Hello,
I received a Natale ablation about exactly 5-months ago down in Auston. (11/20/19) Shortly after discontinuing Flecainde approximately 1-month ago, I've been having lots of ectopics. (Seems to be all PACs) I'm able to control them if I take 50MG Flecainide once daily but I'm trying to avoid the medication all together. Do you think this is a sign that the Natale ablation was a failure (albeit no afib yet) and that my long term prognosis isn't good? Or are post-ablation ectopics very common and I can expect these to dissipate over time? When I had discontinued all medication 5-days prior ot the procedure, I didn't receive a single ectopic that I was aware of and no afib. Things seem to be worse now, at least from an ectopic standpoint. I'm starting to feel very discouraged and wondering if I made a mistake by going to Natale. Thank you for your support.

I really don’t think you made a mistake. PACs are quite annoying, for sure. Are you supplementing anything like magnesium to see if that helps?

Definitely not a mistake, and your ablation wasn't a failure. The fact that you've had no sustained AF without flecainide this far out proves the ablation was successful. I know the ectopics are annoying, but they're not AF. What you're experiencing is common even with successful ablations. I can't promise they'll diminish in the coming months, but they most likely will.

I've had 4 ablations. 2 with Natale (Nov 2017 and April 2018). Always had occasional but manageable ectopics post ablation after stopping meds. (I take 300mg of magnesium per day.) Started bad ectopics basically 24/7 for about a week at about 9 months out. After several sleepless nights, decided to go to 50 mg flec and 12.5 mg atenolol. This dosage kept the ectopics in check for about a year. Had recurrance of bad ectopics this past Feb. Increased flec to 100 mg.So far so good. Everyone's condition is so different with this disease. Mine had progressed to a severe case. I was honestly told be my local EP that none of the EPs (there are 8 EPs at this hospital) could have done what Natale has done. He also told me that if I would have stayed with them I would probably be in permanent AF and on rate control. While I am still on meds, I am very grateful for what Natate has done and would (will) go back to him for another go at the beast. Hope this helps.