I had an an ablation for AF about 2.5 years ago. The first 6 months after the procedure were a bit ropey, although all AF episodes were under 1 minute. For the last couple of years, I have had no AF attacks that have gone beyond a few seconds in duration. However, I do suffer from ectopic beats, which have increased since the ablation.
For anyone who has experienced an increased number of ectopic beats following an ablation, do they slowly get more frequent?
This is quite common but once I sorted out the slow deep breathing trick and practised it regularly they went away after about three weeks. Does need effort though.
Can I ask you what is the slow breathing trick for ectopics please
Diaphragmic breathing (use stomach not shoulders ) and slow to six or less breaths per minute for at least five minutes. Longer and slower if you can. After a few weeks practise I would expect you to be down to four breaths per minute.
Like BobD I found breathing exercises made a significant difference.
In addition when my episodes of Ectopics were at their worst I also found that meditation really helped - there are a number of very good meditation videos on YouTube.
It some while but now I am virtually free pf ectopics.
Pete
it’s been over 2 years since my AF ablation and I still get ectopics and have fought hard to reduce them over the last year by changing my diet, mainly cutting out refined sugar and artificial sweeteners and gave up my very stressful job. I still get them when everything in life not quite aligned but I work hard every day to try keep them at bay. Also still on 200 mg Flecainide daily to also keep them under control. I’ve found ectopics to be just as debilitating as AF. AF episodes limited for now.
Hello John, I sympathise with you. I had an ablation in February which was unsuccessful and a second is likely. My AF is significantly reduced but I’m plagued by ectopics which leave me feeling dreadful and far worse than AF. I’m still clinging to the hope that things will settle down. I wish you well and hope the ectopics calm down for you
Hi Nan
Sorry your ablation didn’t work this time. The eptopic increase is not what I was expecting either after the procedure.
I didn’t show any AF on the 3 month bio patch I had ( though not convinced it’s gone completely), but it did show lots of pvc’s and pac’s.
I have tried over the last few weeks , ( as advised by the EP) to stop the bisoloprol and flecainide (which I have taken for 2 years) but the eptopic heart beats just come thick and fast ( up to 30% at times ) when I do, so at the moment still taking the same medication as before the ablation!
Hope things work out next time for you
Merri
Hello Merri, thanks for message. Sorry to hear you have these dreaded ectopics. What happens to you when you get them? With me I don’t get the long pause then thud of next beat but I get the long pause then a surge that makes my head feel weird and as if I could faint. Also, Brizzy mentioned he takes Magnesium Taurate. Do you take that?
I was told to come off the bisoloprol and flecainide before the 2week bio patch ecg , at about 3montgs after the ablation.
The eptopics just got worse so I was advised to take more flec when they happened or continue on a maintenance dose as before.
Then I came off the Biso but got 1 minute runs of tachycardia… so quickly went back on it at a low dose of 1.25 mg
So back where I started really , as far as medication is concerned.. I regularly take magnesium but have yet to get it to stop the eptopics.
I am off to see my daughter in Switzerland on Monday and I will have to contact my EP when I return to see where we go next with the meds.
Are you on flecainide?if not what are you taking to help..?
hi John, Iv had three ablations and still get ectopics, I had them years before my first ablation, but I wouldn’t say mine have increased in frequency or the amount I get since my ablations. 👍
I had an ablation in September last year and I got quite bad ectopics for a while. I have an EMAY ECG monitor and took a reading of them, to show the Doctor, when I went for a follow-up appointment in February. He said they were nothing to worry about and everyone got them. Since then, they have reduced a lot and I don’t notice them very often now. Hopefully yours will settle down. Good advice on here.
Hi John I had my ablation about 6 years ago, ectopic's plagued me for 6 months or so then I tried magnesium turate from biocare which at the time was recommended by various sources and I have to say for me they have worked, placebo? who knows, for me my ectopic's are now unnoticeable.
The key is to minimize anxiety as best we can. I’ve had six ablations and about a dozen cardioversions as well as been on the entire pharmacopoeia, it seems, to control atypical flutter and fibrillation … since 2013.
What helps when I’m feeling anxious are yoga and TaiChi exercises that focus on breathing techniques which allow the adrenaline effects to dissipate rather than snowball. I also drink a cannabis tea (which some might find objectionable legally).
Good luck, and remember: BREATHE.
In my case, it took longer I suppose, but, yes. Of late, well this year really, they have worsened to the point now of being persistent with less often, but still frequent, AF.
Steve
I agree about deep slow breathing to deal with the anxiety you can't help but feel while experiencing an off-the-rails heartbeat. If you're overweight and/or have bad dietary habits, lack exercise and/or don't always sleep well, those factors might also contribute. So sorry you're going through this.
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