I am wondering if anyone else has ever developed Aflutter episodes after having an ablation for Afib? I had my first ablation in Dec 2019, and have now had three episodes of Aflutter. Heart rate up to 150 constant. The first one in January was successfully treated with a cardioversion. The next two converted back to NSR on their own after a few hours. My EP would like me to have another ablation to now address the flutter. I feel as though I traded one bad thing for another and now wonder what will be next! Has anyone else had this experience?
Thank you in advance!
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VioletG
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Yes I did but I think it was in response to taking Flecainide (didn’t take a Beta Blocker) rather than as a result of ablation for AF - often the Flutter precedes AF but mine only appeared after AF ablation - or at least could be identified as such.
The ablation for Flutter is much quicker and easier procedure and as I had a second AF ablation, my EP addressed the AFl - on the way out so to speak - AF being in the RA and AFl being in the LA.
AF & AFl are often bedfellows and ablation is not a one time cure all, many people have more than 1 ablation so best to think of a course of treatments. I suffered more symptoms with AFl than with AF.
Thank you so much for your response. It is so helpful to hear other's experiences. I too found the AFl symptoms worse than AF! I am relieved to hear that the Flutter ablation is quicker and easier. I was told by my EP that the success rate for it is quite high, so I should be grateful for both of those things. I was hoping that I was going to get away with just having one ablation but I know that was silly, wishful thinking. I have a tendency to do that!
Hi there I had a ablation and 3 days I was admitted to hospital for bad a flutter it was a week end and they had to call in a cardiologist to do a cardio version to get my heart back into rhythm I had never suffered from it before and only got once after the ablation good luck
I had my first ablation for AF in May 2019 and they did mention afterwards that they hoped they managed to get everything done but weren't sure, which at the time slightly concerned me. Anyway five months later having come off the Flecainide after 3 months and going cold turkey, I had a full on Flutter episode 168 bpm and within 10 days was having my second ablation, that was in December 19, I am now on 1.25mg of Bisoprolol for 6 months, I have a few ectopics now but only occasionally and as CDreamer mentioned the Flutter ablation is a fair more shorter and straightforward procedure . Good luck
That must have been discouraging. I am now constantly worried about having another episode, so I hope the second ablation will take care of it. Good to hear that the flutter ablation simpler! Thank you for sharing your story.
Hi, It was discouraging at the time but I guess they were almost saying we think you have flutter as well and only time will tell, maybe it was evident during the procedure. For me my major battle was anxiety but when I met the consultant he was so calming and understanding it really put me at ease. A couple of years prior another consultant suggested an ablation without any conviction or explanation so I said no and stuck with the meds until I had my 3rd cardoversion and they really said I should.
That shows what a difference an understanding consultant can make. We are all fearful and anxious, it is our heart after all! Glad to hear went well for you.
How can you tell the difference between AF and Aflutter? Does your ECG tell you if you have one or the other ? My cardiologist says it’s AF. But I’m concerned I have both. Do they feel any different?
I do think they feel different. For me the AFlutter is worse because it is more intense somehow. Although it is a very steady regular heartbeat, it is faster and stronger. I have been told that it doesn’t convert on it’s own as readily, and usually needs a cardioversion, but two of mine did convert thank goodness. The ECG from my Kardia device shows it as a very fast but regular sawtooth pattern. It always registered on the Kardia as Unclassified. At first glance, my Afib ECGs looked similar but the beats were not as evenly spaced, and they registered as Afib. Hope that helps.
For me A-Flutter much worse and more noticeable than A-Fib. I had A-Flutter for several years (intermittent, not continuous). And now it seems to have recently become A-Fib. AFlutter always a LOT of irregular arrhythmic banging in my chest, like a big fish flopping around on dry land. AFib I couldnt' feel it at all. I only checked my pulse because I was so dramatically short of breath.
They are very different - AFl is from the right atria whilst AF is from left - which is why it is more difficult to ablate.
I was told this explanation which stuck with me -
AFl is a fast regular, irregularity which I also found far more symptomatic and intense. It shows on an ECG a pattern which resembles a saw and is called a ‘saw tooth pattern’.
AF is a irregular, irregularity which shows on an ECG as fast, fast, fast, pause, slow, fast, fast, fast, fast and if you can feel AF then the best way to know is to tap out your beat on a table top. Irregular = AF. On an ECG there will be a absence of a P wave - that’s the tiny wave you would see if you were in NSR which happens just before the big spike.
If you use a mobile ECG monitor such as a Kardia - the different patterns are quite easy to distinguish between.
I had a A.F Ablation that went wrong , so never had the ablation, but I changed to another P.C and he said you may have A.F but I think its Flutter and the ablation is 90% successful and much easier to preform with much less risk.
So to cut to the chase yes I had it done and have never looked back, so far I have not had an A.F episode but carry a pill in the pocket if needed, I only take Apixaban no other drugs.
I had the same experience as CD,was given flecanide ( In hospital) and taken off beta blocker at same time. A week later went into Flutter. I haven't had an ablation but I understand that AF can mask flutter sometimes and when the AF symptoms are settled,the flutter shows up...I might be wrong though! I was told that 90-95% success rate for flutter ablation as it's easier to identify . Best wishes xc
Thank you for your response. Glad to know that the general consensus is the flutter ablation is very successful. May I ask how your flutter was treated? Did it convert on its own?
It is treated with an extra dose of betablockers. I don't get it often. I was offered an a double ablation for AF and Flutter but have put on hold for now as meds are working well mostly . Good luck!
I was diagnosed with Afib, and again like you, when taken into hospital with Afib and tachycardia, was diagnosed with Aflutter. My EP worked very swiftly on taking me off flecainide as he said it could cause other arrhythmia. Personally I found it brilliant for the 6 months I was on it and I didn't want to come off and have an ablation, but bowed to those who know better...??????? The flutter was diagnosed after the ablation. I do hope you feel better and are you by any chance on Flecainide? So many people have been taking it for years and are fine so whether it was just my EP's opinion I don't know. All the best
That is very interesting! When I asked my EP about using Flecainide as a pill in a pocket for my flutter episodes he said it is not a good idea, because Flecainide can actually make it worse. So there must be something about it that isn’t so great for flutter, but is okay for Afib. Thanks for sharing. Best to you.
Last time I had a bad attack was at the beginning of lockdown and because it was just the uneven Afib/flutter and not the usual Afib/flutter/tachycardia my GP thought it unwise to go to hospital as our hospitals hadn't then got the red and green areas properly tested and tried. . It lasted 3 weeks and I was longing for my old flecainide, but not the case obviously. Anyway it reverted to normal with just the now usual ectopics on and off, and no tablets or cardioversion and I'm still alive thank goodness. It is said that it is not a killer !!!! Admittedly I was worried, but as everyone says on this forum while we all still have each other to air our worries, it helps. Best wishes
Thank you for sharing your story. I do think I become overly anxious during episodes. As you say it is not a killer, and there are such wonderful people on this forum to help bring one back into reality. Best wishes.
I had my ablation 4 years ago.2 years ago I had atrial flutter after cold drink converted with cardioversion. I had on and off episodes while zi was sleeping. walking.in March after a ice cream I got again a
Flutter and cardioversion again.Bc of corona I dont know when zi will do the ablation.Im taking Cardizem 2x30 mg and I feel much better.I can do exercise now bc my heart rate its low.
Glad to hear you are better and can exercise. I think moderate exercise helps no matter what. Maybe you will not need an ablation if things stay steady. Best of luck.
Afib ablation 2/2018 and developed atypical flutter 14 months later. Atypical flutter ablation 10/2019 and I am ok so far at 7 months. It is my understanding typical flutter is very easy to treat with an ablation. My atypical flutter was a challenge for the EP. Flecainide made me feel worse. Propafenone worked for me.
Thank you for that information. I will be asking my EP about typical and atypical flutter. I did not know there was more than one kind! Also about Propafenone. I learn so much from this forum. Thank you for sharing. Hope you have continued success!
How frustrating! It sounds like the heart’s electrical system is quite fickle, and that one thing begets another, and so on. If I may ask, what do they have planned for you now? Another ablation?
I did, had my op April 19, I was fine until July that year , then went into flutter at a constant 140bpm, unknown to me I then went on holiday thinking I just had a chest infection and felt poorly . Had a cardioversion while in Lanzarote and reverted back after becoming quite ill with constant flutter .
Luckily I've been fine since and off all meds as of this year, and not had any further problems at all . My EP said its something they now find very common occurring after an ablation, it normally subsides, but on occasion can need medical attention or further "touch ups" to eradicate a much quicker procedure he said.
My healing seemed to take along while, 9/10 months before I felt the most benefit from the op, and now I'm afib free, exercise regular, and life's back to normal thankfully. It's a long road not a short fix is what I've found. Hopefully yours settles down the same, I doubted at first my ablation had worked, but since January had the best 10 months ever since I first got diagnosed, fingers crossed yours does the same.
Thank you for your reply! I find all information is so useful. It helps to put one’s own situation In perspective.
My flutter would not settle down and I had a second ablation one month ago. Unfortunately, it turns out my flutter was atypical, which apparently means it originates in the left atrium and not the right, and the doctors were unable to reach the particular area to address it. They said it was originating from the Vein of Marshall. So I was cardioverted back into NSR and put on the anti-arrhythmia drug Tikosyn (dofedilide). I can’t take other drugs because they would slow down my already slow heart. I was sooo disappointed the ablation was unsuccessful. But I am tolerating the drug fine and feel well. Starting back with light exercise. Thank you Ian for sharing your story.
I started off with aflutter. Then i had both. At the moment i dont know what ive got but i know its not afib because its an even beat. I have a portable ecg which shows an even rhythm with no P waves which i understand is referred to as a heart block
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Aflutter
Self identifying type of arrhythmias
