Having finally made the jump and booked an ablation after a bit of dithering I would be very interested to hear of people's "after ablation" experiences. So much is written about developing flutter,. worsening Afib, annoying but very disruptive PACs or PVCs, migraines etc etc I would like to hear from those of you that experienced very little or hardly any side effects during or after the blanking period . Or is it inevitable? I don't mind a few brief runs of Afib but don't want to end up worse off than before the ablation. So let's hear your stories 😊
Thanks x
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Lilypocket
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Several months after my ablation I appeared to suffer from more Ectopics , long runs sometimes for days. I say " appeared " as I think a lot of it was the fact I was so heart sensitive that I focussed on them once I noticed them and the subsequent anxiety is a vicious circle. They did not stop me doing anything, I was back excercising with no issues and I stopped worrying about them. I rarely notice them now, although if I have a bug they become a bit more prominent. Everyone has ectopics, only Afibbers focus on them and worry about them IMO. The rest of the world is blissfully ignorant!And of course, this means the ectopics are nothing to do with the ablation!
No other issues at all. 4 years 4 months post ablation, no afib and have not taken any associated drugs for over 4 years.
However TBF I was fit and healthy with no co morbitities when I developed afib.
So don't worry about the ablation , and best wishes for yours.
Hi, Thanks for your reply. So pleased for you being Afib free since. It seems Flutter is fairly common after. That is a bit worrying as my ablation is in July and the whole of France ( where I live) goes on holiday in August including my EP 🙂. So if I have a blip I will just have to sit it out. I'm having an RF ablation - here in Frogland they prefer to do RF for the 1st ablation ( I saw 2 EPs and neither offered Cryoablation). Take care x
Well I'd never heard of it before joining this forum but it seems that quite a few members go on to have a 2nd ablation after developing Flutter - having in the main banished Afib after the first or at least reduced it.
I actually developed reentrant Atrial flutter 9 days post Afib ablation.
I did not mention this as the flutter I developed was in the right atria. the ablation was PVI cryoablation left atria.
I had no flutter recorder either before or during the Afib ablation or immediately after . It was not caused or connected to the PVI ablation.
The explanation of the flutter was owing to the fact I was taking flecainide which is known to promote arrhthmias, hence why it is normally prescribed with a rate control. I was still taking the flecainide post ablation.
My local hospital actually initially thought my Afib had returned and increased the flecainide dose. My flutter symptoms (breathlesness) got worse!
When my EP ( different hospital) was contacted he reversed this.
I do not believe developing flutter is a common occurrence following Afib ablation hence why I asked the question .
Maybe you have previously read a previous post from me?
I am very like Robbo I noticed the eptopics a lot after Ablation but hardly notice them at all now. I have to take a low dose of Flecainide and verapamil for a small flutter I also hardly notice. I was fit before AF and feel so much better after ablation and am very fit again now at 73 playing tennis and golf several times a week. I would have one again if needed. I had mine nearly 5 years ago.
I'm just over 2 weeks post ablation . So far all OK. Had some ectopic beats and one short episode of A-Fib in the week after the procedure. I was advised there would be an initial 4-6 weeks period where things would settle so as well as the above I've felt tired, experienced chest tightness and a bit short of breath. Then as you say there is the blanking period. But 4 days after the procedure I got myself out in the fresh air on a short walk. Slowly building that up. Hoping beginning of next week I can start running again. Recovery wise everyone is different. I did have to think about whether to get it done or not but really it was Hobsons choice. It was either get it done or I risk collapsing / blacking out whenever I had a significant episode. 1st time it happened I hit the kitchen floor, fortunately landing on my arm. A few more episodes & partial collapses / spacing out. Next time I could have been driving holding my granddaughter or hit my head on the floor. Everyone is different but that was the deciding factor for me. Good luck sure you'll be fine 🙂
Hi,Thanks for your reply and so glad that all is well so far 🙂. Isn't it a bit soon to go running (from what I've read on here - not my own opinion as I have no experience of ablation yet of course).
What type of ablation did you have and did you have PAfib?
Be careful not to do too much too soon. I think starting running only 3 weeks after an ablation is too soon. I took the long term view in that I wanted to be able to run competetively again so I figured that the best way to achieve that was to allow my heart time to heal before I put any stress on it. I didn’t get out if the chair for a week and no walking for 2, and then really slowly. I didn’t even jog for 3 months.
This approach has worked, Ive been completely AF free for 5 1/2 years and I train and run as well as I did before. I’m convinced that my initial caution was part of why my outcome has been so good.
Hi Clive PMaybe I'm being a bit too eager! Ideally I'd like to be aiming for Park Run by the end of October. I'll stick with the walking for a bit longer. Thanks
I reckon that should definitely be possible . The early stages of recovery are vital imo. I know a couple if people who have returned to exercise too soon and not had such positive outcomes. I know it’s tempting if you feel good but 3 months is nothing in the greater scheme of things. I’ve lost more time to calf injuries 🙂
I'm happy to respond because I've had both- bad and good experiences. And I'm 11 weeks in after the 2nd. Understand it's not a 'cure' but at the same time, if YOU do work in yourself- lifestyle, diet, stress levels etc ablation can make your life a lot better. For some of us it takes longer than others.
First time they told me right away 40% likelihood of success because I moved around and they couldn't spend long enough on each apotto build up the scar tissue. I was sedated only and it took 4 hours. I had runs of AF on and off for 3 weeks sometimes for 18 hours at a time and often very symptomatic. It definitely felt worse than before!!
I stuck with it. Around a month in My runs of AF became less frequent, often self terminating within half an hour. That had never happened before and I knew something had changed. Slowly it continued to be a little bit better. I still got bimonthly bouts of AF - my pattern apparently- but they weren't as bad. I had more energy too and began to enjoy life again. After 9 months I felt better still, so much so I nearly didn't take the offer of a second go.
Under anaesthetic this time and only 1.5 hours. Really glad I did it because inly 1 of the pulmonary veins had held. Very different experience this time round- very little AF - energy good already and expecting a good enough outcome to get off pills in due course. I know it'll take time.
Long answer. Short answer - it's a process and more likely to improve things than make worse. I don't think the algorithms here show us more negative than positive like other social media platforms but as humans we often focus on the negative to protect ourselves. I guess what I'm trying to say is - people post when they need help or are in trouble - so that might skew the real picture.
Yes Singwell has done extremely well… she hung in, even with low chances of improving …
RF is radio frequency… as opposed to cryoblation technique for ablation. You can search them in this site.. but long story short .. I think we have decided from a previous that cryro is shorter and simpler for the EP .. (kind of like painting with a wide brush) .. however not detailed enough to treat some spots…so RF is often done after cryroblation to get any bad spots that are missed with cryro.
I considered both.. however I like the idea that a shorter time under anesthesia fir cryro .. in USA where I’m booked to get ablation they top up with RF immediately following the cryroblation so everything’s done at the same time. I really like that approach!
Really it’s up to the hospital doctor snd the individual as to what is offered and what is done.
I think She was asking about RF Singwell Proud of your accomplishments and for being so good about letting us know how your healing weeks went. For me those posts were very helpful.
She was asking about RF snd what it is.. sorry to butt in … but it’s been a big deciding factor for me…
Not exactly Chrissy I was asking to hear from people who had had ablations but with special interest in RF as that is what I'm booked for - but thanks to this forum and it's members I am fully informed on both methods. I especially am interested in the "after" of RF ablations. But I'm a realist and know everyone has different experiences. Thanks for replying and keep me posted about your ablation 🙂
Well it's easy to do 🙂 - so many kind people have helpfully replied I got a bit lost too. It seems the majority have had Cryoablations with good results but here in France they prefer RF as the first line of attack even for straightforward Paroxysmal Afib with no other pathologies. Oh well. I have to say I'm not symptomatic apart from breathlessness or during an attack and my heart is not hammering in my chest. But I had 15 episodes last month so it is upping its game and is quite tiring. I also feel very light-headed when I convert and a bit faint sometimes. So I feel maybe it's time to do something before it becomes persistant and symptomatic. Also I have a arthritis and can't take any medication for it because of anti- coagulants. Well let's keep in touch - when is your ablation? X
Oh dear.. are you taking meds for AF? I’m sure you posted it but I can’t remember (sorry… I get lost in searches sometimes My ablation is scheduled on July 13. However it’s expensive so I may cancel if insurance doesn’t come through.. (a long story) OR if someone moves me up the list here… (I doubt it)
You are wise to go for ablation. That’s a LOT of episodes… I could not stand that!
If my condition ends up being complicated tgey will have to do it “all RF”
What I like about cryroblation is that you are under anesthesia for a shorter period of time. I do like the Idea of being put asleep… the first one I was awake with no meds (ablation study - no meds) .. and it was no picnic!
I’ve been reading recently about side effects of being under anesthesia for long peoples of time. (Which I was for a craniotomy in 2015). How that can affect the heart and some studies say may even contribute to dimentia .. which my mother has.. (and I don’t want)
Another can of worms lol
So all RF can be up to 6 hours I have read; cryro is probably half the time ..
which I’m sure is a big deal for surgeons too.. getting twice as much money per hour !
Maybe wrong there. Please don’t quote me on that lol…
Anyway regarding ablations In France I have read wonderful things…
I had a cryoablation end of this January with great results so far. Twice in the first month or so had 5 fast heartbeats in a row and then it just stopped. Several times 2 fast heartbeats which then also stopped and that's it. No ectopics so far like I used to get, just an occasional one skipped beat which is probably normal. I'm the type that would know the second I go into afib so always on high alert it seems. Just went off blood thinner and my antiarrthymic Tikosyn this week. Since Afib is the only medical issue I have what a relief it is to be drug free once again. I am very glad I had the ablation. Just felt a little tired afterwards and the second day chest was just a little sore like I over exercised. I was so worried before the procedure but it was really not bad at all. Worse part was because they started me on Tikosyn I had to spend the night before procedure in hospital and then also the night of the procedure and I had general anesthesia. I had no reaction to the anesthesia also. Only issue I had when woke up my right eye was irritated. They gave me antibiotic eye drops which cleared it up. Good luck to you I think you will be glad you got the procedure!
Hi Lily, I had a cryoblation atLondon Bridge. All went well, a couple of surges a few hours after the op where my bpm went v low. Just a couple more surges over the next several days, only for half a minute a time. I had the dazzling lights after 4/5 days, this passed after a couple of hours. Then started to exercise gradually, I had a game of golf, 18 holes with buggy on day 10 and day., no adverse reaction. Day 17 now, been bank at a couple of times, coped no prob with a v early start and long drive on one day,. Had some random indigestion like pains and can feel the healing going on, more so after14 days, just twinges at chest side and back, nowt major, soon pass, only taken a paracetamol once…..But generally I’m fine, sounds like we’ll have different recoveries, it’s easy to get paranoid, but I think they key thing is to take your time and no AF at all😀
Happy to report that I had mine done late March and the recovery has been excellent. I took it easy for a few days and then built up my level of exercise steadily. I have had none of the problems reported by others and I am 67 so it certainly is not down to youthful vigour.
I am not on any medication other than Edoxoban and I hope to come off that after I have seen the EP for my follow up consultation.
Hi I've had 3 cardioversions and 3 ablations since 2013. Each one was successful but only Afib free for about 12 mths each time. While Afib free I was on no medication except for warfarin and could do everything I did before Afib started.
I had a cryo ablation last June. I didn't do much for the first week as I waited to get my strength back. The only after effects were shimmering lights in my eyes (migraine aura) which didn't last long and a lump in my groin area under the right hand wound. The lump dissolved away after a few weeks and the auras stopped after about a week.
I get the odd ectopic beat, but apart from that not much going on.
That's great Griffin! Well on Flecaine I saw waves when I moved my arm up and down - it left shadow lines - very pretty! So lights in my eyes I can put up with just don't want the crippling headache for 2 weeks as some have described 🤕Take care x
Think I already said but both mine were RF. I understood that 4 hours was considered lengthy and if you're into this kind of info I had only 35 'burn sites' 2nd time and over 100 first. Forget how many actually but that's a whole lot of wiggling went on. You might want to chat with them about sedation versus anaesthesia. My issue was low BMI so they were up to my limit of analgesic. I recall the first 40 minutes and it was painful but - as others have said - no worse than the dentist. However I evidently continued to twitch even when.blissfully unaware. I should stress that though I did feel things at first, I've experienced no trauma.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I had RF ablation in 2013, recovery took about 5 months with various bumps and arrhythmias. I wasn’t unwell but took things very slowly and rested a lot. Some walking and light exercise after the first month. No meds except anticoagulants. I am still largely free if af. About 2 or 3 times a year I get short slow bouts but very manageable. So far, so good.
That sounds like a success 👍A couple of slow bouts a year I can deal with. I shall be a sloth for the first month ( but will skip the hanging from trees bit😂)
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My ablation is scheduled on July 13. However it’s expensive so I may cancel if insurance doesn’t come through.. (a long story) OR if someone moves me up the list here… (I doubt it)
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