The Yo-yo of the blanking period continues!

[Lilypocket]

Hi

Just a little update. Just over 2 weeks since ablation.As some of you know the EP took me off medication,put me back and finally took me off again last Monday. PARTY TIME! Since last Monday I have had Afib everyday for 2 to 3 hours (except Thursday). This morning it started at 6h15 and finished at 8h30. From about 7h30 pm this evening things changed I was going biefly in and out of Afib over a bit more than 4 hours . I have nearly reached for a bit of Bisoprolol sometimes but resisted as I'm not very syptomatic. Just need a good lie down once a day!

I am in Normandy at the moment near Cherbourg and had a ( very!) gentle swim in the sea. Lovely. It helped my stomach which is still bloated and a bit tender ( Vagal nerve irritated?). I'm sure the tablets I have to take since the ablation for acid are not helping.

So all in all I don't feel too bad. The episodes are more frequent than before the ablation but still stop with no help from medication or a hospital visit so far! Funnily enough I still think it may work. The EP is on holiday so I shall Just carry on living my blanking period and keep everything crossed 🤞🙂🤞🤞

Take care

Lily xx

[CDreamer]

Sounds as though things went well, long may it continue. Hope that you have read the AFA Fact Sheet, written by patients - for patients, on recovering from ablation and take it slow, slow, slow for some months. Enjoy.

api.heartrhythmalliance.org...

[Lilypocket in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CdreamerI wouldnt say that as I have so much Afib and I haven't read any posts on here about people having as much Afib after an RF ablation. The ablation was very comprehensive so not sure what to expect as an outcome. I wonder if it is because my Vagal nerve has been seriously affected. I have had a bloated and sore tummy since the ablation. But as I can't do anything about it I'm just getting on with it and making a note of the episodes for when I can next see a cardiologist. The EP is out of the picture and discharged me back to the cardiologist who is about to retire. Oh well I shall keep taking Vit. C, magnesium, anti-coags ,and Esomeprazole and sit it out. However I am still enjoying my holiday but feel a bit perplexed by the "After ablation" and how much worse the Afib is for the time being.

But I am absolutely not stressed 🙂

Take care x

[CDreamer in reply to Lilypocket]

Great you are not stressed! The AFA forum (run by the Arrythmia Alliance) is more informative for AF & ablation in my experience. I had 2 ablations - 2013/2014. I found that EPs & Cardiologists all underestimate the healing period. Some people do recover within a few weeks but many others take months. Unfortunately my AF returned after 3 years.

[Lilypocket in reply to CDreamer]

HiDid you have a lot of Afib after your first and second? x

[CDreamer in reply to Lilypocket]

Not at first but I overdid things before healing and ended up in Acute Cardiac Unit for 3 days as I couldn’t sit up without HR rising above 180 and passing out. I then had 2nd ablation(which is very common if AF returns after blanking period) 3 months later, 3 blissful years AF free!

[Lilypocket in reply to CDreamer]

My Afib seems to be movement related too. In one episode I leant over to pick up a bottle and off it went. This morning I got carefully out of bed and boom off it went. What did they say caused your episodes after the first ablation?

[CDreamer in reply to Lilypocket]

There is no one cause but many triggers. An expression I heard in answer to that exact question by a prominent EP at Patient Day - ‘EP’s burn and patients heal’. It’s common to need more than 1 ‘touch up’ ablation or need 2 or more ablations. Some people are lucky and heal well and never have AF ever again so doing all you can to maintain NSR in the first few months is important.

Have you read Dr Day’s book - The AFib Cure? It explains exactly what you can do to help yourself after ablation so AF never returns.

drjohnday.com/the-7-most-im...

Bending over was a big trigger for me but eating main meal in the evening was an even bigger one.

[Lilypocket in reply to CDreamer]

Yes I have that book. The problem is the EP took me off all meds and my arrythmia sets off just lying in bed or sitting or bending. No triggers particularly and not things I can avoid doing really 🙂. When the EP put me briefly back on the meds I had no Afib for 7 days. But then I had an episode which included an extremely slow beat and huge pause . That worried him and he took me off the meds again. Since then my heart is in and out of Afib everyday. So trapped between the devil and deep blues sea. I would like a low dose (50 mg) of PIP Flec and beta blocker for these episodes. I'm sure that would help me through the blanking period. But my EP and cardiologist are of one mind. No meds. So hard to avoid Afib while the heart mends. Just hope I get lucky and this sorts itself out in a positive way 🙂🤞

[Lilypocket in reply to CDreamer]

I can find the Arrythmia alliance site where is the forum?

[CDreamer in reply to Lilypocket]

Go to search box for Join a Community & look for AF Association Forum. I can’t post a link but maybe jeanjeannie50 can? She’ll see this post as I’ve tagged her. I’m out and about so on my phone.

[MoyB]

I had my ablation done on July 6th so, like you, I'm early in the blanking process.

So far, I haven't been aware of too many AF episodes, but the short 'blips' I'm getting seem more frequent now than a week ago. I've also had quite a few occular migraines. I've had them for years but usually only two or three times a year. Since the procedure I've had a lot more than normal but they have come and gone very quickly - sometimes within 5 mins instead of the usual 20. I have noticed that my pulse rate is now around 90, but generally it is steady, rather than erratic. Occasionally it drops down into the 70s, but mostly it stays higher. When I get my 'blips' it tends to shoot rapidly to 120 or higher, but it comes back down within seconds. It's quite a weird sensation, but it's like it used to be years ago before I was diagnosed. Does that mean there's improvement? Have I turned the clock back all those years? We'll have to see!

I haven't had any change made to medication at all. I'm still on Diltiazem and Apixaban, the same as before the procedure. I don't have beta blockers as I have asthma. I didn't know I had asthma until I was given beta blockers 22 years ago and had an asthma attack within a day or two of starting them. Further investigation confirmed asthma which I've probably had - previously undiagnosed - all my life. My little dabble with the beta blockers did me a great favour by bringing it to light as I have since been properly treated and monitored for it.

I hope things soon start to settle down for you. Keep us posted!

xx Moy

[lotusvx220 in reply to MoyB]

I had mine on 22 June went back in af that evening was jump started again next day been back in sinus rythem since then but they put me on 200mg of amiodarone daily since then coming of it end of August so that will be the test if I continue in sinus rythem it's been so good to feel normal again after 10 weeks of continuing af

[Lilypocket in reply to lotusvx220]

HiI can't take Amiodarone I have thyroid nodules.

X

[Lilypocket in reply to MoyB]

Hi MoyI'm so glad things are going well for you! A higher resting heart rate is a good sign for a succesful ablation if you believe some of the studies. But all in all we are all on uncharted waters after a first ablation - the fact sheet is excellent but is a base of overall experiences. After, experiences vary and are highly individual it seems 😉.

My Afib stops and starts just by moving sometimes so difficult to avoid !

I feel there may be something else at play but will have to wait until I can see a Dr.

X

[MoyB in reply to Lilypocket]

Just because you have one condition doesn't mean you can't have another! It makes it difficult to know what's going on, though, doesn't it? Thyroid issues can certainly mess with your heart as I know only too well. so, as you say, there may be something else going on.

It will be good to get checked out again, if only to put your mind at rest. Anxiety about the ongoing AF is only likely to make matters worse, so the sooner you can see someone about it the better.

xx Moy

[Lilypocket in reply to MoyB]

Don't worry I'm not anxious 🙂 I'll get to the bottom of it xx

[MoyB in reply to Lilypocket]

👍❤️xx Moy

[CDreamer in reply to MoyB]

Ocular migraines are common after ablation. It’s mentioned on the FactSheet. The normally don’t last as the septum puncture heals disappear. Wishing you both long last NSR.

[MoyB in reply to CDreamer]

👍❤️ xx Moy

[jeanjeannie50]

Sorry to hear that you're having these episodes Lily. Are they making you feel tired?

Jean

[Lilypocket in reply to jeanjeannie50]

No strangely enough! I feel "switched on" but have a nap anyway which I really need.What is more worrying is the eppisodes are not diminishing. I think something else is causing them( Vagal nerve, thyroid. ..)

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lilypocket]

Here's the link CD has mentioned:

healthunlocked.com/heartrhy...

Have you ever had your thyroid levels checked? It doesn't sound right to be having AF attacks as often as you are. I know I'd be tempted to go back on to meds again.

Jean

[Lilypocket in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I check them every six months and see the Endo once a year. I think it might be damage to the Vagal nerve and inflammation that is the culprit. At least I drop back into NSR spontaneously so I'm not giving up hope!

Frankly when I get home in a week I'll go back on them as my Cardiologist is not on holiday in August and is 10" from my home. I shall pressure him to give me something to help the heart.

When I was back on meds I had 6 days free of Afib so they do help. But that very brief huge drop in HR (39 bpm) followed by a long pause put the wind up him . Since he took me off meds I have Afib everyday. Today it was on and off all day which is new. But still had a little swim ( the heart was in and stayed in NSR during my dip) Thdre was a Grey Seal tracking my sons it was quite funny!

X

[jeanjeannie50]

Yes, I can understand that low heart rate being worrying. Just a bit too low. I hope and pray that you will soon feel better.

Jean

[Lilypocket in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean!

[Emgee]

All the best to you from Canada.