Ablation question.

[Grace4291]

After ablation is done and the healing process begun. Do u stay on a medicine and blood thinner to avoid or control an afib episode. Grace

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Grace, yes it's usual to stay on all your medication for a while after an ablation. It's never a good idea to stop any medication suddenly, its always best once you're given the ok to do so very gradually over a few months.

Jean

[Grace4291 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank u jean

[Hidden]

They normally recommend staying on anticoags unless your CHADs score is zero cos if you have a blip, or AF returns without knowing, as can happen, you could be vulnerable. Otherwise agree with Jean

[Buffafly]

Mine was stopped immediately except for anticoagulant. I did have problems because of that but I had the ablation because it had become bad for me to take the meds any longer. It all depends on your circumstances.

[BobD Volunteer]

Different EPs have different ideas but most would want you to stay on meds for a period to allow your heart to heal in peace. Anticoagulation is another contentious issue and many of us would wish to stay on them for life as there is no science to show that ablation removes the risk of stroke. If you had a high risk before (2 or over) and were not merely on them for the run up to ablation then I would say do not stop.

[DEREK2210]

hi I was give amiodorone for 3 months worked ok for me the left with metoprolol after

[Hidden]

My rhythm drugs were stopped a few days before the ablation and I remained off them afterwards. I was anticoagulated before, during and after the procedure and will be for life I guess, even though my CHADS score was always zero (now it's 1 because I'm now over 65).

[Grace4291 in reply to Hidden]

Koller hi I'm 69, was your procedure a success how bruised were. Thanks

[Hidden in reply to Grace4291]

Hi Grace

Yes my ablation was very successful, I came out without any AF. A little bit of AF returned 8 years later and now back on drugs but they are working well. My AF was very bad and 24/7 and I personally feel that the drugs that are working now can only do so because my ablation is still holding back most of the symptoms.

I coudn't feel my heart after the ablation for a few years, it was so calm and nice as I was used to feeling it all the time.

I had a bruised groin but nothing too much. It just healed up slowly over a week or so.

Koll

[DEREK2210 in reply to Hidden]

whats CHADS score please

[Hidden in reply to DEREK2210]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHA2D...

[Mazza23]

Had cryoblation 29th sept still on all meds

[Jonty_13]

Grace, I suggest you discuss this with your EP and GP. They may keep you on meds in the blanking period to assist the heart whilst managing the inflammation that the ablation has caused. Then I was managed off them . I pushed for this as the side affect s are not good and some of these drugs are very toxic. With the anti coagulation drug I was kept on it so if they needed to do anything to get me back into rhythm I was already on the blood thinners. I personally want to be off these as the side affects and also other issues that being on blood thinners bring. If you are in rhythm in theory you may not need them. But check with your ep. I am not medically trained so will always advise you speak to someone who is part of your care team. My GP has been excellent but will always defer to the EP. But she is a great sounding board. Regards Jonty

[Beta44]

I stopped Flecainide on the day of the ablation and have never taken one since. I stayed on Bisoprolol for three months after then stopped. Now only on Apixaban as anticoagulant.

Peter

[Jomama]

This is a question that I really personally find perplexing, because I hear different answers from different docs. We always hear that afib begets afib right? So if one gets an ablation, and doesnt experience afib any longer, isn't the threat of a clot diminished, since being in afib makes the blood slosh around and get clotty? So if the heart is in SR, the blood is pumping and flowing and then the clots don't form , correct? So why would one need to be on blood thinners if the problem has been corrected? Counter to that, I hear that even tho one has an ablation and is no longer get in afib, the risk of stroke is still high because of the history of afib, and one still needs to be on blood thinners the rest of their lives. Even Dr . Gupta says this in one of his videos. I just don't get this, because if you've eliminated afib, hasn't the risk of clotting been eliminated? My EP says we can talk about eventually going off blood thinners when I see him end of March for my 6 week folllow up after ablation (on 2/8). I am wearing a holster monitor for three weeks post ablation. I'm not in a big rush to get off of them if they are protecting me, but if I go for years and years (hopefully) without afib, are blood thinners really necessary with all the inherent risks of taking them? I need to research this much more! Any thoughts anyone?

[RexH in reply to Jomama]

I agree, my specialist wants me on blood thinners for the rest of my life, and as you say if not in AF why stay on them. Our bodies were made to have a certain blood thickness, so changing that consistency must have its problems.

[higgy52]

Had a Ablation 2 weeks ago for persistant A F ,worked for me,

but early days yet. got to go for review end of June, still on Amiodarone, Ramipril, and warfarin, till i go back in June