HealthUnlocked will undergo site maintenance on 8th April 2025 from 11:30AM (BST) / 6:30AM (EDT) for a few hours. We aim to restore the full service as soon as possible. Learn more
I have just heard I am to have my ablation in just over 2 weeks, much sooner than I expected. I have a holiday booked for late October and the health staff have advised me that I am able to fly about 7 days post procedure. Has anyone got any advice on this issue of time lapse between having ablation and flying?
Many thanks in anticipation
Not about flying but can see no reason why not if the staff say it is OK. My experience is that you will feel a mixture of elation and exhaustion for the first couple of weeks and then start worrying when you have the odd little bump now and again which is normal.
Go for it but do try not to over do things. Your groin should be a good indicator. When the discomfort has gone the bruise will likely still look impressive. When the bruise fades to grey then your heart has started to heal but remember that it takes three and often up to six months for things to fully settle. Let you body guide you. It probably knows best.
Bob
What is your insurance company 's take on this?
I had no problem with insurance company.
Have you declared the AF and ablation on you,re insurance, I am sure you have.
yes I have
Yes, I had ablation and was permitted to fly long haul 2 weeks later having been checked by EP beforehand.
I flew to Spain 7 days after ablation, no problems experienced. Being on holiday meant I could kick back and relax and do very little, hope yours is also going to be relaxing,
That's good .I had no problems straight after my ablations but so many posts on here do report problems. Probably down to us all being extra aware of heart activities at this time
I remember thinking, two weeks after my ablation, that I was ready for a holiday and felt that I would have been up to travelling as long as someone else did the organising and running round before hand. X
Personally I'd delay flying. In fact some airlines won't even carry you for 4 weeks after an operation so check their rules.
I think an ablation may be a procedure rather than an operation. Or can an operation be regarded as something that requires a general anaesthetic? This is why there is small print! Are you having sedation Paul? One way would be not to take out insurance until after the ablation (unless you wish to insure for cancellation) and then ask your EP for his opinion about your fitness to fly.
I will be having sedation not an anaesthetic. I already have an annual policy, I have informed them of the impending ablation. Will let them know following ablation the advice from my EP.
That all sounds good. I travelled 75 miles back home by train on the day of my first ablation. Not really recommended but I was not on my own and felt fine. No problems.
In some ways makes no difference. If you have a general anaesthetic for many ops you are only prohibited from driving for 24 hours. For ablation under sedation the absolute minimum is 48 hours but often consultants state 7 days (was in my case but not sure if due to septum punctures or length of procedure 6.5 hours or other reason(s). Don't know what it is for an ablation under general.
If the medics say yes and you can get insurance then why not? I was travelling a few weeks after my 4th ablation and carried a letter with me explaining that I should have a cardioversion if I went back into AF.
You don't mention what kind of ablation.
My first one was for a-flutter and afterwards the only limitation was my groin.
The second one was for PAF (entry via both femoral veins) and I didn't want to go anywhere or drive long distances for several weeks. That was probably due to the nasty side effects of flecainide.
My advice, for what it's worth, is to wait and see how you react to both the physical and chemical effects before making any big plans.
I too have just been offered a date 10 days from now, which would mean that I was going on holiday exactly two weeks afterwards. I reluctantly turned it down- mainly because I was slightly worried that I may not fully enjoy my holiday so soon afterwards in the event that I may not have had a straight forward recovery. But, in truth and somewhat vainly, it was also because I am hoping to be relaxing in the sun in swimwear, and didn't feel that potentially huge bruises to groin area would be very becoming! I suppose this would not be such a problem for a bloke in board shorts? 
Pre ablation meds
Ablation Pre-assessment 
Pre ablation appointment
