Have had 3 ablations but constant palpitations

@jhenson
I take a medication called Escilitilopram. I take a 10 mg tablet. It was prescribed to me by my Mayo Psychiatrist Medication Specialist almost 10 years ago. I was on other medications for a while but was able to wean off of them on "as needed" only. I was told most likely would be on Escitilopram for life.

When I was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2023 I thought I would be devasted and not able to handle it. I did not get the psychological down fall I thought I would get. I handled it quite well and did not get depressed. I wondered with my past history with PTSD, depression, anxiety/panic disorder why was I able to handle such a psychological impact on me. She confirmed it is Escilitilopram.

I see some posters have said had side affects to it. I did not other than lessoning my anxiety. I think we are all different what bothers one will not bother another.

I am a big proponent of lifestyle changes as well. I exercise 6 days a week but I do exercises (water aerobics) I like doing and enjoy. I don't have any hobbies but I promote those who have depression, anxiety try to find an exercise they like and do it. If doctors limit your doing it find a hobby. Anything that brings a smile to your face is going to help.

My cardiologist put me on Lorazepam. I take 1/2 of a 5mg tablet during the day if I am anxious and sometimes full one at night. I totally agree that the mental strain of dealing with Afib/Aflutter is worse than the doctors realize. I have just completed my 4th ablation at UCSF and am one month post ablation. I have had 5 episodes of Afib, two of which landed me in the ER. Fortunately, I converted on my own. The last 3 episodes I have converted on my own at home but they last for at least 45 minutes. My cardiologist also recommended taking Diltiazem during the episodes. I am frustrated, anxious and feel like a prisoner in my own body. When I am not in an episode, I feel absolutely fine. Sure wish there was a real true fix for this.

I agree. This condition causes so much anxiety. I take Ativan, as well, but a much lower dose. Who did you ablations at UCSF? I have an ablation scheduled on Tuesday with Dr. Gerstenfeld.

OMG he is the doctor who did my ablation on 4/15/25. I was referred to him by my electrophysiologist who moved to Denver. Dr. Porterfield was right here in my home town, but he got a better offer in Denver. I was devastated and felt quite abandoned when he left. Dr. Gerstenfeld and his team are amazing though!!! Their attention to detail and follow through is top notch. It was a bummer to have to travel so far to SF. We live in San Luis Obispo so its a bit of a hike to go to UCSF. But I did not care for the current electrophysicist we have here.
Would love to hear more about your journey through this maze of medications, ER visits, ablations etc. etc. Its exhausting. My name is Sandra btw!!!!

@sandrah2024
You are doing to UCSF. Is your cardiologist a Electrophysiologist (EP). With such an outstanding medical facility you should be seeing a EP.

I had a cardiologist tell me once AFIB was the achelles tendon of cardiology. It is really hard to treat and every case responds differently with success and then no success.

I am not familiar with Diltiazem. How are you handling your stress and axniety? Has anyone addressed taking a medication to help with your anxiety/depression on an onging basis. I take Escilitipram and works quite well for me.

Has your cardilogist advised you that high stress and anxiety can cause AFIB? How is your weight? I was told excesse weight also can cause AFIB.

Have your doctors cleared you to exercise. Do you have a favorite excercise? It goes a long way to helping your mental and physical health. Can't exercise how about a hobby. All my doctors at Mayo stress the importance of mental health in helping control AFIB, PACs, PVCs, etc.

My husband has had a-fib on and off for over 10 years. He has had 10 cardio versions and 3 ablations. He also takes amiodarone which can have nasty side effects. If he goes back into a-fib after the last ablation he may get a pacemaker because the cardiologist will not do more than 3 ablations. This would solve the a-fib issue permanently plus he could get off the amiodarone. He also gave up a-fib triggers like caffeine and alcohol and makes sure to exercise regularly.

I had open heart surgery seven months ago and suffered severe complications, seven days ITU, three more weeks on cardiac ward. I was left with Afin from surgery. I had my fourth cardioversion three weeks ago which failed again and left me with atrial flutter and Afib and a stay on the cardiac ward again. I asked my GP if he would prescribe something to help the anxiety the experience has left me with. He said wait to see how you get on! I'm trying to overcome the stress but this last year has been so hard. I think my GP thinks I can handle all the problems I've had. I can't! I still have horrible recurring memories of ITU. I'm waiting for an electrophysiology .appointment.

@maggykriti
Please asked your doctors about referring you to a psychiatric specialist. I know many feel that has a stigma but it is just mental health.

If sounds like 7 months ago you went through a traumatic event. I had a traumatic event back in 2015 with 5 shocks of my ICD hospitalized for a week then released and went home only to be rushed to ER with severe panic attack.

Mayo referred me to psychiatric department. Then did many test. One of them was PTSD. Most think this is military only but the second initial is traumatic. Any traumatic even can cause PTSD. I took a test where if our scored above a certain score you had PTSD. My test score was at the top. The PTSD caused me to have anxiety/panis disorder.

My psychiatric medication specialist worked with my other doctors and put me on medications to help with the PTSD and anxiety/panic disorder. Took some time but I was able to come off all medication except one (Escitilopram). I still see this medication specialist today 10 years later to monitor my anxiety/panic disorder.

Extreme anxiety and stress need to be treated. Most doctors outside psychiatry do not I think have the experience with dealing with mental health issues.

I am not sure if you medical provider is large enough to have a psychiatric department like Mayo but if they do asked for a referral. Or if don't have consider a referral to another provider.

There is no reason to feel seeking help with mental health just like physical health. They both play and significant influence on each other. Until I got treated at psychiatric department it felt like you they just did not understand the amount of anxiety and stress was feeling.

You stated still have memories of ITU. That made me think of me having them also and throughout the day. I am not a psychiatrist or doctor but read up on PTSD and you can see how a traumatic event can leave you with PTSD that needs to be treated just like a physical symptom.

Before my ablation in January, instead of yet another ER visit, I dealt with my most recent two episodes of Afib with 1/2 of a 5mg tablet Lorazepam, 50 mg metoprolol, and lying down quietly. Did this twice and it worked after a few hours. So far so good since the ablation, although I still experience occasional palpitations.

Thank you, I know you are right about PTSD, ITU is known for leaving people traumatised. I have been aware that I need help since I got home a month after surgery. I think my GP thinks I should be able to cope because I worked in mental health. It's just not the same when the problems and fears are your own. It's 'physician heal thyself' and very different from helping other people through their dark times. I can't get the images out of my mind of a person who sadly died in the next bay in ITU. Or at night hearing a doctor tell my nurse she should call my husband in as I was so sick. These things don't go away easily and my anxiety hoe's sky high at the smallest thing now. I'm so glad you got the right help when you needed it and get monitored for how the events are still, affecting you. Without that help life is paralysed as it incongruous to integrate these experiences into the personal identity that you had before. Papworth Hospital is a major heart and lung hospital in the UK, they must have support avaiable from psychologists for patients going through frightening events. I'm going to ask for help, they knew my work and should have expected I would need support. Thank you for supporting me to feel it's OK to ask for help.