I had ablation procedure in December 2021 to treat my paroxysmal AF. I Was Af free for nearly 18 months and then it came back with a vengeance . Prior to the ablation I would have frequent Af episodes lasting 3-6 HOURS but after the procedure the episodes have been widely spaced out and have lasted 4/4 DAYS at a time. I take Flecainide as pill in the pocket and hate its side effects adding to the already built up exhaustion due to AF and general feeling of nausea and feeling rubbish all the time. I am also on 10mg Bisiporolol
I have another ablation lined up for end of August but am now going through another episode of AF which started one week ago. I’ve tried to contact my electrophysiology nurse practitioner and GP but they have not responded. Iam so concerned that my AF might change from paroxysmal to persistent and I hear that persistent AF is more resistant to treatment by ablation .
please let me know about the outcomes if you have had similar experiences. TIA.
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Far too soon to start thinking like that I would say. Not long now but by all means carry on trying to contact your team. That said, this close to your ablation I'm not sure they wwill worry too much. You don't mention anticoagulation but hope you are on one.
Just to cheer you up, I had three ablations over four years before my AF was terminated in 2008.
Episodes lasting longer than seven days (persistent afib) now and then should not affect your chances of a successful ablation. The concern is more long-term persistent which you are far from.
That said, the less time you're in atrial fibrillation the better, because we do not want to let the heart get used to an irregular rhythm.
So by all means, push your EP as much as possible to convert you one way or another.
I have had 2 ablations felt well for 4 years and was on flecanide twice daily l also had a pacemaker installed, but when the pacer needed changing it turned upside down was taken into hospital 3 times for a cardio version My medication has now changed to Amadrone and a beater blocker , this has helped a lot better than flecanaide but there are side affects with this as well
I am sure that when you have your second ablation you will feel a lot better good luck with that
While on waiting list for ablation my paroxysmal AF progressed to persistent for the last four weeks. I was a bit worried this might affect ablation but the EP didn't seem bothered. The procedure went well and I was given cardioversion at the end to put me back in sinus. Four weeks on and no issues (but very early days).
Hi - Bob's advice is most helpful. I had a whole day of awful AF soon after my ablation for atrial flutter in 2019. It came on after stopping my bisoprolol. One 5mg tablet stopped it in its tracks hospital, fortunately. It has now returned but, fingers crossed, bearably so. You don't say if you are in the UK or how old you are but permanent AF as we get older seems less problematic for many. My elderly friend has had it for years now, for example, and he barely knows it.
Hope you're OK. Sounds similar to me. Had ablation in May 2022. After the blanking period things relatively quiet until Nov 23 when loop recorder picked up a short run of HR running at 180bpm. After that things quite quiet again. Loop recorder came out in March then April sat in the office and felt a 20 second run of something. Whatever it was left me feeling tired, lightheaded, nauseous, headache. Went home and went to bed to sleep it off. Another short run of something end of May woke me up. Then came something much bigger. Only 3 weeks ago literally walked into living room and "bang", heart started thumping very fast. Started feeling dizzy and lightheaded then started to keel over. Realised what was happening and dropped onto the settee. Sat there trying to keep it together. Whatever this was lasted a good 2-3 minutes. After heart rate slowly went back to nirmal. Longest I've ever experienced. This really knocked me. Afterwards felt nauseous, woolly headed, headache, felt so poorly. Went to bed and when fiance popped up he said I was grey. Have also noticed a bit of breathlessness in recent months too. 3 weeks on and feeling better but not right. Going to be fitted with a 14 day ecg and echo. See what comes of that!
I have had runs of AF lasting for more than 7 days and worried about it becoming permanent. Last year I was booked for a cardioversion but when I went for a preliminary meeting with the AF nurse my rhythm had changed to ‘almost bigeminy’ (showers of ectopics) and I didn’t have it, finally went back into sinus. I only take diltiazem as I have never been prescribed Flecainide.
Hi. My PAF became persistent after the first ablation resulting in a second ablation within 3 months of the first. I have been AF free for 10 years. I hope this helps to reassure you. Best wishes.
One theory: The first ablation took out the aberrant cells that were causing afib then. After the ablation, you went back to your lifestyle and something deteriorated a bit and you have other aberrant cells now.
I speak as a person who treated PAF with lifestyle, in my case, losing 80 lbs, giving up sweeteners and dairy and meat and most processed food, and getting regular exercise. I had kidney disease as well, and lupus and obesity along with worsening PAF, so I was motivated. I did have one episode about a month ago, that lasted a few hours. The diet is difficult on occasions where everybody else is oohing and aahing over deserts.
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