Hi Guys ,
I’m having an AF Ablation on the 3rd of December which I’m completely petrified of .
How did you come off your medication? Was it gradual I’m worried coming off the medication I’m going to go into a AFib . I know Iv got I’m come off all medication 😟
Many thanks Michelle
Hi Michelle,
I had to come off my medication 5 days before my AF ablation. I know it’s hard but try not to be scared. I had mine done on the 31st October and I’m not going to lie it was uncomfortable but I had a few complications with my veins, so you will be fine promise. They are specialists and know exactly what they are doing.
My main advice is rest up once you have had it done and listen to your body. I’m 16 days post now and still not great. Just tired and have struggled with Migraine Aura. But I’ve only had one AF episode so far and pre ablation they were every other day. It’s still early days and I’m still getting advice on this forum. But I am really happy that I had the Ablation as I couldn’t go on as I was. Wishing you all the best and try to keep calm and think about the benefits.
X
Thanks Amy ,
I’m just wish it all over . Sorry to hear your story pleased your getting better each day.
Was you put asleep straight away ? . I’m having two procedures one for SVt he said I’ll be awake then put to sleep for af ablation. X
I know I was really nervous but I had an attack the morning of the hospital and this made me want the ablation even more.
I also have SVT and AF but they told me I had to stay awake for both ablations. But when they started and were doing the EP study they could only trigger the AF and not the SVT so they just did the PVI ablation and it took 4 hours.
x
Thank you for sharing your story with me it really does help x
Try to relax Michelle, many of us have been through the ablation procedure and have lived to tell the tale. Firstly, have you read the two AF Association factsheets on preparing for and recovering from an ablation?....links below.
If you haven't already, you should be asked to attend a "prepro" appointment (pre op) where they should explain everything relating to the procedure and clarify any changes to your medication in advance of your ablation. Everyone is different, but I've had two and I was told not to take my anticoagulant (Apixaban) on the evening and morning before the procedure. All other medication continued as normal. They will tell you about ongoing medication prior to discharge.
If you are thinking about stopping betablockers then you need to follow the instructions given by the medical team. Normally, you should be gradually weaned off a betablocker over a few weeks. If you take Flecainide then they don't generally suggest weaning you off it, you just stop, but this must be under instructions from your doctor as we are not medically trained. Please let us know how you get on and take things really easy on the approach to Christmas......hope this helps.
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
heartrhythmalliance.org/res...
Hi flapjack,
Thank you for your reply, iv carefully read the fact sheets, has really helped .
Iv got my pre -op tomorrow over the phone . Having tests done at my GP surgery.
Hope your feeling well 🙂
I’m feeling good thanks, hope all goes well for you. Don’t forget to let us know how it all went when you feel up to it....👍
I was on Amiodarone for 2/3 months before last ..3rd...ablation. I stopped completely a few days before( I think!) ..this was over 5 years ago...i went into fast AF at home on the morning of the ablation shortly before we left for the hospital. In a perverse sort of way I was quite pleased, even though I felt dreadful , as it just reinforced my need for the procedure.
I'm now awaiting my 4th one 😕
Try not to get too anxious about the procedure. You will be very well looked after. Easy to say I know ....i shall probably get pretty worried again when I get my date. I'm in no hurry!
Wishing you well. Do let us know how you get on. Where are you having it done?
Sandra
Hi ,
Thank you for your reply , sounds like you have been through it . I’ll bet ,must have made you want it more . I’m worried I’ll get down to the lab and run . I know this is the best way forward for a better quality of life Iv been desperately Unhappy my children have had a sad mummy . I can’t wait to be able to run around with them without all the worry .
I’m having it done at harefieldHRC .
Wishing you well 😊 x
Seems every EP is different. I stayed on all mine for at least six months after mine and never stop anticoagulation.
Need to check what they want you to do. I have always been told to keep taking the meds. I am on Warfarin and I had to have weekly blood tests to make sure my INR ( a measure of anticoagulation level) to ensure that I was within range.
I know it is daunting but try to keep as calm as you can. I am an exception but believe it or not I have had 7 ablations and I am still here to tell the tale.
Best wishes for a successful first ablation. The statistics are that the vast majority of first ablations are a success.
Pete
Hi pottypete ,
Oh wow you have been through it . You must be a pro . Was all yours for Af ablation ?
About 10 years ago I firstly had an ablation for Atrial Flutter.
In fact I had much more of a problem with AF.
I then had a series of 5 ablations over a period of some years. I am not typical but each ablation was carried out to close pathways that had reconnected.
I had been told by one EP after the third ablation that there was little more that could be done.
Throughout the time I had to have a number of cardioversions as I still kept getting AF and as a consequence the specialists decided to try further ablations.
After the last ablation for AF I developed Atrial Tachycardia and my EP said that he felt that an ablation for AT had a high chance of success.
Now after 27 years of PAF I have only had 3 very short episodes of AF since that last ablation 15 months ago.
I do get some Ectopics still which is a bit unnerving but on the whole I am better than I have been for years.
Take my story as an exception the vast majority of ablations improve QOL at the first attempt.
Pete
Oh Pete you have really been through it . Pleased that the last one has worked for you and your feeling better . I know what you mean about the pain of ectopics especially when your trying to sleep.
So reassuring to here peoples of experience really does help 😊
I remained on all my meds for the procedure - even the anticoagulant. In my case, the procedure irritated my heart (the EP is destroying small parts of the heart after all) such that my rhythm remained abnormal immediately after the procedure so I was started on Amiodarone. This suppressed the arrhythmia, giving my heart the opportunity to recover. I’ve now come off the Amiodarone and diuretic but am still on Bisoprolol and Ramipril for the time being. I’m feeling much better.
Regarding the ablation procedure, it’s nothing to be scared of at all. It’s a routine procedure and there will be a large and experienced team looking after you in the cath lab. Once the catheter site is secure (usually in the groin) you will normally be free to go home but with the instruction to take it easy on your legs for a while to allow the catheter site to fully heal.
Best wishes.
Hi Ian ,
Thank you for taking time to write . Much appreciated.
Sounds like you have been through the ringer .
Iv had one ablation done for SVT . Im now having ablation for Af . My consultant says this is a more aggressive procedure .
I hope your well X
Are you worried about coming off the meds or the actual procedure?
And are you having sedation or GA for the procedure?
I can't speak for those having sedation as I had a GA, but honestly, it was an absolute breeze.
They anaesthetise you, you wake up, and it's over, you now have a much better future.
feel great about it, and don't worry at all.
It really is easy !
What they didn't give me great advice on though, was that in the first 3 months post ablation you can no only experience more afib episodes, in my case they were much worse than before!
About week 3-4 I had daily episodes of severe AF.
Then all slowly settled down.
4 months post, no afib.
Cheers,
Marcus
Hi Marcus ,
Thank you for your reply.
I’m having two procedures. One for SVT and the other for AF. I’m awake for the SVt ablation. Told I’ll be put aslerpfkr second one . He told me it’s more aggressive.
I’d rather be put to sleep as I’ll think I’ll panic and set I don’t won’t the other. One g.g vccvvvuh.
Reading your story has helped thank you . G
Your poor thing daily AF for the amount of time .
They're doing 2 separate procedures!??
Why not both at once?
And have you asked if you can have a ga for both given your potential anxiety, and what the risks are with either 2 GA's, or if in fact they can do both procedures in the single setting?
Always feel free to talk options and risks with yr doctor ( I'm a doctor of sorts myself , veterinarian!, so happily have conversations with my surgeons that often result in modified procedures once I understand the pros and cons!)
Hi Marcus ,
It’s not two separate procedures. Both done at the same time . Wow veterinarian that’s amazing job .
Iv got my pre-op tomorrow got many questions to ask .
I came off all my drugs after successful cardioversion in Nov 2016. Only problem was bisoprolol. My does was halved to 5mg directly after, then reduced to 2.5mg. But my GP kept taking me off complexly and cardiologist kept putting me back on it. GP said my pulse was too low. Still of all drugs except warfarin.
I was on my heart meds until the day before my procedure, started taking them again the day after, had ablation for AF and atrial flutter in May stopped all heart meds 3 months later but will be continuing the anticoagulant rivaroxaban for the rest of my life, age and Chad score, so far so good, as someone has said try not to worry, while the procedure is uncomfortable it's not painful.
Its great to read successful stories 🙂so pleaded yours was a success,
I heard it can be abit of a rough ride for a a little after x
I did not come off any medication prior to my ablation. I was on flecainide, diltiazem and pradaxa (dabigatran) as A/C I remained on them for approx 3 months after the ablation.
Did you have AF ablation ?
Hiya... Try not to worry about the ablation procedure, I know how you feel as I had mine On 7th September this year and it was my first so the unknown. If I had to have a second I would no problem. The procedure was done under sedation and was a bit uncomfortable but in reality it's one afternoon of your life to fix a problem that can make life so miserable. You will be absolutely fine and will be able to look back and be proud of yourself for getting it done. Take care and please don't worry, you've got this 💪 👍
Thank you 🙏
Ablation or Medication??
Ablation or medication
Stopping metoprolol before ablation 
On medication now offered ablation - did anyone's AF get worse on medication meaning they opted for ablation?
Stopping medications before ablation
