I am week 7 post my first cryoablation for paroxysmal AFib. For the first week or so I had NSR fluctuations with mild AFib. Since 6th September I have been in constant AFib with HR ranging from 80-120bpm. I have tried and failed to get any real advice from AFib nurses and the EP who did my procedure at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Glasgow fobs me off with 2 word answers to emails saying it will settle. I know it's early days but I was assured by the EP that the procedure was a great success and things would settle quickly. Instead I feel I've swapped mild, symptomless AFib for constant AFib. Surely they should be considering some form of additional intervention before my heart remodels permenantly? Starting to get really depressed and worried especially when I read on here about so many that achieve NSR almost immediately following their ablation.
Feeling really down : I am week 7 post... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Feeling really down
Are you feeling ill with your heart at this rate? I found the Valsalva manoeuvre good for getting my heart back into rhythm after ablations:
Steps of the Valsalva manoeuvre are:
1. Pinch your nose closed.
2. Close your mouth.
3. Forcefully exhale.
4. Bear down, similar to having a bowel movement.
5. Hold this for 10 to 15 seconds.
Jean
No - I feel fine but I can't seem to get back to exercise
Should you be thinking of exercise so soon after your ablation?
Yes Kenny I know how you feel. Since my second ablation which I pinned all my hopes on I have had 4-5 AF attacks and every day I get strange flutters that last only seconds but are very debilitating. I feel I cannot go out socially in case I get them when I am in company. My pulse rate has dropped down to 45-55 and I am extremely tired constantly. I also get two word replies from cardio nurse whom I have now stopped contacting. Some days I feel like I am on my end days and try to accept it as my fate but some days I dig deep for hope that it will indeed settle and improve. I think we need to hold on to that hope Kenny. All the best mate.
I don't have any symptoms other than by night time I am absolutely knackered. I guess I am just going to have to be patient and hope that it settles down
I would wait 3 months for your heart to heal completely inside, before attempting any strenuous exercise. If you do too much now you will undo all the good work.
When I had my first ablation, I asked how long it would be before I could climb mountains again. I was told within days. I can assure you that's not true! As I said allow your heart to heal for 3 months and then very gradually build up your exercise regime. I've had three ablations.
Jean
Hello Kenny it is still early days. Doctors seem to make out ablation isn't a big procedure but it is
Have you heard of the blanking period? This is at least 3 months could be longer but its not unusual to have AF.symptoms during this time. Idid following my first ablation but after about 3 months felt so much better.
What meds are you on? If they have been stopped could be making you worse. Could you email your EP and ask specifically about your medication? Its always best to put it in writing as in my experience you are more likely to get a positive response whereas phone calls can be forgotten x
Hi - yes, still on Flecanide and Bisopropol - I guess I will just have to be patient. Thanks for being so supportive and reassuring.
have they considered upping the FLEC dose or changing to Droneaderone to see if that helps ?
As others have said you do have to be patient your heart has been hurt by the procedure and it really can take some months to settle down.
That being said sometimes an additional ablation is necessary to tidy up. It is not always a quick fix as is often expected
Ablation is very successful and I am now enjoying a very better quality of life. Don’t be downhearted (excuse the pun).
If having given it time and you are still not better talk to your EP. I found on occasions a letter detailing all my concerns prompted a positive reply. Of course if you can talk to the EP all the better.
Pete
Thanks mate
That is upsetting! I would have thought they would arrange a cardioversion so your heart doesn’t get into the habit of being in AF so I understand your concern. Something I have noticed is that surgeons and eps get very tetchy if you complain that their work hasn’t been successful 😕 I hope it does settle soon ❤️🩹
They say that there is no point doing anything until after 12 weeks at least
I'm afraid I could not resist coming up with this old chestnut: 'What's the difference between God and a surgeon? Answer: God does not think he's a surgeon !
😂 I haven’t heard that one 🤣 so true
Love it! 😆😅🤣
Hi Kenny
I am sorry to hear this and can imagine how disappointed and concerned you must feel. I’ve not had an ablation, so can’t comment from experience but I do recall you saying in an earlier post that, because you are young and fit, the EP had been quite aggressive with the amount of freezing he had done. In that circumstance, I imagine it will take longer for your heart to settle, so maybe that’s why his replies are so short. A bit of reassurance wouldn’t come amiss though, would it!
I do hope things start to settle for you soon.
All the best to you, TC
Sorry you are feeling abandoned by the medics at this time. Like others have said it takes a good 3 months or maybe more for the heart to heal, and arythmias can happen during this time. I do think its important to take things gently during this "blanking period" and not overstretch ourselves. (I'm 4 weeks post ablation and just managing a gentle 1 mile walk now,...if i overdo it i feel it. If i get tired my heart gets "blippy " (
If phone calls dont work, perhaps you can write to your EP to explain your concerns and ask for reassurance that your heart will not "remodel' itself if you have extended afib during this time.
Good luck. Keep us posted.
Sorry to hear it's not going so well at present Kenny, but hopefully as others have suggested there is still time for things to settle down. If they don't, well you are fairly young and will have plenty of options I would have thought.
I’m not in category for having this done but time might be a factor in your recovery. I also saw the same EP privately. Good advice and changed my prescription (Sotolol) which was unsuccessful. Seeing NHS cardiologist this month after following his advice of stopping Flec and restarting Bisoprolol 10. Fewer episodes now. Have you spoken to GP? Also going to A and E again if you’re too uncomfortable. Stress won’t help either. Sympathy to you.
You must feel awful with this happening. Out of the frying pan into the fire, eh? But I think you can be more optimistic. The study linked below is one I read a while back and it is useful and optimistic. From what the study suggests, if you remain symptomatic, you could ask for a cardioversion. This ought to bring you back to NSR and, from what is said, might well be all you need.
Steve
Although i didnt have a cryo ablaion i had the other type my meds were stopped immediately. I have since learned that some meds ,not sure which ,i took verapimil and ir can stop the ablation ffom working properly.Having said all that i still havent had any followup and i do have a list of questions.
I have been Paroxymal AFib for just over a year and 15 weeks post cryo ablation which was recorded on my notes as successful.
I have had alternating periods of both AFib and NSR since the procedure.
Recently the periods of NSR have extended to over a week and AFib to hours and sometimes just minutes. All recorded on my Apple Watch.
As others have said, pace yourself and expect it could be months before you feel yourself again. 👍🏻
Hi Kenny
I'm 5 months after 2nd ablation...1st was a failed procedure...and apart from the first day went straight back into AF. Was in AF for 4 months then last month I had 9 straight days of NSR. Then back to full on AF. Then this week 2 full days of NSR again. Sadly back to AF this morning.
But, looks like things are still happening all that time after. So, I'm choosing to see that as a positive despite being gutted it didnt last.
For some, I'm told, it does takes more time. It does get you down, I can understand/ relate with that....it all feels uncertain and wobbly at times...but hopefully things will settle for you. I do hope so .
I also havent had any contact with cardiac team despite trying. Got an appt with a nurse now end of this month.
Previously they had thought this ablation had not worked and were talking pacemaker but I'm wondering if these 2 random periods of NSR will alter the thinking.
We will see.
Best wishes to you.
Ps, i was admitted into hospital 3 days after 2nd ablation as HR through the roof. They did try cardioversion but no success. But ive had AF 18 years and been persistent/ constant for over a decade. And I think the procedure must have knocked my system. Took a long time to recover and some extra meds thrown in. Hr still too high.
But, to be honest, given how long I've had this, I'm quite surprised to have these random periods of NSR. A bonus!
Isnt NSR like Heaven though , for me AF was like a sparkler on bonfire night, the longer it lasted the more time I had of NSR and i knew id be free for 24hrs or so before the next batch. Its like the attack releases all the pent up electrical charge in the heart thats been building and building.
Sorry to hear you have problems and hope they get resolved soon. I had a cryoablation in May which left me in NSR for 3 days and then the next 2 weeks were hell with AF of 170 bpm dropping to 80 and then back again. I ended up in A & E 5 times in 2 weeks. They increased my bisoprolol and changed it to Sotalol and increased the dosage to 240mg per day. After that it seemed to settle for a few weeks but then I had a week long spell of bi/trigemini and ectopics and the local cardiologist suggested increasing my dosage to 280mg. Not sure if that worked but it seemed to settle again although I have managed to put on 7kg of weight since starting Sotalol. I seem to be in NSR most of the time now but still lack energy and find ectopics returning if I overdo the exercise. So, nearly 5 months on still haven't heard a word from the hospital which did the ablation but, fortunately, seem to be a lot improved as I was suffering AF nearly every night when I went in. I don't feel my QOL is perfect yet but it's a lot better than it was. The hardest thing is patience. I want to go back to 10 mile walks in the countryside but it's difficult to take things steadily. As someone else here said, ablations may be fairly straightforward but it is a major disruption to your body and especially the heart. Good luck and I hope it settles down soon for you.
Hello Kenny
I can sympathise! It really is a lottery and we always hope to have a winning ticket.
I had an RF + Box ablation at the beginning of July. They didn't keep me on medication and my heart went bonkers after. Afib and Flutter. This went on for 2 weeks. I found a cardiologist ( mine was on holiday) and she said we had to do something as my heart was " getting tired" ( I suppose that means temporarily dilated). She put me on Amidarone. I know it is a totoxic drug but my goodness it works! I have had no Afib or Flutter for nearly 3 months. I have to come off it in 2 weeks and see if the ablation has helped or not. Fingers crossed ! But these last few weeks have been bliss but I feel Afib/Flutter is waiting to pounce as soon as I'm off the meds. But I'm trying to stay optimistic.
I really hope you can see someone soon. The worry makes things worse doesn't it?
Take care x
Hope it all goes ok lilypocket x
The same wish to you! What meds are you on? A HR of 45 seems a tad low. X
I am on 2.5 bisoprolol Lily but unable to get to speak to the EP who did the ablation as they are behind. Thanks x
My cardiologist put me on Amiodarone as my HR dropped too. Didnt want me on Flec or Bisoprolol after an ablation for some reason. Hope we all get sorted 🤞🤞 x
Wishing you well. Keeping everything crossed for you 🤞
Thanks! They are talking about zapping my Marshall vein yikes! X
Hi Lily
I guess you know that Amiodarone takes a long time to leave the body.
Jean
Yes just hope it doesn't leave to much damage when it goes!
How are you now Jean? X
Feeling fragile and heart rate is all over the place. Had hoped that my feeling better yesterday may have continued. Fed up with it all, but thanks for asking. x
Are you still not taking Flec? Sorry it is taking a while to feel better. But you have been very poorly so baby steps to recovery. Take care x
great to hear of your progress lilypocket, hope NSR stays x
Really sorry to hear this, Kenny. I have been wondering how you were getting on as you had yours a few days ahead of me. I have been in NSR since the ablation as far as I know (my PAF was previously very symptomatic) but I seem to be getting quite a few ectopics. My heart rate is high, often in the 90s even when resting. After week four post ablation I stopped taking my 1.25 dose of bisoprolol so know that won't have helped with the high heart rate. The fact sheets have reassured me that changes in the heart rate and ectopics are normal after an ablation but I can appreciate that the constant AF is your biggest concern. Until the actual day of the ablation I had never met the EP! However, I was fortunate in having an excellent arrhythmia nurse who was a real support and I was able to discuss coming off the bisoprolol with her.
Please be reassured by your responses on here that many others have had episodes of AF during the blanking period and try to control the inevitable anxiety all this is causing you (easier said than done I know). Gentle yoga and focused breathing has enabled me to convert from PAF to NSR many times in the past.
I do hope things will improve for you soon and that you will continue to feel supported by the shared experiences on this forum.
Lots of useful responses here and - as others say - you're still relatively early on in the process. It's important you don’t push yourself to exercise! Just go for a walk every day. A brisk walk for 20 minutes is quite suffiicient and don’t choose a challenging uphill climb. Sometimes we make things worse for ourselves by 'testing to see if it's better'. Ive been there too. Doesn’t help - not physically and not mentally. Give yourself time to heal. Your heart will thank you for it even if you dont get the outcome you’re hoping for. And I'm sorry you're not getting the support you need from arrhythmia nurse. They seem to be a bit variable.
You'll get better, it will be like a light switch, eat plenty of salad to keep your minerals up
From someone who is now overdue their ablation im starting to wonder if it is the right thing for me. Can i say that although supportive your replies are turning me off having my ablation done. My ablation should have been done 10 months ago but has been delayed 3 times and now had to have another pre assessment and waiting on another echo. The way things are going im not getting an ablation until 2023.
So please everyone be more positive for us who are waiting.
Right now im thinking of cancelling
Remember that none of us are medically qualified so everything we talk about are our own personal stories. That's the function of this forum - to share experience good and bad, Whether an ablation is a success depends on a range of factors that your EP is best placed to judge. What is undoubtedly the case is that the vast majority of ablations are successful to a greater or lesser extent. Listen to your doctors advice and learn from the experience of others.
Malcolm I respect where your coming from but your asking people to either lie or not reply if they’ve had a negative reaction to an ablation. That’s not what this forum is supposed to be about in my opinion. It would become pretty worthless if people didn’t give their honest experiences. Although a lot of people have great reactions some people don’t. I’m one of them. In my opinion an ablation should be the absolute last step after all avenues have been exhausted. First step should be mega strict lifestyle change and this should be maintained for at least a year. Ablation comes with MANY risks and can be a very permanent solution to what can be a temporary problem. See my post for more info but people not giving their honest experiences and opinions makes this site fairly useless. You need to see both sides before making up your mind.
Good luck
I don't drink, don't smoke don't take drugs and lost 8 stone in weight is that strict enough,?
Well firstly Malcolm well done for losing the weight 👏
Secondly I would say I’m not sure what that’s got to do with what I was saying? The point I was making was you can’t expect to only see one side of an argument. This site is all about getting ALL the information whether you like what’s being said or not and then making your own mind up.
But as you’ve asked it would all depend on how long you haven’t smoked, drunk and/or taken drugs for I guess. Also it would depend massively on which weight you started at and which weight your currently at. Also what your current diet and lifestyle is like. You’ve done well but depending on your own personal circumstances, no it might not be strict enough. The fact you were able to lose 8 stone would indicate you weren’t living a healthy lifestyle before? If I lost half of that I’d be close to death. If I lost all of it then I would 100% be 6 feet under 😆
Hi ElliI should elaborate.
I have never smoked or taken illegal drugs and after being diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease I gave up alcohol in 2017 and then lost the 8 stone to combat the fatty liver.
In addition I have emotionally Unstable Personality disorder or borderline PD.
Along with depression.
This unfortunately means I am prone to emotional outbursts both verbally and in writing.
I have shall we say a very down day and then I struggle to express reasonable thoughts or actions.
I over react
I get frustrated and upset when things take years to achieve when in my mind should take months.
I have been diagnosed with AF since 2009 and ablation was suggested to me 3 years ago.
Once I finally got my head around the procedure I agreed to go ahead with the ablation however as expected when you have multiple conditions nothing is straight forward.
I know this but when I wrote my response article I was in a very low place.
What I am trying to say is we all have our own demons to fight and they are not always obvious to those on the outside.
What you're experiencing is not unusual. Have you talked to your doctor about this? As long as you O2 levels are good, you should be fine. If it were me I'd be talking to my cardiologist about a cardioversion.
I’m sorry Kenny I missed this original post, how are you doing now? It’s still early days nearly 2 months in but I am hoping you are getting some periods of relief.
I also hope your EP has outlined the next steps for you should the first cryoablation need a touch up. My EP explained before my first cryoablation that a second could be required. I don’t know tha Glasgow approach but expect it will be the same as here where the first cryoablation targets pulmonary vien isolation where most misfiring comes from. The second they use imaging to identify specific areas of electrical misfiring and target them. So it does depend where your triggers are how successful ablation number one will be.
Hello kenny.
I feel your pain mate. I had my ablation August last year and it’s been one hell of a ride. Especially mentally. I had 4 af attacks from oct-feb and they were getting increasingly worse until they stopped entirely and I haven’t had one at all since then. Sounds good on paper but the problem is I’ve swapped af for constant fatigue. My heart feels weak permanently. I’ve been “exercising”but it’s mainly just long walks and very light weights. If I do anything too strenuous too quickly my heart will pound away in my chest and I’ll need to sit down as I feel like I can’t breath and close to passing out. I’ve explained all this to arrythmia nurse and doctors but it’s taken me this long to get anywhere. They’ve given me an mri and apparently there’s nothing wrong with my heart and they seem to have given up on me entirely. There have been some extremely dark days. I’m on 36 and have two young kids to provide for but haven’t worked since the operation. Every time I get even the tiniest of colds it wipes me out entirely. Honestly don’t know what steps to take from here. Does feel truly hopeless at times. The only plus is I’m not getting af and haven’t taken any meds since February but I would take my old circumstances pre op in a heartbeat I think. No pun intended. Feels like my heart has been permanently altered.
I hate reading on here about people considering ablation when their symptoms are minor and/or they don’t seem to have exhausted all other options. For me an ablation seems to be sold as this miracle operation at times but it’s extremely risky and can alter your life completely. It should be the absolute last option in my opinion and only used when all other options have been exhausted entirely. A person should be ULTRA strict with their lifestyle changes for a good year or two before even considering this and i think they should have to somehow prove they’ve done this before being allowed to have the operation. Ablation is a very PERMANENT solution for what is often times a temporary issue. I wish I could go back but I can’t now and just have to hope everyday that my heart suddenly decides it wants to work efficiently again. If I didn’t think it would then I honestly don’t know what I would do.
My only advice is try not to sit around thinking too much about it. I know that’s almost impossible to do but it really is the only option as for me the depression is a killer if you sit around and think too much. Do your best to do some form of exercise but wait until your out of the blanking period and feel like your at some form of a steady heart rate and out of af. Build the exercise up EXTREMELY slowly. I started with half mile walks and built this up to 4.5 mile some 7 months later.
Good luck mate. Honestly I know exactly how you feel and sorry I couldn’t give you some positive news. I do feel like it’s good for this site and newbies who visit to see that this operation is not always the positive life changer it’s made out to be.
All the best 👍
Touch up ablation 
Afib returned temporarily?
In recovery....
Two weeks post ablation
