PVC's after ablation

[LovedOneSuffers]

My husband recently went through a cardiac catheter ablation...his 2nd attempt finally produced arrhythmia's in the lab, and the dr was able to ablate 2 locations.  Within 2 hours after the completion of his procedure, the PVC's began...and became very frequent.  Sometimes as close together as every other beat.  This has continued and remained at this frequency and we are now about 31 hours post ablation.  His dr prescribed metoprolol XL, which did nothing to help the situation today, so has changed to Rythmol.  My husband has the misfortune of being able to feel every flutter, PVC, pause,  everything--which we've been told is rare, most people who experience them don't even know they're happening--makes me wonder if many patients have this post-ablation and just do not know it.  I've read that some people after ablations do experience palpitations or PVC's or abnormal rhythms that eventually decrease over a few weeks, that sometimes meds are needed then tapered off and all is well....but I've also read that sometimes these things persist despite a "successful" ablation procedure.  At this point, we're looking for how common is it to experience this?
What time frame can the PVC's persist?  How often is medication needed temporarily then taper?  Can they be occurring because of needing to heal after the ablation?  Are they only occurring because there is an un-ablated area causing disturbance?  Does anyone know a good resource to locate more info on the subject?  (Many places I've searched only comment on the wound site and chest discomfort post-op, not the rhythm after affects).    

[esjaydee]

Thanks for your post.  Was this your experience as well after having an AVNRT ablation?  How long did it take for the PVCs to subside and for you to start feeling like yourself again?  Would like to hear your experience!

[achillea]

Well, heck, every single cardiac cell membrane (to say nothing of that of every other cell in the body) is an electrical entity depending on a current shift to do its job.  No disrespect to your EP, but to say that physically burning hundreds of cardiac cells would not affect irritabilty or inherent contractility is a tad nuts.

On the bright side, you are only a couple of months out of your procedure and are still healing.  I'd give it a little more time before panicking.

[esjaydee]

Hi All - I'm new to this board, and have been reading these posts.  I'm a healthy 38 year old who used to work out 4 times a week.  No major health issues ever, until I started having SVT episodes about a year ago.  Saw an EP who recommended an ablation to cure it, which I had done in March of this year.  It was AVNRT.  Since then, no SVTs (thankfully), but a huge increase in PVCs, to the point where they are daily occurrence.  I'm one of those people who feel most, if not all of them.  My EP has claimed that the ablation procedure has nothing to do with the increase in PVCs, that they are two entirely separate things.  I think it's a rather odd coincidence.  I'm beginning to think that the ablation is the cause of these PVCs, since I've never, ever had so many before (once every 3-5 heartbeats when it's bad).  I appreciate the sharing of experiences on this board.  It would be good to hear if these PVCs after ablation go away after a few months.  Perhaps the heart is readjusting, given a pathway was ablated?  I just know that my qualify of life is not better than it was, and it's really making me regret ever having the ablation done.  Thoughts?  Comments?  Thanks all.

[PSL110]

Can you update on how you're doing now?

[Fitty4117]

I have had a couple incidents of palpotations that lasted for like 30 seconds. I am getting my event monitor finally on Tuesday. I am so tired of all this weird new stuff. I also had an episode where I felt my heart beating really fast in my chest, but  my pulse wasnt that fast. Have you ever had anything like that?

[fitty411]

Thank you fo the information. It really helps

[MichelleP_3811]

I don't know that it is normal or not.  I think it depends.  My doctor claims the ablation didn't cause them.  I know I had them before the ablation but not in the quantity I have them now though I can't say that with absolute certainty because I thought everything I was feeling before the ablation was related to the svt.  I even woke to some sinus tachycardia after drinking one night recently and realized I may have mistaken a few normal sinus tachycardia episodes from dehydration for my svt so until the symptom gets isolated I think it is easy to not see it for what it was.  My doctor also claims the svt didn't cause the pvcs either.  To be honest I don't know what to believe but going on 7 months I really don't feel them as intensely.  Your case sounds a lot like mine so hang in there.  I really do think by the time you reach 6 months you will feel better regardless if you ever get totally rid of them.  But do try to do whatever you can to work through any stress they may be causing you because that will definitely bring them on more.  Take care.