was discovered on Monday whilst having a TOE under GA before 4th ablation. Procedure was aborted and I am now on increased warfarin for 4-6 months before proceeding again. My EP seems to blame the Dabigatran that I was on for a few months before although all the reports say that it is better at preventing strokes. I am thinking that it could have formed in the 7 days that I was not fully anti coagulated because of the change over. Either way, I now feel that I am living with a time bomb and I have not a hope in hell of getting travel insurance for our trip to the Far East in January. Also my GP will not allow self testing. Life has gone belly up yet again.
Anybody have an experience like this?
Written by
Barb1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hi Barb1. This is one of those is the glass half full things. How devastating to wake and find that not only were things not going to go ahead but that you had a new and unwelcome situation to deal with. Double whammy. But then again how lucky it was discovered before it has caused damage. I hope I'm right in thinking that it may have been treated with something like heparin? A clot is what we all worry about. But your EP seems to be prepared to proceed in a few months - which may affect your trip to the far East. All tedious for you. No doubt someone on the forum will have something to say about travel insurance.
It is a bummer but thank goodness they found it before starting the procedure. I would be feeling the same as you though. No help I know but comiserations. X
Barbara it was good to meet you at Surrey asg tonight and I hope Liz's talk was useful- it will be good to hear about the new research on appendage blocking if we can get the speaker-
If you want me to ask about what happened to you at the Cardiology conference i am going to next week ( they are talking about NOACS) will you send me a private message with the details of the changeover and I will see if anyone knows what might have caused the clot,,,They are also talking about ablation so should have some answers
For interest you may wish to research the lariat, watchman and plug each of which is a method used to close the appendage where these clots are prone to form.
Some people say cayenne pepper will dissolve these clots but you may not be able to take it if you are taking warfarin.
I'm so sorry Barb, I know how much you wanted to get this 4th ablation done and to kick the AF into touch, try to be positive (easy for me to say!) and say to yourself that it was best to find it before the procedure. Climb this next mountain and see what's on the other side, could be that it'll all come together and the next ablation will be celebrations and jubilations. Keeping everything crossed for you. All the best. X
So sorry to hear you've had your ablation put off but my goodness, it's good they found the clot... I hope that it doesn't mess up your Far East trip! What a pain!
Yes, me too, but something that I found out last night is that Warfarin does not dissolve clots, the body naturally gradually absorbs them (or not!) So why do I have to be in a higher than normal (for me) therapeutic range?
Hi Barb, I would really push to get the strips. It doesn't matter what the GP thinks, you should be able to get the. Point out that people who self test have lower rates of stroke, and that a range of 3-3.5 is only achievable with close monitoring - i.e. once a week testing. If he doesn't agree say you will be putting a complaint in.
The problem with dabigatran is that it is usually stopped before an ablation, and that is when clots can occur. Warfarin continues through an ablation.
I wish there was more that I could offered than another response of how disappointing this must be and to suggest you focus on the fact that it was better for it to be found. We all will be watching how this cont to unfold for you and sending our cont hopes for quick resolution so you can get the next ablation and move on.
This is a bit relevant to my situation right now. I stopped taking warfarin yesterday, and I'm starting rivaroxiban on Saturday (3 days, my gp said) Not a week, but I understand some gp s ask for a longer gap than 3 days. I shall now wait with bated breath until Saturday, hoping nothing sinister is happening in my heart! I am not likely to ever find out....gulp.
Sorry you're having such a rotten time Barb. So good that they found the clot in time tho'.
Trouble is, nothing is done. You just wait 4-6 mths and have another TOE to see if it has been absorbed by the body. Or put it another way, 4-6 mths of wondering if you are going to have a stroke!
We are all with you though, because we could all be in the same situation, along with lots of people who don't know they are at risk. But it brings it home all the more, I imagine, when you find you actually have had a clot form. Let's hope it's half gone already. To my mind, the threat of doom is a good reason to make the most of every day, to do nice things and enjoy life as much as possible. I'm seizing opportunities at the moment.
Excellent. I thought some people would respond on that front. I'm away next week with Insurance 4 Medical - they offered an OK premium and I didn't do any other research.
My hubby had a TOE on Tuesday before his 2nd ablation attempt. Was told to not take his apixaban that morning only. Now on pradaxa for 8 weeks then another TOE. taken off amiadarone as that has done nothing. Put on digoxin but still in AF. has Atrial Flutter, afib and Tachycardia. Never had a TOE prior to his first attempted ablation which didn't work either. So 3 month wait for nothing now another 2 months. So sick of it all.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Left Atrium Dilation
left Appendage op 
A Flutter Question left or right atrium
Left Atrium Enlargement
