I had my Ablation about 3 1/2 months ago. I did not have any AFib recurrence that I'm aware of during the blanking period and was taking a beta blocker, a rhythm med, and anticoagulant. Was a bit rougher blanking than expected with early fever, regular headaches and low energy etc but no AFib! Hooray ... Well, at 3 months got the thumbs up to go off the meds and was pretty excited to have reached that point finally in this journey. I'm about two weeks into the no meds and just had an AFib episode. No triggers...didn't have any alcohol, no big meal, no high stress, light exercise, regular sleep hours. But in middle of the night there it was. Argh. So did the pills in pocket and that did seem to do the trick within a couple hours. Two days later did a short hike, very moderate, throwing sticks for the dogs, etc..hardly pushing it. But definitely had a couple dizzy moments when standing up and felt a bit blah the whole time. When I got home I laid down for a bit and AFib came on within half hour. It stabilized itself in about an hour without pills .. but overnight AFib came back again and this time I had to go to pills in pocket again and it normalized in 3 or 4 hours.
So that's where I am now...honestly a bit depressed but what can ya do.
For those of you that decided on a second ablation, how long did you go after your first one? Is this basically how it goes? I feel like I'm back to the start, maybe even worse, and that after a while even these pills in pocket won't work. Trying to stay hopeful that things may still improve but that's not how this AFib thing has worked in my experience. Right now even when not in AFib my HR is still pretty elevated (I suppose to be expected) and exercising is harder. I used to run and trail run quite a bit but that level of exertion seems far off...maybe one day. I know I'm not yet 4 months post ablation but being off the meds only a couple weeks doesn't seem to be going well.
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Firstly don't be too dowwn hearted. AS we explain in our fact sheet on recovery (see below) many people are still improving at nine months or a year. The "blanking period os very individual and not set in stone.
Regarding repeat ablations I always waited around a year between my three as i think too many people panic and rush into repeats before the heart has fully healed. No Af since third by the way.
Thanks BobD...yeah trying not to get down. I know all these journeys are very personal and a lot going on in our heads. I did read the sheet on here some time ago and it was helpful for sure, especially in learning about ocular migraine which I had never had until post ablation and it wasn't mentioned at all by my docs..freaky the first time that happens.Anyway..trying to realize may still be healing etc..and giving it plenty of time.
I hope three and done for you..that's great. How often were AFib episodes recurring after procedures 1 and 2?
Time for heart to settle down yet you have not been off the meds for long. Hard I know but try to remain of the flec as a pip for as long as possible. If the AF continues to become bothersome and the episodes become more frequent talk to your cardiac nurse. It is quite common for the cardiac nurse to put you forward for a second ablation which usually works better the second time around. You’re not at that stage yet, remain calm and be safe in the knowledge that there is treatment down the line if your AF worsens, hopefully your just going through a blip and your heart will settle. I had a second ablation 16 month after my first and feel much better. Good luck.
Thanks stoneyrosed...my doc office talked to me today and they too were saying I appear headed toward a second ablation...possibly this summer which would be about 8 or 9 months or so after my first one, but will meet with them a month earlier in person to discuss everything and make the firm plan. They are recommending I go back on my daily rhythm med schedule soon since I've had three episodes so quickly off the meds and none during my 3 month blanking. Luckily I didn't really have any negative reactions to the meds overall so that is part of their decision I think.. sigh ..just sort of rolling with it.Thank you! I'm really glad to hear the 2nd one has been much better for you. This first one hasn't been particularly easy for me .harder than I thought it'd be really. Like that document here says..a lot of us apparently find it harder on us and body and headaches and whatever else than is often marketed. But so it goes!
Yes my first one was a cryoablation and 2nd was a short RF Ablation. Yours will be on similar lines I expect. Don’t despair just go back on the meds they should keep it at bay until they decide a plan for you which will probably be the RF touch up ablation. As others on here say it is a horrible condition but there are certainly worse conditions than AF to have. Acceptance is a good way of keeping anxiety away, hold on and enjoy life. 👍
I'm going through something similar. I had a cryo ablation last September (2022). Good freeze times on all 4 pulmonary veins (left and right, inferior and superior). At 3 months I was advised to stop taking Flecainide. Every time I try weaning myself off, I slip into AF. I go 2 to 8 days of no AF, then an episode which reverts within 20 mins to 3 hours to NSR following PIP Flec.
So for the past month I've been back on the daily Flec and Dilt and I feel fantastic, no AF or any strange beats. Cardiology are talking about a touch up RF ablation, must be a sneaky rouge signal breaking through. We have 6 month wait list here in New Zealand.
Blake, that sounds remarkably similar indeed! Good to hear that things are better for you on the daily meds. I will start that soon. It really does feel like I would have a similar pattern of going maybe a few days without AF and then episode occurs, and things feeling a bit unstable. Have you had headaches at all since your ablation? That's been a notable symptom on and off for me, but nowhere near as bad as it was for the first week. I was hoping it was a side effect of the meds but it came in a couple times without meds also. Anyway..just one weirdness in this weird condition. It does sound like a second touch up ablation is in our future!
Ah interesting ..yeah mine often come on first thing in a.m...that and my resting HR is still a lot higher than it was before ablation.. that may take some time to come down if it's going to. Thanks for your story. Sounds very similar, and we are about the same age and fitness level.
I'm not sure whether this is real or imagined, but I feel like the Flecainide makes me thirsty, which if I don't drink enough water, gives me a headache, particularly when I first wake up.
My resting HB is around 65bpm. In the first week post ablation was about 75 bpm.
Flec is known to cause dehydration. We’ve had a chat on here about this. I’m raising it with my cardiologist when I speak to him on Monday. I purchased some urine test strips off Amazon which confirmed I was chronically dehydrated. It started soon as I commenced taking it. Doesn’t matter how much I drink (2.5-3L a day) I can’t hold water in my tissues.
Ok, that HR is a bit lower .. pre ablation my resting overnight HR was low to mid 50s, and right after ablation was 80s...very slowly going down to mid high 60s before I went off meds...now it is 70-75.
Don't get too down with this result very common for people of all ages and afib stripes to need 2-3 ablations (maybe more) before things really settle down and all the cheeky rogue signals are kept at bay for a good long while or the episodes are pushed well into the infrequent territory. Probably a wise decision to go back on the anti-arrythmics on a daily basis to restabilize the heart due to your frequent recent episodes and give your heart time to fully heal and be stable (as much as possible) before ablation #2. In my discussions with a couple of EPs they are not keen to rush into ablation #2 until a good 8-12 months post 1st ablation (though I am unsure if this is the practice for all eps or just the ones I have spoken to). For myself similar to you (PAF) , had ablation #1 Oct 2020 then off meds after 3 or so months kept having pacs and breakthru afib so back on meds daily tried again at 6 months and same thing so stayed on them till 2nd ablation in Oct 2021 then basically same thing as after 1st ablation tried weaning off meds (anti-arrythmics) 3/6 months but again started having break thru afib so back on meds to stabilize. Had third ablation for pacs and afib in Sept 2022 and have now been able to come off anti-arrythmics post 3 month blanking period with a few heart instability episodes but no full blown afib and great reduction in pacs (though not completely controlled). Am in month 3 now with no meds and things knock on wood seem to be holding where feel like I can exercise but more intensely and push myself a bit more (but using good dose of common sense). Stay positive as best you can as there is a future for you I am sure that provides greater heart stability (though your journey like mine will probably have a few twists and turns in it)
Listen, calm down. I have Afib, have had an ablation, and I'm in the medical field. I know it feels like you might not get your life back. First off, why would you be concerned about a second ablation? Depending on the type of Afib you have (paroxysmal, persistent, permanent; and it doesn't sound like you have permanent) the chances of success (a measure of no A-fib episodes within a certain timeframe) increases to somewhere in the ballpark of 90-95%. You've got a better than average shot of A-fib not returning at 3-5 years I believe, if you get it done. I've been treated for afib AND A-flutter and I'm at 4 years post. From time to time, I may throw a PVC (Premature Ventricular Complex) that just feels like a palpitation. I've even gone into Afib for literally a second or two and it snaps back into normal sinus rhythm. The episodes are very few and far between. If it ever gets worse, you bet your ass I'm getting a touch up. For me at least, the worst part was walking like John Wayne for a couple of days as far as recovery goes. I was on Xarelto and Flecainide for a bit but stopped early. The "pocket pill" gave me relentless constipation and I was so dizzy for the first month, that I felt like I was going to fall off the earth and I was working literally trying to save people from dying; so that sucked. Pro tip: Don't do CPR a week and a half after a procedure. Now, I'm on a 325 aspirin and a single dose of Diltiazem daily and I'm doing pretty good. There are some factors that you have to consider that make each experience particularly unique. The type of Afib, your age, and any structural changes of your heart due to the A-fib are all factors. This is scary, I know. The very most important thing you can do is BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES allow yourself to be dismissed. If you're still having A-fib, be adamant about treating the cause instead of medicating. If your EP won't do it, you can always fire them and go somewhere else. In the meantime, you MUST take care of the risk factors that include: DIET, WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, TRIGGERS (NO DRUGS, CAFFEINE, OR ALCOHOL), SLEEP APNEA, HYPERTENSION, ETC. Don't lay down. This is YOUR life.
I am at the 4 month mark as I had my first ablation last November and so far I would say It’s worse now than before I had it done as I now go in to tachycardia a lot which makes me get more tired I am also still on all my meds, since having it done I had one good month when I had three weeks with nothing but since then I am in and out like a yoyo. I am seeing my EP on Wednesday which got cancelled from two weeks ago so I will find out if he wants to do another ablation which I don’t really want but know I can’t carry on like this.
I hope yours settles down I just don’t think mine will it has just played up too many times right from the start.
Thanks Bell50...I hope your EP has some good ideas on next steps. Sounds like we had our ablations at roughly the same time .. I hear you, after a while you just are ready to do something! Because it isn't a great life going in and out like that. Keep us posted and best wishes on yours settling in eventually also!
Can see that you’ve had some great replies . Please don’t despair too much , 3.6 months (?) is still early days for healing ❤️🩹 I had my 1st ablation with Maze procedure in Aug 2020, and I had not realised how long the recovery would take . If you think about it , it’s a lot for the heart to go through & recover from. Our EPs are great, but its day to day work for them, so I think they unwittingly give the impression that is an easy recovery ….. We’re all individual & it does take time ,more than we perhaps expect . I did well after mine , steadily improved for 10 weeks , then overdid things on one day, eat late & bingo I had an major AF setback , my Flecaneide worked & it settled down once I got my head around the fact it was a major invasion of my body & I needed to be more gentle & structured in my recovery . It was lockdown, I was just relieved to have been able to have the ablation , there was no real guidance for my recovery . The guys here were great , lots of supportive advice & I eventually was able to come off all drugs except my daily Rivaroxyban ( Xerelto) keeping Flecaneide as a PIP
All went well for for 2 years 5 months post the last AF episode in the recovery period , I had got a bit casual & had stopped listening to my body ……. Then Bingo! Last Sunday, had a long tiring day, we’d eaten a late meal , which left me with digestive discomfort . Couldn’t really settle , woke up at 3am ……to my surprise & horror , had started a sudden AF episode that lasted 9 hrs , 3 am onwards . I realised that I’d let my PIP prescription go out of date by 3 months 🤦♀️Tried to remind my fuzzy brain what the emergency dose was … I took the old drugs but didn’t get the dose right . I did not fancy going to local A& E , as we’re in middle of an NHS crisis here & it was also the 1st day of a Doctors strike ….. I lay as still as possible trying to remember what I’d done 3 yrs ago . Took some ECCs on my device to send ti my EP when I woke up . Luckily our GP surgery we’re FAB , got my new pack of Flecaneide 2 hrs after phoning them , sent ECG from my watch to my regular Cardiologist & he set up a phone consult & a heart monitor is winging its way to me ….SO, I was fortunate 🍀 It went well for me on the day …… Equivalent to doing a 9 hr workout with my HR av 155 was exhausting , but I’ve taken it easy for a few days & its getting easier. No one was more surprised than my Cardiologist or me- but I had ignored the warning signs of tiredness .
The point I’m trying to make by recounting my story is Always Listen to your body ! Mine had given me a few clues in the preceding week or so, but as I said , I’d got casual , because I’d been feeling so well . Im hoping that I can avoid another ablation , as looking back it was a much more major procedure than I’d realised . So Good Luck , give your self time for a steady, structured recovery ❤️🩹 give your heart time to recover & I really hope it all goes well for you 🙏❤️🩹🙏
Bad luck. I can imagine how you feel. My ablation for AFl in 2019 was a success, but I now get frequent runs of ectopic beats with mild racing and occasional AF with the same. I've read that it is at twelve weeks that doctors expect the ablation to have worked or not, but I well recall reading a now lost to me large study that showed many patients had AF episodes for up to a year and more after their ablation before settling down.
In reality, I suppose that, as doctors don't yet understand the underlying causes of arrhythmias (it sems likely to be some kind of inflammatory process), then they can't truly know what an ablation achieves or why it succeeds or fails.
Sad to say your experience is fairly common. Like the others have said on here, it sometimes takes 3 or 4 ablations to get all the places where the impulses have broken through the scar tissue. Take care and work with your Cardiologist.
Good comments already. Relax and breathe deeply. I’m scheduled for my fifth ablation at the end of this month. Each of the previous ones lasted from 1-3 years. One just has to hope and be patient.
since you are in the States, I would suggest you go with Natale or Wolf instead of the same ep. The reason is they have experience dealing with difficult cases . I guess your ep is not a high volume yearly ablationist. It is all about experience and skill set which come with the volume of yearly ablation.
Good comments here...much appreciated. I'm not overly hating the idea of a second ablation..just was hoping for a one and done. I'm sure like all of us! I seemed a good candidate as have no other underlying heart conditions, healthy weight and exercise, diet, sleep, etc. Ironically enough about 5 yrs ago I went on a more (not 100%) vegetarian diet, eating better and less often, keeping up exercise, and dropped around 20 lbs. I wasn't huge but I had the slowly increasing weight of age going on. Feels great especially for inflammation and general energies, especialky good on the joints for running. Ironically enough, getting basically all aligned with everything they recommend for good AFib health...and that's roughly when my AFib journey began! Coincidence of course, but I did tell my docs about it .. just another of the electrical mysteries of this AFib thing. They concur that lifestyle wise I've kind of maxed out what I can do so off to the med and then ablation.Overall I think I have (I try to have) a pretty good attitude about it day to day...it made a huge difference once I got in the system, assigned a cardiologist, and learned what this darn thing was and a plan moving forward. At first I was freaked out and felt really asea.
But as we all know going in AFib is a real downer...it sucks the energy out of you, dizzy, crazy heart flips, and adds to anxiousness etc. Then once back in sinus it's like the sun comes out!
Hello Banquo, please read my post to Afibflipper on post just before yours! If we all can't be brought back to NSR than we need to pray for the peace to accept what has been placed upon us and there is only one place to find that. GOD Bless!
My two ablations were a little over a year apart. The second ablation was April 2022. I’ve been in NSR since. My electro cardiologist kept me on my meds (Propafenone and Metoprolol) but stopped the blood thinner about six months ago.
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