No monitor, got for follow up visit next Weds...... Having a hard time with this, hope it straightens out soon.

I always wondered why it's called a "blanking" period, but I'm pretty sure it's up just a shortened version for "blankety-blanking" (can you tell I'm a bit grumbly about mine, lol)

What an encouragement to read through this thread again. And if it's true that lots of afib after ablation is a sign of more durable lesions, mine ought to be stellar!

Bereth:
Are these AFI events or PACS? Are you wearing an event monitor? In the 29 days I wore a monitor after my ablation, I had 561 events. I thought some of them were AFIB. When I went over the printout with my EP (at 30 days), there was only one AFIB event and 560 PACS (which go away as the heart heals). So hang in there, yes it makes you nuts for a few weeks.

I guess when I do actually decide to have an ablation, I don't have to worry about the blanking period since, I'm in afib most of the time now anyway. All I have to worry about is the doc making a mistake.

Paul, I'm not wearing a monitor. When I asked specifically if I would be, the EP told me no, since I could feel when I was in afib. I've had mostly PAC's, I think, but a few periods of afib as well, and the last few times they were just as bad as pre-ablation. The last couple of nights I've woke up in the middle of the night to find my heart out of rhythm, but not in afib. That's not something I've had to deal with before.

I had planned on going back to work by now, but with the afib still so disabling at times, I'm going to have to wait a little longer. I actually got really down yesterday, for the first time wondering if I'd made a mistake in doing the ablation, so finding this thread and hearing others echo that exact sentiment helped a lot.

Patience...

Bereth:
I thought you were being a bit too optimistic about going back to work so soon. It took me two weeks before I was willing to go out walking a bit. Take your time, read a book. The ups and downs are what we all have gone through. If you re-read my Post Ablation thread I'm suspect you will find about a dozen people who have reported just what you are experiencing post ablation.

Paul,
I followed your advice about taking it easy for the first 2 weeks and I have not experienced any afib since my ablation. I did experience some isolated pvc's on the seventh day following my ablation.

After 2 weeks I felt great and started doing all my normal activities except for exercising where I substituted walking for running and did not do weights. I am also not drinking coffee where pre-ablation I drank 1-2 cups per day as coffee was not a trigger for me.

The biggest change I noticed is an elevated hr which my ep said can sometimes last up to a year or more.

opsyn

What a wonderful resource we have here!!!!!!!

John, are your afib episodes recent?

Bereth, I am hoping Today is Better for you! When you said your heart is 'out of rhythm'....why is it not afib?

daisy0808..Best of the Best results on your follow up visit next week!

Oh yes, Paul, I did read through your thread as well :)

Keepumping, well be praying for zero mistakes for you. I have to believe it's very rare anymore.

Opsyn, my hr was around 88 right after the ablation, and when I asked about it in the hospital, they would only comment that it's not a problem. I didn't ask how long it would take to go back to normal, but I've noticed in the mornings it's getting better (this morning it's down to 68) but still high later in the day.

Carol, after a really rough Thursday, no afib since! And maybe I'm not using the right terminology, but have had a variety of odd heart rates, some not chaotic like afib, more like an organized pattern of "skipped beats". During the early morning today, just a few scattered skips, spaced quite apart. Not sure if that makes sense?

Just fyi. I am 20 weeks post ablation and still get plenty of PAcs throughout the day. Walking an hour a day. Exercise smooths out the PACs

John, what you are experiencing is typical. I had 1 two day episode and 2 week episoide AFTER my ablation. The first started within 3 days of the procedure! The second happened maybe a couple months later. That one would not go away so I had a cardioversion 2 weeks into it. I had never had a cardioversion before so I thought I was moving backwards as a result of the ablation! But I was reassured by the folks on this board to give it time since I was still in the blanking period. WELL I am getting close to 8 months without an episode. And I have NOT been babying my heart. This AM, I ran 14 miles. Those 3 months after the ablation is a crazy time. Your heart is more irritated because it has been burned! My heart beat 3x as fast at the beginning of my post ablation episodes than it did during my pre ablation episodes. So hang in there, things will start settling down after 3 months. Many here indicate varying periods of episodes after the procedure. My EP told me recently that even if I had an episode now, I should not be too concerned with.
Hope the remainder of your blanking period is tolerable and that you emerge from it with solid NSR!

After my 2nd ablation it took almost 5 months for things to calm down. Are you still on medication? I had to immediately be put back on meds after 2nd ablation. My EP was very aggressive with ablation. Meaning he has ablated everything he could ablate. Since I have lessen my carbs and sugar intake it has helped with the palpitations I sometimes get. Maybe u should let ur doctor knoe. U might need new meds. The ablation doesn't neccessarily fix everything. Hence why I have had 2. Good luck!

Ive been off all meds since March 20. Thanks to all for the great advice!!

It took a solid 6 months for things to simmer down and the PACS to start going away after my 1st ablation. I still had the AFIB but not as much as that 1st month after the ablation.

Here's my recent experience...

I had my ablation on March 27th and went about a week in NSR. But then every other day I started getting a few hours of AFIB. Then things turned markedly worse! From about 4/9 - 4/22 I was in AFIB every day and it was for most of the day.

I was extremely distraught and was viewing the procedure as a miserable failure. My symptoms were worse than I had previously experienced. (I was actually asymptomatic prior to my stroke in December.)

To make matters worse, all the meds were playing havoc with my system and I had zero energy and strength.

I was getting myself mentally prepared for ablation #2.

But, remarkably, and for reasons I can't explain, I have not had a recurrence of AFIB since 4/22. Not one! It was as if a light switch got flicked on.

I am keeping my fingers crossed and understand that I'm not out of the woods. But for now I am feeling super good. Meds have been radically reduced. I'm back in the gym, back on my yoga mat and things are looking good.