Ablation 8 months ago

[Clarendon55]

I’m having skipped beats a few times a day and a 10 or so second fast beat once or twice a week. Paroxysmal before with infrequent episodes. I’m not on any medication - I’m 70 - should I be worried - could these little ‘episodes’ cause strokes or other medical problems?

[CDreamer]

It’s quite common to find that ectopics and faster HR occur following ablation, mine took about 9-12 months to settle following my ablation, they are annoying rather than worrying if infrequent.

[AmandaLouise77]

I have similar, one year on. My EP says not to worry about short fast runs (less than a few minutes) or ectopic beats (both PVC and PAC) or short pauses. They're all normal, we just feel them because we're so tuned in to our hearts. In fact he's just taken me off my anticoagulant with instructions to restart if I have and episode of AF. I monitor with my smart watch.

[Jajarunner]

No, totally normal. Talking to family and friends they've noticed these too, obviously being more vigilant since I got afib! Most people don't.notice them, but we afibbers have become hyper vigilant!!!

[mike1961]

Short runs of atrial tachycardia (AT) here too - 1 or 2 short (few seconds to a couple of minutes max) runs of AT most days (usually early afternoon for some reason...) HR around 110 -120 (NSR around 50-60 for me). My EP nevertheless considers me to be doing very well given that I had been in persistent AF for 10 weeks prior to my last/second ablation in Jan 23 (first was a PVI in Aug 18).

My AT episodes are usually 5 to 20 seconds when they occur at rest (HR 110bpm), but can be a couple of minutes if they happen when I'm out walking (HR a bit quicker too at 130bpm). To put it another way, the faster my HR in NSR the faster the HR will be in AT with the episodes lasting a bit longer. Vice versa at rest.

[37Polly in reply to mike1961]

Thanks for posting this note. Helpful for me since I am 7 months out from ablation for afib, atypical aflutter and tachycardia, and lately have had high tachycardia, 140-156. They are very brief, but sometimes daily and may happen in the middle of the night…very frustrating because I think my ablation is failing. No one ever suggested this was even possible.

I fear anxiety is causing manyof these as I worry about the news ( I m in the US! Enough said😫) I am trying a near news blackout, but find I even dream about the news😖) NO events for three days and hopeful.🙏

Thanks your note gives me optimism. 😌. Proves the value of this site, once again.

[mike1961 in reply to 37Polly]

AT is very common after ablation for AF - up to 80% in some studies. If the AT episodes are only short like ours, then not considered to be enough of a problem to be of significant concern by most EPs. If the AT becomes persistent, then more straightforward to ablate than AF.

[37Polly in reply to mike1961]

Thank you. I had no idea, and now feel better about mine.

[jeanjeannie50]

Even people who don't have AF get little runs of a fast heart rate. They don't notice them but of course we're tuned in to notice every abnormal thump.

Jean