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).    

[fitty411]

Thanks. I had the AVNRT for about 25 years. It was really rare until October and it went crazy. I took 12.5 mg of atenolol today and it seems better. The atenolol has however made it hard for me to sleep in the past and I think it may have caused an anxiety attack once. I dont know. I guess I will just wait. I feel better whenever I hear of someone who had them after the ablation and they got better. I just keep thinking it has been 3 months and that seems so long.  apparently its not that long for this sort of thing. My doctors office doesnt tell me anything about it. They dont tell me its normal and that there is a chance that they will go away. I have had to look online to find out that it is common and doesnt always last forever

[MichelleP_3811]

I had an ablation in September for avnrt.  I had a lot of pvcs right afterwards.  They slowly settled down.  I still feel them most days some just a few but others seem to go off more than other days but the farther I get away from the ablation the less I feel them.  My doctor seems to think at some point we will stop feeling them so hang in there.  Depending on how much a person's heart had been through before the ablation is possibly a factor in the time it takes for their ectopics to calm down and or go away.   Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing.

[fitty411]

I had a catheter ablation for AVNRT in December of 2011. It has been 3 months. I am still experiencing PVCS all the time and was just wondering how you are feeling now. Is it really true that it will probably go away some day for good?

[Momto3]

Good morning!

Did you get my message?  If not, let me know, and I can resend or post it on the forum.
Hope you're having a great day!

Connie

[Momto3]

Riley1628,

I sent you a private message.   : )

[cindy707]

Hi i read your post....i had my ablation 3 years ago for a number of things...one was a fib the other was SVT....and yep i went thru what your husband did...i am in my mid 50's now and it was a little rough going for the first 6 weeks because my doc said that the heart takes time to revert back and retrain itself because it has been used to for so long going in the bad direction and now it has to re route up over and around until it gets it right.  You have to remember as i always say that it has been poked, prodded and penetrated and is now swollen and it definately will take some time.  Hopefully your loved on isn't in the fail group.....if your heart doc said he was in the 70% or better range relax a little and try to help him by diverting him so that he doesn't let this take over and only concentrate on the bad.  I too was put on a beta blocker for the first 2 months and then was eased off until my doc told me i didn't need them anymore but i chose to stay w. a very low dose of Antenolol just as a safety net and it has worked for me.  The only thing i can say is patience, patience, patience...the docs say that it takes up to 6 months for everything to go back to normal but that they know with in the first 3 months if it is a success or not.  Don't be down hearted because he;s on the meds...most of us were for a while anyway and when i personally hit the 4 month mark all of the PVC's and tach stopped as well as the a fib and i have only had one incident since that i am pretty sure i caused myself....help him...don't let him sit and wait for a bomb to go off which may never will.....go for rides in the car, visit friends, throw a BBQ, do anything but anything that will give him the opportunity to feel every little thing....stay away from quiet places like movies,  if walking is bothering him avoid it.....divert him if you can and keep reassuring him that its too soon to tell...good luck