AVNRT - Post Ablation Symptoms

[JasonW]

I'll keep this question simple...

I had an RF ablation for AVNRT in late September.  For the most part, the healing process has been fine.  There are some days, however, when I have so many PACs that I border on going insane.  The problem is that they are frequent and forceful...not the light ones that we can all ignore, the ones that really thump.  These days of incessant PACs might be tracking with exercise - happening one to two days after a good run.

How long do post-ablation symptoms last?  A lot of us hear 4-6 weeks, but I'm hoping the period is longer because I want these days to fade away eventually.

Any insight is appreciated.

[EJhnson]

Hello.  My ablation for SVT, specifically AVNRT, was 8 days ago.  My Cardiologist said that it was a success, despite his not being able to induce an SVT during the procedure.  He said that he was still able to find a reentry point near the A/V node and ablated it.  My symptoms pre- procedure only occurred during intense exercise (usually running) and a few times cycling.  I was told to only wait 5 days before returning to my regular exercise routine.  I waited a full week and yesterday, ran for the first time since the procedure.  I had a few PVCs during the run, but my heart rate was about 10-15 bpm higher than usual at the same pace as before the procedure.  I'm not certain whether my heart was racing due to the reentry point not being completely ablated.   I'm concerned that my Cardiologist may be over-optimistic about the ablation being a success since he said that he could not induce the SVT (AVNRT) during the procedure.  I thought that was a definite requirement in order to have a successful ablation.  One positive observation from yesterday's run, I didn't have a prolonged high heart rate, once I stopped the run, it decreased normally to lower levels.  Previously, during SVTs my HR would remain elevated for hours.  I would appreciate any opinions or fact about whether an ablation can be successful without being able to induce an SVT during the procedure.  

[NessMul]

Hi, I had an ablation 2 1/2 years ago for AVNRT. I have now been left with inappropriate sinus tachycardia, my heart rate goes from 90bpm to 160bpm for no reason, but I'm in sinus. I also experience a rapid drop then raise after exercise of about 30bpm this repeats continuously for about an hour. I think this was just an irritation left after my ablation, it annoys and sometimes scares me, but all stress tests have come back normal. Nothing more I can do but hope it will resolve itself one day.  

[tom_h]

Please read through this, and you'll see that we were all plagued with jumpiness for months following ours.  Please see my reply to you on your other post.

[Davidstern]

Hello I had an ablation three weeks ago for AVNRT in New york. I am currently feeling really bad with bad palpitations for two days. Please advise to me what I should do?

[tom_h]

I agree with the new cardiologist.  Perhaps a fresh exam and opinion would be helpful.  That said, I was plagued with clusters both before and after my ablation for AVRT.  THey would last for several days, then stop for a week or so with perhaps only a dozen per day.  This went on for about a year and a half when they disappeared for good, and I haven't had them since.  Six weeks is very early in the game.  Forget with the professionals tell yuou on this one.... Your post ablation symptoms may last for a year or more.  I know mine did, and I have seen countless reports of others saying the same thing.  It will be three years for me this November.  I still get occasional brief runs of SVT.  Be patient and see how things develop.... and get a new cardiologist!

[MichelleP_3811]

I felt the same as you for a time but in the whole scheme of things svt usually gets worse with time and your heart could eventually wear out from it so it was a good thing to have it done in my opinion. I will also say my pvcs have almost completely stopped and the ones I do feel aren't strong.  It did take over a year or more to get to that point but with more distance you will notice them calm down.  I am not sure why it takes so long, maybe because I am a bit older in my 40s  but just hang on it will get better and your heart will be calmer than it has ever been. Six weeks isn't long enough.  The going consensus is around 3 months.  You may never fully get rid of the pvcs you had them before as they are the mechanism that triggers avnrt but they will calm down most likely to where they were before the ablation.  Stay strong.