Interpreting Symptoms post ablation

[Di8504]

Hi everyone, what a difference a year makes.

I joined this group 14 months ago, 6 days post my first ablation when I was seeking guidance to work through my recovery. Thanks to the fantastic support of this group, I am much more aware of what to expect this time. Evidently the biggest hassle this time was managing to get the catheter through my interatrial septum as it was so tough. (Ie I have a hard heart at one stage they considered stopping but brought in a tougher larger bore catheter etc. I assume this explains my pain in the left shoulder blade, finger tingling and expected migraines?

Couch surfing, I read that fibrosis of the atrial wall is a cause of AF and also further AF progression. But does anyone know if it then causes further problems with eg.the aortic valve etc. They assure me that my AF is now “fixed” but “if we need to repeat in 10 years they will find another way in”.

I obviously have too much time on my hands but I would be interested in if others have also been told they have a tough septum. Also, I have had intermittent pain over my left scapula over the past year. Could this hypothetically be linked to inflammation of this wall?

[irene75359]

Sorry, I have no experience of this but other forum members do and will probably answer you soon. Couch-surfing is a bad idea, take it from one who knows!

[jedimasterlincoln]

I had a tough Septum!! Though it was only really problematic on my 5th ablation. The first one was fine, as was the 2nd. The 3rd and 4th didn't require any septum penetration as they were for flutter in the right-hand side. But the 5th was very painful and very challenging to get through due to scarring and so on. Even though it had been 5 years since it was last "penetrated"

I don't recall anything being mentioned about the impact of it on my walls or "finding another way in" it was just left that there was a minor area in the right atrium causing AF that they couldn't isolate and wouldn't ablate unless they knew where it was specifically. It hasn't caused any major problems in the last 18 months so they've left it alone.

[Di8504 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks for the feedback. Hopefully my heart will have been frightened into behaving for a while.