AF following ablation

[Taz333]

I had a catheter ablation in June 2024. My AF hasn’t gone away. This is disheartening for me. Has anyone got a similar experience?

[Jalia]

I'm assuming that you would have been in sinus rhythm straight after your ablation ? Do you mean that you have gone back into AF continuously now? Or are you having intermittent bouts and what sort of rates?

[Taz333 in reply to Jalia]

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I was in normal sinus rhythm after the ablation but noticed palpitations 2 weeks after the procedure. I had paroxysmal AF prior to the op. My symptoms are more frequent now and getting picked up on my blood pressure monitor. My heart rate isn’t racing. But I have extra beats and pauses between beats.

[Jalia in reply to Taz333]

I can understand how upset you must feel. Presumably you are still in the blanking period. Some of what you are experiencing could be ectopic beats. Are you able to speak to the arrhythmia nurse at the hospital where your procedure was carried out? Have you relayed your fears to your GP? Do let them know how concerned you are.

I had an ablation in June also but this was my 5th. I had quite a few things going on for the first 2 weeks or so but all settled now. Sometimes it does take a while for things to settle which is why there is this blanking period...3 or 6 months, depending on who you are talking to.

[Sid-cgo in reply to Jalia]

Why have you had 5 ablations if the first or second didn’t work? I thought ablation was supposed to be a cure.

[Jalia in reply to Sid-cgo]

Hi Sid-cgo, ablations are not a cure but may keep AF at bay for a considerably long time or lessen the burden. Its all about improving quality of life .When I had my first ablation I had been experiencing episodes of persistent AF for over 15 years so was told that I would most certainly need more than one ablation.

There is a limit to how much ablating can be done at any one time. The EP cannot go in with 'all guns blazing ' and burn everything in sight 'just to be sure !

I've been an unusual case and lucky to have an EP who did not give up on me.

[Pingpongy]

I have just been diagnosed with AF so just on medication , hope mine stays stable , sorry to hear your struggling x

[Taz333 in reply to Pingpongy]

Thank you. I hope yours stays stable x

[Fullofheart]

I would say it's still early days. Took 5 months for me!

[Taz333 in reply to Fullofheart]

Thank you for your reply. It’s reassuring to know that. Hopefully mine will settle down in time.

[dogsneedwalking]

My story is I had a Catheter Ablation last March which failed and during the 12 hours afterwards my heart wouldn't revert back to sinus rhythm. Outcome was IV Amiodarone and a night on CCU. Spent 10 days in hospital and discharged still in arrhythmias. Cardioversion last August and was in NSR for around 3/4 months but AFib reared it's ugly head again and following my Cardiology follow up in May this year I was told that they cannot increase my Amiodarone dose and only option now is Pacemaker. I am trying to 'cope' as long as I can but it's not easy as having episodes on a daily basis which started in August and last from 8+ hours to minutes. I think it's about how we all cope with our AFib, but I like to be independent and not ask for help but some days are awful to be honest. Take care.

[Sweetmelody in reply to dogsneedwalking]

My tale is similar to yours. I’m getting a pacemaker next week and am eager and delighted. I proactively asked for help and am getting it. I’ve had enough of afib, drugs, ablations, atrial flutter, drugs, atrial tachycardia, drug-induced bradycardia, cardioversions (9), drugs. I’m done with “coping.” A pacemaker offers the possibility of a near-normal life. Many on this forum have said it has been “a game changer” for them. I know there are no guarantees, but the odds are greatly in my favor that I can leave this awful afib carousel behind. That’s my take anyway. Good luck to both of us!

[Missionwoman in reply to Sweetmelody]

I don’t have af but I recently had a pacemaker fitted. It’s been life changing and I feel really good. Good luck with yours and I hope it makes a difference.

[Sweetmelody in reply to Missionwoman]

I love your supportive reply! Thanks!!

[dogsneedwalking in reply to Sweetmelody]

Hi there, please let me know how you get on after implant. Take care.

[Taz333 in reply to dogsneedwalking]

Thank you. Sorry to hear about your experience. Afib is certainly hard to cope with. I hope you’re ok. I just expected to be “fixed” after my ablation. Maybe I need to be more patient. Take care.

[Sweetmelody]

Will do. And will be out walking my dogs with joy. Springer Spaniels. Let me know how it goes with your way forward.

[skyseaka60]

Please research and try Ubiquinol COQ10 which is necessary for every muscle and cell in your body with the Heart being the largest muscle.

[PowerFly]

Blimey, reading of all the failed ablations mentioned in this thread convinces me I made the right decision NOT to take that option! As a 69 yr old male, slim fit and active; keen hill walker and cyclist, I have suffered "ectopic beats" as long as I can remember. In January it got really bad (same happened 7 years ago) and I was diagnosed (after many ECGs and an echo cardiogram) with persistent AF. I had a cardioversion, the full 3 shots with the burn marks to prove it, and it made not one iota of difference. No sinus rhythm for even a second. Consultation with EP suggested that the AF has probably been ongoing for longer than thought and that that, in combination with a 12 month waiting list, means that the heart was so set in its ways that an ablation had very little chance of success. He also stressed that even if it worked it would probably need multiple attempts and I'd still be on meds to control it. As it was not greatly affecting my life other than affecting my ability to walk briskly, or cycle, uphill, I decided to just suck it up and get on with life. Now on bisoprolol and anticoagulant and the proud owner of an electric gravel bike, and an electric touring bike. I ride and walk with a keen eye on HR and life is almost normal. There's no anxiety awaiting further procedures and the worry as to whether they'll work. I'm lucky, I guess, that my persistent AF is not as debilitating as some folks. Still have the chest thuds, but I can live with that.