8 weeks post ablation

[dangalf]

Feeling rather demoralised at the moment. 8 weeks post cryoablation now. Initial recovery went well. Was tired but nothing too bad. Since week 3 feel like I have been having a lot more ectopics than usual. Have also had 5 episodes since Week 3, all at stronger intensity than was my norm pre-ablation. Given the study posted on this site a week or two ago which said the 3 month blanking period needs amending it seems that it is very likely the ablation has failed. So a lot of time, effort and energy for nothing. In a low mood thinking that at 43 I am cursed with this crazy heart forever now and it's only going to get worse. How utterly depressing.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ectopics are a common side effect of ablation and whilst irritating, are generally benign. I think most of us have gone through that period so please don't be depressed. The "study " you read is not accepted by all by the way and most certainly from my experience I would say it is far too soon to decide it has beeen a waste of time. I can remmeber sitting with friends on the stairs of the ICC during one of AFA Patient's Days in early October following my third ablation in May 2008 having some serious ectopic activity yet that eventually faded and I have been AF free since. Occasionally I would notice a few ectopics but the slow deep breathing exercise soon stopped them.

I know how much one sets hope on abaltion being the end of AF but please give it time.

[dangalf in reply to BobD]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Should have been clearer in my original post that have had five afib episodes. They have been stronger and longer lasting than pre ablation.

[CDreamer in reply to dangalf]

I suggest that you ring the Arrythmia clinic sooner rather than later. I had similar after first ablation in 2013 so had a second ablation about 5 months after the first, that worked.

Ectopics are very common following ablation and may take months to settle, but settle they do eventually.

You don’t say whether or not you were asked to continue medication after ablation?

[dangalf in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the advice. Will call them today. Am on blood thinners and have flecainide as pill in the pocket. Took it yesterday but it took a long time to work (5 hours) and the episode was one of the strongest I have had. Still feeling knackered today after it.

[CDreamer in reply to dangalf]

Many people are asked to stay on Flecainide as daily dose for several months following an ablation to ensure the heart stays in NSR.

[50568789]

You have my sympathies. I'm nine months in to my post ablation and there have been a few ups and downs. Had to have a cardioversion to deal with an AF breakthrough triggered by another medical procedure, and been afflicted since Christmas by Flutter, thought it was all a waste of time at one stage, but kept in touch with Arrythmia Nurses along the way to seek advice and make sure I was doing the right things and reviewed by EP (who reduced my betablocker dose). I'm on the list now for a follow up ablation to tidy up the Flutter, but thankful it has settled to just being in the background, like a sleeping dog which I occasionally trip over. Have to watch stairs and hills but otherwise things feeling pretty normal (for 74), so life goes on and I'm taking a positive view on it. Coping strategies like deep breathing, meditation and Tai Chi can really help. Have faith and go for it.

[OzJames]

i'm not sure whether you were on any drugs but i've heard people take flecanide for a period of time post ablation to help the heart finds its feet so to speak. I know just prior to my cardioversion i started flecanide and then post CV kept on low dose flecanide for a couple of months, i went 11 months without any AF

[dangalf in reply to OzJames]

Just on blood thinners daily and flecainide as pill in the pocket

[OzJames in reply to dangalf]

maybe ask if taking low dose Flecainide for a few months might settle things down and give your heart a chance to find its rhythm. Also make sure you are well hydrated as being dehydrated can bring on ectopics which can sometimes trigger AF. I also had low levels of Vitd3 and magnesium and now supplement and several months later hardly notice any ectopics

[Bear910]

I know how you feel. I’m six week’s post flutter ablation, and still on high doses of bisoprolol and flecainide plus apixaban. The initial tiredness has eased and my heart rate seems good but that’s probably still the meds. I’m just hoping that this ablation has stopped the flutter and high HR that put me in hospital for a week last summer.

But i do feel like I’m going into a fib every few days (never really had symptoms, can feel it when I lie down and see patterns on watch), so I’m not even sure I will be able to stop any meds at follow up appointment or how soon they would consider scheduling another ablation for the a fib. I’d kind of cleared the diary for the start of the year but have lots of holidays planned for later on this year too.

I’m 48 and like you, was really hoping this would fix it but I guess it just needs time and I need more patience!

[Lilypocket]

It's early days still but perhaps as it was a Cryoablation the rogue currents may also be coming from another part of the heart not just the pulmonary veins so a touch up ablation may be needed with a RF ( radio frequency) or PF ( Pulse field). Or it may just all settle down for you in time 🤞Take care

[MaryCa]

Are you supplementing with magnesium taurate and co enzyme q10? Obviously check with pharmacy first. But I take these with Xarelto, Lisinopril and occasionally bisopropol. And relax. The more stressed you are the more they happen in my experience. Also watch the sugar consumption as I find sugar drives my heart bonkers.

[HollieAdmin Administrator AF Association]

Hello,

Thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear that you have been feeling low. Having AF combined with undergoing procedures can cause a variety of emotions to arise but it is important to be kind to yourself.

Please do reach out to either your Doctor or Ablation Team to discuss your symptoms as they will be able to advise you personally. They may also be able to provide guidance on next steps.

If you would like any support, advice or further information, please do reach out to our Patient Services Team via Patient Helpline or via email, please visit: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

We are always here if you need us.

I would also like to direct you to our Recovering from an ablation for atrial fibrillation information sheet. It contains supportive information that I do hope you find helpful: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Kind regards,

HollieAdmin

[Cliff_G]

As per everyone else's comments, but I have read opinion that the blanking period should not be thought of as a do-nothing period. Several here have mentioned taking Flecainide regularly to allow the heart to settle post-ablation. This was certainly the case for me post my 2002 and 2024 ablations, and did the trick. Worth seeing if this is a possibility.

[Teresa156]

Hi dangalf,

You have my sympathies too. I was in a similar position to you after my first and was utterly depressed. You know when it hasn’t quite worked. I’m glad you are going to ring the Arrythmia nurses, they should hopefully investigate more into it and will want to see ECG readings I would think.

It just means that they haven’t necessarily targetted all the Arrythmia that you have in the first ablation as they just go into the pulmonary veins on one side of the heart where a majority of af is from.

In my second ablation, they discovered I had three areas of pulmonary veins that had reconnected, plus when they went into the atria, a flutter was ablated. It may be the same for you and it’s coming from another area. The second ablations are more ‘bespoke’.

I had my second six months after my first.

[Snowgirl65]

Just a comparison here, I've had 3 ablations, the first being cryo. My first week after was glorious as I had no a-fib, ectopics or anything, and seemed to be healing just fine. But then a-fib episodes began and continued for a few weeks -- I was sure the ablation failed. Suddenly they literally stopped. I was amazed. I was told the heart was inflamed from the procedure, just like a cut on your leg that swells a bit after the original injury, then finally goes down. It's way too soon to determine if your ablation held or not -- just give it more time.

[Heartach]

don't be discouraged. Am a caregiver and my husband's atrial ablation was a failure. after ablation he had occasional flutters to only go to consistent flutter after the 3 months. Long story short in his case Atrial issue to damage to go through another ablation so AV Node Ablation is the last resort for him and happening in 2 weeks. You may have other options so talk to your EP. Best of luck

[sponable98]

My experiences, not advice!

Reflecting back on my 16 years (at age 52 then) of afib and ablations: FOR ME (we are all different) I have had an overall better quality of life after my first afib ablation without a doubt! I compare this to the 2 years seeking help from regular cardiologists who frankly are on auto pilot to med you and tell you "it won't kill you".

My story is a bit longer though: I started having routine bouts of 10-40 ectopics per minute in 1998 (age 41 then), not all the time but too dang often! I was a Fire Captain at that time and my paramedics called my boss and he insisted I be transported (probably smart!) Evaluation after 2 days in hospital was take these meds your heart is strong and healthy, "not to worry most doctors get PVC/PAC when going through med school." Back to work, many different meds helped some, but still had episodes until 2011 when I found an EP who did PVC ablations. My excessive runs of PVC/PAC issue disappeared and has stayed that way ever since (age 67 now). So they do work, for me anyway!

Now, the PVC ablation didn't stop my afib, so a few months later i got my first afib ablation and that worked for a while. (definitely had some episodes in blanking period on many of my ablations) and then had a period of 1.5-2 years with no afib (I was on meds, but likely less, can't recall) That was the plan get off the meds! I have had 5 more ablations since that time (too many! don't do this many!!) Each one lasted about 1.5-2 years, but my QOL was much better and the number of occurrences was definitely less and I usually auto converted in 4-12 hours. (I think 1, possibly 2 cardioversions during that time). Overall, its been a great 15 years (52-67) because afib has not been excessive or permanent. I developed Atrial Flutter with my AFib a few years ago and had my final ablation for Afib & flutter at the same time (Feb 2024) Held for a year, but returned Jan 2025 when I went totally off Rhythmol and toprol xl for about 5 months, this one required CV to get me back to NSR.

My point is, for me, life has been better because of the ablations, and the earlier article may be correct! But it is SPECULATION and medical science requires significant and thorough scientific validation thru many controlled studies, otherwise it is just bs! Not unlike my bs above, but this is simply my experience (No Advice Intended).

So that is what I find extremely helpful about this wonderful site I somehow found during my journey. I get information, ideas, speculation, etc and that arms me with questions for my EP! and also allows me to follow up on other deeper internet research. None of this is MEDICAL ADVISE, that is for you to get from your DOC!

I strongly suspect and truly hope that your journey will be better than you expect today!

ps. There are other methods to manage Afib like the Wolf Mini Maze performed in Houston, TX, and other similar procedures by other surgeons. I will post my experiences about that in a few months, as I am 3 days post Wolf Mini Maze operation today. So far much easier than expected, and he is a remarkable surgeon, but it is way to early to tell if successful, complications arise post surgery when you "Pi$$ Off your heart". Very serious, potentially very expensive procedure. Search Bambi followed by two numbers on this site to read about her experience, and others as well (Doesn't always go as quick and easy as she experienced). Do much much more research as well. Good luck and best wishes, if anyone read this far! 😁

[PurpleGirl05]

I could add that I too had crazy Afib episodes that were stronger after ablation, and was immediately put on an AAD (amiodarone). Did the trick, but not a long term solution of course. But if it's true that Afib begets Afib (read that somewhere), maybe going on an AAD for awhile could help your heart heal?