Three and a half years AF free....and then.....

[frenchgoose]

I have been on this forum since day one along with Bob D, and dip in and out as and when. It really is the best forum for us folk!

And then three and half years have gone by after my third ablation...and I woke up last Tuesday morning with tachy 145bpm, and had a few little runs several weeks earlier which I tried not think were the slippery slope once again. But it was, and was taken to A&E at LGI. After 8 hours in A&E I got a bed on cardiology, still running at 145bpm, now with A Flutter, unable to walk, and anxiety through the roof. Drugs didn't bring the rate down so I did get a cardioversion 24 hrs later. Im home now, very tired and on 240mg Diltiazem and Rivoraxaban. A fourth ablation is needed due to the fact that my heart heals too well after the previous 3 ablations.

So very disappointed and getting over the shock of the last week....but....I observed lots of very poorly people in hospital, and even if I have to put my life on hold for a bit longer, I'll hopefully get some years AF/A Flutter free after a 4th ablation. When in AF and A Flutter I am on the floor and not able to function.

So just having a big moan here and feeling just a bit sorry for myself!! Some friends and family dont get it, but I know you all do!!!!!!

[Dawsonmackay]

OMG! I get it. And I think about NSR vs Afib every damn day. I even thought about the dreaded, getting Afib again after a successful third ablation. And while your mood is downright depressing, thank science for moving ahead every damn day. The good news is that there are more options for ablation today than three and a half years ago. The medical community worldwide is NOT sitting on their butts doing nothing. On PBS about a month ago, a female English EP, was showing new and revolutionary science that guides the catheters directly to the hot spots using magnetic resonance. Then even last week, someone posted here about a new technique called pulsed ablation, not using cryo nor radio therapy to producing scarring in the heart. Even a newer technique of using laser guided chemotherapy to silence hot spots OUTSIDE the body and the procedure is minimally invasive (only certain kinds of ablations can be performed with this procedure). Nonetheless, you and me and all of us who may need another ablation, are connected to a group of specialists who also desire the same thing - to help us. That's a Yay in my heart to the betterment of humanity. This is the words that I tell myself all the time. Take care of yourself and remember that true friends are nurturers, like the ones on this board.

[frenchgoose in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Great words of comfort thank you! Xx

[Rubymurray25 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Sorry to hear of your events but a very uplifting message about new procedures, many thanks.

[cpalmermn in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Great info! As I was told by a colleague, if any thing were to go wrong with you, you want it to be the heart - it’s where they have to most knowledge and technology to fix things. And like you say above, constantly improving!

[Dawsonmackay in reply to cpalmermn]

Great answer!

[Jalia]

Hi frenchgoose. ...sorry to hear all this. I've also been on this forum ( and one before) since day 1, previously as Yatsura, and remember you well, particularly the W&H feature !

Just when you think all is ok AF rears its ugly head again

. I had not dissimilar in mid Dec when I woke up with tachycardia which persisted interspersed with fast AF for over 7 weeks before dccv number 20. I am now listed for 4th ablation. All this after being AF free for 18 months. However it is 7 years since my last ablation.

Good luck!

[frenchgoose in reply to Jalia]

Oh yes I remember Yatsura!!!! And how I remember doing the Woman and Home magazine article and thinking that was that!!! Let’s hope our next ablations give us back that quality of life! Feel for you too!!!

I think the shock of it all out of the blue was the cause of severe anxiety and I have to deal with that now, and living alone doesn’t help. I had travelled alone lots and just now I cant even contemplate that.

Keep me posted!!! Xx

[jeanjeannie50]

I remember you well.

Welcome back to the fold stranger. Though I guess you'd rather not have to come back at all.

Hope you manage to get yourself sorted once and for all.

Jean

[frenchgoose in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes I follow your journey too!!! And this forum is the place to be for comfort!!

Ax x

[BobD Volunteer]

So sorry to read that Goosey . I do understand really but as you say there are worse things to have. Chin up.

[frenchgoose in reply to BobD]

I know, we’ve been through lots over the years haven’t we!!!!

[zorro15 in reply to BobD]

Hi bob we have texted before and u were great. A couple of questions. I had my 1st ablation feb 4th. From the 8th to the 20th i went into afib 8 times. Always around midnight and 6 times 10min or less but twice over an hour. I was so depressed but the forum pulled me through Now since the 20th I’ve been afib free and it is so nice so nice to be normal. Question: is getting afib following procedure so soon a bad sign for success and will jogging one month removed from procedure cause issues. I’ve been a long distance runner for years and do believe in part that it was a player in me getting afib. Thank u

[BobD Volunteer in reply to zorro15]

Personally I would hasten slowly where exercise is concerned. Anything you do should be with the proviso that you can exercise and talk normally at the same time. AF events are quite common for some time as wwe explain in our recovering for ablation fact sheet It will take three to six minths at least for full recovery so take it easy. heartrhymalliance.org/resou...

[Bloodredroses]

We do Frenchgoose , with you in good spirit 🍷🙏🏻 ✝️

[Bagrat]

Sorry you've hit this issue after a breathing space. I too remember you. The anxiety generated is the pits! Glad you got cardioversion and can now regroup.

[Barb1]

Know how you are feeling. Went back into A F about 3 weeks ago after my 4th ablation 5 years ago. Awaiting EP apt.

[jerseygirl49]

Chin up - things will get better for you I'm sure and I have to agree this forum is great - I'm so glad I found it (not for me but for my husband John). It helps me in my anxious moments and reminds me that there are always people a lot worse off than him.

[Turquoise19]

Oh boy, feeling for you. I am still in NSR, but struggling with high BP to keep my risk of relapse down.

Just one ablation for me so far. Can I ask tho, what u mean by heart healed too well after your ablations ?

I have a slightly higher end diastolic volume that I think is triggering high BP again for me. So back on more drugs, desperately wanting my heart to heal !!

Wishing you a good recovery soon and as I'm sure u know Flutter is still a bit more cured than AF so I am told.

[frenchgoose in reply to Turquoise19]

My EP describes an ablation as burning (isolating) by heat or cold, the electrical malfunctions misfiring and causing the issues of AF and A flutter. So scarring forms during this process halting the rogue electrics!! But due to these lesions healing very well in my case, the cells reconnect and fire off again! !!! There can be lots of other causes too like inflammation, higher blood pressure, and just Sod’s law!

[Turquoise19]

Thx french G wondered if that's how I meant. Useful to hear, as to why so many people get returns of the whole thing after thinking you're home N dry. I'm still working to get my BP right so I don't get /less likely to get a repeat. But know it's even odds in the stats ❣️

[frenchgoose in reply to Turquoise19]

I know, but many people do really well on one, two or three ablations and you dont get them coming back hereon the forum. There is no size fits all with this, but hoping newer ablation techniques will improve our chances. BUT blood pressure control is one of those contributory factors!! Keep positive!!

[Turquoise19]

Yes thank you, bit more level headed today. Same to you, we all have to hang in there!