Hi, Had my first ablation last tue and already i am getting slightly anxious about AF returning. Has anybody had just the one ablation and not had af for more than a year pls? I feel there is a mental side to recovery that i had not envisaged and it can be slightly emotional at times. Positive posts please 🤞
Thought i would put a pic up to show who i am. Hope it hasn't scared you too much 😁
I agree that the psycological side of AF is not well catered for by the medical profession. WE have worked hard at trying to change this with some success but still a long way to go. ~Reading our fact sheet on recovery may help explain many of th things you will b experiencing. heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
Thanks Bob, The expectancy on waiting for AF to return weighs heavy on the mind. I know how devastated i will be IF it returns. I need to try and keep positive. In these days of covid it is nigh on impossible to chat to any Gps about my concerns.
Bob, when I click the link for your fact sheet it tells me they can't find the page?
sorry finger trouble Too many ss's in resources. heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
God, you are an ugly s*d, should think that AF would be the least of your worries 😉. To be more serious, most of us get anxious about AF returning soon after an ablation, but as you will see from BobD’s factsheet, this can often happen. Try not to get anxious about it because anxiety now, is not helpful. Should it happen, it will only be part of the recovery process. If that’s your narrow boat, can I borrow it for the first 2 weeks in July 😉
I wish it was, very nice boat, this was taken on the river Aire between Leeds & Bradford. And hey I thought i looked ok for 75 😉. Yes it is early days yet, i am sure my mind will get some sense of perspective on it. It will work or it wont is the top & bottom of it. Dont want to rush back to work too early but i feel been at home all day may take its toll too. Thanks for reply flap 👍
As somebody fromm your neck of the woods bet that nice barge is sitting on Leeds Liverpool Canal if it's near Saltaire. Rminds me must get to visit Salts Mill again sometime when we arer all able to ;-).
I had my ablation around 18 minths ago now and yes it takes time, you are given the impression it will be a few weeks and then all sorted. It's not, it's a much slower journey and many have ups & downs along the way. Good diet & lifestyle are important, as is relaxation and being stress free, do you best and good luck.
It is a lovely walk from Rodley to Shipley, i used to cycle it often but then the AF kicked in and was scared basically to do it again. Have you found since your ablation that you can exercise more Chris? What kind of diet do you take on? I live alone and it is a poor excuse i know but i need to improve my diet. Stress free is the tough one 😁.Thanks for your kind words and advice Chris 👍
Hi Stoneyrosed, I'm really not an expert of AF and the thing I would say is that everybody's experiences are different, you are unique and will have your own unique recovery programme.
My mum lived in Rodley and I was brought up in Horsforth so know your neck of the woods well.
I live in the Lakes now and in truth have always been an exercise addict through running, cycling etc and who knows, it's likely this has contributed to my AF which happened aged 54yrs old. So I'm actually ecxercising less now than I used to, but still probably way more than the average person (just at a lot lower intensity.....nice and steady does it now). The general advice is slight exercise when you are ready, and then that regular easy/moderate exercise helps maintain a healthy body.
I know that a few basics of staying well hydrated (with water), having a good, balanced diet, watching your sugar intake and also alcohol intake (I stayed off the booze for a while and never drink to excess, it plays havoc with the heart, I have maybe 1-2 glasses wine occasionally now and that's it) can all help,
And......if you can find a way to get some proper relaxation (don't take the micky out of meditation or breathing exercises, it works for many people and only needs 10-15mins a day).
Look after yourself, fingers crossed for a successful recovery, and maybe if you live by yourself try and join a group class (when we are allowed to) in exercise, pilates, yoga or similar to have social contact as well as a shared experience.
Great advice thank you. I do try to meditate as often as i can, never tried the yoga. I live near the Barge pub i am sure you will know it well. Great your doing ok long may it continue and thanks once again for your input Chris 👍
Good to hear that ! I had my ablation end of August last year & took a lot more out of me than I was led to expect ! Unfortunately I had issues with large hematoma in calf , then left knee collapse, so ended up with enforced rest for a few weeks ! I was so happy when a steroid injection late October helped me get back to exercise again . Pacing yourself is so important and trying to reduce stress as much as possible . Good diet is so important & build up exercise tolerance gently . Good luck with all .
A couple of points in post ablation recovery for me were that
1. Just because you can’t see it, it’s easy to forget that the inside lining of your heart has been burnt, frozen or both. Like a burn, it may need a period of several months to heal, and it really is important to rest up as much and as far as is possible during this period. All sorts of hiccups in this period can and usually do occur and as long as you are feeling ok, you shouldn’t regard that as unusual.
2. I was anxious post ablation which was very counterproductive. There are many relaxation techniques you may want to explore.
Has your EP advised magnesium supplements? Many here including me find them effective in calming the heart. Like me, you may find they make you look ten years younger, and yes, less scary...
Make sure you have your arrhythmia nurse’s email and telephone number. Your EP’s secretary will help too, but don’t expect the EP herself to get back to you immediately.
Edit: used to live just up the road from the 5 rise locks. Do CAMRA still do the annual real ale festival there?
God’s own country - sigh ....
Great advice thanks Badger, yes the real ale festival still rolls into town, the last one was actually in the pudsey civic hall but precovid, real ale “ sigh” indeed ! No alcohol for over a year now ☹️
Hi Stoney.
I think it's pretty normal to worry after any procedure for afib that it may return. You wouldn't be normal if you didn't.
I've had CV's but not an ablation. However after an ablation (my understanding) you are likely to get a few episodes for maybe 2 or 3 months. It takes time for your heart to heal and adjust. Maybe accept this and try not panic when / if they do. You may find they soon pass 
You wrote
"i am getting slightly anxious about AF returning"
As above - expect it for a while. Last Tuesday for your ablation is no time at all. Easy to say but try not to panic to much - in fact expect afib to return a few times. It's highly likely it will but doesn't mean your ablation hasn't worked. Rest up for a few weeks more.
My personal take is this. After a CV if your back in afib a few days later that's common unless you have med's to help keep you sinus. After an ablation expect it to happen a few times - I think this is not unusual.
You'll be ok I feel and are well on the road to recovery. Well done you for having it - worse part over.
Now then (off topic I know). Your photo hasn't scared me - your head phones might but don't worry to much heh
Enjoy your weekend and put your feet up and relax. You'll be fine I think.
Best,
Paul
Thanks for taking the time out to reply Paul. The guys who have had 3+ ablations are the brave ones. Sorry bout the headphones 🤣
No worries Stoney - I hope you didn't wear them during the ablation though heheh.
Take care.
Paul
I understand how you feel,it’s been 12 days since I had my ablation and also been taking it easy hoping it does not rear it’s ugly head ? I have decided to go back to work next week to get some normality back.
Yes i am taking 2 weeks off and going back, will be taking it easy but the laying around and overthinking is not doing my mental health much good. Hope you continue to be fine Maisie
You too
I just had my 4th ablation OCT 23rd.
My first was for atrial flutter (12 years ago). A year later AFIB hit, so I had another left atrium ablation. It 'failed' while walking at lunch about 8 months later. So, I headed back down to San Francisco for my 2nd AFIB ablation, which gave me 10 years of normalcy.
EP's know it can often take 2 ablations to get the high success rate. But each case is different and some patients do get good results from just one. However, Iooking back, I never considered the first one an out-and-out failure. It laid the groundwork for the less intensive next one that gave me good 10 years.
I know all about the anxiety. 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder .... and, believe me, I had a severe case. Mind racing ..... couldn't sleep ..... worrying about everything ..... panic attacks ..... hyper adrenaline feeling surging through nervous system ..... full-body muscle twitches .... and more.
I learned to control and reduce it without medications (which they wanted me on for life). If I would have let the anxiety have free reign over me .... I wouldn't have been able to get my ablation 'cures'.
Relax ... and let healing progress. Good Luck! with your recovery . . .
Hi stoneground, I'm 4 1/2months post Ablation, with no AF, but I do have a faster than usual heart rate, which apparently may still some months to settle, I started excersising after 2months, but now find myself fatigued, may be pushing myself a little too much. Good luck 👍
Hi Trak, How much has your heart rate gone up by? Mine has gone up by at least 30 bpm, and my resting heart rate which was 55 ish for the last three years is now pretty much the same as my non resting, 85 ish. I was really fit, but I'm 3 weeks post ablation 2 and have tried to walk every day, so I don't understand it at all! @Stoneyrosed, I had my first ablation and was completely free for over four years. My EP told me I was cured and I think that really helped me to not worry. Hopefully you will be sorted but definitely try not to worry and enjoy life, especially in that lovely sunshine. if you are a Leeds fan by any chance you don't have any relegation stress, I am a Villa fan and thank goodness I can relax this season. They must have known all about my heart adventures!
I hope your 2 nd ablation sorts you soon. My resting heartrate as gone from 42 bpm to a normal 60 bpm hope it lasts.Re the football, yes big Leeds fan, i remember a couple of seasons ago watching the Brentford match when we imploded and my af was going crazy, brentford scored a second and i had to go lie down and miss the rest of the game. Those were dark days for me personally and for Leeds Utd. We eventually got a happy ending though. 👍👍 😁
Well I think you are very brave and I am sure it is perfectly natural to worry. I’m on the waiting list for Leeds. I live in Otley so pretty local to you and wondered if you had the procedure at Leeds?
Jane
Hi Janey, thank you for your kind comments. I was put on the waiting list at Leeds general last August, I received a letter in around about December asking if i wanted to still have the procedure despite the pandemic. I e mailed back yes. And last Tuesday had it done at the Lgi. So around 6-7 mth wait. The staff are lovely and treat really well. I hope in a strange kind of a way you are looking forward to it, i think that is the best way to approach it. All the best Janey and if you want any help or info on procedure just ask, i dont know anything but i can give you my experience 😁 Take care !
Thank you. I elected to postpone during the pandemic. My symptoms are not bad when it does come on but length and frequency of attacks are gathering momentum. Thank you that’s reassuring about Leeds. I hope your recovery continues well
Jane
Ok, I am sure you will be offered it again in the near future, it all looked like system go again at the hospital, they were quite a few there getting the procedure. Hope whatever you decide is for the best. Take care
Had my ablation just 2 years coming up next month. It took at least a year for it to settle and heal I'd say. And the anxiety and worry of it returning does subside, but I think once you've become super sensitive to listening to your heart as us affibers do, then it's something you have to learn to cope with and work on to live without constant worry.Deep breathing techniques help and life does return to normal for most, just take your time and be accepting of some anxiety as part of getting better. Oh! And welcome to the afib free club, a good place to hold a new membership card .
Ian.
Fantastic Ian, glad your still free of afib. I like that membership card and i will be hoping to be carrying it around some day soon 👍
Hi stoneyrosedYou ask if anyone has had an ablation and is AF free after more than a year?
Me! I had my first (and so far only) ablation in January 2017, four years ago after few but very symptomatic episodes of AF. I had a couple of much less severe episodes in the first couple of years after ablation but nothing since.
Like you I was looking out for its return in the early days but now I’m usually too busy getting on with life to think about it. Arthritis is bothering me much more now!
Having said that I would have another ablation in a heart beat (pun intended) if necessary.
Please try not to worry about it too much. Enjoy your new found freedom from AF for as long as it lasts.
Thank you so much that is great to hear Val. Much ❤️
I found this too, no one gets it, while you have had heart surgery there s no big scar to prove it and it took about a month for my heart to “settle down” - and no one told me to expect that it would do this, and there would be odd beats, I was in a panic and thought I might have an instant cure and was shocked when it was not the case immediately. My whole universe was altered. My normal for my whole life was now swept away for a new phase. The best way I could describe it was this. Imagine your whole life you have had brown eyes and suddenly you wake up one day and they are blue but no one except you seems to be aware of this shift in your reality. It’s a trip and I was scared and timid to test my new reality and I am still finding out what it is 2 years on...
Two years thats great. I wasnt sure how i would feel when i was discharged, i did not think about this moment at all in the lead up to the ablation. I find myself feeling sad worries and anxious and i dont know why. I want to be happy that the ablation is over and maybe i have rid myself of afib but all the years of paroxysmal afib have taken there toll and i keep expecting it to return. I need to try and change my mindset again to a more positive one but i am finding it really difficult 😥. Thanks so much for your reply all the best.
Positive post.... I had an ablation on 1st Sept 2016. No sign of AF since. Nothing but normal rythmn. I take no medication either.I’m aware that AF might return but it’s not a thought that affects my life.
You could well be the same. 👍
Brilliant Clive, i hope there are many more like you, and i and others can join that club, thanks for your post 👍👍
1.5 yrs since my ablation. Took about 6 months for the frequent ectopics etc to ease. Probably 8 months before I felt more normal and even now still very conscious of any little skips. However, absolutely worth it! No AF since.In terms of the mental side, I think that many of us will always worry it may come back. However, as people have noted, if another ablation is needed in the future I would go for it without a second thought. Having my life back has been worth it.
Lovely positive post thank you, the thought of another ablation is a little daunting but like you i wouldnt hestitate to have another at least it gives you something to cling on to just in case it ever does come back. Thank you 👍
My wife had one ablation in 2004 and no more incidents since.
Thanks Prof, that is great to hear i much appreciate you taking time out to post good news, thank you 👍
Can I just say how inspiring these comments are. Ablation is on the cards for me in the near future and it’s made me feel far more positive about it. It sounds as though there’s nothing to lose for either the improvement or more successful outcome it can bring.
Hi fibber, Hope all goes well for you. Gather as much info as you can from good resources like bobd”s info sheets on the procedure & recovery and you will be just fine. 😊
Thank you for replying. I’ve to see my cardio soon and it was an option. If meds keep failing then I’ll go ahead. I think I’ll be put on the list anyway as episodes getting too frequent for comfort now.
I think it is a good plan to be on the list fibber, all the best 😊
The way I see it is the date of the ablation is when the treatment starts. Your EP kickstarts it with the burning/freezing and then hands over to your body to do the rest over the next 6 months.
Yeah thats pretty much it, although the EP said to me we will have a phone appointment in 8 weeks and he will have a good idea then if it had been a success. Then after that the rest is up to me regarding how i look after myself i guess. Thanks for the post 👍
I had an ablation for flutter last October. I have had bad anxiety about it returning , but as the lovely nurse at Barts told me - worrying is the worse thing you can do and there are always further treatments to get you sorted if there are any hiccups. Recovery should be taken gently, but your energy levels and sense of feeling ‘normal again’ will return. Try and think of it this way - once you have had your ablation you have been ‘reset ‘ effectively and your chances are the same as anyone else walking around, although you will Have the advantage of being under the medical radar and having checks to keep you that way. Good luck and best wishes.
Great post, thank you so much for that Eastern. Keep well 👍👍
Hello and good morning
I have had 2 ablations, the first one lasted 2/3 days and the second one 15 weeks and still ok apart from missing a heart beat but random. When discussing with my Cardiologist she often said some people take 3 ablations to finally return the heart to sinus rhythm. I suppose when you consider the amount of work that takes place during the ablation its no wonder it can take 2 or 3 to work.
So in conclusion set your mind at rest it will take time
Dave J
Morning Dave, Thanks for your post. Yes everyone is different and we all have slightly different states of condition so it is impossible to put a timescale on these things. Hope your much better, take care and thankyou 👍👍
If you get to the persistent stage, it will take 2 or more ablations because the rogue signals have spread beyond the pulmonary veins.
Hi. I had mine 14 months ago and apart from wee episodes in the first three months I have been fine. Very aware of the odd flutter but I think that’s what normal hearts do too! I am on no medication. Good luck.
Great Bella, good to hear long may it continue and thank you so much for taking the tome out to post. This is a great forum and helps me a great deal. I am going to try to concentrate on my recovery and not do any more posts as i dont want to be the “forum pest”. Lol Take care
I had my first A/F about 8 years ago. Then there was a gap of 5 years before I had a second one. Then I went another 3 years which was last December before I had my last one. I think everyone is different. But worrying about it will only make it worse. My doctor prescribed me a different tablet called Apixaben which seems to be helping.
Thanks Allan, How to stop worrying is a tough one i will try, thank you for your post 👍
Did you have the cyro or rf ablation.
I had the cryo Bowler 👍
You are very far from being the forum pest! I had my one (so far) ablation in Jan 2020. Some brief episodes of AF during the first few weeks, only lasting a few seconds. In April 2020 I stated getting continuous severe ectopic, horrendous. My EP changed my medication and I started taking magnesium. The ectopic lasted a month, seemed like, forever, and then suddenly stopped. Since then I've been fine, gradually increased the amount of physical activity I did, returned to cycling, longer dog walks. I found that over time the hypersensitivity to what the heart is doing fades and you will become more relaxed if you feel a bit of heart 'strangeness'. I do still get this occasionally if I try to do something that's too much for me. Last week I tried to pull a garden trolley full of wood up a slight rise in the garden, and my heart clearly didn't like it, but there was no AF. My husband was extremely unimpressed with me doing this, too, used some of his choicest words.Do lots of resting and don't overdo it, you're still at the beginning of your recovery. Try to enjoy doing nothing, it so rarely happens, and keep resting.
Thanks Ecki, A few people have mentioned magnesium may i ask which one do you take? I will run that through my gp to see if it is a good idea for me. I desperately want to get back on my bike and do a little bit in the gym, that is my goal and i am sure would make me feel better mentally. Your kind words and advice perks me up, thank you so much 😊
Hi, I take magnesium citrate, 700mg, which I get from zipvit. The advice generally seems to be avoid magnesium oxide, as it isn't absorbed so well.
Thank you. Yes i take ppis for acid reflux so i think absorbing certain medicines and vitamins can be a problem. Funnily enough since the ablation i have had no heartburn (five days) now. That would be a big bonus for me eradicating the reflux. Thanks for your help. 👍👍
I also have acid reflux and a hiatus hernia. I take lanzoprazole every morning and take the magnesium in the evening. I also take vit D at the same time as the magnesium.
Thank you. I wonder if there is a link between acid reflux and af? Perhaps the Ppis. Interesting
I am certain there is. In July 2019 I was told by a locum GP to stop taking the PPI, which turned out to be a very bad idea. I started getting severe stomach and chest pains and after a week was taken to A&E with very severe chest pain and fast AF, told it was a heart attack, taken for an angioplasty where they found that my coronary arteries were completely clear and it wasn't a heart attack, it was due to stopping the PPIs so abruptly. The hospital staff were shocked that I'd been told to stop them and put me straight back on them. There is a rebound effect if you just stop them where your stomach produces loads of acid, which I knew nothing about at the time. I was in persistent AF until I was cardioverted in September 2019 and then ablated in January 2020. It took my stomach and oesophagus many months to recover. PPIs have to be stopped very gradually, if at all. I wish I'd known that sooner.
So glad you mentioned this as i have not had a ppi since the ablation, i feel ok and would love to wean off them as i feel it is the lanzoprazole that strips all your gut of magnesium and other vital vitamins etc. Thanks 👍
Please look at Dr Sanjay Gupta's videos on YouTube on this subject and other AF-related ones. Search for York Cardiologist and browse till you find the one about the connection between stomach and heart. Reflux is covered.
Great mugsy i will do thanks very much 👍
I had an ablation a year ago last December. I have had no problem since (touch wood). I have just been written off from the hospital with a letter to say if I have any recurring problems to contact them directly. Let hope yours worked. Good luck.
Thats brilliant, well pleased for you. Would love a letter similar to that, fingers crossed and i hope you continue to thrive. Thanks for the positive post 👍👍
A tip: after the first.... in Synch for about a year, then had another ablation WITH an extra 3 days in the Hospital , monitoring the correct dosage of Tikosyn (Dofetilide) ... Jackpot! This was 3 yrs ago and I monitor my "In Synch" with an Apple Watch ... daily. Tikosyn worked its magic. You might inquire about this Tikosyn-Protocal and live an Afib- Free life.
Are you still taking Tikosyn three years after your second ablation?
Hi. I had my ablation 20 months ago. Like you, it took me a while to stop worrying about a recurrance., especially when ectopics kicked in which they did irregularly. After about a year I really felt I was back to normal, and then was woken up one night with a 40 minute run of A fib. Since then nothing again. I feel more philosophical about it all now. I accept all the good days and appreciate them. I don't consciously worry about A fib returning but I am aware that it may, probably will return one day. If so, If so,I shall be in the queue for another ablation as fast as possible.I think we are all anxious after an ablation, it is a new experience for us and we are conditioned into being scared of 'heart issues'. It takes a while for the cardiologist's "it's not life threatening" reassurances to sink in. When I was worried, I found any distraction helped, tv, a film, a good book or a phone call to friends etc were the most help.
Please don't worry, it doesn't help. Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones and will never need another intervention. Best wishes, Sue.
Thank you for such a lovely honest post, yes i am sure they will be bumps and twists along the way i sometimes just wish to get back to been the person who had never even heard of afib before. Now it is on my mind every waking day, i am sure i will get back into some kind of routine soon and lets face it, it could be worse. People cannot see or understand that i dont seem to have my mojo or zest for life anymore and it is difficult for everyone. However i shall persevere, thanks for you post 😊
One ablation 17 mos ago, had one episode since, right around the Holidays when I was eating all the worst possible things! Would do another if and when needed.
Thanks good stuff 😁
Hi stoneyrosedI had the ablation in 11/20. Just one. I have been doing good. I have started doing relaxation exercises since then so yes it helps a lot to meditate to get rid of all thoughts n anxiety. Also my doctor said to walk n up the exercise more. The free meditation apps are ver good. Insight Timer is very good cause they have a lot to choose from. Look for a soothing voice n not to long 20 to 30 minutes n before bedtime or when you wake up. Helps to sleep n have a less anxious n stressful day. This group helped me a lot before n after ablation. God Bless
Thanks North, great post and inspiring wil def carry on with the meditation, keep well 👍👍
mine lasted 2 years 1 month af came back
It’s over two years since my first ablation and still AF free. The fact sheets referred to by BobD are well worth reading - they helped me.
Thanks fir your post 👍👍
I had three years after first ablation before an AF episode. When AF returned for a month, second ablation was scheduled and I have been three months AF free since my second. I understand the emotional side you are experiencing. All is good.
Thank you. 🙏
Hi, I had my ablation Jan 2020 and it probably took most if not all of the year before I felt recovered (physically and mentally). I was 38, I’d say 9 out of 10 fitness (training 4 times a week), perfect BP and BMI, about as vanilla as you get! When it comes to ablation recovery speed, counted for zero!!
You may gets runs of AF or skipped beats during recovery, all normal. Sometimes no pattern, going a week without anything then days with ‘recovery’ symptoms.
If I could have changed anything during my recovery, it would have been to rest more and not be in such a rush to do too much. You have got to give your heart time to repair. Also allow yourself to feel down and low at times, it’s all part of recovery - don’t be too hard on yourself, just go with it.
Finally, I wish I’d known how much acid reflux irritated my recovery too. If you suffer this, make sure you get treated and take medication else it can play havoc with Afib even with the ablation.
Best of luck with your recovery! 👍
Thanks for that, i do have acid reflux but strangely have had no heartburn since the ablation.
Being optimistic and recovering gently is the very best thing you can do for your heart over the next months as the healing/ blanking period evolves. Worry takes away the joy of the day and optimism feels SO much better. Worry and anxiety send stress chemicals through your body and that is not good for your heart. Mindfulness, staying in the here and now is a practice that will serve you well through recovery and beyond. And yes, I have had one ablation and I am still AFib free nearly 6 years later. :-). Best of luck to you!
Wow 6 yrs thats great. Thanks so much for your post 😊😊
Hello -- Yes, most definitely there is a psychological side to AF. My first ablation in 2019 was successful for almost a year after, but what I mean, is after the first 3-month blanking period when my episodes actually increased -- the effects of inflammation from the procedure. I have an appointment with a new EP on Friday to discuss a second ablation as my episodes have increased since having Covid in December. And yes, my constantly thinking about it, I feel, brings on a few of my symptoms whether or not I actually get an attack. There's a strong mind/body connection. Hope this helps!
Thank you, it certainly does help and i agree with you and I definitely need to find some positivity. Hope you are ok 👍👍
Keeping fingers crossed for both our sakes!
Indeed 🤞
I first had an ablation for afib and that lasted 14 months. I felt cured. The second ablation was for atypical flutter which is difficult to ablate. EP said I had a lot of flutter circuits. I had a flutter episode at 8 months and went back on propafenone. I have not had an episode for 7 months now. So, yes I still worry a little now.
Hope you stay flutter free cookie 👍
I had an ablation in May 2019. I also felt that anxiety at first, like waiting for the other shoe to drop. However, aside from a few short runs when I had the flu (and, yes I got my flu shot, but got sick at Disney World. Fun vacation.) and a couple of stressful occasions, it hasn’t returned. My EP did adjust my meds before my knee replacement surgery, and I stayed out of AFib. So, so far, so good!
That’s great long may you continue well, must be a good feeling, thanks for hour uplifting post 👍👍
Hi , I had one ablation for AFib January 2018, never had Afib since. So don't worry IMO worrying causes a lot of issues, so best not to fret . Think positive - it sounds like you do not have AFib currently so that sounds very good! I was 57.5 years old at the time I had the ablation.
🙂
Thats great good positive post. It must feel brilliant not having afib. I had ablation last tue so not tempting fate but great that your af free for so long. Thanks very much for your post 👍👍
Hi, had first ablation in 2009, no AFib since. Occasional ectopics when stressed but I consider myself 95% cured. Got my life back in 2009. Colds leave me worn out for longer now but that is a minor problem. Hope you do as well. 😊
Another great post !! So pleased there are people out there doing so well since their ablation. EP told me 8/10 people go on to have successful ablations so fingers crossed 🤞. Thank you for your post 😊😊
Congratulations, Bonnie54. Eleven years is a fantastic run. You were in paroxysmal which meant only your pulmonary veins had to be ablated, and there was no reconnection after the ablation. You are a great example of how important it is to have an ablation at the paroxysmal stage, the earlier the better before the persistent stage. If only I had been so lucky.
I have not had any episode of AF for 8 years after ablation
Fantastic Squirrell thanks so much for posting such great news 👍👍
I’m seeing my Dr again Tuesday. My afib has returned. My ablation was good for 4-5 years. I’m going to have another. Don’t worry brother, live your life and enjoy it! If it comes back get it fixed again. Don’t stress over things you can’t control! Good luck.
Sorry to hear it has returned i hope your second ablation fixes it for good. I am sure it will. Thanks for your post 👍👍
Part of it. I work a job that is mundane with burst of hard work. Bad part is I’m out of work till it is fixed(DOT) but it’s all good. Seriously ablation was the best thing I did 5 years ago. So I’m not concerned about a second one! Way better than meds IMO.
Totally agree with you, one of the reasons of having ablation is to hopefully bin the meds. Got to stay on them for 3 mths yet before they can assess. Good luck mate 👍👍
Hey, I had ablation for A-Fib on Dec 2019, as so far haven’t had a reoccurrence. However even if/when I do, I don’t think I’ll see it as a failure (or try not to). My cardiologist mentioned a while back that it’s not just non-occurrence that’s a sign of success, it could be that the episodes are less frequent or shorter in duration post-op, which for many people could be a quick win.
You’re not long into the recovery process and I’ll be honest, 2020 was tough for me (Covid aside). Had bouts of tachycardia especially in the first 6 months after the op, ectopics still happen fairly frequently and never fail to get my anxiety up!
As others have said, best to try and stay calm (tough though that is) and let your heart heal. Happy to discuss anything anytime, and good luck with next steps.
Ben
Thanks Ben, Yes 2020 was my worst year, the af was occurring nearly everyday and for longer periods and because of covid i thought i was never going to get the chance of an ablation. To be honest i cannot thank all the staff at Leeds hospital enough for giving me the chance to live a better life, the A F was getting me so down i was not sure how longer i could put up with it. Lost a lot of friends due to been restricted to what i could and couldn’t do. Anyway onwards and upwards. Thanks for posting Ben and to everyone who has posted today, i hope it hasnt just helped me but some of the posts today im sure has helped others. Big thanks 🙏😁
Hi, I had a very successful ablation and have no worrying problems for about six years. I do personally believe that mental attitudes affect outcomes. Staying positive and as stress free as you can helps immensely and all the usual exercise, good varied diet, keeping busy all contribute . I have started recently to experience an irregular and overfast pulse but it does not surprize me as I have been shielding for a year and all my stress relieving actions have been stopped, I look forward to stabilising in the near future, fingers crossed !
Good luck hope it is just a blip. Six years is a long time you have done well 👍
Thank you. I hope you can achieve the same, or better ! Good luck.
Catheter Ablation recovery 
Recovery time after ablation?
post ablation
AC after ablation
