Post Ablation Arrhythmia Flare Up

[watten1]

I had an ablation in mid February. Recovery has been slow but steady. I have not had any significant arrhythmia issues since early March, until today. I had a flare up just after lunch with the HR fluctuating between 75 and 135. It has lasted an hour so far and is still going as I write this. I know that there is a three month blanking period which I am still in (just over 2.5 months) but have others encountered a late flare up such as this and gone on to have a successful ablation? It was all going so well and I was starting to feel myself again. I am now starting to wonder.

[CDreamer]

It’s not unusual to experience episodes for many months and eventually settle so patience and deep breathing & relaxation.

It could be that your meal irritated your heart, try more frequent, smaller meals for a while.

Hope it settles soon for you .

[BobD Volunteer]

From my experience (3 ablations for AF ) three months is the very minimum. Many people are still improving at nine months or a year. Don't worry be positive and stay well hydrated.

[watten1 in reply to BobD]

Thank you for the responses CD Dreamer and BobD. It's disappointing as I have a cycling trip with my children booked in early May (which could not be postponed) and I was hoping that my cardiologist (session next week) might suggest I could do some gentle riding. We will see what she says. It had all been going so smoothly and perhaps I was lulled into a false sense of security. I am still at an elevated rate, around 100 now, which isn't too high but it is in my usual context, with resting day rate of 65 or so.

[Singwell]

Yes, I did AND have been in Sinus rhythm now for 2 weeks shy of 12 months. Hang in there! Do you have a strategy for pills if needed? You won't want it to go on. Contact your arrhythmia nurse for advice if you have one.

[watten1 in reply to Singwell]

Thank you, very helpful. Everything seems to have calmed down today, I am pleased to say. I do have a tablet strategy for when these things happen but I held off taking more than my usual number last night so that I could see how things were today. So far, so good. It is still early days for me (less than 3 months from ablation) but I guess I had thought that the episodes were in the past. Now I know that this isn't necessarily the case and will take any future occurrences more in my stride. As you say we hope for the best!

[dedeottie]

Hi there, if you do a search for recent posts you will see that Zi had exactly the same . 3 days tachycardia around 6 weeks post ablation and then a month constantly in and out of slow AF at around 7 months. This seems to have now resolved as well now. It is is so disappointing when it happens but I think we just have to be patient and hope for the best. X

[watten1 in reply to dedeottie]

I seem to be back in sinus today and will take the future as it comes. The responses I received really helped me. Thank you for your message.

[Ppiman]

I developed further ectopics and mild tachycardia, similar to what you describe, well over a year after my ablation for atrial flutter. Since then, I have gone on to develop infrequent AF, also. I suspect, in your case, it will be a manifestation of the scarring the ablation causes, as this develops ("matures" as the doctors call it) over the months following the ablation procedure, i.e. the so-called "blanking period".

I think everything will have settled well by about 6 months or so and if this continues, then your doctor will likely investigate the cause.

Steve

[Truffles2]

the day before my 3 month mark after ablation I had some AF, but have not had any since. Only in the first few days after CABG which I’m told is normal

[DKBX]

In the same boat. Had my 5th ablation March 31st. Great for 2 weeks and then back into tachycardia with bouts of atypical afib tossed in. Scheduled for a cardioversion May 12. Meanwhile on metoprolol and diltiazem (and anticoagulated of course). Completely idiopathic and hopefully just a blip during the blanking period. Fortunately very few symptoms other than feeling like I’m moving in treacle.

Hang in there. Schedule a cardioversion if needed. It’s a strange beast.