symptoms after a-fib ablation

[jan160]

I am a highly fit 46 year old runner who had an ablation for paroxismal a-fib 3 months ago.  The a-fib occurred primarily during exercise and primarily early in competitive races.  As such I could not compete in races.  Since the ablation my resting heart rate has been elevated (from 42 to 70), my blood pressure is elevated (from 100/60 to 120/90) and I have almost continuous palpatations.  My electrophysiologist cannot give me any explanation for these post-ablation symptoms and in fact insists that these symptoms have nothing to do with the ablation procedure.  Can someone explain why I am having these symptoms and will they go away over time?

[jan160]

My electrical tracks were not active at the time of the ablation.  However, I have only had one a-fib since the ablation...of course, I'm still on low-dose beta blockers.  I'm prepared to accept my new elevated heart rate and blood pressure as my "new normal" but I would really like to understand why this has happened.

[grendslori]

You must be so frustrated! After an ablation it can take some time for the heart to re-coup, if you will. The electrical system can be aggrevated. What is important to know was if your electrical tracks, during the ablation, were mapped and ACTIVE at the time of the ablation. In other words was the EP doctor capable of inducing an arrhythmia during the EP Study. If the tract was not active, he would not have been able to ablate the tract and you would still be having a problem. This happens in many cases and that is why some people have to have more than one ablation. Also, in some people the electrical tracts can grow back in time or new tracts could be developing. Give it a bit more time; if you don't feel comfortable with that, by all means, go back and see your EP Specialist.