Blanking Period Question

[perkman]

I had an RF ablation 2 months ago and was prescribed flecainide 150mg twice a day for the 3 month blanking period.

I have been doing some research on the web and I see numerous publications stating the blanking period should be shortened and that any AFIB after 1 month has a high indication of late reccurrence within one year.

The term was ERATS I believe. My EP had said 3 months but I see numerous posts on here up to 6 months.

Any thoughts on this?

[CDreamer]

I can think of so many people on this forum who report that they have one or two short episodes in the first few months and then nothing again ever again. Others who are fine for a few months, then have episodes.

My personal experience - after first I was fantastic for several weeks, then got very ill with AF with episodes a lot worse than they were before which led to a second ablation within 12 weeks which was more successful and I was free from AF for nearly 3 years.

This leads me to believe that we are all different so react differently. That specialists go with their own experience of their own patients so without a comprehensive study over a long time period with a wide patient profiles with big numbers - who really knows?

Just my thoughts.

[BobD Volunteer]

I think three months is far too little time actually. I found after my last and successful ablation that it was nearer nine months before I could wean myself off the drugs .

The problem I fear is that this is such a mongrel condition that it is impossible to generalise. For example. after my first I was much worse the next day and never got better. My second was perfect for about six months and then AF returned. My third as above. Nine years later I still get occasional bouts of ectopics and some tachycardia if I ignore the warning signs but have no AF whatsoever.

[perkman in reply to BobD]

Thank you for the info.

[Dodie117]

It took 5 months for my episodes to stop and no af since - almost 4 great years!!

[perkman in reply to Dodie117]

Thank you for sharing the info with me.

[Dodie117 in reply to perkman]

Ps. Should just say I stopped meds (bisoprolol) on day of ablation so nothing except anticoagulants. I had quite a lot of arrhythmias during the 5 months but gradually reduced and as I said, AF free not for almost 4 years. So a lot of different experiences.

Good luck 🍀