Here we go again!

[Easternmost]

I had an ablation for atrial flutter in October 2020 and have been episode free until last night, when I was blue-lighted to resus with over 200bpm. Back on Bisoprolol which makes me feel tired all the time and feeling a bit flat this morning. I was hoping that the 95% success rate for flutter might have been me, but they said I also show SVT - very fast regular beat. The scar tissue may have reduced or a new rogue pathway developed - have been referred to arrhythmia clinic.

Has anyone had a similar experience or just some encouraging words they can share please?

[CDreamer]

I think it is quite a common experience. I had 2 ablations for AF (I also had Flutter but that disappeared after the second AF ablation as they did try to ablate the Flutter as well) but both eventually reappeared about 3 years later.

I know at least 3 of my friends who have had several ablations for Flutter and are now on medication, probably for life.

[Easternmost in reply to CDreamer]

thank you - I know it’s more about quality of life than cure, but had hoped that with the high success rate I would get lucky!

Do your friends manage a decent outcome on meds where ablations have failed?

[CDreamer in reply to Easternmost]

Variable to the person and to the frequency.

[CDreamer]

Comisserations by the way…..

[BobD Volunteer]

If your heart develops any arrhythmia it displays an ability which is pretty determined. Ablations may stop that particular one but if it wants to it will start a different one at some point. After three AF ablations and ten or more years AF free I developed atrial tachycardia and eventually had an ablation for that. Three years down the line I now have a pacemaker.

Grab every moment of NSR, love and cherrish it and really look into all the life style changes . None of this will kill you but the more proactive you are the beter the outcomes.

[Easternmost in reply to BobD]

I couldn’t agree more - my ticker is clearly determined to be a speed freak, but it has been a joy for the past 3 years to be free of beta blockers and not worry to much about episodes.

The bit that gets me down Bob is that at 55 if god willing I have another 35+ years, I can’t see how ablations/meds can be sustained enough to keep a decent quality of life?