Atrial Tachycardia

[frankiec5]

After two temporarily successful cardioversions (6 months af free each time) I had an ablation in May and all seemed to be going well. I remained happily in sinus rhythm for over three months until suddenly, out of the blue, my heart rate and blood pressure rocketed and I ended up in the Resus Department of my local A and E. My bp and heart rate were eventually brought under control by increasing my medication (Bisoprolol and Ramipril) and adding in Digoxin and after two days, I was allowed home.

Since then, any kind of exertion leaves me very breathless. Just walking upstairs has to be undertaken in stages with a rest between each one. I have seen the surgeon who performed the af ablation and he has diagnosed atrial tachycardia. I am now due to have another ablation using a ‘high definition mapping system’ which he hopes will be successful.

I would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience or who can offer some advice. I have been warned that this ablation procedure will take longer (any idea how much longer?) but will again be carried out under general anaesthetic (thank goodness!)

Any advice on recovery time etc and indeed any advice in general will be most gratefully received.

Thanks in advance

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes frankie this is not uncommon.

I had three AF ablations then arrhythmia free for ten years before diagnosis of atrial tachycardia in 2018 followed by ablation for that in 2019. I was left with raised HR (85) and eventually some heart block. Recently had pacemaker fitted as safety net.

Recovery is similar to any ablation as per our Recovering from Ablation fact sheet avaliable fornm the association website or check out pinned posts top right.

[frankiec5 in reply to BobD]

Thank you so much for your reply and the news that your last ablation was so successful.

However, I have to admit that the thought of a pacemaker does rather terrify me. How has it been for you? What do you mean by heart block? And why the need for the ‘safety net’? Has the pacemaker been a difficult thing to get used to?

Sorry to bombard you with so many questions Bob. I’m still trying to get my head around this latest setback and be optimistic rather than scared about potential outcomes.

Thanks again

[BobD Volunteer in reply to frankiec5]

Heart block in simple terms is when the signals from one side of the heart are slow getting to the other side. It can cause the heart to beat too slowly or even miss out beats completely which can mean the patient passes out or faints (syncope).

When I take enough drugs to slow my heart I can reach a point below 60 beats per minute when this starts to happen and I have ona very few ocasions had pre-syncope. (When you get that got up too quickly feeling and think you may faint. ) After two years persuasion and pleading, my EP finally got me to agree to a pacemaker which I had fitted in late July. The actual procedure was no problem but complicated for me since I live in Devon and my EP is in London so lots of travel. I had my six weeks checkup last Tuesday. Apart from having to avoid rasing my left arm above shoulder height for six weeks no problem at all and I am not normally aware of it By safety net I mean that it is set at 60bpm so is doing nothing most of the time but will chime in if needed below that figure if my heart stops for a few seconds. By the way during my check last week they ran it through a few different speeds and I felt nothing.

Hope that answers all your questions.

[frankiec5 in reply to BobD]

Perfect, Thank you

[pottypete1]

I had AF for many years and after a number of ablations I developed Atrial Tachycardia.

After my EP confirmed this he said that one final ablation should solve my problems as an ablation for atrial tachycardia is normally easier to resolve.

The ablation took around 7 hours and they used state of the art “Orion” 3D mapping.

During the 5 years since that last ablation my rhythm problems became less frequent and now my quality of life is significantly better.

Pete

[frankiec5 in reply to pottypete1]

Thank you so much for your reply.

It’s very reassuring to know that the procedure went so well for you. But I’m a bit startled by the seven hour time frame!

Do I gather that the ablation didn’t get rid of the tachycardia completely?

[pottypete1 in reply to frankiec5]

I had GA so 7 hours wasn’t an issue. It must have been a very hard day work for the doctors. But yes it DID address the Atrial Tachycardia.

My underlying problem has always been Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. The good news is that having had episodes very regularly in the past now I have had just one episode in the past 12 months.

You must keep positive - it helps!

Pete

[frankiec5 in reply to pottypete1]

Wise words Pete. Thank you so much.

I can’t deny that I’m anxious, even though I’ve already had one ablation. But you’re right. I shall try to think positive and look forward to getting my life back

[DawnTX in reply to pottypete1]

Pete you just made me feel better about what’s going on with me. I have not been diagnosed yet. I was due for a cardioversion but a staff member messed that up. Long story and ugly. I’m afraid that I too may have the same issue that you have. At least I feel better knowing there’s a possibility of the tachycardia going away. Even as I write this I feel as though I have run a marathon. Thank you for your good words

[DawnTX in reply to frankiec5]

Frankie most of mine were 3 hrs. My last one went over 8. I think it has to do with all the pre-testing they do as far as mapping etc. before they get in there. They want to be absolutely sure where they are going. The last one I had was done with alcohol and a very new procedure. I had no bad side effects from being under so long. I think the only side effect was I was quite comical I am told in the recovery room lol by the time I got to my room the nurses had heard about me. I was spoiled evidently whatever I was babbling made them all happy lol I wish we could put whatever they gave me into the water system and make other people happy

[dedeottie]

after a 15 year history of AF and a partially successful ablation for AF 7 years ago I was kept going on flecanide then sotalol. I recently had another cryoablation for AF but then developed tachycardia. Had another RF ablation and mapping a month ago. Took 4 hours not with GA and so far no AF and no tachycardia . 🤞

[frankiec5 in reply to dedeottie]

Thank you so much for that information.

It’s very encouraging to hear that your procedure went well. Long may it continue

[Ppiman]

Having had atrial flutter (a kind of atrial tachycardia that was very symptomatic indeed) and a successful ablation (thank goodness!) but with some milder continuing issues, your post led me to read up on this condition. I found this web article especially useful and thought you might, too. It's interesting that your AT creates such symptoms:

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK5...

Steve

[frankiec5]

I’m 72

[frankiec5]

Bless you!

I feel every year of it at the moment!

Fingers crossed that the next ablation does the trick and I can start really enjoying life again 🤞

[Chasemenow]

I only know that when I was on digoxin I was so exhausted all the time. I could do very little. They took me off that and now on Flecainide and feeling great. Much more energy. Can now go for a nice walk, golf etc etc.

I have been on many different one and for me Flecainide works but everyone is different. My advise do not settle for feeling the way you do. I had to fight to get mine changed

[frankiec5 in reply to Chasemenow]

Good advice. Thank you

It’s great to see that there is the possibility of light at the end of this tunnel

[lovetogarden]

Like you and others, I’ve had successful ablations for afib but they didn’t resolve the tachycardia. And since the 3rd ablation 2 years ago, the tachycardia is worse than it was before. EP said they just couldn’t trigger the tachycardia during the ablation. I’m intrigued by what your dr has called a high definition mapping system. Wishing you good luck!

[frankiec5 in reply to lovetogarden]

Thanks for the reply and the good wishes

I’ll post again with an update once I’ve had the ablation in three weeks time.

Fingers are very firmly crossed!

[DawnTX]

really questions for your doctor but it sounds a bit like what I had done for my last ablation in April. It was my third. The one I had done was the vein of Marshall which as my doctor put it is more aggressive. I’ve been told it could take up to a year to completely heal. As of right now I am still having issues. Except for a month when I was off medication for a fib but on medication for pericarditis, I had a decent month. Since then not so much. My heart rate has not dropped below 115 and goes as high as 145. I was put back on Multaq. It doesn’t seem to be doing much at this point. I may be changing doctors because I’m having issues reaching my doctor through his staff. I got angry I did not say anything horrendous but I told them I felt they did not care and they had no sense of urgency. Now I am really being stonewalled And have not received any communication since August 31. I finally made a call yesterday supposedly I will hear back within 48 hours now it’s only 24 we’ll see tomorrow is Friday. I don’t know what is repeat it to the doctor but I feel I’ve been thrown under the bus because I got upset with them My doctor is very well known and the procedure he did is one that he pioneered. It doesn’t matter how good your doctor is or how famous at Cetera if you can never talk to him. I get the feeling the person I have a problem with picks and chooses what to tell him. I told her I was done with her and I would rather die than deal with her. Very childlike and dramatic I know I feel stupid about saying that but is this how they treat heart patients does the doctor condone this? I don’t know what to think anymore and I adore my doctor. He may not even know about any of this.

Ask questions when you can you will also probably get a sheet of answers.

we are also different you may wake up and feel great the next day. I actually did for about a week and even thanked him and then I crashed. My other two ablations were amazing I felt like a new person the next day

I’m afraid at this point I may end up with the same diagnosis that you have prayers and healing thoughts for you