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Post Ablation Recovery – Need Help!!
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Jun 11, 2019 | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
Hello -- I'm new to this forum. I had my ablation April 25, 2019; it's been a month now. I've since been cardioverted 4 days post-ablation and been put on various strong drugs: Dofetilide (with 3 day hospital stay) and Digoxin, in addition to Metoprolol Succinate daily, with Metroprolol Tartrate when having an attack. Meds obviously aren't working. My attacks are now lasting more than 24 hours, and I'm in a-fib more days than not. My doctor is talking about a stereotaxis ablation (robotic, since some nerves were too close to the esophagus and diaphragm for him to zap completely) or a pacemaker. I'm a 69-year-old female and pretty active. This is zapping my strength, mental attitude and quality of life. I'm aware of a blanking period after an ablation, but this is ridiculous. Any words of wisdom are welcome.
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Hello @jeanniegirl,
I can only imagine how disappointed and frustrated you must feel! I sincerely encourage you to view this Q&A, where Mayo Clinic cardiologists discuss, "When Ablation Fails, What Then?” https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/838526
According to Dr. Paul Friedman, “...there are patients in whom it will fail. In that setting, it comes down to three options—pharmacologic treatment... and surgical therapies. Often, we switch to nonpharmacologic rate-control strategies, such as atrioventricular node ablation with device implantation. This is extremely effective for controlling symptoms...it is acceptable for patients in their mid-70s and older because it essentially eliminates the need for pharmacologic therapy, with the exception of anticoagulation for stroke prevention.”
If you read through some of the posts in this discussion, you will see that it's important to seek treatment sooner rather than later, particularly if you are still having afib episodes while taking antiarrhythmic medication . That's because atrial fibrillation is a progressive disease, and if afib is not treated, patients can transition from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation to longstanding/persistent atrial fibrillation – the greater the severity of atrial fibrillation, the harder it is to cure. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/atrial-fibrillation-ablation/care-at-mayo-clinic/pcc-20384972
@jeanniegirl, for how long have you had afib? Is this your first catheter ablation?