AF back again post ablation !

[GM1987]

Just a update, it’s always nice to hear from people in my shoes, anyone with similar issues feel free to let me know or ask if they need any of my experience with this torturous problem. I’m now 3 months post catheter ablation! I had a routine echocardiogram done in March 2022 with positive news a couple week later in April, my heart is back in its normal state of health from the images, possibly meaning the mild cardiomyopathy was actually myocarditis? Possibly from a viral, I will find out more in a few month after another MRI to look in depth . The good news / bad news followed as I was told that same day to stop the bisoprolol as that could be holding me back? I was made up as he said by end of summer he wants me off all medication god willing!!! However 3 days after stopping the tablets (bisoprolol 2.5mg) full stop, my heart started throwing a lot of ectopic beats ! It’s strange because I haven’t had nothing not a single one no episodes of af or ectopics since October 2021 even after the ablation In February 22 I haven’t! I personally think Stopping the bisoprolol abruptly has definitely caused an upset to it.

I contacted the cardiologist & had a 24hour ecg to check if it was back in AF it wasn’t that very day because I was in sinus rhythm but he said the ecg reading had a lot of ectopic beats & they can cause it to so start AF so start the bisoprolol again for now. Anyway a few days later & fully back on the meds & AF is back again!!! Disappointed is a understatement after all the hard work keeping it away!!! my watch confirmed it for me, so I contacted him again & done another 24hr ecg yesterday. I will get the results this Wednesday! I’m still in AF now which worry’s me because it’s never been as persistent as this, sleep disruption & general anxiety with it, but I’m still apparently in a blanking period after the ablation & it’s normal to have these episodes? Surely it’s not a coincidence that I’ve had nothing until Stopping the tablets. The cardiologist won’t have it tho.

feel free to contact me if you have similar case or any questions to my experience with any of the above.

[Mrsvemb]

Sorry to hear that your AF is back. It is my understanding that you should wean off of Bisoprolol rather than just stop it, unless replacing with another beta blocker.

I don’t have personal experience of this, but I am sure others will be along to comment soon.

[Singwell]

I'm almost 10 weeks in and posted om Saturday about my AF kicking in after almost nothing for weeks so I know how you feel. My review is next month but I'm still on my meds. Sounds like you'd have done better to reduce Bisoprolol slowly. Are you in a position to take a normal dose to stop your AF? Ideally we want to stop the AF whilst still in the blanking period. That's what I was told anyway. Hope you get this sorted and back on track.

[Jajarunner]

I was told that they stop the meds to see if the ablation has worked or not. Sometimes even post ablation you need to stay on them though. Bisoprolol makes me feel dreadful too!

Fingers crossed that your ablation has worked for you and it's a blip. I had to have a cardioversion three months after my third ablation and am now waiting for my review too. Fingers crossed for us both!

[GM1987 in reply to Jajarunner]

Hope the news is good. Thanks for the reply, I’ve got a face to face with the cardiologist next weds so I willFind out a little more what’s going on fingers crossed 🤞🏽

[momist]

Well, hold your horses! Even with the comments from your EP, this is still early days. I thought my ablation at the end of June last year was successful, until I had another recurrence of mixed AF and Tachycardia. And then another a few months later. My last on is now a 'few months' ago, but I'm still not counting it 'fixed'.

Sadly, I have not yet had ANY further consultation with my EP since the procedure, and when I telephoned the arrhythmia nurses, they said "stay on the drugs you were prescribed", as does the GP. So, I'm still taking bisoprolol and flecainide, (and will be taking the apixaban for life unless something changes).

Sorry to hear of your troubles, but give it more time and maybe all will be well.

[Megams]

~Really sorry reading your A/F back again GM1987 - agree with other posts that probably more ideal to have eased back slowly on Bisoprolol - of course we are at the mercy of advice given by our EP's etc.Am 14 weeks post PVI cryo-ablation -recently had 3 month checkup with EP.

He wants me to remain on my meds which I originally hoped beyond hope that I could stop - there have been changes to some valves + aorta now + hypertensive at times so remaining on meds.

Get the odd etopic's too but know I am still healing.

Thinking of you & hope the A/F settles.

[Ducky2003 in reply to Megams]

Make sure that they keep an eye on the valve situation. I have posted recently about ending up having to have a valve repair as the AF caused my left atrium to enlarge.

[Megams in reply to Ducky2003]

Thank you Ducky2003 - Cardiologist is keeping eye on valves. I am rather sad about mild dilation of aorta which is new since ablation.Seeing Cardiologist next week re continued spike in H/R when asleep/ sitting or not doing anything to warrant occurring + more regular extra beats/or ectopic's - Holter monitor required to diffentiate.

Stay safe ~

[Ducky2003 in reply to Megams]

My valve issue was discovered during my ablation but was only mild at the time. An echo 6 months later showed that things had got worse.Hope that yours does not get any worse.

[Megams in reply to Ducky2003]

~Will keep my fingers double crossed for you Ducky. I continue to pray that heart will remain stable - had open heart surgery 1988 - not relish another.

Forever hopeful modern medicine/surgery will continue to advance being less invasive ~

[Ducky2003]

When I stopped taking Bisoprolol, I was told to wean off it and not to just stop it.Hope everything settles for you. I had an unsuccessful ablation last year so know how frustrating it can be when you're in limbo as to whether is worked or not.