Drinking Post Afib Ablation Surgery

[MPARISI9]

So I had Catheter Ablation procedure about a month back and wanted some opinions are drinking alcohol post surgery. I had a few drinks twice since surgery and didn't feel any irregular Afib feelings the next morning which is when I would usually get them. My procedure was a success and don't want to mess it up, but do like to have some drinks and watch a ball game from time to time. I'm on Metoprolol and Eliquis for 60 days of which I'm not even sure if drinking on them is bad or not. Thoughts?

[Hidden]

Probably a good question to ask your EP. Answers seem go vary re alcohol. My EP prefers no alcohol.

[Dawsonmackay]

Do not take alcohol with Metropolol or Eliquis. That is a bad combo especially when you have 60 days to stay clean after the ablation.

[Oldiemoldy]

Opinions vary wildly on this. My doc said one drink a day. But I concluded it might be triggering the post procedure breakthrough AFib attacks.

Then I read that that one drink a day doesn’t mean every day - that you need 2-3 alcohol free days per week.

So, I have quit entirely for the duration of the 3 month recovery period.

I liked my beer and wine - more than 1 a day. I may just stay abstinent if keeping the limit is too hard.

Ask your doc but do some of your own research.

BTW, quitting smoking was harder...and I did that in 1977...

[Paulbounce]

Booze and afib ? I think we are all different.

Here`s my take. I really enjoy a beer to chill after a long day but I have really reduced my intake since having afib. I try to stick to two beers - three at the most. My HR comes down after a couple - it relax`s me.

However some people find even one unit can trigger afib. I think binge drinking is likely to trigger it with us all.

Would it be worth you abstaining totally during your 3 month recovery period ? Let your heart recover and then enjoy a beer or two watching the ball game ? I don`t think we should give up everything we enjoy but give your heart time to heal.

Best,

Paul

[ken280]

It is really up to the person I have had two ablasions I will have a couple of beer and no problems but other times I can have 1 beer and feel pissed my heart will pound but in normal sinus rhythm! Some days I can feel the heart having a pounding attack then roll over on my right side and it goes normal after one of my doctor's told me I had to stay on meds forever my other doctor who did the ablation was very angry, I was left on meds for over two yrs and heart was pausing for 100 times as another Doctor watched my heart pause for 6 seconds at a time finally asked for my meds he gave it to me 10minutes i was ok and last pill for over 21/2 yrs but for keeping me on the meds needed a pace maker but had a check up and looked at pace maker nothing showed scored 100% battery will last 8 to 10 more yrs! Now I am going to gold panning maybe in the Yukon, life is good turned 70 and feeling,well you know ups and downs and clicking and clanking but with a smile! Maybe one day we all can meet at the rainbow bridge to gather our pets and have another laugh at all the fun we had shining in the sun,share a drink or two remembering how lucky we are! Best wishes for you all this is a hard times for many of you but there is light !

[fairgo45]

When I had my third ablation I stopped drinking any alchohol for 6 whole months I thought I was cured that my forgoing of my nightly red wine was a small price to pay for NSR but no, back it came and I thought what difference did it make abstaining ,none whatsoever

So a glass of red wine went back on the agenda it's a relaxing thing to do

So no harm has come to me and I take metoprolol as well

Moderation is the answer

[jeanjeannie50]

As it's just a month after your ablation, I would give your heart more time to heal before drinking alcohol. Why on earth would you risk causing AF to return? A lot of members on this forum avoid alcohol totally as it's a known trigger. My AF attacks were so severe and debilitating, I know I never want to go back to that.

Jean

[kitenski]

Everyone is individual, some seem to say alcohol is a trigger. It is not for me and my consultant said it's fine, just not to excess. I must admit to a few big nights out for various celebrations that have had no affect at all and I've stayed in NSR.

I know this maybe contentious but I've been logging everything over 3 months, to try and spot a trigger. I came to the conclusion that for me there isn't any specific triggers and folk seem to think there "must" be, whereas for me my episodes can't be related to any specific event, whether that be alcohol, caffeine, stress, work, driving etc ctc

[fifitb in reply to kitenski]

Hi! I am the same, no specific triggers. I even tried chamomile tea this week to see if that helped (not only AFib by my chronic insomnia) and cut out my favourite Kenya coffee, no!!! I had AFib after the chamomile and STILL had insomnia too. As for alcohol - after 3 glasses of Prosecco I had AFib but after 3 Champagne cocktails on my birthday, and on a couple occasions more recently, a couple of glasses of Pinot, there was no averse reaction at all! I do not drink a lot though and not every day.

This week, I had a bad AFib episode walking through the park (last day invigilating at the University, a 'casual' part-time job I like) and didn't make it (a kind young man passing by called an ambulance) and I ended up having ECGs etc. I was wearing a Heart Monitor and it was the last day (after one week) and it caught the episode thankfully. I hope that my electrophysiologist makes a good decision about what to do with me - i.e. another ablation? I don't want more pills.

It is SO frustrating not knowing what my triggers for Afib or Atrial Flutter are or if really it is just random - it is hard to live one's life like this. My life gets interrupted and I let people down (e.g. the University!).

[jedimasterlincoln]

I gave up drinking anything regularly a few years ago. Had 6 drinks in total over the whole of last year and can name the occasions. Not missed it, I know I'm going to feel a bit "off" with it or it might raise things or cause problems so it's just not worth it.

[Adiepie]

EP said moderate drinking would be ok, it doesn’t seem to affect me anyway!

[MPARISI9]

Interesting responses and thank you. My biggest concern is if it's ok to drink beers while taking the meds. Doctor's said I can have a beer or two and should be fine, but both times I drank there was a bit of a dizzy feeling which went away but I noticed it. I looked it up on line and it said if you drink while taking Metoprolol you can get really dizzy. I feel very strong after my surgery, just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing..

[Stephanie6637]

I decided too give up alcohol after being diagnosed with Afib I then went on to have two ablations second one was successful ( so far). My thinking was that alcohol is a stimulant and why put my heart under any more strain. It's the best decision I ever made and 3 years down the line don't miss it.

[jwsonoma]

My Cardiologist said alcohol opens pathways for A Fib. A couple a week week is ok but NONE is better. I switched to fake beer. Not as good but you get used to it after a few months. Heineken 0 at least makes you look like you are having a beer if abstaining makes others feel uncomfortable.

I had to ask my self if no alcohol is the best long term solution for a heart problem and I can't stop altogether do I have an alcohol problem as well?

I think I did. Although psychological not physical. It took me several months to not want a beer or glass of wine. Best of luck.

[kitenski in reply to jwsonoma]

What does “opens pathways” mean???? Did your cardiologist explain any further?? I can understand excessive drinking causing issues.

[jwsonoma in reply to kitenski]

My layman's interpretation is alcohol reduces tissue electrical resistance (improves conductivity) and makes it easier for stray impulses to cause A-Fib. I was also told an A Fib event pushes calcium ions into tissue which makes it easier for the impulses to travel and cause A Fib. I think that was called laying down pathways. Accurate or not that was good enough to incentivize me to cut back from 3 drinks a day to virtually none. I love beer and wine so I can't say it was fun or easy.