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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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

lots of afib after second ablation

lzybt
lzybt
I had my second ablation two days ago; it was done at the VA Hospital in Washington D.C. While the procedure went well, and I can't say enough about Dr. Moore and his abilities; I have been in and out of afib, and PVC's every other beat for about two days now. Don't like it one bit. I can't sleep lying down, or it goes right into afib again. It always converts back to a regular beat within six hours or so. The thing I don't get is the amount of PVC's i keep having, both before and after the ablation. They seem to always lead to another episode of afib. I'm just frustrated after twenty plus years of this crud! The VA doesn't treat pvc's, no matter how many you have, they just give metropolol and tell you that they won't kill you. I haven't been sleeping well for several months, and that isn't helping. I know it takes a while to form a scar and stop the signal, but it's still causing alot of anxiety and sleepless nights. How do you handle this? I have PTSD also, so I'm anxious most the time, and that's not helping. I've pretty much had no life for the past twenty years. I was Army Special Forces and was medically discharged because of afib. Hard to go from being the best you can be, to a useless lump.
yogacat
yogacat
You Are a Lovable Human being. I am so sorry this is happening to you!
pacyetep
pacyetep
Is the VA doing anything for your PTSD?


petey
daisy0808
daisy0808
I would ask them for something for your anxiety. Many of us have had to take something for it and it does help, After my ablation I was in afib daily and it took about a week for it to stop, very frustrating to say the least. I took a xanax every night for week so I could sleep, I was put back on the Tikosyn before I left the hospital and things finally settled down, after three months I was taken off all of the drugs except the Eliquis and was good for several months until the thyroid went awry. I had changed my eating habits lost 30 lbs and it turned out I was on too much thyroid meds, I am now on day 52 and no afib and feel pretty darn good. Have lost a total of 42 lbs so far with 10 more to go. Remember there is a 90 day blanking period for the heart to settle down, get help with your anxiety and PTSD and things should calm down for you verty soon, hang in there!
duder
duder
Great advice here. Try to get your anxiety under control, and hopefully your heart issues will follow suit. We all know what it means to live with this anxiety.

I think it's criminal that you're not being completely taken care of. If we can send people to war, the LEAST we can do is to make sure they're 100% taken care of when they come home! I could launch into a tirade about how the men who declare war never have the courage to go to battle themselves, but let me just say thank you for your service, and I hope from the bottom of my heart that you can get the help you need.
juniebe
juniebe
Such a shame you have to endure more of the same! I know how it feels not to be able to lie down. I just pile up the pillows unil my upper body is elevated and that seems to help. Also, I begged my docs or some meds to help with the anxiety and they have helped a lot. As soon as I feel something coming on, I take what was prescribed and sometimes at bedtime I take it as well. Some days it's PVCs all day and that's really nerve-wracking. I just take another beta blocker and it seems to help. I really hope your heart settles down soon. The period after ablation seems to be a daunting one for many.
lzybt
lzybt
Thanks all, for your replies. I'm going to try and get an appointment with my MH doctor, for something to calm me down. This gets old, really fast. With the VA, you have to be kind of an ass to get them to do anything. There was NO explanation of what to expect after the ablation, either time that I've had it done. They expect you to wait two months before they will talk to you again.
duder
duder
The biggest enemy of anyone with afib is anxiety. Couple that with your PTSD and you get a double whammy. Hopefully a regular doc will come though for you, and you will be able to find some peace. Check back in and let us know how you're doing.
tval214
tval214
We hope you are feeling better. This site gave my husband and I a sense of relief when we posted about his post-ablation afib issues. The responses were so helpful. He had afib episodes for the first 6 days; one 10 hours; but since day 7 (now at day 14), no afib. We are hopeful. Keep the faith.
buddyc22
buddyc22
Hello lzybt,

So sorry you're going through this, sir.

I agree with the other folks who have responded to your post regarding controlling your anxiety. Stress and anxiety seem to bring about AF and it's listed as one of the top triggers for AF.

Although I haven't had an ablation, however, from reading about it and reading this forum's posts and replies, it seems that it will take weeks to months for any residual AF to dissipate. I believe that the 6-month point is that point where doctors declare success or failure. In the meantime, patients are usually prescribed anti-arrhythmics. Metoprolol isn't an anti-arrhythmic, it's a -1 blocker, it just controls your heart rate. It may or may not prevent AF episodes. Sometimes it fails and another drug has to be tried. I, myself, was prescribed metoprolol for a while until it stopped working and I got my third AF episode and taking extra metoprolol didn't terminate it so they gave me another drug which worked and I've been taking it since then for the last 6 1/2 months without issues.

Prayers are out that your episodes dissipate and the anxiety is relieved...
Hwkmn
Hwkmn
lz, Im not real familiar with ablations and what exactly is done, Im guessing that the heart tissue is destroyed where the Afib happens? Unfortunately, the live wire source is still sending a charge to the heart. Getting to the source or trigger could be the key to your PVCs, something I had for 5 years with little AF, but now have close to none.
If we want to send a certain poster here over the edge, we can discuss eating dirt again......But seriously, freeing our neck/ spines could be key. There also is a Yoga move where I heard some convert by touching their shoulder blades together. My kid showed me that and I went into spasm,.,.lol. Gotta work up to it. Regards.
lzybt
lzybt
I'm on day 11 after my second ablation, still going into afib every time I relax or sit back. Last night was an all niter. The episodes are getting more frequent, but shorter. Lasts for 20-30 minutes, back to normal, then 20-30 minutes and back into afib. My doctor at the VA has not returned my phone calls. They will let you talk to a PA; who only says "if you don't feel well, go to the ER" I said, Your not a Doctor, and you didn't perform the ablation; I need to speak with that doctor. It's like trying to get a hold of Gandhi.
chinamom22
chinamom22
I'm ashamed of the VA and the way you are being treated. I don't care 'how busy' your doctor is - he has time for a phone call. Especially when dealing with a veteran. Please accept my apologies - it is a travesty in my opinion.

Charlene in Oklahoma