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.
I had an ablation back in October 2012. All was going pretty good with an occasional breakthrough nothing too bad. I hit month 4 and it's like all hell broke loose. One day my heart rate shot up to 185 after I ran up the steps of my townhouse. I went to emergency room and the proceeded to try adenosine to medically convert rythm to normal. They tried it twice and it didnt work. This medience was horrorable it made u feel like u were being suffocated for about 15 seconds. They they tried cardizem and it worked. they said I was having a svt episode. I was in hospital for 3 days. They had decided to increase my metoprol dose to 50mg twice a day instead of once. 2Days after they released my I was walking up my steps again my heart shot up to 195bpm. So I went back to emergency room.they were able to get rate down again with cardizem. They decided to transfer me to the hospital I had the ablation at so my doctor could deal with me. This time they told me I was having afib wth rvr. I was put on a cardizem drip for 30 hrs with my rate still hoovering in low 90's. They decided to put me back on sotalol(betapace). I was on it before the ablation and would have thses crazy side effects dependibg on what manufacture it came from. If the sotalol doesnt work they said they will have to cardioversion. The dpecialist said I was having a atrial tackycardia. Been on sotalol for 72 hrs and it is finally working to keep me in sinus rythm. It also has my resting rate hoovering the 60's& 70's So once specialist come in this morning I will know if I have to be cardioversion or not. Has this type of thing happen to anyone else? After your ablation it came back with a vengence?
The first episode stopped after 2 to 3 hours after taking 80mg of Sotalol. ( I stopped all meds 30 days after my ablation). The second episode 7 days later send me to the ER, because I had a half dozen near fainting spells. At the ER they diagnosed it as SVT. My cardio told me to resume taking 80 mg Sotalol BID. A few weeks later I consulted with an EP from the Cleveland Clinic and was told it was not SVT, but left sided atypical flutter. I was told this flutter rhythm is not uncommon after an ablation. It can occur if a spot was missed during the ablation.
Originally I planned on having a second ablation this spring and I even had it already scheduled for early April. However I have now decided to wait since my regiment of 80 mg Sotalol seems to keep me in NSR for the time being.
I truly hope your EP will be able to help you. Wishing you all the best and please keep us informed.