Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.

760 Members

3,682 Posts

0 Online

heart2222 06/23/2012

I just had my 3 mos check after my ablation on 3/23/12. The news was good and bad. The MRI showed no pulmonary vein damage which was super!! But, I have atrial tachy which the nurse practioner said was CAUSED by the ablation. The treatment for that she said was beta blockers or another ablation. She wants me to monitor it with a heart monitor I place on my chest anytime I have abnormal beats.

Usually they take you off Tikosyn after 2-3 mos. Since I'm continuing to have abnormal beats, she wants to keep me on Tikosyn maybe until 6 mos and also the Pradaxa. Most know after 3 mos if their ablation was successful or not. I might not know until 6 mos. Bummer.

I was kinda disappointed. I wanted to get off Tikosyn and eventually Pradaxa and get back to "normal" life. I guess my heart is not cooperating.

I was getting a fib many times a day before the ablation. But after I get lots of blips throughout the day, and then these a tachy or a fib runs every once in awhile.

Sigh... this is not an easy thing to take care of!!!! I want to be rid of this thing and I was hoping the ablation would take care of it. I don't know if I would be up for another one since the ablation can CAUSE this new abnormal rhythm.

Has anyone else experienced atrial tachy after an ablation?

heart2222 06/26/2012

Yes, I've heard the same thing. The longer you are in a fib, the more this is true. YOur heart thinks a fib is the proper rhythm after awhile.

RN52 06/26/2012

Hang in there heart2222. I am sorry things didn't go as well as hoped. It does sound as if things are better than what they were. Take care and try to stay positive. It is difficult at times. I'm praying for the best for you.

heart2222 06/26/2012

Thanks so much, RN52. Our health seems to be fragile at times. I guess this is a part of getting older... Sigh...

Hope things work out for your RA too!!

DeeMR11 06/26/2012

Sorry to hear about this set back.
The waiting can be so hard!
Praying that you will eventually have a good outcome.
D.

heart2222 06/26/2012

Thanks, Dee!!

shantima 06/27/2012

I'm sorry you're having a difficult time heart. I experienced the same problem with at. Had a second ablation 5 months afterwards for the at. despite the lung problems. I'm also on tikosyn. Its been 3 1/2 weeks and so far I've had no episodes. The second ablation was so much easier. Although I had the TEE again I didn't need the ct scan or mapping and recovery was faster. If it holds out for a while it will all be worth it except for the phrenic nerve problem.
I saw on the news the other day that heart attack pts suffer from ptsd and I believe we do also. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop. I try to breathe in the moment and to not anticipate what may or may not happen. It's hard though. I hope things improve for you.

heart2222 06/28/2012

Shantima,
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Sorry you had to have another ablation. How long was the ablation for AT? Still the same groin punctures?

I kinda agree with you about the PTSD. If not that, some type of anxiety disorder as a result of this. When we try to "cure" one thing, we end up with another. It's an endless thing. We are chasing after a cure that may or may not be attainable.

I'm so glad for you that you are in NSR!! That's just super!! I hope your phrenic nerve problem resolves. Did you go back to the same doc that did your first ablation?

shantima 06/28/2012

Thanks Heart. The procedure was about 4 1/2 hours. The first one was 6 hrs. Yes, I did go back to the same Dr.. I was in nsr for a month the first time before I went into at and flutter. This is the ptsd part for me. Every time I feel a twinge or pain I think , oh no, It's starting again and I wait for it to start all over again. I won't feel hopeful until I hit the 3 month mark and not expecting a lasting recovery, but hoping for at least a few good years. Meanwhile I'm trying to savor the peace I have right now and the slow regular tick tick tick of my heart.

heart2222 06/29/2012

Wow, still 4.5 hrs. I would have thought a lot less. Isn't it something that the average person doesn't appreciate their NSR and we are yearning to have it. Most people don't give their heart ticking a second thought. And we are acutely in tune with it's every beat and its rhythm. Sure makes us think we shouldn't take things for granted.

Wishing you NSR for good now, shantima!!! YOu've been through enough!!!

shantima 06/29/2012

Thanks Heart. I never take for granted the moments when I feel peace and a regular heart beat. It's so hard sometimes though when so many things are going screwy on me.

heart2222 06/30/2012

I know, shantima. It's always something...

Join the Conversation