I was in hospital today for my AF and AFlutter ablations. I was brought around from the general anaesthetic after an hour or so - my chest was feeling fine and then I realised I was still in the cath lab. Unfortunately the TOE showed a clot in my left atrium so they had to abandon the procedure. I had my last dose of Rivaroxiban on Wednesday morning so my EP thinks it has formed in the last couple of days. He has previously said that I have very aggressive arrhythmias and today said it shows how important anticoagulants are. He has switched me to Apixaban to and said I won’t need to go off that when they do the procedure again (probably in 4-6 weeks). He has also added Digoxin to my cocktail of drugs. I’m home in bed now with a cup of green tea, watching tv and listening to the rain. The saga continues.....
Well that didn’t go to plan ... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Well that didn’t go to plan ...
So sorry to hear it was postponed lucky the clot was found Enjoy you cup of green tea and relax for the day
Thanks. It’s evening here so after being up early and having an eventful day I’ll probably be sleeping 😴 soon.
Will do you good to have a good sleep Night
Oh disappointing but thank goodness for the TOE! Anticoagulation is as you say very important.I am happy to take it forever,even after ablation.best wishes for next time.xxx
Hi Kaz 
sorry to hear you had to delay the procedure, it demonstrates what a useful part anticoagulation plays in stroke prevention doesn't it.
I’ve only been on anticoagulants for 6 weeks after my first hospitalisation for AF. I was diagnosed with AFlutter in April but not deemed high risk at that stage (I’m 54). Two years ago was diagnosed with SVT and it seemed always in sinus rhythm (but perhaps not).
Disappointing in one way for you, Kaz but I’m sure a great relief that they did the TOE. Best wishes for next time.
Interesting Kaz. Many EPs do not stop anticoagulation for ablation these days so as always we are still learning. Glad you are OK
Thanks Bob. As I said in an earlier comment I’ve only been on Anticoagulants for 6 weeks. It seems every time they go near my heart they discover something new. As the young man says in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, “It will be okay in the end and it it’s not okay, it’s not the end”. 😂 You gotta keep your sense of humor and keep smiling.
Hi Kaz. Happy they caught your clot. Great saying; great movie. I have seen the saying on a plaque you can hang in one of my catalogs: "Creative Irish Gifts:. I'm a catalog junkie. You can find them online too creativeirisgifts.com Take care. irina PS also available at theirishgifthouse.com
Thanks Irina
Let's hope next time comes around soon and you get the job done... At least you know all of the routine now and part 2 will be a walk in the park 👍 sleep well and enjoy your cuppa!
Sorry to hear that Kaz, but thank goodness that they spotted the clot! Let that rain soothe you to sleep in your cosy bed. I'll look forward to the next instalment of your saga. Hey, you could submit it to a magazine and make some money. I'm on tenterhooks waiting for what happens next. Lol.
Take care
Jean
Not a bad idea. I’m actually a bit of a writer (I write a travel blog and a work blog and I’ve had a number of articles published in industry mags).
In fact I’ve just been re-reading the post I wrote about being in a wheelchair for 3 months. “Who knows what’s around the corner for any of us?” I didn’t know what was ahead for me when I wrote those words!
workwithkaz.wordpress.com/2...
That was interesting to read Kaz. I had a similar experience when my heart was racing at around 130 constantly (for over a month while I waited for a cardioversion). I couldn't walk fast into into the supermarket so people would walk around me and I could tell they were annoyed at my slowness. I'm far more kinder to people less mobile now that I'm the fit person.
Jean
Just reinforces how important a TOE scan prior to an ablation.
Still rest and best wishes for when they do perform your ablation.
Pete
Oh no! Sorry for the disappointment but on the other hand......hope next time is ok. Interesting that you were put on Apixaban to dissolve the clot instead of Rivaroxaban again, wonder why? Is the half life shorter maybe?
Apixaban is prescribed to help dissolve clots as well as acting as an anticoagulant. From what I understand (and I’m learning a lot very quickly) other anticoagulants are just for preventing clots. As they only need to be taken once a day and Apixaban needs to be taken twice a day, others are often prescribed first. According to my boxes Apixaban is also slightly more expensive- full price of A$93.02 compared to $87.40 for Rivaroxyban. We pay $39.50 for each of them (and if you’re on social security it’s about $6.20).
$340 a month in USA
Wow - I’m thankful to be here. There is a safety net in the system here too. Once a family has spent around $1500 in the year on prescription medicines you get them at the $6.40 price for the rest of the year. We are almost there.
I recall being on an eye drop in 1999-2000 which insurance paid $88 and I had $50 copay. While visiting my brother who lived in Spain I ran out of my eye drops (Rx required). Went to Farmacia to show bottle hoping they had similar. Same bottle made in Ohio, no Rx needed. Cost was equivalent to $6. Traveled often and a travel mate broke his arm in Ecuador. ER Xrays, casting, and Rx cost $50. We were all stunned.....only waited half hour to be treated.
Free in the UK - make me realise how lucky I am.
This illustrates the benefit of a routine TOE.
After your original anxiety you now know what the lead-up to an ablation entails, what a cath lab looks like and how many people are looking after you while you’re there.
Having had a dry-run you will be much better prepared for the real thing. Best wishes.
Ian
How disappointing for you but really good they found the clot. I have been on apixaban for a while now as well as digoxin and a few others. I expect to have an ablation soon as the cardioversions haven't worked and I doubt the cardiologist will try any more. I was hoping that after a successful cardioversion I would be able to drop some of the medication but all that happened was that they doubled the dose of ramipril! The one I really want to lose is amiodarone as it seems to have so many side effects. I am lucky in that living in the uk all my medications are free as I am 70. I am very nervous about the thought of the ablation and reading posts like yours are so reassuring. It is so good to hear how much care goes into looking after the patient. I hope the apixaban does the trick for you and look forward to hearing about your onward journey.
Thanks. I have an awesome specialist. All the hospital staff love him. He has a wonderful bedside manner and he’s a leader in the field so I know I’m in good hands. I hope you get everything sorted too. Up until 2 years ago I was on no drugs - perfectly healthy then it was a rapid decline. Now I’m on 7 different prescription drugs. I’m too young for all this 🤪
Know what you mean re the to young bit, on nothing last year age 51, a year later now on apixaban, flecainde, and bisoprolol ! Lucky they found the clot! Good luck with getting it sorted !
It shows the importance of maintaining anti-coagulation throughout the procedure, which is becoming standard practice. The apixaban will stop the clot getting any bigger and bits breaking off whilst the body naturally dissolves the clot. As you developed a clot so easily, does that mean you will now remain on anti-coags for life? I hope it all goes well.
Sorry it did no happen but hope you have it again soon. It makes us realise how important anticoagulants are to remove then prevent clots and avoid a stroke.
Wow,glad they found it and your OK, sounds like a thriller in the making , certainly seems like apixoban is a good thing didn't realise it dissolved clots , they resisted putting me on it last year, but I insisted and got it after a bit wrangling , did so after reading some similar posts on here, thought better safe than sorry. Hope it goes well next time.
Apixaban doesn't actually dissolve clots, see:
singhealth.com.sg/patient-c...
"Apixaban does not dissolve clots that have already been formed but may prevent the clots from growing larger, while letting the body’s natural processes dissolve the clots."
That’s probably what the doctor was trying to say to me but my mind wasn’t overly clear at that point in time. I should have asked how long it takes to dissolve clots in the heart/body. Any idea?
Which blood thinner were you on before? I’m sorry you didn’t have your procedure because of the blood clot. Thankfully they found it before any harm done. I am on rivaroxaban but making my hair fall out or thinning very much anyway Good luck for future treatments
I was on rivaroxiban too and had to stop it 2 days before the procedure. I had no problems with it but was only on it about 6 weeks.
Glad you are okay. Sounds like you are in USA. I am also. On metoprolol, Eliquis, fosinopril and Crestor. Had abliation and cardioverted. Now wearing a two week heart monitor. My rate and bp go all over even when resting. What part of USA are yiu from? I had mine done in Nj at Morristown Mem Hospital.
See you r from Australia. Forget my question. Glad you are okay. Seems like the first abliation always needs a second one so my ep tells me. It is always with us. Best of luck yiu will be fine.
I am so sorry to hear your bad circumstances that ocurred. Hopefully the next will be a we winner!!
I am so sorry. It must be very stressful for you. Good luck. I am sure apixaban will do the trick
Abulation lasted a week
All's well that ends well.
Well, that will teach me!
Update and Plan
