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.

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/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

afib back after second ablation

lzybt
lzybt
The VA medical center in Washington DC did my second ablation this past February 4th. Had one month of crazy afib, then two months of calm. The afib came back; it's slower and doesn't last as long, but it's the same old thing. Laying down sets it off, being tired sets it off, too much heat sets it off..... Of course being the VA, you have to wait forever for an appointment. Just fed up with this stuff! The same Doctor did both ablations, wondering if he really knows what he is doing?
sheri1205
sheri1205
Have they checked for sleep apnea. I just had my second cardioversion but they seem to think the afib is being caused by sleep apnea.
Hwkmn
Hwkmn
Laying down may be a sign of an inflamed vagus nerve. Take Vit C, 1660mg twice daily to cut down the inflammation and do some backward neck stretching, hang your head over the edge of a bed as long as you can while on your back. Then, heat with the hottest heating pad you can stand for 1 hour. And take your Magnesium 6-1200 mg a day.
SeanOpositive
SeanOpositive
Hi lzbt, I'm sorry to hear about the outcomes to date. A great question for electrophysiologist (EP) docs is, "How many a-fib specific ablations have you performed?" Total ablations is helpful, but an EP who has treated 500 ventricular arrhythmias will not have the same experience as someone who has treated 500 left atrial arrhythmias. However, a-fib is likely the most prevalent ablation indication. For me and my rare blood vessel condition, I wanted an EP that had performed at least a total of 1,000 ablations. This number likely dates them back to the very beginnings of mainstream electrophysiology for a-fib treatment (circa 2000). If their experience is less than 1,000 ablations, I would empower the patient to ask with whom the EP trained under and at which clinic. It is also good to get a firm understanding of how well the EP has addressed any atrial flutter following an a-fib ablation in the past. Mitigating a-fib with a PV lesion set can sometimes trigger atrial flutter, and it is a good dialogue with an EP to hear how confident they are at also addressing residual atrial flutter. There are some new tools these days, too, such as rotor mapping systems, that can help identify problem areas in the atrial wall which may not necessarily be emanating from the pulmonary vein. Don't hesitate to ask if the EP is using any alternate mapping systems. Take care, Sean
tvanslooten
tvanslooten
It sucks to hear the kind of treatment our veterans get with the VA. It pisses me off, quit frankly. Our vets should get the best care in the world. It's a shame they don't.

I'd definitely consider talking to another EP. It could very well be the EP (i.e. he's not that good at ablating).

I have no idea how the VA system works but my guess is you're stuck working with VA doctors unless you're willing to pay for an appointment with someone outside the VA out-of-pocket. Even so, it might be worth considering just to get a well-qualified second look at things.

Best of luck to you.

Travis