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).    

[AkaAfib]

Hello ,  My name is kyle . I am a 29 year old male . Todays date is jan.20th 2018. I have delt with AF and lots of palps ,panic disorders depression ect for a long time. I have had proximal AF or lone AF in 2007 that put me into the hospital 3 days that was cardioverted with ditalizem 180mg.then once in 2010 that subsided in the ER..then twice more in 2016-2017 both cardioverted with electric shock.  I was now a candidate for cryo ablation. I has the procedure done december 20th .... SINCE the ablation and off 25mg metoprolol  my (pvc) or (pacs) are 5Xs as many as ive ever experienced . Its been exactly one moth post ablation have not talked to my EP or cardiologist...from the research and other stories ive seen its a toss up weather or not the palpitations will go away after the "Blanket period of 3-6 months" your husband is not alone millions of people like my self are confused and frustrated with the current situations.  I pray his and all with this annoying and life altering disturbance find a answer or a way to deal .

[sharpless89]

Hello, I am a 28 y/o with WPW syndrome recently had a (successful) ablation, right after the procedure my heart was racing and still has been but less thumping than before, I am taking a natural curcumin supplement helps me as a replacement for my beta blockers which my doctor told me to stop taking, it works as a natural blood thinner and reduces the pressure and power of the beats leading to less stress on my heart and less anxiety overall.  I had my ablation 3 days ago and had a recent attack but it subsided rather quickly, I do however feel much better than  before, warmer face hands and feet. I'll try and keep you all posted on how I feel in the coming months.

[Marleesmama]

Hey all!!! I had an ablation done almost a year ago to date. Not had many early beats PAC's/ PVC's (not sure which ones which) and I've felt great... up until last night :( I was up half the night with abnormal heart rythyms. My heart would beat hard and slow and then pick up and skip beats. I'm a mess about this... could this be the pathway finding a new pathway? :( the ablation (for me) was very traumatizing. How many of you have had this turn into another SVT requiring another ablation?!? New ablation patient here! I need help.

[sharpless89]

a natural curcumin supplement helps me as a replacement for my beta blockers, it works as a natural blood thinner and reduces the pressure and power of the beats leading to less stress on my heart and less anxiety overall.  I had my ablation 3 days ago and had a recent attack but it subsided rather quickly, I do however feel much better than  before, warmer face hands and feet. I'll keep you all posted how I feel in the coming months.

[Dano10_4]

I am a 61 yr old male in great cardio conditioning my entire life. I've had pvc's for 40 hrs and they've gotten worse. I had two recent ablations and the last one they had success in a mating certain areas. It been 5 days post ablation and I've never experienced so many bi, tri and quad geminis in my life. I tried a beta blocker and now on a calcium Chanel blocker with only a 10% improvement. I hope I am one of those people who will have a successful result after my heart heals. Comments are appreciated.

[Attofun]

Thank you all for the posts - very helpful! I had RF ablation for frequent PVC and controlled (by beta-blockers) SVT three weeks ago, plenty of PVC's (about 6000/24h) with changing pattern. Now have some sustained bigeminias - something I did not have before, and PVC attacks ( before they were spread over the day/night). Done it in UK, seemed by a very good good EP, shall wait more according to you guys posts.

[tahmid89]

Hi Katya73 I am having the same issue as yours. I am 25 this year and had an ablation 6 months ago (Oct 2014) and the PVCs still bother me in any conditions. The latest Holter (on Jan 2015) still showed thousands PVC, lots episodes of tachycardia and lots PAC beats. The first ablation itself took almost 6 hours. I took no medicine since that. And I planned on another treatment called carto 3d ablation on April 21st 2015.

[Sully27]

I'm so glad I'm not the only young one on this page. I had a cardiac ablation done March 2016 and suffer constantly from PVCs I'm literally going nuts! If you or anyone has any advice please email me @ ***@****

[Katya73]

I have had an ablation for AVNRT in October last year and recently I have more pvc's at some times, like walking to my work in the morning. The past three months were so good, nearly palpfree. So I wonder how it comes that I do get them (again). Went to the cardiologist who performed the ablation for my AVNRT and have to wear a 7 day monitor next week. Feel quite scared on one hand as it can feel 'chaotic' when you get multiple pvc's in a row. But he seems not to worry and says it is not dangerous. But then I start to think 'how do you know that?' but I guess they saw that during my EP-test. Anyway when I get a lot of them next week I might get a second ablation. I am so glad I have found this thread... Sometimes I think I might need some more time to heal. I read of six months to one year. Considering the force of the pvc's: I feel them more forceful after ablation, like most of you.

[Fitty4117]

I also feel every PVC. I have had tons since my ablation for AVNRT in December of 2011. I have had an increase lately and I wore a monitor last month. It recorded 9,728 in a 24 hour period. They are really annoying, but I tell myself they are benign. The doctor told me they are still harmless. I can take the Beta Blockers, have another ablation, or learn to live with it. I have gotten used to them mostly and would rather not take medication or have another ablation. I had constant anxiety at first, but now I have a normal life again. On the upside, I have not had any SVT and I dont miss the 240 BPM for 45 minutes at all.

[PSL110]

Is it possible you can give a update on how you're doing now?

[shanster74]

Hi,
I had my 2nd ablation on 2/19 of this year. The first was done 13 years ago for AVN and this one was  'bypass tract" on the left side of my heart. The procedure lasted 5 hours, lots of poking and prodding, and they actually had to poke a hole in the membrane of my heart to get to the area they needed to ablate. The procedure was a success however, since the ablation I have had an increase in PVC's. All of a sudden, one day last week and now going on 3 days I am having them constantly. Like one every 1-3 minutes and it's driving me NUTS! I called the Dr.s office and they called in a beta blocker. I took my second dose just now. I also decided to take a magnesium supplement as I read that could help. Now I'm obsessing over it and as I read all of these posts I see a definite relationship to ablations and increased PVC's. What is aggravating me is I asked the Dr's. office if this could be something caused by the ablation. "no,we have never heard that." So why do I do a simple Google search and find tons of people with the same experience!? And I had this done at a world-renowned hospital!!!!
I'm hoping they settle down soon. I exercise a lot and have anxiety issues so I'm wondering if the combo. just hit at the right time. And of course I'm worried about them so that's not helping. Great to know I"m not alone. Oh - I'm a 39 year old, very healthy and active woman - so no underlying health issues or disease.
Thank you for being here!

[MBParrythmia]

I had catheter ablation in 2009 for my arrythmia. After my surgery I also had an increase of PVCs while recovering in the hospital. My electrophysiologist put me on Rythmol to help my heart recover.  I was only on it for a few weeks before the arrythmia seemed to go away.  I went without symptoms for about 4 years.  Now I am dealing with symptoms all over again.  I am 28 years old now and was told by a new cardiologist (I moved, which is unfortunate because in PA my care was wonderful) who said we needed to start with beta blockers first.  I am disappointed because i have already tried every medication to deal with the symptoms related to my arrythmia. I am a rarity as well because I also feel the extra beats. It makes me feel like I am jumping out of my skin and I do not know what to do with myself.  I also get chest pain and some pitting edema from it. I am having extra beats as much as every other (bigemity) and runs (every beat).  My electrophysiologist said there are various ways to deal with these arrythmias and I will be starting down that track.  These arrythmias are complicated and I know how it is when a doctors says people live with it every day. I dont know how... they must not feel them because it is incredible difficult to ignore mine.

I dont know if that helped but it is my experience with arrythmia.

[wmac]

I have three epstudies with hopes of an ablation for nsvt. All three times they could not induce me so of course I didnt get fixed. Now however my symptoms are worse more frequent lasting longer everyday. I am also suffering from bad ventricular bigmeny as well. Im wearing another monitor now getting some good recordings hoping that they will try a fourth eps and this time being able to be ablated.
How often are you having pvcs?

[emt2rescue]

Ihave had 3 ablation procedures over the past 10 yrs. I often ingest caffeine and I often go months without trying to stimulate a test on myslef if the PVCs are caffeine enduce...whch they are not, so I continue to drink caffeine. I work out 5 times a week as well. I have notice about 6 months after each procedure the PVCs return. I now figure that this is just going to a regular accurance and not sure if I should have another procedure done.

[Fitty4117]

How r u feeling? I havent heard anything from you in a while.

[Fitty4117]

Sorry to hear that. I have a feeling I have a lot that I dont feel anymore also. When do you get the monitor? I have gotten runs of bigeminy that felt strong and I thought they were SVT, but the monitor showed it was just bigeminy which I know  by itself can be disturbing. I have to tell myself that it is harmless, but I know how hard it is when it is happening. Just hang in there. It will get better. I thought I would come out of the surgery all better and that is apparently not how it works. It can take a year or more.

[CS3218]

Thanks for the response.  I am glad you are doing better.  It has been a year this week since my ablation.  I am still getting ectopics every day, though some days it has been very few.  I actually think I had a recurrence of the SVT for the second time, so I am getting a monitor again.  Sigh.  The uncertainty is taking a toll.

[Fitty4117]

I have noticed that I feel a lot better if I eat at least my 5 a day of fruits and veggies. I have a banana and green leafy veggies at least twice a day. I think its the electrolytes you get naturally from them. I wore a holter a few months ago and had over 500 in a 24 hour period, but have gotten to where I have very few now. Sometimes around my period I have more or possibly a little bigeminy, but it only lasts for a few seconds. Its the anxiety it produces that is the hardest to deal with. Even if I know its not dangerous I have an adrenaline surge.  It will be a year since my ablation in December and I must say I have been better for about 3 months. So much better. Hope yours does the same. You are coming up on when I started feeling better.

[CS3218]

Hi,
I have been having a similar issue.  I had an ablation for AVNRT in November of 2011.  I was fine for 8 months (just a few PVCs/PACs here and there) and then bam, I had what I believe were a few of the worst ones I have ever had.  I had never felt them like that.  Now I am having dozens a day.  Hopefully they will calm down.  I wore a monitor and my EP says all is fine.  Let me know if you get more info.

[Fitty4117]

You work in the medical profession?  To your knowledge is it possible to get frequent pvcs from an ablation for AVNRT? I am trying to decide if I want a second opnion. I have been having them every 2 to 13 beats practically all day or 3 days. Looks like they slowed down just for a short time. I am so tired of them. I do know I didnt have this before the ablation. My doctor is one of the best. He is awesome, but here I am anyhow.

[Fitty4117]

The nurse at my cardiologists office told me that every cell in the heart is capable of electrical activity. They also told me they come and go. You can have them for a while and then they go away for a while. Stress can cause them to return, both physical and emotional. If you are having palpitations and you havent had them for a while you might want to have your ep check you again just to make sure its just PVCs. They do want to check whenever anything new happens. Did you have the ablation for PVCs or SVT?

[Hsorenson]

I had an ablation 1.5 years ago and felt great. Now i am getting PVCs again, tired and have headaches. Can they "come back?"

[Fitty4117]

Thanks Michelle. It does seem that the ones right after the ablation were stronger. Most of the ones I have now are much weaker. I have been trying to ignore them. I dont drink any alochol at all since October or caffeine. I have cut out all chocolate and sugar. I am starting to think maybe I will stop being so cautious. I dont even know if it makes any difference. One of the Pharmacists I work with told me one glass of wine wont cause them and I would love to have one. You take care.

[MichelleP_3811]

I am coming close to a year after my ablation for avnrt and I am just now starting to not notice the pvcs.  I still get them but they are not strong or noticeable like they were before so hang in there.  Watch your stomach and stress and even over doing it with exercise and your heart will calm down.  Take care.

[Fitty4117]

What do you know about how long it may take for them to calm down? This is the longest stretch I have had with few. I am happy, but not sure this will last since it never has before. I know I would have noticed if I was having these before. Hope it stays good. I especially hate the bigeminy. There was a point when I would hapily have another ablation if i know it waould get rid of these, but they are much better right now. A holter  a week ago showed only 535 in 24 hours. So much better. I dont even remember having these before unless it was just a flutter once in a while like say once a week.

[Fitty4117]

I had an ablation for AVNRT in December and have been having tons of PVCs ever since. I have been told that they have nothing to do with my ablation since the burns were in the Atrium and the PVCs usually come from the right outflow tract. I have felt better the last couple of weeks, but it is really frustrating since I know I didnt have this many before. The doctor says stress can trigger them, but I dont have to be stressed at all to get them. They were basically coming all day and night regularly, but like I say the last couple of weeks have actually been better.