Post ablation follow up

[grandmadogs]

I will be having a follow up two months after my successful (touch wood) ablation. Can anyone tell me what it consists of and are there any questions you would recommend asking? Is it just a chat or do they run some tests? Thanks.

[Hidden]

Generally the EP will ask you some questions about your general recovery so it might help to take notes of how your recovery progressed. Maybe you have had some ectopics or palpitations and if so, you should tell him. Don’t want to be negative, but also ask what you should do if you should experience any AF, maybe ask about PiP treatment. If your situation remains stable (WHICH IT WILL!) and your blood pressure and heart rate are also good, you may want to ask about reducing or even stopping medication. It’s unlikely, but if there is an attempt to discharge you back to your GP, I would suggest you resist this. I’m sure others will come up with some helpful suggestions.....good luck

Ps they will probably do an ECG and BP so if you suffer from white coat syndrome and have a reliable monitor, it might be a good idea to take some readings with you

[grandmadogs in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Flapjack. That is really helpful. I think I am already worried about being signed off and would really like my 'hand held' forever! Until now my cardiologist/EP has been getting me to keep a record of my blood pressure readings as they are usually high. I have a feeling that as I am 70 he will want to keep me on apixaban but am hoping to come off amiodarone as he always talked about it as a temporary thing.

[Hidden in reply to grandmadogs]

If BP is high and given your age and gender, your best friend might be apixaban 😉 but yes, when the time is right, it would be better to come off amiodarone....let us know how you get on.

[Rebma in reply to grandmadogs]

Yes try and get off amiodrone if possible and possibly different drug. The drug itself is purposeful and can have side effects. Best of luck to you. Stay well

[grandmadogs in reply to Rebma]

Thanks. My cardiologist/EP does not want to keep me on it longer than he has to. He has said six months in total which will be around the time I have my follow up so fingers crossed.

[Rebma in reply to grandmadogs]

What strength of medicine are you on? Is it a decreasing dose? I started out very high and then tapered off. I had bad side effects. Make sure you have your thryoid and eyes checked. It did do its job.

[grandmadogs in reply to Rebma]

I started on 400mg amiodarone for two weeks then it was reduced to 200mg which I am on now. I don't seem to have a lot of side effects but when I am hot but not necessarily in sunlight I get a really prickly skin that verges on painful. I will ask about the other tests. Before getting AF I had been told I was nearing cataracts so difficult to tell about my eyes. They are definitely worse but don't think it worth going back to my optician whilst on amiodarone. As my ablation seems to have worked and is holding I am assuming the medication is helping it all stick.