skipped beats and tachycardia after ablation

[annie2417]

I had a catheter ablation for avnrt 5 weeks ago.  I am still experiencing occasional skipped beats and also some rapid beats (2-8 in a row) that feel like the old svt. These rapid beats occur about every other day.  Today I also felt several irregular beats before starting into several seconds of what felt like svt. Is this normal?    Could the irregular beats have been several skipped beats in a row?   They only lasted a few seconds, but I had an episode of a-fib a few weeks before the ablation, which the ep felt was probably caused by the svt, so I am worried that the short irregular beats could have been a-fib again. I know that skipped beats and rapid heart beats can occur for a few weeks after the ablation, but I'm getting concerned that this is going on too long.

[MichelleP_3811]

The fizz for me is the pause after a pvc or pac.  It will sometimes feel more pronounced when I have a couple of pvcs close together.  I can't say that is what you all are feeling for sure since you can only really tell by catching it on a montior but I suspect it is likely what you are also feeling.  Your health choices can only be made by you but just to forewarn you, ablations for svts are generally fairly low risk with high results except for maybe afib.  There is a higher incidence of reoccurance with that svt.  That said, ablations for ectopics whether pacs or pvcs are a mixed bag.  From what I have read it is really hit or miss whether they will be eliminated in the first place, there tends to be a higher incidence of reoccurance probably around the same scale as afib, and in some instances it can create more problems.  From what my doctor stated he wouldn't even consider an ablation unless someone was having at least 20,000 a day.  Basically for any ablation to be successful the EP needs to activate the problem long enough for them to map the problem.  If they can't then they won't know where to ablate.  I don't necessarily say this to talk you out of pursuing one but to caution you to not rush into one out of fear without giving your body a chance to heal.  Really, hang in there.  Things will get better.  Stay strong.

[barbie1999]

I totally agree with your GP Fitty. it's been 4 weeks since my ablation and it's only know that I feel happy talking about it. I've never been so terrified in my life. Having SVT has been lifechanging and even though I'm doing absolutely fine I have moments where i just wish I could rewind my life to before my heart troubles

I've had a bit of trouble with sleep too, something new to me. Once I'm asleep I'm fine but it takes me a long time to fall asleep and sometimes my  heart will race a bit. But it's less than 4 weeks for me so I suppose that's normal.
I'm keeping a positive outlook and I am going to start meditation classes next week:) Anything to learn to relax!

These electric fizzes are strange aren't they! I've told my husband and he's looked at me like I'm mad!
Glad you've not had any SVT:)

[Fitty4117]

Also psychologically my GP told me that people who have heart issues even ones like this often experience a type of post traumatic stress syndrome. It takes time to start to trust your heart again.

[Fitty4117]

I actually had something simular happen last night. My heart was beating really hard when I went to bed also . This was a new thing for me. I did have trouble sleeping for at least a month after the procedure. I had PVCs and anxiety. I also felt a fizzly feeling in my chest a few which I had never felt before. For my whole life when I felt weird things it was almost always followed by SVT so I think it will take a long time for people to accept that nothing is gonna happen. I think it comes and goes as you heal. I had them really bad about the first 3 weeks and then not hardly at all for a few weeks and then they came back. Then I had a good week and then a 5 day run of pvcs all day a couple times a minute and then noting for a few days. My doc gave me a 97% chance of cure. He is really experienced and used to be at Stanford University so I figure he knows. Fortunately so far no SVT.

[barbie1999]

Fitty....I'm a wimp too!
It's been 4 weeks since myablation. I was given an 80% chance of success and unfortunately the day after I went into SVT.  Luckily that's been the only episode I've had, but I never got them that frequently anyway.

I feel I'm back to normal now, no arrythmias but psycologically it's still  hard. I still wonder if I'll be getting an SVT at any time which is a shame as the main reason I wantd an ablation was to feel completely normal.

One thing that's weird though and that some have mentioned is trying to get to sleep...as I drift off I sometimes get like an 'electric shock' fizz in my head which suddenly wakes me up. It's not painful or anything, just weird and annoying as I just want to fall asleep.Anyone had this? Could it be related to my recent ablation?

[Fitty4117]

Thanks again. I am a real wimp. This is the only medical problem I have ever had. I always avoided the doctor. I try to stay calm, but every so often I start to worry again. I keep thinking of getting them ablated also, but I dont want to go through that again. I dont even think my doctor would even do it. I would have to go elswhere. Too soon to worry about that though. I may be getting a 30 day monitor soon. The doctor said he would give it to me if I wanted.