Three weeks post ablation - slipped beats

[Jcaskey]

Hi all. Had an ablation on Feb 9th. First two weeks were a breeze. Zero symptoms. On days 15 started getting skipped beats. Felt normal rhythm but the delay was hicupp/gurgling. Felt like frog was in my throat too. They don’t last long, usually less than 4 min. Goes back to normal sinus rhythm. Sometime Afib happens after. Anyone have similar experiences?

[stoneyrosed]

Very early days to worry, your heart needs time to settle from the procedure and can take up to 12 months to completely settle down. You may experience short runs of AF until then. If this is your first ablation sometimes a second procedure is necessary but your nowhere near this stage yet. Relax and don’t do too much strenuous exercises or heavy lifting. All the best !

[BobD Volunteer]

read this healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[Jcaskey in reply to BobD]

thank you!! Appreciate the article. Will read it and get informed.

[Ppiman]

Yes indeed, and now three years after my ablation. It caused me to buy an Apple Watch and, eventually a Kardia 6L, and now the new (and excellent) Wellue AI ECG monitor. These skipped beats are actually extra beats that slip in between normal beats and cause a delay before the next normal beats. They are called "ectopic" meaning they arise from the wrong part of the heart (i.e. from cells other than the natural pacemaker in the aorta). There are two kinds depending from where the ectopy happens: PVCs (from the ventricles) and PACs (from the atria). Both are said to be harmless in the sense that they do not cause any dam age to the heart, even though they feel disturbing.

But, in your case, so close to your ablation, the chances are very high indeed that after about three months, and perhaps even up to six or longer, the scars formed in the heart from the ablation will, as the doctors say, "mature", and you will be free of all arrhythmias!

Steve

[Jcaskey in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve. Yes I think those are PACs. I had those before I had ablation when I was stressed out from work. They happened in clusters this time which made them unnerving. Yesterday was a great day. No episodes. Hoping today is the same. Small victories.

[Ppiman in reply to Jcaskey]

I think PACs are far less common than PVCs but they can spark off AF, apparently. I've had them all day today - and they are very hard to ignore!! I hope you have had a better day.

Steve

[sportscoach]

I've had paroxysmal AF since 2004, had my second ablation on 22/03, my first was back in 2016. First week did nothing I'm into the second week now and just started taking a quiet walk on the flat nothing uphill, listen to your body I have been a swimming coach working with swimmers, triathletes and Ice swimmers for the last 20 years helping many athletes on a rehabilitation program after injury and illness, it will take months to get back to 100% but don't rush it or it will be one step forward 20 backwards.......Be patient which I know people involved with sport are not.

Watch your nutrition and don't eat big meals, eat little and often, a large meal can put as much pressure on your heart as exercise, my medic friends will tell you a lot of heart attacks they deal with are after a person has eaten a heavy meal.

My local university hospital call me in occasionally to talk to their trainee nurses and junior doctors on coping with AF from a patients prospective, its good because many are totally unaware on its impact on peoples life and agree they will be more aware of the condition and have greater sympathy in the future......All the very best with your recovery.

[Jcaskey in reply to sportscoach]

Thank you for the advice. I am a hockey player and yes I agree on the patients. I have been taking it easy but it is hard… looking forward to being free of AF.