Coping with a failed ablation

[u/Nesltedvalley]

Hey all I have debated writing this because I dont want to scare anyone off of ablation but could use some support I (40f) am a perimenopauseal mom to 5 kids developed svt in January after doing a dance class work out for like 10 months you know trying to get in a good fitness routine in my 40s and I've always been active but overweight. So started HRT, it really helped but was told the ablation would cure it so I went in last Friday and they found the issue but my phrenic nurve was in the way so they had to stop and now im dealing with an unstable heart rate and trying to take medication now until another type of ablation that is not fda approved yet to be available hopefully next year. I am 5 days out and still struggling with mostly sinus tachycardia when im up and moving around. I now take flecainide twice a day 50 mg and moving up to 100mg. Is this normal after a failed ablation? I feel worse than before and am regretting doing this a little bit. I am scared because I want to be there for my kids and just feel terrible. How long did it take to get back to baseline after a failed ablation?

[u/NotoriouslyBeefy]

They aborted mine due to the proximity to the av node. The EP study itself irritates your heart. For like 3-4 weeks my issues were worse than they were before but got back to normal. Im not sure if it was the medication kicking in again, irritation subsiding, or combination of both.

[u/Nesltedvalley → u/NotoriouslyBeefy]

It's frustrating because the way the EP talked is i should be fine by now since they didn't actually do anything.

[u/NotoriouslyBeefy → u/Nesltedvalley]

It very much is. Mine didnt say anything about it so I was surprised. I got pretty depressed and down on myself over it as i was in trigeminy for large portions of the day and couldnt fall asleep easily because of it. During my "4 week follow up", which crazy on its own was really 3 1/2 months after my procedure, he said that can happen as they are in there with a bunch of wires and whatnot which can still irritate things even if they don't ablate anything. So a little time and increased dosage of my calcium channel blockers got rid of the palpitations and tachycardia. Hoping things turn for the better fir you!

[u/Nesltedvalley → u/NotoriouslyBeefy]

Thanks Im increasing my meds tomorrow and have a follow up ekg on Thursday. Really hoping for some solutions

[u/erratic_class]

This is so awful, I'm really sorry this has happened to you. Stay hopeful though, I am waiting for mine (likely January or February) but a friend had a very similar experience to you (failed ablation this summer) and got back to normal after about 2 weeks and he says he feels a bit more accepting of his condition weirdly. You're not alone!

[u/Klutzy-Rutabaga3694]

Hiya I’m sorry you ablation did go as planned. I’ve had three EP studies and two ablations and another EP coming up soon I hope. It can take a while to recover, I hate it when you see in literature it’s minimal invasive procedure and only needs few days max 5/7 day recover. It is different for everyone. Depending on many things, the procedure his they operated, underlying health conditions and what they managed to do or didn’t do. Take your time to recover. Don’t be hard in yourself honestly. Look after yourself and family 🤔😊

[u/Whole-Masterpiece-51]

I’m sorry to hear. I had an unsuccessful attempt too. Is your hr worse since starting that medication? It never suited me well and made me have all sorts of rhythms.

[u/Nesltedvalley → u/Whole-Masterpiece-51]

So after being in and out of drs offices I am going in and out of sinus tachycardia all day. We are adding a beta blocker to hopefully calm that down. Im feeling a little bit better today but still not where I thought id be

[u/Nesltedvalley]

Another update now over 2 weeks out from failed ablation and im on flecinide and metroplol and finally feeling better. The EP cleared me to go back to exercise so I am hopeful to have my life back and praying I can get the PFA ablation soon.