What if the drugs don’t work?...

[Alpaca555]

Hi everyone

I’m feeling a bit unsure about what my next steps can be as I had an ablation on 14 June and I’m still having episodes of afib - rate about 150 - that last 2 or 3 days at a time with a couple of days in between. Flecainide 100mg x 2 and Bisoprolol 2.5mg don’t work so EP said I can stop them because they have no effect so I’m now just on Apixaban.

They tried me on digoxin before the ablation which also didn’t work.

I’m seeing EP soon for the 3 months’ check ... having a 7 day holter next week ...

What are other options? Do you know of any? Can things still get better?

Any thoughts would be really helpful... 🌻

[djbgatekeeper]

Hiya ... Sorry to hear you are having a tough time, my GP increased my bisoprolol to 10mg daily from 5mg when my AF was becoming a daily problem. This worked for a few weeks until a treadmill stress test on 2nd August which has set me back. My point is you are on a low dosage of bisoprolol so maybe the medical experts would consider increasing this to calm things down. I am not a doctor so always check with GP before any med changes... I hope your condition improves soon 👍

[Hidden]

We all have high hopes with an ablation and it's disappointing when it doesn't wave a magic wand. You do have irons in the fire though so there will be some input from your EP before long. Some of us have been taking 150mgs x 2 of flecainide per day and your dose of Bisoprolol was on the low side so you have not really explored those avenues as fully as possible.

You can also perhaps hope for further improvement post ablation as 14 June was not that long ago.

I hope things will improve a bit - a holter monitor can often nudge hearts into a deceptively quiet spell!

[Alpaca555]

Thank you djb... I think he didn’t give me more Bisoprolol because it has such awful side effects on me... it’s the balance of trying to enable me to function well enough to go to work or keep me as an exhausted zombie. 🌻

[BobD Volunteer]

Don't put the cart before the horse. Sill plenty of time for more healing. WE say three to six months but what is the worst that can happen. A second ablation is good way forward if in a year things have not improved. . I needed three as have many others here.

[Alpaca555]

Thank you Rellim... yes you’re right, it’s not too long since the ablation... I’ll discuss other irons when I see him mid-September ... 🌻

[Alpaca555]

Hi Bob... yes you’re right, a second ablation is definitely not the end of the world! Thank you ... 🌻

[Globe-J]

Hello 555

I dealt with a similar situation. After some investigation, a year ago I decided to opt for (to my knowledge) the treatment most likely to succeed. I had an open-heart surgery, the Maze Procedure (indicated success rate 95%).

Having been one of the 95%, I have not had any more AF episodes since. The Maze can be also performed in a less invasive manner, but not as well (I understand). My position was to opt for the ‘best’ available treatment. A word of warning, the surgery is not to be taken lightly, so please investigate all the options. Of course, the increased possibility of a blood clot and, or continuous use of medications to control AF was not very attractive to me either.

Best wishes

J

[Alpaca555]

Hello J

Thank you for your response! I hope you continue to be AF-free! The Maze sounds very drastic! I shall investigate... 🌻

[CHRISAF18]

It took me 18 months to get my meds sorted out and 3 trips to a and e. Eventually I was put on a 5 mg bisoprolol and 50 mg flecainide also 5 mg amlodapine of course warfarin and statins. So this has given me a period of stability. I think this would help you too as having issues after an ablation is so disappointing. I had a very Frank discussion with my cardiologist when I landed up in resus within 3 weeks not pleasant. So perhaps tell your consultant you need some advice in the short term about control. I don't intend going down the ablation route as I would still need to take meds and although great tiredness at times and a few hiccups along the way I am staying with the status quo. I think what i am saying is we have to be more assertive with the medical profession sometimes as they dont experience our symptoms and only fellow suffers really understand the anxiety that is attached to this complaint. Regards Chris. 😊

[Ianc2]

Try a fairly radical change of diet, dump the meat and dairy and up you lentils/beans etc. Look up Dr Mc Dougall's website for more information on this. May be worth a try.

[Dodie117]

It took 5 months for mine to settle down but 5 years later still AF free. I came off all meds except apixaban on day of ablation. So stay positive and it might still work. Alternatively you might just need a second to complete the treatment.

Good luck. 🍀

[Alpaca555]

Thank you Ian ! I’ve been trying to change my diet - more Mediterranean and less meat but I’m not quite there yet - I’m work in progress - I’ll definitely check out the website! 🌻

[Alpaca555]

Hello lally... you’ve given me hope! Thank you! 🌻

[Tapanac]

I don't know because I'm not a doctor, but when you think your heart has been zapped and lasered, I believe from some of the reports I have read that it can take up to 6 months to recover. I hope you feel better soon.

[Alpaca555]

Thank you Tap... good counsel! 🌻