3 days since PVI: is this normal?

[Mabel79]

Hi Ive never posted before but have read the useful information shared by members so asking for advice and reassurance.

I have Paroxymal AF and had a PVI cryo ablation on Monday. the first few days were as expected: bit breathless, missed beats, tired. I thought things were slowly improving until last night.

I had runs of ectopic beats, minutes of one in 4 beats. Then a break. Heart rate around 100 (had been 70-80 since monday). Accompanied by a pulse in the throat.

Felt the buzzing in the chest that used to precede an episode of AF, no AF as far as I could tell. And felt dreadful, dizzy , sick and like i had a very unhappy heart.

Ive left a message with the arrythmia nurses - the Doctor reduced my meds after the procedure and i wondered whether its OK to reinstate an extra 50 mgs flecainide if I experience this again.

Hoping someone has been through similar and come out the other side!

[BobD Volunteer]

I really do not unxderstand why hospitals don't issue the following fact sheet which I'm sure will answer most of your queries. It will take three to six months at lest for your heart to heal so lots of funnies yet.

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[Mabel79 in reply to BobD]

Thanks. I agree - the info sheet I had from the hospital was mostly about wound care. I had a very helpful talk with the arrythmia nurse today so feeling its all part of the picture.

Just suprised by how unwell I felt, especially since first couple of days went well.

[Shcldavies]

Don't look for a rational, you won't find one. The one rational thing to so is listen to Bob who helped write the fact sheet which helped me very much during my post ablation period. I will add that improvement can continue long after the first 6 months

[Bennera513]

I hear you and feel for you. I'm 15 weeks post ablation. My 'biggest' issue for many years was benign ectopics. Tried everything under the Sun but Atenolol beta blocker was the go-to for nearly 20 years. After three years with Afib I got the PVI Cryo-Ablation. Reportedly a success. Initially the ectopics ceased, but fired up in a big way around day 3 and I went into afib for 6 hours on day 5. I was in constant communication with my EP for the first 2 months,...increasing beta blockers, trying Flecainide,...experiencing heart pauses from the meds, reducing dosages, to simply coming off altogether as the side effects once again proved to be untenable. I basically, sucked it up and suffered through the storms along with some severe anxiety and a little depression. At week 8 they miraculous disappeared,....until I attempted to night ski, eat a late dinner, got poor sleep and kicked off onto the slopes again the next morning. Body said no, heart rate went Tachy, though was in Sinus and I started a new round of ectopics for about a week. For the last 4 weeks, it's been smooooooth sailing. A couple ectopics, but nothing deserving attention. Exercise capacity returning and life is really good. Keep the faith. Where you are now is not likely where you'll be in another 2 months and that'll continue to evolve at 3 and 4 months. My theory is the ectopics and irritability kicked off around day 3 because that's when the inflammation from the procedure was at a peak. As I've mentioned here before, I believe you have acute recovery in the initial months. As that resolves you have neural healing that continues as the heart remodels and electrically stabilizes from the destroyed nerve complexes in the area of the Pulmonary Veins. The autonomic nervous system got thrown for a loop and you will be going through a reset. Summon your inner strength, lean on your support networks, have a warm blanket and a 'bright'/happy spot picked out....avoid researching and second guessing. Live your life, but be ready to retreat when fatigued. While resting, it seems it's important to show the body what you expect of it so you can gently challenge and heal as you built your endurance and train your heart to 'normal'. Best of luck, If I can get through it you will sail too!

[Mabel79 in reply to Bennera513]

Thank you for sharing your experience. The inflammation thing makes a lot of sense. I had quite an inflamed throat - depsite having the procedure under sedation. Which explains why i was experiencing the ectopics as pulses in my throat and neck. Mad me panic a bit at 3 in the morning.

They are still there but in their proper place now.

Feels a bit like wait and see what its got in store next!

Really good to hear you are out the other side by the sounds of it.