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.
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?
That was "excessive" and I have to "say" Sorry for the typos.
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!
Thanks. Still in NSR this morning. Really quite amazing. Just one day at a time here.
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.
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.
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.