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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MarkJames696 02/26/2013

As I was getting ready for the procedure the next day, I kicked into AFIB at about 11:30 until 4:00 am. One more show of love. It was as if my heart new what was going to happen. So, being up all night, I get to the hospital at 6:15am and thanks to that episode I had to do a TEE test. Not so bad except for the numbing stuff they sprayed in my throat. I didn't get back to the lab until around 1:30pm. So, by the time I got to move around at 11:00pm, I laid on the bed for 15hrs. My lower back was and is killing me. They gave me vicodin, so I liked that part. When I got back to the lab, everything I was going to say I for my own assurances I forgot. Such as I didn't want to be cathed. Now I'm paying for it. It feels like a razor blade coming out. Is that normal? Otherwise, I was completely out. The insert sites are pretty sore, but all in all, not so bad. No chest or heart discomfort.

Im not sure how long it took, as I can barely remember anything he said, but it was about 7:30pm when I looked at the clock. I will be clarifying all at my follow up. He went in and isolated the Pulmanary Veins. After that, my heart still kicked out and he said he saw a pretty major "driver" in the right side. It may have been the Tachycardia. He ablated that and then did another ablation on the left side for Atrial Flutter. I surely didn't expect that much. From 7:30-11:30 I had nothing. I was thinking wow, all that and I don't have one skipped beat. It was great. Well, now I'm getting a bunch of PVCS. My heart rate is about 85. Hopefully, those subside. Thanks again, wanted to let you guys know.

Steveinnsr 02/27/2013

Mark, I had an all nighter Afib episode about 6 weeks after my ablation also and one or two shorter ones. Does your EP have you on an antaarrhythmic drug for the first 6 weeks? I was on Rhythmol and had my episodes after stopping it. Anitiarrhythmics are commonly prescribed post ablation to help calm the heart during early healing. The inside of your heart has endured a lot so that alone will disrupt things. Some healing time will make a big difference so try not to be discouraged. I know it's not easy.

Steveinnsr 02/27/2013

... also I had episodes of increased heart rate as well. A couple of times during sleep I awoke and noticed it was higher than my normal resting rate, up in the 80s (my normal is low 60s). That hasn't happened again in about 4 months now. I have a feeling your rate will drop in time as well. Don't forget that you just went through and are still going through a very stressful time, that'll get you rate up some too.

deleted_user 02/27/2013

Mark- I take Xarelto and I have not had any problems at all. My ablation was 11/28/12 - still have afib but the symptoms are less severe and episodes are much shorter. My afib started 30 minutes after my surgery. Do not get discouraged as it will get better. It is very important to get rest and take care of your body. Best of luck to you and keep us posted.

pacyetep 02/27/2013

I looked up side effects on Xarelto/Rivaroxiban.

The ambulance chasers have started already as they did with Pradaxa and Coumadin.... http://xareltobleedinglawsuit.com/

Anyway, I woukld chek with your doctor.

MarkJames696 02/27/2013

The doctors office called and said they'd call back after talking to doctor. Not on any antiarrythmics. I'm having another episode now. If this keeps up I may have to.

lchandless 02/27/2013

Hang in there Mark. Things will calm down for you. My husband had a crazy racing heart the night we got home from the hospital which woke him up out of a dead sleep. It freaked both of us out. His doctor told him that his heart was irritated and that it would calm down which it did. Good luck, Lisa

deleted_user 02/27/2013

Mark- I am so sorry to hear that this is happening to you! Keep your head up and hopefully it won"t be long till you are afib free!

Kelly

PennyLane3389 02/27/2013

Mark, Hope all gets better for you. Keep your chin up
Penny

MarkJames696 02/27/2013

Doc called back and said stay on the Xarelto. May have to switch if more side effects. The last episode only lasted an hour. My current heart rate is 76 bpm. I did manage to sleep for about an hour. Thanks to all.

DeTalentedOne 02/28/2013

Conrats on having an ablation. The whole razor blade feeling when they jerk out the catherers is normal. That was my pain thru out my ablation. Be prepared that you will have some breakthrough afib episodes for the next 3 to 4 months during yout healing.. The fist day I must have had like 10 but they lasted like 5seconds. 4months after my ablation I had developed another issue which is atrial tachicardia. I see its the same thing you had ablated on right side of heart. How frequent were ur episodes and how high did ur heart rate go? I had 2 episode with 5 days in between them with rates of 185bpm and 195bpm.

MarkJames696 02/28/2013

The razor blade issue came when I tried to use it. It was way to painful to go and they did a bladder scan and said it was full and they were going to have to straight cath me if I didn't go before I left the hospital because I asked for them to take it out the previous night. Through very loud singing/screaming, I went. I saw the doc the next morning but don't remember much. I will get the details on Mar 26, but from what he told my mother, what he found on the right side was what he called a "main driver". When I did the EPS study a few years ago, I was diagnosed with AFIB and ATACH. I thought he had said the ATACH was fueling the AFIB. I always got the ATACH with the AFIB, and I think the rate averaged about 200. In the beginning it was worse. Sorry to hear that now you have another one to deal with. Which ablation did you have?

Surfrat 02/28/2013

Hang in there Mark and all the best moving forward and NSR!! - Thomas

deleted_user 03/02/2013

Congrats! I received the TEE as a part of my first ablation. They told me about it, but I was under before they started any of it. When I woke up, I felt like I had been violated in most every way. Was not expecting throat pain, or the catheter. I'd never had one. Having now had 3, it's still the worst part of the procedure... having it removed. Razor blades is an excellent deacription.

Don't be alarmed if you have AF or other issues. Your heart is very irritated. Things will eventually settle down. I was so depressed when I went into AF just hours after my surgery, but it's somewhat normal.

Hope everything turns out well for you!

deleted_user 03/11/2013

Mark - hope things have settled down for you. Are you doing OK?

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