EP says I can come off Diltiazem

[Lorlaw70]

Hi

I hope everyone is doing well.

I haven't posted for a while. I had an ablation on the 23rd of Jan and I was on anmriodian diltiazem and apiczaban. I was told by my EP to come off the amnirodian at the end of Feb which I did. I then had my follow up on the 30 May and was given the all clear and told to come off of my diltiazem. I have been weaning myself off of it but I am anxious about coming off of it altogether. Has anyone else felt like this regarding coming off medication.

I have had a few bangs and flutters and my pulse has been up to about 103 but I had just been dancing and singing at a wedding the night before. I am now starting to get swollen ankles. I do feel breathless on exertion but I have had no recordings of AF since ablation.

I am worried about coming off medication all together.

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could share there experiences.

Many thanks

Laura

[Jjda]

Congratulations on getting off some of the medications. If your EP doesn't think you need the diltiazem, then he/she must feel your blood pressure is normal and will remain so. I would keep a close eye on your blood pressure, and be ever mindful of any irregularity of hearbeats, and pulse that is fast when not exercising, or if it refuses to come down after exercise. If anything starts to act up, call and get in to see your EP, or go to the local ER if it is serious enough. Good Luck, and stay healthy!

[BobD Volunteer]

I presume that you mean amiodarone and good riddance to that for a start. As fare as Diltiazem goes if your EP says stop then go for it. You need to find out if things are sorted one way or another and prevaricatiing won't help. If you have been reducing the dose regularlay then try to make the final drop soon . It isn't actually an anti AF drug anyway., more for rate and we know that rate may well be raised post ablation for quite a few months. I suspect it may be causing the swollen ankles.

[Shcldavies]

Thats good news on your recovery, really nice to hear it, like me its not as quick as Dr Lang said but it is in line with nearly everyone on this forum. I too get reminded that my heart is still recovering but the "events" (which are probably ectopics) are becoming weaker and less regular as time goes by. I am now convinced that it will take 9 to 12 months to fully recover from the ablation, Just like BobD has always said really.

Dr Lang told me to continue with Bisoproplol 2.5 and Digoxin 5 after my ablation, however my HR went too low (low 50s and 40s overnight) so GP said to stop meds completely a week after my ablation in February. HR recovered to 60s after just 2 days, then after a month of no meds my HR started to increase into 80s, GP advised Bisoprolol 1.25 which I have been on for the last 3 months. Feeling a lot better and would like to try coming off Bisoprolol but as I still have MAT so I will wait for my Cardiologist visit in September to see what he says.