Ablation or flecanide

[MydogBrandy]

I was on 100 Flecainide twice a day and bisoprolol 1.25 twice a day and had a big do after being fine on meds for over a year. In hospital a and e at 188 bpm sent to CCU. Taken off meds, now out although four more episodes. Been told to just take 50 flecanide only twice a day. Specialist says that when the hospital just put me on Flecainide once a day it only last 12 hours. My head is all over the place, frightened of going out now, just want to get back to where I was. Do you think ablation is best option.

[pottypete1]

You need to get an appointment with a good EP.

Certainly for many ablation is the answer. However for some like me it takes more than one ablation to finally get a better quality of life.

When you see an EP ask lots of questions.

Pete

[MydogBrandy in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks potty Pete, is the ablation safe, I’ve been told it can give you a stroke, also are you asleep, does it hurt and why do you have to have more than one, sorry I’m full of questions

[pottypete1 in reply to MydogBrandy]

Sorry for the delay in replying.

Flapjack has summed it up very well and I have little to add.

Ablations are very safe in the right hands. I have unusually had 7 so have pushed the statistics to the limit and I am here to tell the tale.

Some EPs do it under sedation and I had 3 that way, the others under GA. In my view GA was by far the better option but you would probably have to wait longer as they have to also arrange an anaesthetist.

Talk lots to your EP when you get one.

Pete

[MydogBrandy]

Thanks pottypete is the ablation safe, I’ve been told it can give you a stroke, also are you asleep, does it hurt and why do you have to have more than one, sorry, I’m full of questions.

[Hidden]

Please follow pottypete’s advice and ask to be referred to an EP (Electrophysiologist) as they are best placed to assess the best treatment plan for you. Ablation is not always the best answer, there are so many factors that have to be considered. To be honest, there is little point worrying an ablation until you know it’s an option, but to put your mind at rest, it can be uncomfortable and even a bit unpleasant, but most folk generally get through it OK and if you have a GA, then you are asleep and away with the fairies. There is the possibility that a clot could be dislodged during the procedure but it’s very rare because they shove a camera down your throat first to make sure there are no clots lurking! There is a mass of information about ablation on the AF Association webpages and even YouTube has videos, try looking up British Heart Foundation ablation at St George’s. Hope this helps, but first things first, you need to see an EP....

[MydogBrandy in reply to Hidden]

Hi Flapjack thanks for that been to see the cardiologist who now says I would be better off with a pacemaker instead of an ablation. He says that he can then set the pacemaker so that my heart won’t drop too low, then he can prescribe much higher doses of meds so that I don’t have an svt.??? Anyone give me reassurance please that this sounds o.k. So worried. Thsnks

[MydogBrandy]

Thanks so much flap jack the specialist has advised an ablation as he says I have svt and not af he reckons, putting me a weekly monitor on fist cos he says he can’t understand why the hospital has prescribed blood thinners as there is no evidence of af. Just driving me mad I feel like I am listening to my heart every minute of the day and keep checking my fit bit. I was great on 100 flecanide twice a day and bisoprolol 2.5 twice a day till this last episode, now on 50 flecanide twice a day only plus blood thinners twice a day. I am thinking it’s not enough or perhaps it’s anxiety kicking in as well. My resting heart is about 70 now but when I walk about it’s 112 although I don’t feel I am going into one. Perhaps it’s because I used to be constant 59 before. Family think I am overthinking