Has my ablation failed?

I had a PVI ablation done last Wednesday, Aug 30th. So it's been 9 days. The ablation took 4 hours and I was fully conscious through the whole thing. My doctor said it went well and I was in NSR for a couple of days afterwards. I had some systemic fluid retention for some reason so I was admitted back into the hospital for a couple of days while that cleared up and I was pretty weak for a few days but I'm back to normal now. Prior to the ablation, I was in persistent a-fib so I wasn't getting any breaks at all. Been that way for almost a year. After a couple of days of NSR after the ablation I started slipping back into a-fib, first for a few hours, then longer and longer. I think I'm still going NSR while I'm sleeping but today I went into a-fib right after getting up and I've been that way all day. I actually don't feel too bad but this isn't what I had hoped for. Is it common to have a-fib in the early recovery stage and then have it clear up? I can't see my EP for another 5 weeks and he's not even around today or next week so I can't ask him anything. I had an appointment with my family doctor yesterday and he did an ECG that showed I was in Atrial Bigeminy, whatever that is. He said it was probably plain old a-fib. I had been in NSR just prior to visiting him and felt myself going into a-fib as the tech put the ECG stickies on. Anyway, just wondering if there is any hope that this will sort itself out or am I looking at a second go at it. I think it's better than it was but it's really hard to say as I'm not terribly symptomatic. Just a bit of pressure in my chest. Kind of disappointing at this point but I don't want to jump to any conclusions just yet. I am on Propafanone (300Mg 3x daily) and Metoprolol (25Mg 2x daily). My heart rate in afib is 70 to 80 at rest.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry to read about complications, but I believe your chances of healing to NSR are good.  I say this from what I have read,not what I know personally.  I am in permanent AFib and my doctors say I need to live with it using rate control and clot control.

A HR of 80 or so at rest is fine for anyone and great for someone in AFib, that's about the best I can do when in AFib.

I hope you too are on some form of clot prevention, I take 5 mg of warfarin a day.

[BobRBob]

Thanks Jerry. Yes, I'm taking Pradax, the new anti-coagulant that self-regulates so no blood tests are required. After I posted yesterday, I went NSR during dinner and have been that way ever since. Definitely a good sign. Also did a really good walk today so energy is returning. We'll take one day at a time here to see how things go. Feels pretty good to not be in afib after 9 months or so.

[SDalb]

Glad to hear your back in nsr.  I had a pvi ablation August 30, 2010.  I was put all the way out for that.  It took about 3 to 4 hours.  The first week after was pretty good.  The next two weeks, I thought it was a failure. I thought I was in afib, but the EP told me it was now Atrial Tachycardia. When I have an episode, my HR is usually inthe 140 range. He took me off of metoprolol and flecanide and put me on Sotalol.  It took 3 days to convert, but it finally did.  I have not had more than a handful of episodes since.  The longest was one hour. In November of 2010 I was taken off all medication except for 81mg of asprin. I still have sotalol to use for any future episodes that do not convert on their own.  So to answer your question, yes, in a lot of cases, it does work itself out.  Hang in there, chances are it will bet better.  See your EP when you get the chance.

[BobRBob]

Thanks. Still in NSR this morning. Really quite amazing. Just one day at a time here.

[LindaTX]

My Dr told me "the heart has a memory."  It still wants to go back to those abberant pathways.  it took my heart 3 months after the ablation and finally with 400mg of Flecainide daily for 2 months to finally stop the a-fib for good.  The problem is I've since had episodes of Sinus tachycardia 1-2 times a month and I take a 25 mg. Toprol and it usually settles things down.  If not, I'm to take 3 100mg Flecainide.  Sounds excessice doesn't it?  But it works for me.  Plus i have to day to get rid of the a-fib, I did do an awful lot of praying.  Haven't had an episode of a-fib since last Dec. Yaay!

[LindaTX]

That was "excessive"   and I have to "say"   Sorry for the typos.

[BobRBob]

Hi Linda. I remember you from last year. I haven't been on the here since then because I was in permanent a-fib and there wasn't much to do but wait for my ablation. Today, I am still in NSR as far as I can tell but my heart hurts. Since the ablation, the Rhythmol I take can cause chest pains. Never did that before but I have to take these drugs for 6 more weeks until everything settles down. I'm glad your ablation finally seemed to work for you because I remember several weeks there where you were just in and out of a-fib all the time. Were you taking drugs immediately after the ablation like I am?

[BobRBob]

Just a quick update. It's Tuesday now and I'm still plugging along in normal sinus rhythm as far as I can tell. That's 4 days now. One day at a time.