Concerned first ablation hasn't worked

[EatPorridge]

I had my first ablation for persistent Afib just 4 weeks ago. All was good for a week and then it returned. I saw my cardiologist who said this can happen and doesn't necessarily mean it has failed. To help improve the success he has given me some medication and provisionally booked a CV for three weeks time if required.

He said it was too soon for me to be talking about a second ablation. Has anyone else experienced this and later found some success? Am I being too impatient?

[mjames1]

You're still in the blanking/healing period, so too early to tell. Sounds like he may have given you a strong anti-arrythmic Amiodarone to help with the cardioversion? While discouraging of course, try and stay positive. Many have had early episodes like this and their ablations eventually succeeded.

Jim

[EatPorridge in reply to mjames1]

Hi Jim. Yes you’re spot on. He has put me on that medication for a short period as he said it will help in trying to make the ablation a success. Thanks for taking time out to reply

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes. It takes a minumiun of three months for tehe heart to heal and many people are still improvng at nine months or a year. I will link to our fact sheet on Recovery below.

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[EatPorridge in reply to BobD]

Thanks BobD. The fact sheet was helpful.

[Ppiman]

I think you are worrying needlessly at this early stage - but entirely understandably. I also had a bad episode of AF two weeks after my ablation for AFl (flutter) in 2019, but it settled eventually with bisoprolol and the ablation has stayed a success. That said, I do get occasional AF now, but that is a separate thing, I have been told.

I have read that the first couple of months after an ablation are a period where recurrence of arrhythmias are ignored by the cardiologist / EP. This is called the "blanking period" as doctors "blank" their concern for that peiord since such recurrence does not indicate failure of the ablation. Recurrence after this can, I gather, point to a later return of AF but, again, I read one very long term study that showed the majority of patients who had these early episodes were still free after 24 months.

Steve

[Snowgirl65]

Please read BobD's Facts Sheet. I had the same experience after my three ablations -- fine for a week after the ablation, then episodes returned for a while. Your heart is healing and likely to have blips in the process. I know it's concerning but is perfectly normal during the blanking period.

[EatPorridge in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thank you Snowgirl65 and to others with their reassuring posts. My wife has also said I’m too impatient and need to think of it as a process rather than a quick fix. The fact sheet was helpful to read too. Thanks all for taking time to reply.

[Banquo]

Congrats on the 1st ablation and trying to gain back some of the freedoms you had...it is such a mysterious ride, this conveyor belt of Afib. Definitely not uncommon to have symptoms again during your blanking period. I think most good EPs would not think about a second procedure for minimum 6 months to a year, as the healing cycles are too subjective. I am post 2nd procedure (done 9 to 10 mos after my first) myself and went off the meds a couple months back. Hope springs eternal. Hang in there!