Hi, I had a successful ablation December 2019 and had no problems once things settled down.
However the last few days I have been having a lot of missed beats which I can feel in my chest, I am a 67 year old male and I have been working hard recently also had a fair bit of stress with family and relationship issues. Is this a normal thing to happen under these circumstances or could it be af raising its ugly head again?
Could be ectopic activity so try the slow deep breathing excercise but any stress can exacerbate things so try to change your mind set stay well hydrated and try to relax.
If all else fails another ablation may be the way forward and with your past history that should carry no fears.
Thank you BodD. I was hoping you would reply I have a question for you, this is probably coincidence but I will ask anyway. I had classic migraine headaches for 30 years or more visual disturbances then maybe half an hour after they stopped the headache would start, I would have them at least twice a month and sometimes several a week. I have not had one after the ablation three and a half years ago, could there be a connection?
Migraine aura is often a function of the ablation and caused by the transeptal puncture when they move from right to left atrium. Nobody is sure if there is a conection between a hole there and migraine in other people but it is suspicious. I went through about ten years of similar problems when I was running my race team and working full time with little sleep and a lot of stress but that stopped when the stress did. I had aura after all my ablations for a week or two, hence finding out why and being able to warn others.
~Interesting Bob - having lived with hole in heart (ASD) until aged 32 migraines occurred along side - they did continue after op which I think was hormonal. Hemiplegia attacks were not uncommon either.
My late Mother carried this genetic condition passing it to me - she suffered very much with migraines chewing on Caffagot 90 to the dozen even after her hole surgically closed.
I do think there is valid connection here and wonder if it's the electric's. Both of us had faulty electrical circuitry, mine being reasonably knocked out 
during cryo-ablation Feb 2022 - fabulous quiet heart after all these years - unbelievable.
It hasn't lasted the distance, arrhythmia of different sort now but there we are....
Hi everyone, wanted to jump in on the Migraine conversation. I had them for years until I stopped eating grains. I stopped eating grains as an experiment after listening to the book, Wheat Belly. My husband and I both stopped and we lost a significant amount of weight as a side effect. However, after about 3 months in I noticed I hadn't had a migraine. Another wonderful side effect. I am wondering if AF, Migraines, low blood sugar all contribute to the electrical system haywire.
I also knew I had an MSG intolerance and when I learned from that book that wheat and MSG have a very similar chemical formulation and the body doesn't distinguish between the two, the light bulb went on.
it seems most of the inflammation is gone everywhere also. which leads to believe these things can also cause inflammation in our hearts.
just my thoughts one this.
Hi Peacefulneedshelp - thank you for your insights. I do follow gluten free, mainly plant based diet and have done for years. I agree that food intolerance can add to the mix.
In my late Mother's/my case the faulty electric's (T waves) went with the atrial septal defect as did the migraines. Also as mentioned hormones played a part too as I entered pre menopause -injected fortnightly as soon as aura evident.
Missed beats are most probably ectopics, but if you're not sure, either have your doctor set you up with a 7 or 14 day Patch, or maybe easier, get yourself a Kardia device and find out at home. If simply ectopics, no reason to treat, they are benign and sometimes the best thing is to pay them no heed.
If afib, then it really depends on your current burden. Ablation is not pass/fail and a success for some can be occasional episodes, that either go away on their own or with medications like a PIP anti-arrythmic. For those that want to be 100% afib free, another ablation is an option, but not a guarantee either. Ablation also comes with risks, including scarring and the more ablations you have the more likely it can develop into left sided flutter, which will now require an additional ablation. So use them wisely
I just had my first ablation seven weeks ago. If I ended up with only ectopics, or only 2-3 episodes a year, I would be happy and leave things alone.
Jim
Thank you Jim
I had a very bad time about 12 days after my ablation and ended up in resus but it soon settled down and i had no hassle at all up until now. I will a Kardia device as you suggested. Thanks again.
Hopefully just a blip. And if the ablation lines hold, ectopics should not break through.
I have the whole Kardia line that includes a credit size verision I keep in my wallet but if I had to pick one, I'd recommend the 6L model.
I think you'll find it easy to use, but if you have any questions just reach out. It saves the ekg's automatically and gives you the ability to either print them out or email to a doctor if you want. This is the remedy for that blank look Medics often give us we when we try and describe in words what is going on with our heart. When they look at an ekg, they take you seriously and equally important, it helps them guide treatment, if needed.
Jim
A few things to think about which may, or may not apply in your case.
If you had a Cryoablation, it’s possibly that one or more of your pulmonary veins were not fully treated. The Cryoablation is commonly used because it is generally quicker than an RF ablation and if the tissue around the pulmonary veins is relatively smooth and uniform in shape, they can be very effective. However, as was in my case, my EP was unable to fully treat one of my PV’s and so I had a second RF ablation to tidy up the loose ends.
It might be worth having your thyroid function checked because either an under active or more likely, over active thyroid is a common cause for arrhythmias.
It sounds as though you are already aware that stress and anxiety is a major contributor to arrhythmias, it’s just a shame they cannot invent a magic wand so we just have to deal with it as best we can.
Everyone gets ectopics or short changes to their heart beat, but unfortunately, AF’ers tend to be far more sensitive to changes than most “normal” people but if the missed beats continue, you need to notify your Doctor but try all the self help suggestions first…..good luck
I wonder if the migraine problems are more connected with your added stress problems.
Thank you Flapjack, all taken onboard and hopefully it’s back to normal tomorrow or better still before.
I don't know when you or Harvester had your Cryo, but since 2012 Cryo Balloon has been shown to be equally effective as RF, per the most definitive trial to date, Fire and Ice. I mention this because those currently trying to decide should not be dissuaded from Cryo because of issues from earlier Cryo technology.
ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161...
Jim
I’ve no idea if Harvester had a Cryoablation but I know he had an ablation in December 2019. My Cryoablation was in July 2017 and I’m more than happy to show you the EP notes regarding one of my pulmonary veins. Over here, a Cryoablation is almost always the first and very often the only ablation needed, which is why I said they were very effective. However, I will try harder not to give anyone the impression I am trying to dissuade them from having the best primary procedure available here in the UK.
Thanks also for the link to the American Heart Association Journal, but maybe the situation is different here in the UK. Every EP I have ever heard speak about this procedure does say that a further RF ablation may be necessary and explains the reasons why.
Yes, that's true, "further RF ablation may be necessary..." after a first cryo AND it may also be necessary after a first RF! That's because neither can promise 100% coverage of the pulmonary veins (PV). What Fire and Ice tells us, is that they are both equally effective (or inefective) for the first PVI.
On re-do ablations, you will want to use RF, outside of the PV, because Cryo is a blunt instrument and not focal like RF. So again, if you're looking at a first afib ablation, Fire and Ice are equally effective.
The other misconception is that ep's who use Cryo do not use RF when needed, such as on the right side of the heart or the left atrium wall. In fact, every ep I spoke to that did a Cryo PVI -- in the US, in the UK and France, all used RF if/when needed during the same procedure. That said, if someone is undergoing something other than an afib PVI, a good first question is to confirm that they have RF in their toolbox if and when needed.
Jim
Yes I had a cryoablation and I was told that they were very happy with the procedure and I had good deep freezing on all the veins.
Then all looks good Harvester, hopefully your situation will soon improve……
The one thing I am grateful for is that it does not feel like af, it takes a lot to stop me but I used to be totally wiped out with the episodes I used to have. All replies have been a great help and have put my mind at rest to a certain extent that I am not necessarily on a a course to full blown af episodes again. My ablation gave me my life back. Thank you all.
Thanks for that, of course we do not want your AF to recur but I know from my own experience, even it does, the symptoms are often significantly less than they were before the ablation so stay positive……
Magnesium taurate stopped my etopics almost completely. Still get a random one occasionally.
try not to worry too much about them. I suffer with them sometimes for a full week at a time then they just disappear!!! Iv had them for decades on and off.
They can be a real nuisance and cause anxiety sometimes too so try to not get over concerned with them. Make an appointment with your doctor and mention it to them but I’m sure you’ll be just fine.
I have a kardia alivecor device and have caught them on there to show my GP and EP. My EP wasn’t concerned at all and said most people get them but they are very very rarely anything to worry about.👍
thank you jetcat
I had a ablation for Afib in 2011. Nine years after my ablation in 2020, I started having continuous ectopic beats (PAC's and PVC's). My cardiologist said they were benign and not to worry about them. However, I am very symptomatic and notice every heartbeat.
My electrophysiologist told me premature atrial contractions (PAC's) do not lead to cardiomyopathy. Premature ventricular contractions (PVC's), if over 30% of your heartbeats, can lead to cardiomyopathy. My Holter monitor he performed in 2018 showed PVC’s and PAC’s. However, the PVC’s were not over the 30% burden. More recent EKG’s from December 2021 ordered by my cardiologist did not show any PVC’s, only PAC’s. My electrophysiologist said he does not usually perform ablations for PAC’s as they are not considered serious, especially as they do not lead to cardiomyopathy. However, if a person is very symptomatic with PAC’s, he has performed ablations successfully to stop the PAC’s. He said he is more successful in ablating PAC’s if they are occurring at the time he does the ablation because when they are occurring at the time of ablation, it is much easier for him to locate the source of the PAC’s and ablate that source. He recommended staying on the Flecainide 100 mg every 12 hours as it is working at stopping the PAC’s. He said the maximum daily dose is 300 mg.
As long as the Flecainide keeps working to keep the ectopics away, I will stay on it. I hope it will keep working and I can avoid another ablation. Hope all goes well with you.
Mark
I had similar after my ablation in 2019. I still have many ectopic beats each day as well as AF now and again, but not excessively symptomatic. Do you have an Apple Watch or Kardia to check if the palpitations are harmless or AF? An alternative is the new and inexpensive (£80 with no monthly fee) Wellue Personal ECG Monitor with AI. I use this these days and t gives a comprehensive report without any ongoing monthly fee. In fact, I'm putting my other up for sale now, it's that good.
Steve
I'd say both are possible, but hopefully it's something and nothing. Worse case, 4 years is still a good run. Important respite for you and your heart!
it could well be stress, but it has been very hot lately and even a friend who is perfectly fit and no heart issues has been having palpitations through the heat
Try to relax and stay well hydrated of course if they keep on maybe to set your mind at rest consult a medic
All the best
Ref the stress. I recently stumbled across a new breathing technique to calm the brain/nervous system down quickly. Take the in-breath in two parts, then exhale slowly either blowing out through the mouth or through the nose (preferably the nose). Do this a few times and you should feel calmer. And the bonus is - nobody knows you’re doing it. 😀
Hi
If you are on Metoprolol or Lor... a M. family as it showed pauses on my 24-hr monitor.
No pauses when changed to bisoprolol or diltiazem.
I cant have an ablation. Enlarged heart.
You must find out why and as you are at risk of stroke please take PRADAXA twice day or another anti-agulant.
Cheri JOY. 74 (NZ)
Missed beats don't necessarily mean AF is on the rise, but in my case they always happen when I'm under stress. Can you find some way to take a few minutes to calm yourself during crises? What sometimes works for me is closing my eyes, taking deep slow breaths, and thinking about something completely different and pleasant.
I had 3 ablations- third successful- AF free for about 1 1/2 yrs- but had a flurry of ectopic beats (pat’s, pvc’s) after each- could be recurrence or just normal sequela of ablation.
pac’s*
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To ablate or not...
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Ablate or not
