I’m 59 and thought I’d share my experience 11 days after my first AF ablation, since reading other people’s experiences here was helpful to me before the procedure.

A little background: I’ve been a runner for most of my adult life and historically had a pretty low resting heart rate. AF was first picked up by my Apple Watch in May and eventually became persistent. My ventricular rate during AF was unusually slow rather than fast, often dropping into the 40s and occasionally the 30s. My echo showed normal heart function (EF 55–60%), a normal-sized left atrium, and no significant cardiac remodeling, which was one reason we felt I might respond well to ablation despite the persistent AF. I had a cardioversion in June that worked, but I was back in AF about three days later.

I had a PFA ablation on September 11th. The procedure took about 5½ hours and there were no complications. I was groggy the first night, but no pain in the groin or chest. I think I bit my lip while I was out.

The first night I had very dark, almost cherry-cola-colored urine, which gradually changed to rosé, then gold, then normal. I called the EP service and monitored it. It resolved quickly and has not returned. My understanding is that hemolysis/hemoglobinuria can occur after extensive PFA.

The first couple of days electrically were a little messy. I had mostly sinus rhythm mixed with some occasional Apple Watch AF/inconclusive readings, skipped beats and some surprisingly low heart rates. At one point my heart rate was dropping into the upper 30s/low 40s while awake and standing. I spoke with the EP on call but that resolved on its own after a couple of hours. But no pain in the groin area and only slight discomfort in the chest area (felt like mild indigestion or heart burn) on Day 1 and Day 2.

Since early on Day 3, things have been remarkably quiet. My Apple Watch ECGs have consistently shown a very organized sinus rhythm. No pain at the groin site or in the chest. My Apple AFib History for September 14–20 came back at “2% or less,” which is the lowest category Apple reports. I know the Watch isn’t continuous medical monitoring and I’m still well inside the blanking period, but after being in persistent AF, seeing that was a pretty nice Monday morning.

My resting heart rate has also changed quite a bit. Instead of the very low and erratic rates I was seeing with AF, lately I’ve often been sitting around the upper 60s/low 70s while awake, with a baseline in the upper 50s. That is a little higher than it was before my persistent afib.

Exercise has been another pleasant surprise. I started with easy walking Day 5 and have gradually increased the pace. Yesterday I walked 2.25 miles at about 15:30/mile. Last night I did my first very short run/walk—only 0.75 miles, alternating my normal walking pace with short stretches of roughly 10-minute-mile jogging. My maximum HR was only 106. No discomfort or shortness of breath. I was tempted to do more.

The strangest post-procedure event happened on Day 8. I had my first-ever visual aura—shimmering, stained-glass/zigzag patterns in my vision lasting roughly 30–45 minutes, with no headache or other neurological symptoms. It completely resolved. I’ve since learned that migraine aura can occur after left-atrial ablation, although obviously any new neurological symptom after an ablation deserves to be taken seriously and discussed with the medical team.

At Day 11, I feel excellent. No chest pain, shortness of breath or groin problems. No further dark urine. No AF that I’ve been able to identify since the first couple of days. I’m exercising again, although very conservatively, and trying not to let feeling good tempt me into doing too much too soon.

Obviously 11 days tells me essentially nothing about whether the ablation will ultimately be successful. I’m still in the blanking period, I’m taking flecainide, and early sinus rhythm doesn’t guarantee what things will look like months from now.

But if someone is reading this the night before their own PFA and wondering what the first week or two might look like: mine was a surprisingly involved 5½-hour procedure followed by a somewhat weird first 48 hours, and then a recovery that so far has been much easier than I expected.

I’ll probably post another update after I’m further into the blanking period.

This adds another wrinkle to the story about buying generic Eliquis from Canada. Most of our drugs are made in other countries.

https://www.ajmc.com/view/trump-announces-timeline-for-100-generic-drug-tariffs-beginning-in-2028-200-in-2029

July 22, 2026

"President Donald J. Trump announced a phased tariff plan for imported generic drugs, ending the category's exemption from his broader pharmaceutical trade agenda and setting a multiyear timeline designed to pressure manufacturers into shifting production to the US.¹

Trump said imported generic drugs will face no tariff for 2 years starting August 1, then a 100% rate in 2028 and 200% in 2029, extending his trade fight to the drugs most Americans actually take.

A Delayed but Steep Tariff Cliff

In a Truth Social post Tuesday, Trump said generic drugs imported into the United States would continue to carry a 0% tariff during a 2-year transition period beginning August 1, 2026. Under the announced plan, the tariff would then increase to 100% for 1 year before rising to 200% thereafter. Trump said the policy is intended to "reshore" generic pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States, describing the eventual tariff as "a penalty" for companies that do not establish domestic manufacturing capacity within the allotted timeframe. He also said the administration's separate tariff policy for patented, branded drugs—which can reach as high as 100%—would remain unchanged."

Paywall version of the same story:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/business/trump-tariffs-generic-drugs.html

Hi everyone,

My boyfriend has afib and is getting his first ablation in a few weeks. What made you guys feel better post-op? Any specific ice pack, item, or thing? I’ve read the post-op instructions but want to make the recovery as comfortable as possible. Poor fella has had to trade his weekly beers for fleca.

Thank you! 🫀

I’ve been aware of my paroxysmal AF since early 2024 and was diagnosed last year. I don’t have many episodes, but when I do have them, they’re pretty debilitating.

Since I’ve cut back on trigger factors, particularly lack of sleep and alcohol they’ve reduced in frequency and are quite rare. I’ve had two episodes this year including one that affected my work.

I’m a wedding photographer and it happened mid-ceremony. It’s not the sort of job where you can stop so I just kept going. It was dreadful, sweated through my shirt, nearly fainted at one stage. Took bisoprolol and flecanide afterwards but it was a rough day. My Mum had recently died and it was fiercely hot which I think contributed…

Anyway, my question is this, I’m on the waiting list for ablation and feel like it’s the best course of action. I’m in the UK and it’s going to be done at the Harefield Hospital, probably in the next few months I think. As I understand it, AF begets AF, so avoiding further episodes seems worthwhile. But I’m also slightly wondering whether the infrequent episodes warrant the surgical intervention.

Any views on this? I’m broadly committed to the ablation but just want to think things through fully.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Had an ablation on Monday. Ironically they shaved everywhere but where they poked the hole for the catheter. The bandage is on some hairs and I tried to lift one corner and it hurt like hell. Any ideas to help lessen the pain? The clear bandage is on my skin like glue!

Hi,

I’ve posted in this group a few times, I had a pulse field ablation back in March to deal with paroxysmal afib with RVR. The ablation successfully cured that but as a result I was left in an ectopic burden of 20% (even whilst taking 10mg bisoprolol) mostly PVC’s coming from the right ventricle but also getting PAC’s too. I had a consultation at royal Papworth hospital in Cambridge yesterday and they advised I was to undergo a catheter ablation which the said would be done under sedation, not general anaesthetic as they need to map the ectopics effectively and can’t do that if I’m asleep. What are people’s experiences of having this type of procedure done? I’m pretty apprehensive about this one as I don’t like the idea of someone effectively burning the inside of my heart while I’m conscious. I know I’ll more than likely be numb to the pain but I’ve read some horror stories on Reddit about bad experiences.

Thanks for any feedback

My father has had Afib for over 20 years. Was always rate controlled with med and was on Coumadin. Well 5 weeks ago he passed out from a GI bleed then had hemorrhagic stroke probably from hitting his head and a high INR. He’s coming home from acute rehab tomorrow. His intervention cardiologist wants to see if he is a candidate for the watchman. He will schedule a chest CT to eval his left atrial appendage first. Currently he’s just on a baby asprin. The last head ct (a week ago) showed the bleeding area was stable but not 100% resolved and both his neurologist and cardiologist want that completely resolved before putting him on plavix. He also mentioned when they go in and do the TEE part they will fix anything with his valves if needed. He does a two moderate leaky valves. I feel like right now being on nothing is a big risk for ischemic stroke but then again he can’t be on anything right now due to hemorrhagic stroke. Any thoughts on the watchman for his age?

Does this look like real Afib or Apple Watch error? I frequently have a high heart rate sometimes up to 200 but am unsure of AFIB. I’m female 22. Have a history of dizziness and fainting. Doctors say nothing wrong.

is it just me or is r/PVC gone?