Not to complain, but . . . maybe I need some reassurance?

[momist]

I had a rough time in the recovery period from my cryo ablation at the end of June last year, after a promising start. Then, since October last year I've had a lovely period without any major problems. Sure, I'm sensitive now to whatever my heart is doing, and when I lie down in bed I can feel my heart beats, all of them, but try to ignore it. I get a fair share of ectopic beats and other strange thumps, but try to ignore them too.

Yesterday was my youngest son's wedding anniversary, and we took care of his 9 month old little one while they had a nice lunch out. Four hours, not too taxing. Took him for a walk in our emergency spare buggy. When they returned to collect him, we opened a bottle of Prosecco to share with them, but I had only one small glass.

Later, after eating dinner, I started getting reflux and felt my heart jumping around. Out with the Kardia, and I see bursts of bigeminy (unclassified). I used to get this a lot before the ablation, not since until now. Within half an hour it is full blown AF, only a lowish rate of 123bpm, but still AF. After an hour of that, another reading shows me Tachycardia at a similar rate, and I go to bed. By now, my joints are aching, especially fingers, wrists and elbows, so I also take paracetamol, and hope to get to sleep.

I reverted some time in the night, and for once this did not wake me up like it used to.

So, a bout of AF eight and a half months after the ablation, and my 'review' appointment has been put back to some time in August this year. I wonder if the intensity of looking after the little one was too much, or did I just fail to keep myself well hydrated? Should I say this might be a one-off, or the ablation has failed?

Opinions welcomed. Thanks for reading.

[Threecats]

Hi momist I’m sorry you had such a rotten ending to what otherwise sounded like a lovely day with your grandson.

I can’t comment on the ablation aspect as I’ve not had one but I do have rheumatoid arthritis and I have to avoid certain foods/drinks due to them causing flares. I find that even if I have a very small amount very occasionally it will cause a reaction, so I do wonder if it was the alcohol that caused yours. I know you only had a small glass but, as I say, I find even small amounts of a trigger food /drink will cause a major reaction in me.

Just a thought.

[jan-ran]

I have had a similar experience. Ablation a year ago, af settled after 3 months, peace for a while. Recently tho’ 3 or 4 episodes of af, tachycardia plus dizziness, new symptom. (I do wonder if I have become sensitive to my hb’s fruit gin…..☹️) I got in touch with the arrhythmia nurse and she is going to speak to the consultant. She mentioned that a pacemaker might be offered, which shocked me a bit.

It’s a shame your af kicked off after such a long time. I too wonder whether my ablation is really working. One thing she mentioned was that they are reluctant to do ablation on over 80’s! Which I am now! The only thing you can really do is wait and see. I’m hoping that it will all go away between now and and prospective procedure which could be months away. I remain optimistic😊

[BobD Volunteer]

More likely the prosecco.

[momist in reply to BobD]

Could be. I've been OK with white wine, but not with red. I know I'm OK with the occasional beer, but I tend to choose the German variety which conforms to their 'purity law'. I'll try missing out on the fizzy wine from now on.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to momist]

If you have arrhythmias, ANY alcohol is a risk. Your choice obviously.

[secondtry in reply to momist]

Alcohol, fizzy and the stuff (sorry forgot what chemical it is) that is in a lot of wine all not advisable.

[Singwell in reply to secondtry]

Sulphites I think is what you mean. You can get organic vino without them.

[secondtry in reply to Singwell]

That's the one! 👏

[Windlepoons in reply to momist]

There are quite a few nice zero alcohol products out now. Just avoid the ones with artificial sweeteners. ☺️

[Ppiman]

Reading around this topic, I wonder whether new arrhythmias form not so much because the original ablation has "failed" as such but that new arrhythmic pathways form over time. If these aren't too close to the pulmonary veins, then they can be "touched up" by a second ablation, but, if they are, then nothing can be done, but the frequency of the AF would likely be much reduced than before the ablation.

Steve

[momist in reply to Ppiman]

Interesting idea Steve. That makes a lot of sense to me, and also reveals why having your first ablation as soon as possible would be beneficial, rather than delaying it as so many do, and I did myself. Sadly, once I was ready to "go for it", the pandemic delayed it much further.

[Ppiman in reply to momist]

Yes, I think you are right. That said, I did read yesterday that there's no evidence that ablation is better than drugs in terms of long-term outcomes - except that a drug can have unwanted side effects, of course. I only get infrequent AF and usually very brief so I'm hoping it will stay that way, Much more often, I get mild tachycardia and runs of ectopic beats.

I hope you find your AF is much reduced. Actually, I've lost the link, but I did read of a very large study that showed it can be over a year before the heart is fully settled following an ablation and that most patients were free of AF at two years. There's hope for you, I'd say!

Steve

[momist in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you Steve. That's just what I was hoping to hear! As regards ablation versus drugs, I've long been in favour of mechanical methods rather than chemical ones for most things, like dirt removal or promoting plant growth, for instance. No reason that should not apply to my own body.

😀

[Ppiman in reply to momist]

Very well put!

[Singwell]

Hate to say it but...I'd be blaming the prosecco plus eating and maybe a bit of excitement.

[Snowgirl65]

Unfortunately, I'd blame the prosecco. I was a big wine enthusiast before a-fib entered my life, but I can't touch it now. Boo hoo.!

[Fortescue]

So sorry you have had that experience. I would have expected the same though, if I had taken alcohol. The other day I had some home-made Tiramisu and only remembered it had alcohol in it after my host had filled my bowl and I had started eating. I only had a little, but it was a tricky hour after that. Thankfully it settled back down. Alcohol is s the number one trigger, alongside poor hydration, for me.

[planetiowa]

I know everyone’s experience is different but I was having 3 or 4 episodes of AF when I had my ablation done. After that, I did end up still having a few milder cases of AF every 6 months or so for about a year or two. My AF is the vagal type so is very sensitive to acid reflux, etc. What I ended up doing was to start taking magnesium and a Pepcid just before bed and haven’t had another case of AF in 2.5 years so far.

[momist in reply to planetiowa]

Oh good news! I hope it lasts many years for you. Thanks for replying.