis]

The one thing the first ablation did do was lower my maximum heart rate when in AF, pre January 2019 it would be around 180 to 218, now when in AF it’s between 90 and 140bpm. My resting heart rate was 37bpm. Now it’s around 50 bpm but Im considerably unfit now.

[pusillanimous in reply to SportsHaggis]

It's interesting how different people react. I come from a family of A Fibbers - none with serious symptoms and controlled with beta blockers and anticoagulants. My son who is a competitive canoeist developed symptoms about 12 years ago when in his mid thirties. He had one ablation, was permitted by his cardiologist (also a canoeist) to resume normal activities, and has never had an episode since - he has regular check ups and takes no medication. My cardiologist also told me that apart from we oldies, his biggest group of patients are extreme sportspeople. I live in South Africa.

[MissDheartbeat]

Ditto! I've just received information that my first ablation in July didn't work and my heart rate is still high, so heart medication changed and booked in for cardioversion within a month and a 2nd ablation after Christmas... I'm 42 and have had AF for 6yrs, but it's been permanent AF for 2yrs now...

[cuore in reply to MissDheartbeat]

I believe you mean persistent and it depends how long you were in persistent for all rogue areas to be ablated. On this forum, some that were one or two months persistent have remained arrhythmia free since their first and only ablation. AF begets AF, so those beyond the above period will have a spreading of the AF. In this scenario, not all of the area can be ablated due to the heart swelling and other reasons during the procedure. Also, the ablated tissues can reconnect.

It is usual if you are in persistent to have more than one ablation. It is not a matter that the first didn't work; it is a matter that the ablation couldn't be totally completed. In my case, six months persistent, my right superior pulmonary vein kept reconnecting so that I had to have three ablations. Furthermore, had I gone beyond six months persistent, I would never have been able to return to sinus rhythm.

I am not quite clear if you were in persistent AF for one year (you mention 2) in which case you would be termed long -standing persistent. If so, you are guaranteed to have more than one ablation. Do hope they get all the areas in your second ablation.