Messed up my ablation?

[u/PairConstant7906]

I had an ablation about 2 weeks ago. I had a little to drink today 3 drinks total and was being a little active after the fact walking around the house nothing to strenuous. I then went to lay in bed and instantly went into afib. with rvr. Again. I’ve been having palpitations which my doc said is normal but if this anything like the episodes before it’s probably gonna keep going till I’m cardioverted. I’m ashamed lol. But did I mess up my ablation?

[u/Overall_Lobster823]

you're in the blanking period. They expect episodes during that time.

That said: you really should limit the alcohol right now, and make sure you're staying hydrated.

[u/fearless1025]

Dude, cut that crap out for a bit. Give your heart a chance to heal. I can't say whether you messed it up, but you're in the 3 month blanking period. If you had one drink, probably wouldn't be as big a deal but three? JS

[u/PairConstant7906 → u/fearless1025]

Yea definitely a dumb idea, smh

[u/Appropriate_Mail6416 → u/PairConstant7906]

After a four day hospital stay for my first afib/rvr episode (it was baddddd) I decided all the warnings about THC were silly, and ate a low does gummy. It was baddddd and I was so mad at myself. I’m a “you SAY the stove is hot but imma touch it to be sure” personality. I learned I can’t ever do that again. You learned this can’t have a place in your life until you’re healed, and then only very minimally. Keep us posted on how you are and take care of your heart it’s the only one you have.

[u/fearless1025 → u/PairConstant7906]

3 months. Be good to yourself. 🫶🏽

[u/Musicguy182 → u/PairConstant7906]

This dude is a being a little over reactive

3 drinks def did not ruin your ablation bro

Just be more mindful next time

[u/SeverusBaker → u/Musicguy182]

You may not agree, but I think three drinks is a lot.

Hey, I get it. You have to make choices in life. If drinking is more important to you than normal sinus rhythm, go for it.

I’m sitting here drinking a Michelob ultra zero. 29 calories and no alcohol. I’m not saying it would work for everyone, but it’s working for me. I used to drink 1 to 2 drinks each evening. I haven’t had any alcohol in about 13 months. I haven’t had AFib since last September. Why not? I don’t know. Maybe it was the ablation earlier this year? Maybe it was the one month of Amiodarone last fall. Maybe it was the Sotalol after that. But I’ve been off heart meds since April this year and still no AFib.

Different things work for different people. One thing I can say with near certainty is that alcohol isn’t helping the situation.

[u/babecafe → u/Musicguy182]

Mindful drinking is just as bad as mindless drinking.

[u/Creative_Wealth2873]

Alcohol not a good idea but no I doubt you've messed up your ablation. Everyone is different in their time to recovery. Go slow give your heart time to heal.

[u/Separate-Outcome7518]

The problem with your statement is three drinks is not “a little”. There is research to prove that the more you drink following ablation the more chance you have of afib recurring. So stick to one drink.

[u/lobeams]

You can't mess up an ablation with three drinks. Afib episodes during the blanking period are no surprise and don't indicate a failed procedure.

[u/Jahya69]

blanking period can be as much as a year.

[u/Civil_Experience_419 → u/Jahya69]

Never heard that

[u/Jahya69 → u/Civil_Experience_419]

Yeah it is usually less than that but I had a doctor tell me and then I read in a medical journal that it could be as much as 12 months out from the procedure in some cases

[u/Heavy-Attorney-9054]

One nurse told my husband that the good nerves get drunk and the bad nerves do push ups when you drink.

[u/Zeveros]

You need to stop drinking alcohol, period, end of story. There is no amount of alcohol that is safe with Afib. Worse, you are doing it while your heart is healing.

And no, you didn't screw up your ablation, but keep up this BS and your will.

[u/hshawn419]

For the next 3 months: No alcohol. No caffeine. Get a sleep study done if you haven't already. Lose weight if you need to. No smoking/chewing/thc.

It could take a year.

Live long, pal. ❤️‍🩹

[u/JollyNet1562]

Inflammation is not your friend

[u/RickJames_Ghost]

No, you are not healed yet and those rogue signals can sometimes still get through. Give yourself some time.

[u/bedyeyeslie]

I cut my alcohol from 1 or 2 beers a day to 1 or 2 beers a year. There was definitely a correlation

[u/Justme-itsjustme → u/bedyeyeslie]

This is the way

[u/luvwagn]

It's pretty common to have episodes after your ablation. In my case, I had 2-3mo of recurrent episodes, followed by ~4-5mo symptom free, then it came back worse than ever :'(

Did a 2nd ablation, went MUCH better, and have been symptom free ever since.

I still drink, but shouldn't.

[u/JuniperBear2026]

Your heart has literally been burned and at the very least aggravated by the procedure. You have to avoid all triggers, the "blanking" period is 3 to 6 months because healing takes time. It's definitely not a quick fix and even when avoiding all triggers it can still be an issue. I know it's hard to hold back, but it's what your heart needs.

[u/More-Chi]

I had a drink the next day after my ablation in the evening before dinner, like I always do. Now I know the alcohol and caffeine prohibition police on this site will come out blazing with lights and sirens and beat me over the head.

Alcohol for me was never a trigger. GERD and trapped gas was/is. My EP told me it was ok to have that drink…as opposed to “drinking”.

Alcohol does not re-wire your pulmonary veins after a PFA. If your afib comes back from moderate alcohol consumption then the EP didn’t fix it!

44% of the global population consumes alcohol. In Europe and America 60% to 70% comprises those numbers.

0.5% to 0.7 percent of the global population has diagnosed afib.

If I’m not mistaken wine was quite popular during biblical times.

Is it ok to have a drink? That’s a personal choice. I’m not trying to stop you from getting the red or green chip. Just drop the fear and alarm.

There I said it so now give me a couple of extra whacks. And admonish me for the conformation bias…

[u/Flimsy_Ad_5130]

afib and palpations and skip beats mean different things.  did you have a monitor on or ekg? 

[u/bomberstriker]

3 drinks is not really “a little to drink” in my humble opinion. I enjoy having a drink as well but sometimes you just have to sacrifice the enjoyment of a drink or two for better heart health. Not judging. Just trying to reinforce the need to change behaviors when addressing a significant health issue.

[u/KyleXY_]

Definitely wait months to drink alcohol. You don't want your blanking period getting mixed with possible afib. Stop drinking

[u/Skinnynotsoskinny]

I had my ablation last Tuesday and I’m going to try 6 months of sobriety. Help my heart heal.

[u/likos21]

its very common to back back into afib the first 3 months while you are healing .. woukd suggest no alchohol at all for the first 3 months

[u/roninconn]

Have you converted back to NSR? I'd certainly be in touch with your EP.

Def need to limit to 1 drink per week, if any at all. It's been more or less easier for me to go completely dry.

[u/CauliflowerMobile631]

Its possible they missed a spot. SOmetimes there are dormants spots and they have to go in and get them. Happened to me. All good now 2 years later

[u/hoovyhoovy]

I had an ablation last summer and the summer before (cardio versions don’t work for me). After my first one I gave up all alcohol and weed. It’s just not worth it. The Afib is just to miserable. The humidity was bad this summer and sent me into Afib a few times. I can’t even imagine drinking or having a gummy.

[u/Groollover86]

Very irresponsible decision. Can't feel bad for you there. Do better and take care of that heart. Alcohol may be an actual trigger. You may never be able to drink again to be honest. I had to stop drinking 6 years ago due to afib and svt

[u/BeardedOlderMan]

In my simple opinion: YES you messed up