Afib 10 weeks post PFA Ablation so lost!

No more than any other method. It may be new info to you, but PFA currently enjoys no statistically significant advantage in terms of success in freeing the patient from AF, but it is safer in some ways. Also, 25% of all index (first) ablations fail. This is across the field, with some variance between your average electrophysiologist and the best of them. If it helps, I was in that 25% as well. Second attempt, seven months later, same EP, he got 'er done. I am now three years free of AF. You can hope to be there as well in a few months. Just make sure your EP has a sensible game plan. He missed a gap around your pulmonary veins or he didn't know that you have other foci on a different wall of your atrium. Be optimistic...worked for me!

Thank you, wonderful news that your second go has held! I do understand the odds but TBH did not think I would be worse off than before post ablation? I mean the same I could deal with, but worse? And optimism is always good advice, will work on it, right know sad is all I got though.

Are you exercising and trying to stay healthy? I was diagnosed with AFib in 2019..It wasn't too bad with short incidents occuring every 3-4 months for several years. Then it worsened and finally when I was in AFib all the time they did an ablation. Now I rarely have an incident. I do find if I get sick it can set off my irregular heartbeat but it goes away after I'm better. The only thing I do is regular exercise and try to eat healthy. And pray! God is good. Best to you!

It may be that the PFA may have missed one or more of the spots that trigger Afib. Based on my own experience with PFA plus my limited knowledge, I doubt that the procedure itself caused your Afib to worsen. However, I can certainly understand that you are feeling discouraged at this point. As gloaming stated, it may take more than one ablation procedure to do the trick. I would advise you to keep your EP informed about your symptoms and see what he/she thinks would be the appropriate path forward. Best wishes.

l had PFA in May 2025 and continue to be Afib free. In my latest follow up with the electrophysiologist team their only comment was that given my age (86) and the known success rate of any ablation technique that it is likely that I may need another PFA in roughly 12 to 18 months. Given my age I may have to think long and hard about another invasive procedure while safe. Is it worth it given that my personal use by date is not too far in the future?

Gosh, I hope not. I don't know what to say to you except that I am trying to be positive but clearly understand your anxiety! I am 4 weeks PFA and I have not had any A-fib episodes (I was also diagnosed as paroxysmal a year ago). I have had several PAC's daily, but again, as you and I were told, that was to be expected in the beginning and not to worry. I am off all my blood pressure medication except for hydrochorothyiazide and my B/P has been running in the high teens in the morning, which is good because the night-time was when I was usually running high by history. I am back at the gym, working out almost to what I was before the ablation; I usually do 35 minutes of elliptical and 35 on the treadmill at 3.8 mph at 8 to 10 elevation. I work up a good sweat but my pulse is rarely over 110. I also do some weights. I have been meticulous about my lifestyle changes--no alcohol, only 2 cups of 1/2 caf in the morning and watching that I don't gain any weight. I sincerely hope this works; I had a very competent EP by recommendation. I really do hear your anxiety/concern. I would be upset too. I don't know what I would do but I think you need to have a long talk with the cardiologist and the EP. Good luck and please let us know how you make out!

@alexjo I was indeed worse off, and even had to go on the dreaded amiodarone. I had been left on metoprolol as a prophylactic and that had me in long pauses, so long that the ICU nurse came running in to find me chatting with my wife. She held out her fingers 10" apart and said they'd watched my monitor go flat that long. Internist conferred with my EP and they agreed between them that I had to commence a short regimen of amiodarone...eight weeks. Four months after that I had my second ablation, but lemme assure ya it wasn't fun waiting, especially off amiodarone and getting tons of PACs and some semi-persistent AF. Agreed, it's a distinct bummer to find you're somewhat worse off than previously.

Thank you for the helpful comments. Will wait and see, and hope.

I have had 4 ablations, and the last one in April 2025 was a long procedure and the EP thought he "got it all" I had 3 afib events within 2 weeks of the procedure, but they say its normal as my heart is in that blanking period. In late October 2025 I had total knee replacement surgery. Since the surgery I have constant palpitations. 4 or 5 every minute. I can tell you, recovering from knee surgery and dealing with these awful PACs has been so unsettling. It seems any kind of surgery or traumatic event triggers Afib and or palpitations. We are all dealing with our own journeys but reading these posts does help a lot. I wish all of you "freedom" from all of this in 2026. Wishing a cure would free us all from the constant fear and anxiety.

@sandrah2024 I had an ablation in November and I too noticed some PAC's which are easily "felt" as you describe, but I was told to expect some of that as the heart "heals". But PAC's are different than fibrillation as I understand it--still technically an arrhthymia, but still a real beat that actually does pump blood (perhaps not as effectively, but not just a flutter like A-fib). I have noticed that the more active I am, the fewer PAC's I have; it's like if my pulse is slower, the PAC's tend to "fill in" but when I am active in the gym or doing housework, they are absent. Perhaps as you get back to normal activities after knee surgery, these will also tend to deminish. Just a possibility--not to mention the stress of knee surgery and the pain/discomfort it creates for a time. I am comforted by the fact that PAC's are not "dangerous" in and of themselves, so I hope you (and I) will find "freedom" from them soon. I certainly can appreciate how you feel; I can't imagine having 4 ablations! I sincerely hope one is enough for me! Best wishes in 2026. Stay positive and keep moving! My husband had TKR two years ago this month and he is doing very well; he goes to the gym every day! He rarely complains about his knee--the new one and the "old" one! Hang in there and remember the experts say that knee surgery recovery takes a year!