Post ablation experience please

[Wonky_heart]

I had an A FIB ablation on the 3rd (I'd previously had an atrial flutter ablation 18 months ago), and I am aware of the blanking period, but I'd like to know other's experiences as things don't seem to be going the way I'd hoped.

During the ablation I went into A Fib needing to be shocked and then when the vein was cannulated I went into A Fib again but when they cryo was done, this stopped it. So I had hopes that because he could get at the exact spot, that things would be good. However, since then I've continued to have hours of AF (initially far worse, but now back to pre ablation levels) and up until today, I could still walk, go up stairs, exercise etc, but today all the breathlessness and dizziness have returned.

I know it's early days and I'm hoping others also had this continuing symptoms and then went onto full success. I'd just like to know others experience.

[Buffafly]

Did you read the ‘recovering from ablation’ leaflet? The word ‘exercise’ jumps out at me - your heart is telling you it needs rest, rest, rest! It obviously didn’t like the ablation and wanted tea and sympathy until it recovered from the shock.

I think you will find the leaflet in ‘Pinned Posts’.

[Buzby62 in reply to Buffafly]

Here is the Recovering from sheet

api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

Best wishes

[Buzby62]

The main thing to do is to keep your arrhythmia team aware of what is happening. You should have been given their contact details and they are there for you until discharge about a year or so later. Don’t just wait and think it’s okay as it’s the blanking period. I say this from experience as they may want to intervene if your AF is persisting. I am still in contact with mine after 16 months but soon to be discharged with permission to contact them directly for another 12 months if I have any symptoms. My experience in my bio.

Best wishes

[Ppiman]

I am on a waiting list for an AF ablation after my first, like you, for atrial flutter, back in 2019. Can I ask what your AF symptoms were like that brought on the need for the new ablation? Mine aren't too bad overall, but my AF episode are becoming much more regular with frequent and many ectopic beats now virtually daily.

Steve

[Wonky_heart in reply to Ppiman]

My AF was very symptomatic, dizziness, breathlessness, extreme exhaustion. I couldn't walk up stairs, or any distance and when my heart rate went into the 200s I had a lot of chest pain. Following my ablation, despite having increased ectopic beats and now an increasing number of AF episodes, I'm not as symptomatic as before. I still have the symptoms but not to the same level, only once yesterday was I unable to go up the stairs and this lasted for about 3 hours. I know it's still early days but I had hoped the number of AF episodes would be a lot less by now. Time will tell how it goes......

[Ppiman in reply to Wonky_heart]

It's a devil to have to go through this after an ablation but let's hope it settle soon. I have read that the real "blanking period" is 4-6 weeks, that is, as a guide to be able to fully ignore any AF or whatever as an indicator of likely future recurrence, so you have a way to go yet.

Steve

[AfibSufferer]

You're right, it's early days. It's only just over 2 weeks since your ablation. Give your heart time to recover and settle. Are you taking any AF mediation? I took mine (daily Flecainide) for 2-3 months after my ablation as AF preventative measure but also had to take a bit extra (PIP) when I went into AF in the first 2-3 weeks after the op to get back into NSR.

[Lilypocket]

Perhaps the arrhythmia is coming from somewhere else and not just the pulmonary veins? You might need a top up RF ablation as sometimes happens . But it is early days.Take care

[sponable98]

I've had six AF ablations, (age 53-66), and after each there is definitely a "heart intensely irritated" stage for a few weeks, and while less noticeable from three weeks to 3 months my heart was still irritated. That said, I did not experience the symptoms you are describing, mostly strange pains, modest amount of ectopics, and fatigue upon exertion for a few weeks. I also learned that the less I did in the first weeks, the fewer the symptoms. I would certainly contact your EP and describe the symptoms to see if they can get you to a better place! FYI: Each of my ablations worked for about 1-2 years before the AF came back, I hope that your outcome is better! There are other options that are more invasive, but actually recovery is not too bad!