When you have a catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation they call the three months following the procedure the “blanking period.” It takes three months for the heart to fully heal from the procedure.
During the blanking period, you may have varying degrees of afib episodes or episodes of other arrhythmias such as atrial flutter. And you may experience other side effects from the procedure. Most of these things are considered normal during the recovery time so if you experience any of them it’s “par for the course,” as they say. This is why you can’t judge the success or failure of an ablation until AFTER the blanking period.
You’re also instructed to take it easy 4-6 weeks after the ablation as the heart is still fairly inflamed. They advise minimal exercise (if any at all) and no hardcore activities. This is where most people make a mistake – especially if they have a great ablation experience. They’ll feel great a week after the ablation and think everything is back to normal and they’ll push themselves prematurely.
I will not be making that mistake. I usually spend an hour in the gym Monday-Friday but I stopped all exercising a few days before the procedure. I won’t be returning to the gym now until at least mid-April. I will also be taking it totally easy during the first six weeks. I’m going to strive to keep my heart rate as stable as possible. Meaning, I’m even going to keep my activities around the house to a minimum.
I had my catheter ablation on March 5, 2015. My blanking period doesn’t end until June 5, 2015. I was given a heart rate event monitor after my procedure and was instructed to take weekly recordings or whenever I experienced an irregular heartbeat. Here are pictures of the event monitor I was given:
Click on the images for larger pictures.
For those patients with more difficult cases of atrial fibrillation, such as those with persistent or long-standing persistent afib, they may be given the choice to have an implantable heart monitor. I wasn’t given that option and even if I was I wouldn’t have gone that route because I assumed I wouldn’t be having regular arrhythmias that would need to be recorded.
I picked Thursday as my “recording day.” To make a recording I place the device on my chest (where you would put your hand when you say the Pledge of Allegiance) with the four circular feet facing down. I press down on it slightly and then I hit the red EVENT button. It makes a high-pitch whistling sound for 30 seconds as it records.
I then call the number on the monitor and send in the recording. When I call it in a live person answers the phone. I tell the person I’m sending in my weekly recording and after finding my name in their system they tell me to go ahead. I then place the monitor on its side and the phone input speaker right next to the speaker hole on the event monitor like this:
Then I hit the gray send button on the side of the monitor and it makes that high pitch whistling sound again for 30 seconds as it sends the recording through the phone. Pretty amazing, right? As cool as that is, it sucks that you have no idea what the recording says as they don’t tell you. It goes directly into a system where only the doctor has access to. If you have something abnormal going on you’ll get a call. Otherwise, you don’t hear anything from anyone.
I personally don’t like being in the dark like so I when I take my weekly recordings with this monitor, I take a second recording with my AliveCor monitor. This gives me an immediate EKG reading and tells me what my heart rate is and if it’s irregular or not.
You probably have the same question I have – why don’t doctors allow their patients to use the AliveCor monitor instead if they have one? I have no idea why they don’t but I wish they did. It would be so much easier for them and for the patient.
Every week during the blanking period I will be updating this page. Click on the dates below for details on what supplements I took that week and for details on anything that happened that week as it pertains to my recovery.
Week 1: March 12, 2015
Weight: 178 lbs.
Heart Rate: 84 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 2: March 19, 2015
Weight: 175 lbs.
Heart Rate: 81 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 3: March 26, 2015
Weight: 175 lbs.
Heart Rate: 86 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 4: April 2, 2015
Weight: 175 lbs.
Heart Rate: 84 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 5: April 9, 2015
Weight: 175 lbs.
Heart Rate: 88 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 6: April 16, 2015
Weight: 172 lbs.
Heart Rate: 83 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 7: April 23, 2015
Weight: 171 lbs.
Heart Rate: 87 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 8: April 30, 2015
Weight: 170 lbs.
Heart Rate: 89 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 9: May 7, 2015
Weight: 169 lbs.
Heart Rate: 88 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 10: May 14, 2015
Weight: 171 lbs.
Heart Rate: 83 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 11: May 21, 2015
Weight: 169 lbs.
Heart Rate: 85 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: NONE
Week 12: May 28, 2015
Weight: 169 lbs.
Heart Rate: 81 bpm
Heart palpitations/afib: NONE
Other symptoms/issues: YES
Hi everyone I had a pvi procedure three weeks ago and all went well on the day.
I felt rather breathless for about two weeks post procedure and my bp fluctuated very wildly going to 195 over 95 for a few minutes then dropping back but not to my normal 120 over 65. I’am pleased to report bp has settled back to normal and am feeling really great no afib or pvcs. Can anyone explain why my bp went so high! Can’t find any answers. Kerry
Hello. had afib ablation about a week ago. So far so good, with maybe just a couple little ectopic beats once or twice a day the last couple days. My pre ablation heart rate was around 65 bpm, and is still right around that. I read below that a raised heart rate may be an indication that the vagal nerve connection was addressed. Vagal response was clearly an issue for me in the past, since very cold food, and lumps of food going down my throat could trigger afib. I do feel that drinking something cold in the last couple days has led to a palp here and there.
Sigh. Did my doctor miss that key spot? It’s early i know (scar tissue still forming). but the unchanged heart rate seems a bad indicator for me. Anyone in a similar boat? Thanks.
Hey guys, I have just had an ablation and 3 weeks out roughly, i am easing back into my work and have noticed spikes with heart rate even walking a flight of stairs. When it does it sits around 100 and takes some time to resolve. Also when this happens i get an uneasy feeling and almost a lump in the throat feeling as well as a dull head etc. I am no longer on meds to lower my rate ( bisporol) so when it happens it does freak me out as I thought that would be it after surgery. Dissapointing as my surgeons etc didnt explain that there would be ‘aftershocks’ and I think that combined with the worry is not helping and after initially feeling great for a week I feel like i am spiralling back into the problems again. Is this normal?
It’s completely normal to have not only odd heart beat’s following an ablation but you could also experience Afib.
I had my 4th ablation in July and as I sit here writing this my rat is 75. It’s normally in the high 50’s low 60’s. All I did today was run the pressure washer.
It could take up to a year for your heart to return to it’s normal activities.
You must realize that they have created scar tissue within your heart that inhibits pathways that lead to Afib. So it stands to reason that it will affect what is normal heart function for you.
For instance when I had my first ablation back in 2009 not only was my resting heart rate affected, but also how it reacted to exercise. I was still able to get my heart rate up but it took longer.
Hey Andrew,
I just had my ablation on 1/23, so about 3 weeks now. Have the same symptoms as you reported. Curious, have they eased up, gotten better for you?
I’m 54 female and discovered I had afib in 2017 although I have been experiencing it a long time and everyone said it was anxiety, my age, or menopause. Very frustrating! I was having a spell at work as a hairstylist and my customer was a retired nurse and she took my pulse and knew what it was!
I have already had three ablations since Oct 2017. My last was one was on April 18. I have a high heart with mine and blackout spells. I hope and pray this took care of it.
I’m healthy besides the afib. It worries me what will happen next if this one doesn’t work. The meds make me tired and I hate being on Eliquis. It worries me for the long run.
Mary:
You’re not alone worrying about what the future holds. I suspect all of us that have had ablations think about that. The only thing I can say is try your best to live in the present. Don’t dwell on the past or worry about tomorrow. Enjoy each day God blesses you with afib-freedom. I know that’s easier said than done but life is too short the way it is. Don’t worry about “what if’s.” Cross those bridges when you get there (IF you get there – many of the things we worry about never come to pass).
I wish you the very best and I hope your latest ablation is a success!
Travis
Mary,
As Travis said I think we all constantly have it on our minds. Hopefully your last ablation will finally rid you of the burden.
Was your last ablation more extensive? Was there work done on your LAA?
Best wishes to you
Hello.
Really useful site – thanks.
UK – 2 weeks post ablation and have taken it very easy to ensure a better recovery. Pulse was previously 55, now is stubbornly high in the 80’s which makes me very tired.
I was ready to return to work (office based) next week so I went for a short, 10-minute walk yesterday. What a shocker, it took nearly an hour and I was gasping for breath, feeling like my chest was being kicked. I was shuffling like I don’t know what (I’m 47 and normally very fit).
My surgery wasn’t bad (2 hours or so), although I do have multiple ASD (holes) and a couple of other structural heart issues which probably don’t help with heart-stress or recovery. I suppose I don’t have a specific question, I just wanted to reflect that the oft-stated “back to work in a couple of weeks” isn’t always the case, despite taking it very easy. I feel guilty about not going back (I work for the NHS). Going back too early is never advisable. We all fall for it.
I don’t know how some of the contributors to this site manage to go to the gym a few days after surgery. Incredible. Be kind to yourselves everyone.
Julian:
Thanks for sharing your experience. Sorry to hear you’re recovery isn’t going as smooth as I’m sure you had hoped. Hang in there. It will get better!
Your experience is a great reminder that we are all different. Some of us will recovery quicker than others for a variety of reasons. It might take someone 2 weeks to “fully recover” while another person needs 4-6 weeks!
As a general rule, however, I strongly advise all afibbers recovering from an ablation to take it easy during the entire 3-month blanking period. Taking it easy for 3 months is a small price to pay in the scheme of things. I’m not saying you can’t go back to work for 3 months but heavy exercise of any kind should be avoided during the blanking period (in my opinion anyway). And if even small exercise sessions such as your 10-minute walk cause issues, don’t do it (at least until you fully recover).
Travis
Nice to find this site. I had an ablation on 6/12/18. It was a fairly long one of 7 and a half hours at Shands. I am having some severe headaches but otherwise, not much. I played 18 holes of golf 9 days after the procedure and another 18 3 days ago in north Florida heat. My heart rate used to stay in the 40’s and now stays in the 60’s. I have lifted and ran most of my life but I am going to hold off on that for a while longer.
Thank you, thank you for the information. I am three weeks post ablation of 4 veins. Overall, doing very well with my heart rhythm. Occasional palpitations, but nothing like the eye-popping episodes a few months ago that would take my breath away. My afib returned after a seven year hiatus. They tried metoprolol, which I did not tolerate as I have low blood pressure already.
An ablation was the obvious choice for me. I kept the metoprolol for only when needed to take a dose. Now after my ablation, I am struggling with the gap between being told I should be able to return to my normal routine in about a week and frustrated with decreased endurance, symptomatic low blood pressure episodes and epigastric discomfort still about 3 weeks post op.
My history of and now recurrence of near syncopal episodes from low blood pressure are causing problems with driving and trying to stay out of the ER. Six days ago, one of my electrophysiologists advised starting salt tablets to keep my blood pressure up by retaining fluid. Some success so far, during the process of finding the right balance of water intake and salt intake.
I have been able to return to work but not as much as I hoped (but enough to keep me from feeling hopeless). Finding the right balance of rest and activity has been THE most difficult part of my recovery. Planning anything for sure is just not possible. Good days and not good days. Thank you all again for your input. Your communication has helped with my much needed patience.
Update at week 5. Cardiology cleared me last week. Near syncopal/vasovagal continues to be a problem. Some improvement over this past week but was triggered after eating and exercising. Continued loss of appetite, funny taste in my mouth, periods of lightheadedness, transient dry mouth, feeling full after a couple bites of food, mild weight loss, periods of foggy brain and intolerance to light pressure around my chest with wearing a bra.
Cleared by endocrinology, nephrology, cardiology and my attending physician. Neurology suggested a work up to evaluate my autonomic response and what appears to be an overly sensitive response linked to post ablation and possible vagus nerve affected. My blood thinner was changed last week from Xarelto to Eliquis and discontinued the Prilosec, as they said it was blocking the synthroid. Any others with the lingering issues and discoveries for improvement?
Laura:
Sorry for the long response to your comments. I get so many comments throughout my blog that sometimes comments fall through the cracks. It’s been almost 6 weeks now since you left your comments. How are things going now? Have your issues improved?
Travis
Laura:
I see you left your comments a couple months ago now. How are you doing today? Are things getting any better? Are you still taking salt tablets?
By the way, I’m curious about your salt tablets. Do you know how much sodium is in each tablet and how many do you take per day? And what’s your typical blood pressure reading? You said it was normally low so I’m curious.
Thanks,
Travis
Hi! I had a catheter ablation on May 8, 2019. Is it normal to feel palpitations here and there?
I’m taking 80 mg propanol and Pradaxa 150 mg for a blood thinner for 3 months. I have a baby that weighs 20 pounds. Is it ok to carry her? I’m just so worried and scared of having these palpitations before having my catheter ablation. I really had it bad that my body would be shaking each time I had any palpitations. I even fell twice it was really bad I just pray to God after my procedure I will feel better. Can you give me an advice? Thank You!
Leticia:
It is completely normal to experience some ectopy (i.e. palpitations) after an ablation. I had bad palpitations on and off for two years after my ablation but things settled down and I’ve been fine ever since. Hang in there…it will get better! Those palpitations should subside over time.
God Bless!
Travis
Hi Travis, thanks for this website. I am one-week post-ablation, and so far so good but I too have an elevated heart rate, usually 60 or less, now 80. I realized it is considered normal, maybe even good, as it probably indicates the vagus nerve connection was terminated. How long did it take for your normal rate to return, or did it? Thanks for any info, Robert.
Robert:
It took over a year for my heart rate to come back down to my pre-ablation heart rate, which was in the 50’s. My heart rate was in the 80’s for almost the entire first year after my ablation. Fortunately, I felt exactly the same when my heart was pumping away in the 80’s all that time. It had no ill-effect on me. Your heart rate will definitely come back down but how long it will take to do so is unknown as it varies from person-to-person.
I wish you a successful recovery and many years of NSR!
Travis
Hi Robert-
I had my one and only ablation about 3-4 years ago. I’m a serious cyclist, and for about a year my resting heart rate was higher than normal (80’s-90’s) and would also take a very long time to return to my new high after hard riding. Sometimes it would take an hour to drop below 100.
Now, I’m back in the 60’s resting, and my HR drops back to normal within a few minutes.
Hope this helps you relax :)
Thanks for sharing Travis. Information is power.
I had my first ablation back in 2009. After dealing with it for many years it had finally gotten to a point I could no longer do the things I enjoyed doing. Following my ablation I left the hospital on 200mg flecainide and 25mg Metoprolol a day. After a six month period I was sent a 24hr monitor to wear leading up to my next follow up with my doctor. After that appointment I tapered off of the drugs and was only to use the Flecainide as a PIP if necessary. I went about 5 years before ever needing to use it and from that point on this past year only about 2-3 times a year to convert.
This past January I found myself in the emergency room as I had passed out several days before after converting from afib. From that day I was going in and out of afib and the Flecainide was not doing the trick anymore. I had my second ablation that day and left the hospital the next day in NSR med free. This lasted about 10 days before I had my first afib episode. I took the flecainide after a few hours of trying to let it convert on its own and several hours later I converted. A couple days passed and wash, rinse, repeat so my doctor advised that I go back on the daily regiment of flecainide for a period of time to allow things to settle down.
The past several weeks I started back to doing some light exercise on the indoor cycling trainer keeping my heart rate in check and have been feeling good. I received lifewatch monitor in the mail today from my doctor to do some recording as my next appointment with him is a little over a month away. I put the monitor on at around 1pm yesterday and by 6 pm had my first recordable event. I am certain this is the first event I have had at least during waking hours since returning to the daily regiment of flecainide and metoprolol.
Thanks again for sharing your story.
Rich
Thanks Rich for sharing your story! I hope it has a happy ending. Please keep us posted. God Bless.
Travis
Just an update…..
My affib, I believe is back worse than it was following my first ablation. I have been on Tikosyn now for over a month and the longest period I have gone now in NSR is 5 days. Lately I seem to be in affib just about as much as NSR.
Right now I am at a crossroads. I’m unable to do the things I enjoy and since starting on the Tikosyn they have also increased my Metoprolol to 50mg 2x/day. I take 75mg when in affib to keep my HR below 100 BPM. Just before starting me on the Tikosyn I had a cardioversion done. I had been in afib for just over a week at a high rate and they thought they saw some weakening of the heart muscle during the TEE. I just had an echo done last week and everything looked normal so at least that’s a positive.
I am currently waiting to have my third ablation done with Dr Andrea Natale in Texas. I had all of my records sent to him to review and he has accepted me as a patient. So now I wait.
Rich:
Refresh my memory again…what is your afib and ablation history? Were your first two ablations done by Natale?
Travis
My first 2 ablations were done by a very copitent Dr @ UPMC Shadyside Pittsburgh. He was not comfortable though with doing anything further.
Just returned home yesterday from Austin Texas after having the third ablation done by Dr Natale on Friday . 90 minutes of burn time. He expanded existing scar tissues @ the PVI. LAA isolation, coronary sinus and posterior wall. Also some work in the right atria.
Had an organic event during procedure and achieved a rate of 240 bpm. This occurred while he was starting to work on the coronary sinus.
Feeling pretty good today. Chest pressure has greatly diminished and my resting heart rate is 61 bpm.
Good luck Rich, those folks are Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute are the best in the world. I’m not sure if they talked about their robotic tools, but I was impressed. I was fortunate to find them, and get it done early. 4 years in normal sinus rhythm (knock on wood).
Thanks Tim. I had about 5 years of NSR then several using PIP following my first ablation in 2009. Actually I am quickly approaching the anniversary of that first ablation.
Dr Natale his staff and the staff at st David’s are amazing.
Continued NSR to you as well.
Rich:
That’s great to hear you’re doing well after your Natale ablation. It appears Natale hit just about every potential afib source so you should be good now (knock on wood). Sometimes the LAA isolation can be stubborn and a touch up is required so if that happens, don’t lose hope. It’s part of the process. Once that LAA is fully buttoned up you are usually free of afib for life:)
Keep us posted on your progress in the coming months and years. I wish you the very best and a quick recovery!
Travis
Thanks Travis. Yes the LAA is a tricky place to ablate. Thin/thick walls and its proximity to the pulmonary vein make’s cuts the time that the catheter can remain in one area. He also told me, and I already was aware of this, that he may have to revisit the LAA because of this.
Affb was organizing there though as well as the coronary sinus. Dr Natale first induced it. Then as he was starting to ablate the coronary sinus afib reorganized in both the LAA and the coronary sinus. If I am understanding my ablation report correctly, he had already done some work on the LAA then returned to it following his work on the coronary sinus.
This is day 11 now and I did have some arrhythmia Sunday and a couple blips yesterday and today. I sent recordings on Sunday and what I was experiencing was a mixture of both Affib and NSR at a higher rate. Completely normal for this short a time into the blanking period
I also stopped taking the Ticosyn yesterday. I am going to go back onto the Flecanide. The Ticosyn never really worked that well before anyway. That and I am pretty sure that the Ticosyn is causing me nerve pain. At least that is what I believe to be the culprit.
The week leading up to my ablation I had stopped the Ticosyn. And as the week progressed my nerve pain disipated and by thursday was almost completely gone. SInce I starting back on the Ticosyn the nerve pain has crept back.
I will keep you updated as things move along.
Rich:
Thanks for the follow up details. And thanks for the info on Tikosyn. These drugs are so complex. It’s just interesting to hear about all the different side effects people experience – and yet someone else can take the same drug and not have any side effects. I hope the flec works better for you!
Travis
Another update here at just over 2 months in. Its been a rollercoaster for sure but has smoothed out the past few weeks.
I think I mentioned that I believed the Ticosyn to be cause for nerve pain I was experiencing. And during the transition back to Flecainide I went out of rhythm and had a cardioversion. It also turns out that the nerve pain was being caused by a bulged T12l1 and a herniated L5s1. These have caused me great pain and discomfort to the point the pain was so bad it caused me to go out of rhythm again.
Following this, I was not cardioverted right away as the fear was I would go right back out of rhythm afterward due to the pain. And at this point the only thing that would touch the pain was Oxycodine and at that, it only dulled it. I had a nerve block done a week later and the pain turned and has continued to improve with physical therapy.
I had a cardioversion scheduled for a few days later but converted back to NSR on my own. I was out of rhythm this time for 2 weeks but have remained in NSR for the weeks proceeding to today.
There’s a lot of detail between all of this which I cover on my blog. At this point, I am not concerned as to whether or not my latest ablation is going to be a success. Having work done on the LAA always leaves the possibility for a return visit so we will see. I have a follow up with my local EP at the end of this month which will be 3 months. At that time I will also have a consult with Dr. Natale to see what the next step will be.
I hope by that time my back issues are sorted so I can start getting back to cycling and a more normal life.
Rich:
I missed your comments. Sorry for such a long delay in responding. Thanks for the update.
Man, your back issues sound awful. My wife has battled back pain on and off over the years so I know it isn’t any fun. I feel so bad for people that have back issues because it’s painful and seems to take forever to heal. I wish you the best with the back.
Be sure to drop a line after you have your follow up visit with your local EP.
Thanks,
Travis
P.S. I’d also be interested to hear what Natale says after you have a consult with him.
I failed to mention that I am off of the Flecainide as well. I’ve been off of it now for 3 weeks but still remain on the Metoprolol and Eliquis for now. I have also started weight lifting again and plan to get back on the indoor trainer this week. The heart is calm although I do feel the occasional PAC/PVC though they are very infrequent.
My 3 month follow-up with my local EP went really well. We had a good long discussion and I will see him again next May. That is the time we will part ways due to insurance. Not that my insurance won’t pay. His employer wont accept it. So in the meantime he is going to contact another EP to take over for him.
I talked to Dr. Natale’s office and I wont be returning there until sometime in February 2019 to have a TEE done to measure the function of my LAA. At some time between now and then I assume he will have me stop the Metoprolol. They will also be sending me a 24 hour event monitor sometime in January 2019 prior to my February visit.
Rich:
Glad to hear things are going well for you. That’s terrific!
I hope you have a great appointment with Natale.
Have a Happy New Year!
Travis
I had an ablation for AFIB a month ago today. Since the procedure I have been having nothing but PVC’s and PAC’s. It seems they occur mostly during and after exercise, lifting weights and using the elliptical. On Friday last week, my doctor suggested I take a 3rd dose of Metoprolol. So now I take 50mg of this med, 3x/day.
Over the weekend I felt pretty good but today I got pretty light headed lifting weights. I had not taken the additional dose today before the exercise. My question is; could the additional dose of medication be causing this or are the PVC’s so bad that I’m not getting enough blood, or both?
I had an echo cardiogram two weeks ago and it was normal. I also experienced a little light headedness before taking the extra dose but nothing this severe while exercising. The PVC’s can be as frequent as every third beat. Any thoughts?
Kirk:
A few thoughts come to mind. The first thought that immediately came to mind was the weight lifting and overall exercising you’re doing. You may be overdoing it. I know the doctors say you can resume normal activities 10 days or so after your ablation but I caution against it.
If you read through any of my blanking period updates, I was ultra conservative during my recovery. I didn’t do any lifting during the blanking period and I didn’t do anything beyond a brisk walk until about the third month! Some might argue that is too conservative but it worked for me. Your heart was burned after all. There is a lot of inflammation going on. Your heart needs time to heal:) So the first thing I’d do is cool it on the exercising for a while and see if that reduces the PVCs and PACs.
My second thought was the metoprolol. It’s possible the increased dose is making things worse. These drugs can have all kinds of crazy side effects including producing ectopy! I’m not saying that’s the cause here but it’s interesting that you were doing o.k. but then as soon as you increased your dose things got worse. Is it coincidence or causation? I have no idea but it’s something to investigate.
It could be the combination of overdoing it in the gym and the increased dosage that is giving you fits. Maybe if you backed off of both for a while things will settle down. I’d talk to your doctor about it for sure.
The other thing is it’s not uncommon to have a lot of ectopy during the blanking period. My PVCs and PACs kicked in around two months after my ablation and didn’t really stop for almost two years! You’ll read all about my on and off battles with PVCs and PACs on this blog. Fortunately, they did finally settle down but it took a long time (2 1/2 years). The take away? You will need patience to get your through these PVCs and PACs.
I hope this helps.
Travis
Thanks Travis. I suspected the same thing regarding the Metoprolol and exercise. Spoke with my Cardiologist last night and he advised I reduce the medicine. As for exercise, he doesn’t believe exercise should have any effect on worsening my situation long term. I don’t know if I agree. My problem is I am a true exercise fanatic (probably what got me here in the first place) and I’m having a tough time giving it up. I guess that’s something I will need to wrestle with to determine what I will do. I certainly don’t want to have this done again if I don’t need it.
Kirk:
Keep in mind, we’re only talking about “cooling” it on the exercise during the blanking period. However, as an official member of the afib club now, you really should consider moderating your exercise regimen over the long-term. There’s all kinds of evidence now that excessive exercise is bad for heart health and afib.
The other thing is you don’t mention what your specific exercise regimen is. It may be a moderate program to begin with. If that’s the case then throttling things back a little during the blanking period is all you have to do. Then go back to your normal program. But if you’re exercising “hard” for 30+ minutes and really pushing yourself with the weights you would be doing yourself a big favor to moderate things long term.
I wish you well!
Travis
Travis,
I have cut way back on my exercise regime. 3 days free weights, 2 days cardio on the elliptical. All 35 minutes and under. Cardio is on low resistance and weights are relatively light with 3 sets of 10 for each exercise. This will be my routine for the foreseeable future. I have also started to reduce the metoprolol and I feel slightly better. I hope it continues!
Thanks for the feedback and encouragement. It is easy to get discouraged.
Kirk
Kirk:
Sounds like you’re on the right track. I hope the revisions to your exercise program pay off! Hang in there. It will get better!
Travis
Travis,
Sorry for the duplicate response, the website was not responding properly. One thing I forgot to ask, did you eliminate caffeine from your diet after the procedure, specifically coffee? My doctor says a little caffeine shouldn’t make a difference. I seem to do better, though, giving it up entirely, at least for now.
Travis,
My doctor told me I could drink coffee too, but I haven’t been able to tolerate it since before the surgery, makes me have palpitations, or racing heart. Even decaf. It was a struggle giving it up, I loved my morning coffee…but I didn’t like feeling how I felt, despite the doctor saying ok to coffee, so I gave it up over a year ago now. I might have a cup 2-3x a year, but that’s it.
Sherry,
Thanks for your comments. I feel the same way. As much as I love coffee, the small amounts of caffeine present in decaf is enough to cause me the same problems. Maybe I’ll give it up all together for the next couple months and see how I feel at that point.
Sherry:
Obviously coffee is a trigger for you so you’re smart to just give it up!
Travis
Travis,
When you were experiencing PVC’s did you get light headed at times? It’s been 2 1/2 months since my ablation and the PVC’s don’t seem to be much better and I get light headed at times.
Kirk:
Not really. There was one time where I was shooting hoops with my daughter and when I jumped up to get a rebound I got light headed on the way down and literally had to kneel down as I felt like I was going to faint. It was kind of a freaky experience. It lasted about 5 seconds and I never experienced it again. This was about 2-3 months after my ablation. Other than that one time I never got light headed from my PVCs.
As you know, I battled PVCs and PACs a bunch for about 12-18 months! I thought I would have them forever. I was actually getting used to life with them. The good news is they just went away. Granted, it took much longer than I expected but they did eventually go away.
Hang in there. It will get better but it might take a while. Be patient. Be strong.
God Bless.
Travis
Kirk,
It took me almost a year before I felt like myself. And it’s now been almost 2 years. The lightheadness for me, was the darn blood thinner they put me on. That continued for the year they made me stay on it. I switched meds but it was all the same for me. Once I was off the blood thinner, I started to feel so much better.
Sherry
Travis,
I have cut way back on my routine. I lift weights 3 days a week and cardio on the elliptical 1-2 days a week @ 50% of normal resistance. All sessions are no more than 35 minutes. Free weight sessions consist of 10 reps and 3 sets for each exercise (6 exercises). Weights are relatively light @ 90 % of my former routine. Time of each session has been reduced by 50% or more. Number of session reduced by 1-2 per week. This will be my routine for the foreseeable future.
I have also started to reduce the Metoprolol. I have felt slightly better during the 2nd half of this week so I hope it continues.
Thanks for the encouraging words because it has been a very discouraging last month or so. One bright spot, no Afib episodes.
Best regards,
Kirk
Hey there, I have had Afib for many years but it was controlled until last summer. When I read other comments and saw that people experienced for example 2 episodes in a year, I was envious.
I had a stroke on 12/28/16 and was blessed to walk away with no deficits. I was then hospitalized in January for 4 days and September for 7 days due to Afib. I have been in Afib almost every day and sometimes for a couple of days at a time since 09/21/17 while awaiting my ablation which is scheduled for 11/21/17.
After reading this blog and comments, I am assuming that my case is complex. Would you think that more than one ablation will be necessary? Also I have been out of work since 09/21/17 because I experience shortness of breath, lightheadedness and extreme fatigue during and after afib. How soon after the ablation was there a return to work?
Mary:
So glad to hear you didn’t suffer any long-term effects from your stroke!
Anytime you have an episode that lasts more than 12 hours is usually an indication you have a more complex case of atrial fibrillation – especially if you are having multiple episodes that last more than 12 hours.
Depending on the skills and experience of your EP, you may or may not need a second ablation. That’s why it’s so imperative to seek the absolute most experienced EP. You want to look for an EP that has a long track record of doing ablations for complex cases of afib. The typical PVI-only ablation, which most EP’s do, isn’t enough to put an end to a complex case of afib. When you have a complex case, the triggers come from additional areas of the heart besides the pulmonary veins. If you don’t ablate those other trigger sources, your afib will continue to be a problem – even if your pulmonary veins are completely ablated. An EP with experience doing ablations for complex cases of afib will be able to identify and ablate ALL potential sources of afib – not just the pulmonary veins.
Please stay in touch. I wish you the very best with your upcoming ablation and I sincerely hope you are a “one and done” case!
Travis
P.S. Most people can go back to work within a week or so after their ablation. I’ve even heard of people going back to work in a few days. Personally, I think that’s pushing it no matter how quickly you rebound but the point is in most cases it’s not a long recovery. I was ready to get back to work within a week of my ablation. Some people, however, have a longer recovery but usually not more than 7-10 days. Again, everyone is different and every case is different so your “results may vary.”
Just had first ablation two weeks ago. I went into afib once last week but it only lasted about an hour and went back into normal rhythm, well normal right now 80bpm. I was admitted in Feb. to the hospital with afib but the worse symptom was my jaw was just killing me…signs of a heart attack for woman. The good news I didn’t have a heart attack.
I mention that because today I had severe jaw pain and pain in between my shoulder blades with extreme fatigue. This lasted for about 15 minutes and then went away except for some slight jaw pain. I did have jaw pain last week when I went into afib. Is this normal?
I went to the doc last week and they did an ekg and said everything looked good. Reading all the posts have made me feel better and I do realize I probably have been over doing it as I love working in my garden. Thank you.
Hi Travis
I have been reading with interest the recovery process and also the magnesium articles. I am in week 8 of the blanking period for my third ablation. Each time the symtoms have improved but I have experienced 4 afib episodes that I have managed through pill in the pocket process. I am now experiencing lots of PACs and PVCs. Sometimes showing as Afib on my Alivecor. However when sent off they come back as PACs / PVCs.
I had a magnesium RBC test before the 3rd ablation and that can back in the normal range at 2.31mmol/l in a reference interval of 2.08-3.00 mmol/l. I have also been tested for sleep apnea (normal) and have cut out caffeine and alcohol. I am trying to get potassium and magnesium in through my diet and think I am getting enough through diet. Before my 3rd ablation I found that post exercise was when the afib struck if I raised my heart rate above 135bpm. If I stayed below I sometimes was o.k. I have not exercised yet following my third ablation. I am still praying that the third ablation has worked as for the first 9 days post op I was in sinus rhythm and this was absolutely wonderful.
Have you any views on whether supplementation is better that through diet and whether it will address the PVCs and PACs? Or do I just need to be patient? The fact I’ve had 4 afib episodes suggests to me that I have not managed to get afib clear yet.
Thanks in advance,
Jonathan
Jonathan:
If your 3rd ablation doesn’t work, I can almost guarantee you have triggers beyond the pulmonary veins. Do you know what areas your doctor ablated for your 3 ablations? If it’s just the pulmonary veins then you’ll want to find a doctor that can address triggers beyond them. Until those additional triggers are ablated, you’ll continue to have afib.
For someone with afib and/or PVCs and PACs, you likely won’t be able to get enough magnesium through your diet. Supplements are the only way to get enough to make a difference. I strongly encourage you to read these articles:
https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/2286/magnesium-afib/
https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/2458/remag-magnesium-review/
PVCs and PACs can be tricky to manage. I’ve been battling them on and off for 2 1/2+ years now. I’m constantly experimenting with my supplements to find the right combination to keep them at bay. You will likely have to do the same.
If you have any other questions, let me know!
Travis
Hi Travis,
I have been following your posts for awhile now, and found inspiration to get my ablation from them. I had my ablation 5 days ago, and everything looked good. Yesterday I had a bout of afib, but terminated in 5 minutes. That’s new for me. Never had one terminate that quick so I attribute that to the ablation. Been having on and off PACs as well. Trying to be positive and get through the blanking period without feeling the procedure was a failure. I had Dr. Joseph Levine at St. Francis hospital in Roslyn, NY do mine. He is regarded as one of the best so fingers crossed. Thanks for your posts and continual help to all of us.
Regards,
Phil Confalone
Phil:
I’m glad you found my posts helpful and inspirational! It’s normal to experience some ectopy – and even short bouts of afib – during the 3 month blanking period so don’t get too discouraged. Keep in touch and I wish you a totally successful ablation!
Travis
P.S. If you do have issues beyond the 3-month blanking period, please reach out to me directly as I will have some information for you.
Hi Phil, I had my ablation on 11/22/17. I am happy to hear that you are doing well. I luckily haven’t been in afib at all yet. But I am having other issues such as coughing, vomiting and diarrhea. Have you experienced any of those type of symptoms?
Mary,
Yes I have. Most are side effects of anesthesia. Did you have a TEE done prior to the ablation? That will cause the esophagus to get inflamed and cause coughing. Also the endotrachial tube inserted during intubation can cause soreness and an over-reactive airway. I’m dealing with that still but better everyday. You should not be vomiting now. That usually lasts a day after anesthesia. I learned the hard way and this time requested IV Zofran before they put me out. Did the job. If you are still having vomiting problems please discuss with your EP or PCP. Don’t wait on that.
Hay there, luckily the vomiting has stopped. I am still coughing and experiencing acid reflux as well. Still no Afib….almost a week…the longest that I have been out of afib in months! I am experiencing a palpitation here and there but definitely not afib! Hope you are doing well!
Mary Ann
Hi Travis,
thanks to your good advice more than a year ago, I just had my ablation last Tuesday after being on a waiting list for this several months. It was easier than I expected and I was out of there within 24 hrs. I feel really good so far and the old ticker just purrs like a kitten, stable and regular. Doc said to stay on Pradaxa and amiodarone for 6 weeks. Hope this works and looking forward to get off all those pills. will keep you updated on my progress, thanks again for maintaining a very good resource on afib here on your site, cheers Dave
Dave:
That’s terrific to hear! I wish you many years of NSR. Please keep us posted.
Travis
Hi Travis,
I have been reading the comments and your post-ablation recovery posts with great interest. I am now 5 days post-ablation and have been going in and out of atrial flutter. Just to go back a little, I needed valve replacement surgery last year and they performed the Maze and removed the left atrial appendage at the same time. This seemed to get rid of the afib but produced new atypical left atrial flutters which required the ablation 5 days ago.
They found a few spots for the flutter and also did a touch up on the PVI burns which had reconnected. All-in-all, a 5 hour procedure. Unfortunately, because of all the structural problems with my heart, I went right back into flutter the next day and was cardioverted yesterday. Seems fine now and will re-start amiodarone tomorrow to keep this under control during the blanking period.
I am quite familiar with amiodarone as I took it for more than 5 years and have no problems taking it again just for a short period. My confusion is this, I was told that all the flutters and extra beats I am feeling are because of inflammation and irritation and it will all go away. That’s all well and good. However, after they looked at the ECG yesterday, they are now saying that my EP is ‘happy’ to do another ablation in a few weeks to take care of this new flutter. So, is this not caused by the inflammation then?
I think he tried to explain that he may have to ablate again because of a new focal area that did not manifest itself while he was in there. It was all lost on me and confusing when other EPs add to the mix. Also, I thought you have to wait at least 6 months for a touch-up or second ablation. I am just not in love with the idea of going through all that again in about 6 weeks. He did assure me it would not be as involved as the first one and would not be under general anesthesia. Still…
Mary
Mary:
There are a lot of things to consider given your “complex” case. It would be best to talk to you on the phone. Please contact me via the contact us page found at the top of this website. Email me your phone number and I’ll call you to discuss.
There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with them going back in so soon as long as they don’t ablate over the areas they already ablated, which they probably won’t do.
There is the issue of the coronary sinus, which is typically a common afib trigger. It doesn’t sound like they ablated the coronary sinus but chances are this is a trigger, if not a primary trigger. If it is a trigger and they don’t touch it, you’ll always have this flutter issue no matter what “focal areas” they ablate. Finally, the other issue is the amiodarone. This will suppress potential triggers so if they go in and ablate with amiodarone in your system, then they might miss potential triggers.
Please contact me and then we can discuss these issues in greater detail.
Thanks,
Travis
Hi there,
I had my first cardiac ablation February 2016 for AVNRT. The EP said it was successful, but I then started feeling a different kind of arrhythmia. My second ablation was for a fib, in November 2016. The EP said it was successful. I felt no difference from that procedure so I went back to my EP a couple days ago. Since the medications aren’t controlling my PAC’s, the EP suggested a third ablation, where he goes into the left side of my heart and also my pulmonary vein. What is the success rate for this procedure? I want to know if it’s worth it.
We don’t have monitors post ablation here in the UK. I am 10 days post 2nd ablation and have been having extra and ectopic beats starting 4 days after the procedure (on and off). They are particularly bad today. My heart feels a bit shaky. But otherwise I feel well. Just a little on the tired side.
I went for a short walk the other day and had to stop 3 times even though it was only over the road. I didn’t have any of these after my 1st ablation in August last year. Then I had a much faster heart rate but it was regular. I then went on to have AF episodes, hence the 2nd ablation.
This time my surgery was 1.5 hours. He re-isolated the pulmonary veins which had breakthroughs and stumbled across a problem with my neck vein sending off signals so abated that too! I haven’t had a full conversation with him as of yet. I have a 3-month checkup in May.
Hang in there Melanie, make sure you take your blood thinner meds and start exercising like get on a treadmill and drink a lot of pineapple juice. You are gonna feel great and better everyday. Good luck to you.
Robert
Melanie:
Hang in there. I’m sure things will get better. The good news is you aren’t experiencing any afib! Keep us posted and I wish you well.
Travis
I had the work done last year, my first op on the 4th July 2016. Everything seems ok but I’m having breathing difficulties at times. Now I am getting what I can only describe as shooting pains from right to left across my chest. I get these everyday. Does anyone else have these or should I worry?
Hi Cathie. I had a cardiac ablation done for afib in early November of 2016. I have also experienced (and continue to experience) similar symptoms at 5.5 months post ablation. I have intermittent shortness of breath and chest pains as well. My assumption is that these are pvcs and/or related to healing. My 30 day heart monitor I used in February of this year showed no afib despite these symptoms which was a pleasant surprise. Will know more at a future follow up appointment.
UK: Four days out from my ablation for PAF. Very lucky so far, no bumps or racing of my heart. Pulse rate 63-70. Groin stiff and sore but to be honest I had a short walk today and took it easy but all ok. Sleeping well but not overly tired. Back to teaching on Monday; keeping my fingers crossed as I was 12 hours on 12 hours off AF for the last 12 months.
Hi Travis,
I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It was diagnosed in my 20’s. I was put on a beta blocker and then had an alcohol ablation. All was well until I hit my 40’s. I started having racing or PVC’s when I ate certain foods or drank alcohol.
In my 50’s it all got worse. Last year at 56 I would have these horrible racing episodes and my legs were swollen constantly. I told my doctor and cardiologist and all I got was shrugs. Sure, I’m female and it didn’t do it whenever I saw any of them so I got shrugs.
A wore a holter monitor and I was told, “oh it’s just your condition.” Well…June 2016 I ended up passing out on a neighbor’s lawn. An ambulance came and took me to the hospital where I received a defibrillator after being told they discovered I had afib. I’d already determined that through the Internet but they didn’t listen to me. I changed cardiologists and now have an electrophysiologist (EP).
I’m grateful for the defibrillator because now there is proof of what I’m telling doctors. The events are real and long! Being 56 and healthy otherwise, it was recommended I have an ablation surgery. I had that on December 21, 2016. So according to your article I am still in the “blanking” period.
The EP told me he believes the surgery was successful and said we would run a report from the defibrillator in June and discuss removing me from Eliquis and Lopressor. I’m also on Multaq but he said I could stop that at the end of February. However, I stopped taking my morning dose of Multaq 5 days ago and have begun experiencing shortness of breath, which is a side effect of taking the drug, not getting off of it!
I can’t find any literature about stopping the drug or if there are side effects or a way to stop taking it. And maybe I should wait until the blanking period is over. I’ve continued to have events, no racing periods, just PVC’s and skips, which all feels like “the same old thing” and I feel disappointed and depressed. But if I read your article right, I need to stop this and look forward to March 21st and beyond. But for now, not sure what’s causing the shortness of breath and if I should hold off taking myself off the Multaq.
Do you know anything about this?
Sherry
Sherry:
I’m not familiar with an “alcohol ablation.” Can you tell me more about it?
Regarding your situation, it’s definitely normal for the heart to “act up” during the 3-month blanking period. And for some, the blanking period may extend up to 4-5 months. We all heal differently. I know it’s easier said than done but try to be patient and give it time. If things haven’t improved by the 4th month mark then you may have to seriously consider a 2nd touch up ablation. Hopefully the doctor that did your ablation is an experienced EP as this will increase your odds significantly of the 1st (or 2nd ablation if necessary) ablation working.
Regarding the shortness of breath issue, I was never on Multaq so I’m not sure if your shortness of breath is connected to the drug in any way or not. I would discuss with your doctor about taking yourself off of it.
I wish you the best.
Travis
Hi Travis,
I have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and eventually climbing stairs or simple exertion left me breathless. So I had an alcohol septal ablation. The surgeon goes in like they did the ablation for my afib, but instead of both left and right groin, it was one side. The surgeon uses alcohol to reduce the gradient of the heart muscle which is enlarged. Many athletes you hear of dropping dead on the field or court, with no apparent reason, this is why. The blood cannot flow easily or quickly as it needs to to keep the heart pumping, but many/most people with this defect don’t even know it, death is usually the first symptom! Thank goodness I had shortness of breath that got worse and worse. But before the surgery and until my afib was discovered, I was on Atenolol, a beta blocker. It made me very sleepy/tired all the time and mildly depressed, I learned to live with it.
Unfortunately, many people with HCM develop afib. HCM effects the lower chambers of the heart, as I aged with it, the lower chamber was less and less able to pump the blood up into the upper chamber. So the upper chamber of the heart, where afib resides, began to take over the lower chambers job, and in doing so began to thicken and act erratically. I had horrible afib events of racing heart, shortness of breath, swelling legs/feet…and everyone said it was my HCM. I knew it wasn’t. And then you know the rest…
I was concerned enough about the recent behavior of my heart while getting off Multaq, that I contacted the surgeon, who is an electrophysciologist, and his office had me put the scanner to my heart (at home) which transmits what my hearts been up to from the defibrillator. His office called me and said whatever’s going on it has nothing to do with afib, there has been no afib events! So I’ve contacted my cardiologist to see if perhaps while I withdraw from Multaq (which I’ve been taking full dose and feel better), I should up my Lopressor for my HCM. Because I DO want to get off the Multaq, it’s got some side effects I don’t like, and my insurance no longer covers it. At $350 a month, I cannot afford it.
I know from speaking to the wife of another of his patients, that her husband had to have it a second time, with great success. But the surgeon tells me he believes mine was successful, but wants to wait until June to run tests and see if that’s all true before he takes me off Eliquis.
I don’t know that I said, but I was diagnosed with silent acid reflux, I didn’t have heartburn, no upset stomach, only a dry persistent cough and a disappearing voice. Eventually I felt pressure in my chest, a runny nose, and burning in my throat. Once I got the diagnosis, I refused to take PPI’s, I changed my diet and the reflux went away, after a year. But now it’s back since I’ve been misbehaving on my diet. I know despite what the doctors tell me, the reflux really aggravates my heart. So there is no knowing for me, if it’s the acid reflux or the decrease in Multaq that caused the palpitations.
But I’m grateful to your response, that I can’t judge the success of MY surgery after only 2 months. And having the lower chamber heart problem doesn’t help at all!
Sherry
After Catheter Ablation. Hello every one. My Name is Gaetan, age 69 with A-Fib for 4 years. Dear Travis, I have a couple of questions can you please answer?
1. I had my first ablation 22 days ago. According to the EP who performed the ablation everything went fine.
2. Should an ablation ends up by a cardioversion to bring the heart to normal sinus?
3. Since after the ablation my heart rate was 100 – 110 every day all the time. Last night I had a strange AF attack, and my heart went irregular, never had one like that in the past 4 years. Normally will be mild ones and just a feeling that my heart went irregular this time was more stronger.
4. Is that normal that one will have an afib attack just after 20 days from the ablation?
Before the ablation my last episode was 7 months before. Last 2 years episodes were occurring every 3 to 4 months. After the ablation my EP stopped (sotalol) 40 mg morning and 40 mg evening. Now I am only on Omeprazol 20 mg morning and 20 mg evening, and 20 mg Xarelto evening.
Can you please give me an answer to my questions?
Thank you!
Gaetan:
I’m not sure what you’re asking in questions 1-3 so I’ll need more clarification. Regarding question #4, it’s not uncommon at all to have an afib episode 20 days after an ablation. In fact, it’s not uncommon to have an afib episode(s) at any time during the 3-month blanking period.
The goal is to not have any afib episodes after an ablation but that doesn’t always happen. It’s usually a better sign if they occur early in the blanking period vs. later in the blanking period. If you have an afib episode(s) towards the end of the blanking period that usually (but not always) indicates a second touch up ablation may be needed.
I wish you well!
Travis
Dear Travis,
Ok I found the questions I asked you. Well, regarding question #2 what I want to ask you is, should at the end of an ablation should one be cardioverted to come to NSR, or one should come to NSR with the ablation?
The reason for this question is that they have cardioverted me to come to NSR at the end of the ablation.
Regarding question #3, after the ablation my heart rate was between 100 and 110 bpm, is that normal?
Thank you.
Gaetan
Gaetan:
Thanks for the clarification. In an ideal scenario, you’ll convert to NSR on your own but it’s not uncommon at all to need a cardioversion after an ablation and during the blanking period. And needing a cardioversion after an ablation doesn’t necessarily mean the ablation was a failure. That’s why months 3-4 are the most crucial. If you experience afib any time after the 3rd month that requires a cardioversion then there is a very high likelihood that you’ll need a touch up second ablation.
Regarding your other question, it is very normal to have an elevated heart rate after an ablation. Prior to my ablation my resting heart rate was about 52 bpm. After my ablation my resting heart rate was in the mid to upper 80’s and it stayed there for an entire year. Now two years later my resting heart rate is around 60. Your resting heart rate will come down but it may likely be slightly higher than it was prior to your ablation.
Travis
Dear Travis,
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
very appreciated.
Gaetan
Dear Travis,
I have a question for please.
Lately these last 6 days I have noticed that I go to sleep with a heart rate 0f 70 bpm, when I wake up in the morning my heart rate will be in the 90’s and some time it goes beyond 100, after a couple of hours it goes back to 70 again. during that time I take the 25 mg Atenalol.
What is your opinion about this.
Thank you
Gaetan
Gaetan:
You’re still in the blanking period so it’s very possible these up and downs are just a matter of the healing process. When you wake up with your heart rate elevated are you dreaming by chance? There are many times when I will wake up in the middle of the night with a very vivid dream and my heart will be pounding away rapidly – in response to the vivid dream.
Travis
Dear Travis,
No I don ‘t dream that much.
I Don’t dream often.
True there will be times that I dream a vivid dream but very rare.
Thank you for your reply.
Gaetan
Dear Travis,
Over 2 months passed from my ablation, and still waking up with a heart rate of 90 – 100 bpm.
Is it still because of the blanking period?
Thank you
Brian:
I am a runner and had 2 AFIB episodes the past 2 years that needed cardioversions. I decided to get an ablation to try to prevent the progressive nature of AFIB. My resting heart rate increased from 43 to the low 60’s post ablation and since I have been wearing a heart rate monitor on my runs the past 2 years and I can say with certainty my athletic ability was diminished (lost 25 seconds per mile!).
It is now been 5 months since my ablation. I have never had an AFIP episode and my resting heart rate is 53. I am only missing maybe 5 seconds per mile so I have come most of the way back. Perhaps all the way back. I ran and exercised starting on day 8 post ablation all the way through the blanking period. Very slowly at first and gradually increased intensity.
I don’t believe my resting heart rate will ever recover and maybe that is a good thing as there is data that correlates success to ablation with resting heart rate change. I suspect your heart rate will lower about 10 beats per minute as you heal. Good luck!
Eric:
Thanks for the update. I’m so glad to hear you’re doing well and back to normal! I wish you total NSR in 2017 and in the years to come!
Travis
Brad:
Was your left atrial APPENDAGE (LAA) isolated/ablated? There are only a handful of EP’s in the country that will do this. When you say the “left atria” area that is very different than the LAA specifically. You might want to ask your EP. If the answer is no, that is likely the primary source of your afib so if you want a shot at a true cure, you’ll want to get that ablated.
As to your primary question, cryo vs. RF wouldn’t have any affect on the length or severity of your episodes this time around. If you continue to have afib (say beyond the 3-month blanking period), then there are areas of the heart that still haven’t been fully ablated. Those “untreated” trigger sources are what cause the length and severity of your episodes.
Travis
Travis,
Just an update I had my third ablation done in May last year which was followed by having a watchman device fitted in June 2016 both operation went well I am now back at work full time however have not returned to full exercise but I am playing golf there yo four times a week. I have had no bouts of AF since then The only medication I am taking is 75mg aspirin a day and a Zantac for indigestion all seems to be going well so to all concerned hang on in their and it will be soon ok. Something’s do work in the National Health Service in the UK.
Regards Eric
Hello Travis,
In answers to your questions, yes they have ablated “burned” several places other than the 4 main veins. Also the left atria has been treated. I am being cardioverted tomorrow. I am only on Amiodarone for 90 days as they wanted my heart to have a chance to heal. I was on it when first diagnosed for 1 year to calm my heart while the heart failure corrected itself which it did. As for the EP, I am being treated at Northwestern in Chicago by their #1 guy. I do not live there but he rates highest in the country for complicated cases. Just concerned that this duration is like nothing I have ever experienced and wondered if the cryoablation could have caused this prolonged episode?
Brad:
Sorry to hear about your recent struggles with afib. There is so much to address with your comments that I don’t know where to begin. During any of these ablations, did they burn any areas outside the 4 pulmonary veins? If not, it’s likely they just kept burning the same areas over and over. The problem is, with complex cases like your’s, afib usually manifests itself in many other areas of the heart – mainly the left atrial appendage. If these other areas aren’t addresses, no amount of ablations will cure you. They can burn around your pulmonary veins a dozen times and it won’t matter if the afib is being triggered in these other areas that aren’t being addressed.
Only a handful of EPs in the country know how to ablate these other areas successfully. To learn more about this, I encourage you to read this post:
https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/1980/considering-an-ablation-to-treat-your-afib/
Now that they have you on amiodarone you have to be extremely cautious as this drug stays in your body for several weeks and can be very toxic to your thyroid, liver, and lungs. You’ll want to demand regular tests of your thyroid and liver function as well as have your lungs checked on a regular basis. I don’t mean to scare you but this is a drug you don’t want to mess with. It’s a double-edged sword. It’s one of the most effective drugs to treat afib but it can also be the riskiest drug to take. You just want to stay on top of things so that if amiodarone does cause some problems you can catch it sooner than later. Please note, because it stays in your system so long this isn’t a drug that can be quickly flushed from your body. It takes several weeks for it to clear from your body.
If I were you, I would seek out an experienced EP (i.e. Dr. Natale) and get this taken care of once and for all. An experienced EP will be able to ablate the more advanced triggers of afib such as the LAA (left atrial appendage). If you go this route, do it sooner than later as the longer you stay in afib, the harder it is to treat.
I wish you well.
Travis
I was diagnosed with AFIB when I was 39. It was missed for a long period of time, thus putting me in heart failure. After a year on meds to calm my heart down, I was put on Flecainide. It worked for a period allowing short episodes but converting on my own. Then the episodes began to be longer in duration.
I had my first RF ablation when I was 48. I was then put on a different antiarrhythmic drug for a period but was breaking through. The second ablation was done a year later where I was told I had reconnected and healed over so it appeared I had no scar tissue from the first ablation. Again I was put on a different drug. I broke through at 9 months. I lived with the on and off episodes for several years.
In 2008, I had the 3rd ablation in which they burned me in 68 places and I was in AFIB when I arrived at the hospital. They were confident they “got it all.” It lasted 6 weeks before I broke through. I have lived with the on and off AFIB ever since.
In 2016, I had continued episodes twice in May that lasted 4 days so I went to the hospital and was converted both times. My surgeon said we should try again. I went in for surgery on December 14, 2016 for a 4th ablation. They said I had completely healed over again and reconnected so they were able to treat this as a first time and did Cryoablation. They did applications to the upper two Pulmonary veins 4 times each and the 2 times each to the lowers. They said they wanted to be aggressive.
Four days after surgery, I went into AFIB that lasted for 5 days so they cardioverted me. That lasted for 30 hours and I am still in AFIB now. They have put me on Amiodarone for 90 days and are cardioverting me again next week.
I am so confused. I have never been in this persistent state of AFIB for this long. Is my heart still agitated? Am I looking at this quality of life for the rest of my days? FYI – I have normal blood pressure, tolerate Warfarin easily, no blockage in my heart but am 6’10” tall and in good shape. Any one else have this experience?
Hello Travis,
First let me give a big thanks for the forum and your words of comfort and prior knowledge. I’m from Australia and had the ablation for atrial flutter Dec 3rd. Exactly a year ago I had part of my left lung removed also. I’m experiencing pain across the upper back and shortness of breath and find I can’t do a lot without having to go lie down and rest, which is now more acute since the ablation.
I have a 4 week business trip to South Africa coming up, which requires a 14 hr flight from Australia and I have to confess I’m a bit nervous about the whole trip and whether I might be pushing things and my heart. As I have not only had the ablation but lung surgery done as well, there is no marker I can find on where I should be in my recovery. Any comments would be most welcomed.
Hey Travis, thanks for sharing your journey. I had my ablation December 5, 2016 after dealing with A-Fib on and off for 15 years (much worse in the last two). As I write this I am going on two weeks post procedure. One thing I have noticed is that my resting heart rate has gone from the low 40’s (I am a former marathoner) to the 60’s. Did you experience a jump and has it begun to resolve?
Hey Brian. Congrats on your ablation! I had a resting heart rate in the low 50’s before my ablation. It was in the mid 80’s after my ablation for probably a year or so. The funny thing was I didn’t feel any different. I felt the same as I did when my heart was beating away in the 50’s.
My resting heart rate varies now between 65-70 beats per minute.
I actually looked at the increase as a positive. Bradycardia isn’t necessarily a good thing. I’m actually thrilled my heart rate is now “normal.” Having a heart rate below 60 always kind of freaked me out – even though I was perfectly fine. Like you, I had a resting heart rate in the 40’s back in my 20’s when I ran a lot.
Travis
P.S. I hope you’re hanging up your running shoes now. Endurance exercise of any kind is not good for afibbers:) I used to exercise a ton prior to my ablation but these days I’ve become a “power walker.” I don’t even lift weights anymore.
Thank you for responding! I actually had to hang those shoes up after a total hip replacement a year ago. My excercise now is spinning with the blessing of my ablation doctor -funny that just in the last couple days my BPM has dropped back to the mid-50s and no afib so far! Thanks again!
Brian:
That’s great to hear! I wish you many years of NSR! Have fun spinning:)
Travis
Hello All,
I am a 39 year old male and I have been dealing with paroxysmal afib for over 10 years. I usually get around 3-5 episodes a year, though that number got more frequent during the last few years. I had my ablation for paroxysmal Afib on Sept. 6th, 2016. Thus, I am a little past the 3 months mark.
The first month I had maybe 5 episodes lasting from 20 minutes to 6 hours. Post ablation, I was only put on Pradaxa and took 100mg flecainide and 30mg diltiazem only when having an episode and I always converted to sinus eventually within 8 hours.
A week ago, 2 days after my 3 month mark, I had a terrible episode that did not respond to my meds. After about 24 hrs in afib I started feeling very faint and was unable to control my arms and legs fully. I called an ambulance and was cardioverted in the ER. My electrophysiologist put my on a twice-daily Multaq and has kept me on Pradaxa, both of which will be taken for a month.
I am still experiencing slight PACs throughout the day, though no more than say 10 or so. My doc said this is completely normal that I would still be having ‘episodes’ this far out of the ablation and that success cannot be determined for at least 3 months and sometimes 6-12 months. My point being, this 8-12 week period seems to be very arbitrary and that many patients are cured after much longer a time. I am starting to feel hopeless hearing this 3 month period being thrown out so casually as if it is the end-all-be-all time frame.
Nate:
Sorry to hear about the episodes you’ve been experiencing since your ablation. Your doctor is right, 3 months is just a general benchmark. Some people will have episodes beyond the 3-month mark for a period before things finally settle down.
Having said that, having multiple episodes that last 24 hours or longer after the blanking period is often (but not always) a sign that a touch up ablation will be necessary.
I know the thought of a second ablation really sucks. The good news, however, is that the success rates go up after a second procedure. Just be sure whoever is doing any follow up work (if any is necessary) is highly skilled and has a lot of experience doing complex ablations.
I wish you well.
Travis
July 20, 2016 was my ablation. All these comments are very helpful. My big problem is my blood pressure. It is up and down. Does the pressure change after the ablation? I feel better when it is a little bit high. Is that o k ? Most of my problem is dizziness. Help.
Janet