After an RF ablation in September 2022 and 14 months free of arrhythmia I am experiencing my 5th episode this year. I'm not complaining. The episodes last max 4 hours and I take PIP ( Sotolol) which is way better than every 2 days for 6 hours before. So I expect when I see my cardiologist in February she will put me back on daily meds. My question to you hearties is as I have a dilated right atrium (but normal BP) is it worth trying for another ablation? I have read that an enlarged right atrium predisposes to lone Afib. Anyone been in or currently in the same boat?
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Lilypocket
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I often see BobD say that ablations are not a total cure for AF. I've had 3 myself and still in AF now, though don't have the high heart rate numbers so much, I'm afraid I believe him.
I know absolutely nothing about dilated atriums, have you tried Googling it? You would have thought that someone on here would know something about it.
Hi Jean Thanks for replying. I don't really mind - it has been a vast improvement so far and I have never had to go to hospital to be converted at least. I never expected it to be a cure but just slow down and diminish the episodes which it has ( so far) I really think it is vagal related. My episode this morning kicked off at 4 am when I got out off bed for a bathroom visit. Trigger what trigger ? 😅.
I just assumed my right atrium was enlarged due to years of Afib. that is why I thought I would ask here.
How are you Jean? After a tough time with pneumonia ( last year?).
Getting out of bed and going to the toilet are both AF triggers. I always sit on the side of the bed and take my thyroid pill which has to be taken away from other pills for it to be most effective. Then going to the toilet and the slightest effort when passing urine can put our hearts into AF. Our heart has probably been lovely and calm while we're asleep, what a shock for it when we suddenly go from being in bed to standing up. As we grow older we have to put just a little more effort when passing urine. Does the heart like that - no.
Take care my friend, you probably do the things I've advised anyway, but other forum members may not realise what can set hearts off beating abnormally in the night.
It set off as I sat up before I even got to the bathroom . I always sit up and wait for a couple of seconds before standing up to let blood pressure and heart etc settle. Hey ho.Glad you are well
I don't have any experience, but I have read that if the cells in the heart become stretched they are more likely to become arrhythmic so I guess that is the case with you. The right atrium is the site of atrial flutter, but whether that is relevant, I don't know. I have read that enlargement can arise from a range of conditions but I would think it to be AF in your case.
If your symptoms are bearable, it might be better either not to treat, or to treat conservatively with rate control or PIP? I am in a somewhat similar position and awaiting an ablation, but I would like to discuss this in more depth with a specialist first. Having such discussions on the NHS is far from easy.
As for triggers - well, I think once the internal conduction system of the heart becomes prone, and this itself seems to be a variable thing over time, then I get the feeling that a whole range of external forces can set off an arrhythmia. I find even leaning forwards or stretching upwards can do it.
I am not symptomatic apart from a bit of a tight chest ( like when you walk up a hill) and a bit of light- headedness as the heart tries to re- boot.
I don't have any other heart pathologies for the moment just lone Afib. I thought that after the ablation, which considerably reduced my Afib burden, the right atrium would reduce in size. My cardiologist doesn't seem bothered as my BP is about 120/70 . My EF is a bit high - 72% so no real signs my heart is struggling (yet). The only other people that sometimes have an enlarged R atrium are high level athletes and I'm definitely not one of those !😂
Yes my triggers are ridiculous sometimes. I had two separate episodes which were triggered by walking upstairs and then drinking room temperature water from a bottle, 2 from having a glass of water after eating and the last one just just sitting up from lying down in bed. The only time I have NEVER had an episode is after a glass of red wine or a 25cl bottle of Heineken. I have therefore come to the conclusion that I am allergic to water 🤣.
I think my Afib is genetic - my father had it.
But more seriously how many ablations have you had Steve? How fréquent are your episodes and are you very symptomatic? I live in France so seeing a dr face to face is very easy with an internet app called Doctolib. You go on line and make an appointment so no having to try and wheedle around protective receptionists for an appointment .
I think you are right to want a chat first about having an ablation but even then generally cardiologists prefer medication and EPs will always recommend an ablation so sometimes difficult to get a balanced décision.
I seem rather similar to yourself. I had an ablation for persistent fast atrial flutter in 2019 but since then, although no more AFl, AF and ectopics have slowly increased. The cardiologist I see is an EP. He ordered an MRI a short while back to see if I was okay for flecainide, which I was and it showed my heart hadn't changed in the five years since the last one. That was such a relief and likely has contributed to my being able to cope much better these days with symptoms as the stress factor has reduced dramatically. I haven't taken the flecainide (well one tablet) as, despite the specialist's reassurance, I worry about that drug as I also have LBBB, which Dr Google tells me is contraindicated with flecainide.
I get along well with my specialist, and it's such a well respected heart centre but communication with doctors is pretty awful on our NHS!
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Art or the heart?
It's back!!! 
Well it's back
Third Times a Charm- Ablation!!
Cost of ablation for AFIB left atrium? Already had right atrium for aflutter and SVT. 
