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Beta blockers abalation

Padayn01 profile image
121 Replies

Hi all does anyone here still take there beta blockers after ablation?

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Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01
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121 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I've had 3 ablations and still take them, as I still get AF attacks.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

3 abalations you poor thing I had my abalation yesterday but get skipped beats every now and again but this happens sometimes after abalation

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Yes, it takes a little time for the scar tissue to form and block the rogue pulses.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thank you been a bit horrible these last 24 hrs

Brad43 profile image
Brad43 in reply to Padayn01

Lucky you if it's only 24 hours. It was horrible for me for at least 3 months. I suffered from pericarditis that made me go back to ER, and migraine aura that came and went for more than 2 weeks. And my AF was worse for 3 months. It eventually got down to about once per month, and now haven't had any for more than 4 months. Regarding your question about taking beta blockers, I continued my Flecainide for a few months after the ablation, but it seemed like sometimes it might have been causing AF. My EP switched me to Amiodarone, and that's about the time the AF went away for good (so far). I had to stop taking the Amiodarone after 2 or 3 months because it seemed to be causing pulmonary problems, which it's known for doing. So I haven't been on any beta blocker for a few months now, and still no AF.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Brad43

Brilliant news that you now have no AF and totally free from beta blockers sounds like you had an awful journey to get there

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

May I ask whAt beta blockers you still on?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

2 x 12.5mg Metoprolol

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

I’m on the same

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Do you still get AF episodes with the beta blockers?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

I take Flecainide as well. At the moment it's 1x100mg in the morning and 1 x 50mg at night. Yes, I still get AF despite all the tablets.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

How do you deal with them when you get them? Sorry for the questions

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Go to see my AF nurses who put me on the list for a cardioversion, have had quite a few of them. Feel free to ask any questions, I understand what it's like to want to know everything.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thank you is cardioversion similar to abalations?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

No, a cardioversion is where they stick pads on your chest, give you a general anaesthetic and then use an electrical current to shock your heart back into rhythm.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Will that sort the AF for good or will the cardioversion need to be done a few times?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

No they don't always last very long. For me a cardioversion can last for years or just a few days. Cardioversions will generally only be carried out when absolutely necessary and medication has failed to help.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to jeanjeannie50

The whole procedure only takes minutes. I like having them, for me it's always an instant cure. As with every medical procedure there are risks.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Last question sorry why does the heart skip after abalation is it because it’s in shock still you mentioned it’s still healing in your earlier post

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

When you have an ablation, they burn or freeze the areas inside the heart where the abnormal arrhythmias are coming through. This needs time to form scar tissue which blocks the rogue pulses. Until that scar tissue forms it's quite normal to get a few runs of AF.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Thank you for all your help today

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

You're welcome.

goldfinger88 profile image
goldfinger88 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Jean, I take it you are not a fan of the abalation?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to goldfinger88

If changing your diet and lifestyle doesn't help your AF and your attacks are very debilitating, then I'd say perhaps try an ablation. I think my first two may have made my AF worse, the third one helped a lot, but I still get AF, not so severe but for longer and constant periods of months and usually have to be zapped back into normal rhythm by a cardioversion.

So much better to try the healthy diet and lifestyle route first, just wish someone had told me about that years ago.

We all speak as we find, if like some on here an ablation had cured my AF I would be singing it's praises.

Jean

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Funny enough you mentioned diet and lifestyle I was going to ask you about that this morning have you transformed your diet now I have from April last year

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Yes, I cut out all food containing artificial additives and the sugary stuff. I do fall by the wayside a little some times though.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

I know it’s hard isn’t it especially the sugar stuff well done 👍🏼

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Have you seen that’s it’s made a difference the better diet?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Well I went 6 months without any AF.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to jeanjeannie50

That's a record for me.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

When did you say your cardio version is?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

I've not been given a date for it yet,

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Sorry for the questions again but do you do any breathing excercises?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Yes, I can bring both my heart rate and BP down with different types of breathing.

Slow, deep breathing, letting your belly rise on the in take, then breathe out slowly with mouth shut, for heart rate reduction.

Deep slow breath in through nose and then out with a quick huff through open mouth, to reduce BP.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Amazing with the slow deep breathing is that all through your noise?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

For the heart rate one yes.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Sorry can I just ask again about did you suffer any chest pain after your ablations?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Only once, a few days after my first ablation. I got out of bed and took the electric blanket of my bed as I imagined I could feel the wires in it sticking into me. My heart suddenly seared with pain for about 10 seconds and for a while I thought I was having a heart attack. It really frightened me and next morning I rang my GP and told him. He said put it down to experience and if it happens again let me know, well fortunately it never did happen again.

I've never had the general soreness that some people experience after an ablation.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

And the other 3 abalations were fine with pain?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

I had no pain with my other two ablations. Extreme tiredness, yes.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Are you getting pain?

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Had a tiny bit but not to much but I hear people can get pain even days after the abalation

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to jeanjeannie50

Don't you have to be in AF to have a cardioversion?. I have symptomless AF which was discovered by chance (I am lucky). At first the cardio just put me on a beta blocker and said that if I had another episode he would introduce warfarin - well I had to keep checking my pulse until I found it irregular and 110, my instructions from him as he was some distance away, was to immediately go to my GP and have an ecg, and get her to phone me and put me on warfarin (which I soon changed to Xarelto) and he would see me in a week. When I got to him a week later he informed me I was in AF, would I like a cardioversion, or just carry on with my medication. Since his consulting rooms were at the hospital (private) I said while I'm here I may as well have it which I did. This is why I'm curious to know how you can be booked ahead as you may be in normal rhythm then?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to pusillanimous

If I go back into normal rhythm, then of course, I won't have a cardioversion. They do them at my local hospital about 10 miles away from where I live. The nurses there monitor you for a few weeks beforehand and may adjust medication before to see if that helps first.

I've had more than I can remember, but they can (on rare occasions) have side effects and should not be handed out too quickly without waiting to see if the heart rate can return to normal on it's own.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply to jeanjeannie50

Yes,the first time I had AF, was after I was prescribed an antibiotic for an infected scratch - this antibiotic made me vomit until I was vomiting flecks of blood. When I saw that I phoned the GP and was told to come immediately. After an ECG it was discovered I was in AF, but the GP was worried about the blood - a possible tear in the aorta, and found me a Cardio who was not playing golf (it was late on a Friday afternoon). She would not let me drive, so I had to hunt down my son to fetch me (my car was another story). Anyhow, by the time I was in my hospital bed and checked, I was in back in normal rhythm! Anthow he kept me there for 2 nights and let me out with a beta blocker and a diagnosis of PAF ! I have regular check-ups and seem to be Ok after stress rests and all sorts of devices looking at my heart from every angle!

Tikaneko profile image
Tikaneko in reply to jeanjeannie50

Sorry Jeanjeanie but could I ask, would a pacemaker help?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Tikaneko

I think a standard pacemaker is more about preventing your heart from going too slow. Once my heart gets used to being in AF I will start to feel better, it did that for several months last winter until I had my cardioversion last January. I was almost 7 months free of AF from then on, until this bout started on Aug 1st.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

How long did the AF last for in August?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply to Padayn01

Still have it now, will hopefully have a cardioversion in a few weeks if it doesn't revert to sinus soon.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Oh no you mean it just beats irregular throughout the day? So sorry must be so horrible

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Can’t they give you cardioversion at A&E? Just seems horrible you going through that for so long

Tikaneko profile image
Tikaneko in reply to jeanjeannie50

Ah I see, thank you Jeanjeanie, it’s strange how comments throw up questions and you seem to be getting them all at the moment, thank you for your patience. X

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to jeanjeannie50

Wow amazing stuff

Flo2pen profile image
Flo2pen in reply to jeanjeannie50

Me too...

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747

Yes, I’ve had 4 ablations, the last one was 5 months ago and I’m still on a low dose of beta blockers.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Kaz747

May I ask what beta blockers you are on?

Kaz747 profile image
Kaz747 in reply to Padayn01

Atenolol now.... but I have been on Sotolol, Digoxin, Amiodarone, Flecainide and Verapimal 😃

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66

Still on Bisoprolol 2.5mg 3 months on after my ablation, and told to stay on them for a while until 6 months check minimum, after a rocky couple of weeks of late . Luckily it doesn't seem to affect me at all that I know of.

Ian.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ianp66

Was it a Cathler abalation you had ?

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66 in reply to Padayn01

Yes a near 7 hour Cryo Ablation at Freemans hospital in April this year.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ianp66

Did you have any skipped beats or anything like that first week after abalation?

Jlaine profile image
Jlaine in reply to Ianp66

Wow that's a long time

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66 in reply to Jlaine

The sedation was very well managed and a good EP in Dr Murray at Freemans, actually wasn't that bad.

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66

Yes quite a few, was told to expect it by my EP, nothing like the AF I suffered prior to the op. I gradually built my walking up to 2 mile after a month or so, I do think gentle exercise helps, but you have to take it at your own pace. And you still get the odd bump etc months on.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ianp66

Ahhhh I see when did it settle down how many weeks after? Did the walking help with the skipped beats?

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66

It's different for everyone, but personally for me it did, exercise seems to calm my heart weirdly enough, mine misbehaves as its always done when resting particularly lying down. I'd say you still get the odd flutter etc for months after, it's a very long healing process. I think walking helps the mind relax and the heart follows, in relation to my recovery it's helped anyway. Rest and mindfulness is the biggest key the first part and not doing to much which when feeling good you can fall into the trap, listen to your body is best advice I got off many on here, and it's golden information, worth listening to.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ianp66

Super thanks for this 👍🏼

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66 in reply to Padayn01

Hope your doing well and keep relaxed, and don't worry about the odd little hickup, ever need a chat or ask anything feel free to message, it's a little scary at times but loads of support in here available from some very caring people, Ive found talking helps .

Ian.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ianp66

Yeah I fully appricate it I love this forum just after an abalation the last thing you want is skipped beats thanks for messaging 👍🏼

goldfinger88 profile image
goldfinger88 in reply to Ianp66

I've noticed exercise calms my heart too. Thank goodness for exercise.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to goldfinger88

With me I’m just so scared of setting off my heart and going into AF I completely stopped excercise since it happened and only recently I got my confidence back in walking

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66 in reply to goldfinger88

It sure does

stagecoach profile image
stagecoach

I was taken off bisoprolol straight after my ablation 5 weeks ago. Been having all sorts of ectopics and skipped beats since. Flecainide also stopped as regular dose and made PIP.

Just increased diltiazem to 300mg per day and going for 24 hr holter next week. No AF though...

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to stagecoach

Has the skipped beats calmed down a bit?

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to stagecoach

Also is the 24hr due to the skipped beats?

stagecoach profile image
stagecoach

There are days when I don't have any but other days, like today, where I've been getting a few of them . I assume the 24hr is due to the missed beats as I've sent Kardia traces to the arrhythmia nurses.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

I was initially prescribed 2.5mg bisoprolol after my atrial flutter ablation in early June; this was stopped after a week but, sadly, within days that brought on my first and only attack of Afib. "Normal" service was resumed once bisoprolol was reinstated, which has now been reduced to 1.25mg as it was causing my heart rate and BP to be too low.

I say "normal" but I'm still not back to my old self. Even on 1.25 mg, I have frequent low heart rate, often in the low 50s, daily ectopics along with a sense of needing to breathe deeply along with various other symptoms - but I feel I'm slowly improving (well, I hope so. I have an echo-cardiogram today).

Steve

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ppiman

Please let us know how your echo went

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply to Padayn01

Hi. I’ve not seen the doctor yet but the physiologist said the scan showed that the ventricle was improving well and the valve was working fully (both showed weakness when I had flutter).

Atrial flutter certainly wasn’t a good thing for me to have, that’s for sure - but it seems the ablation has done the trick. I’m glad I was treated so quickly.

Steve

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Ppiman

That’s great news hope things start to improve and many thanks for getting back to me

Nugger profile image
Nugger

A fact sheet explaining all the above, wouldn’t be a bad idea!, before you have the ablation

baba profile image
baba

You only had your ablation a few days ago, still a long way to go in recovery.

healthunlocked.com/api/redi...

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to baba

Thank you for this

baba profile image
baba in reply to Padayn01

Read the fact sheet "recovering from ablation"

ETFCfan profile image
ETFCfan

I’ve had two cardioversions and two ablations and am now in permanent AF. I’ve never been off of Bisoprolol. Even when I was in sinus rhythm for a while after my ablations I was on 1.25mg. This has gradually gone up to 7.5 mg.

Turquoise19 profile image
Turquoise19

Can I ask if you or other responders here has persistent AF, N whether that's making a difference to your recovery post ablation. Mine was for persistent AF 5 weeks n 2 days ago. Now only on the anticoagulant and hypertension meds.

Had an AF episode for 2 hrs on going to bed last weds, n still some missed beats, but mostly regular so far, so good. Back at work now from this Monday n taking it steady. Gentle walking like others have said helps my heart too. I normally do a lot of exercise N cycle to work. Still not ready for that !! Wendy

MissDheartbeat profile image
MissDheartbeat

Hi, I had my first ablation 6weeks ago and EP took me off heart medication (digoxin) straight away but I'm still on 7.5mg per day of bisopropodol and blood thinners. No recurring AF so far. Everyone goes through a 'blanking period' after procedures and AF can reoccur etc. Hope it's OK for you.

SuzieA profile image
SuzieA

No

netie54 profile image
netie54

Morning. Yes my husband had an ablation October 2017 and is still on a beta blocker. Propanol daily

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to netie54

Has he had any more episodes of AF?

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic

Yep, although a much smaller dose. My heart is pretty stable and while I still get occasional AF it’s a 95% improvement

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Japaholic

Thanks for replying may I ask when you had your abalation!

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic in reply to Padayn01

July 2015, my first and only one so far

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Japaholic

Fantastic news it’s almost cured the AF

netie54 profile image
netie54

Unfortunately yes he has. Not as bad as before the ablation. He’s going into Papworth soon to have another.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to netie54

I really hope they get it this time, how long has he been suffering with AF?

netie54 profile image
netie54 in reply to Padayn01

For about 15 years. When they first started it was one or two a year until the older you get the more frequent they become. So our EP said this time he is going to do the flutter as well as that’s in a different place. The recovery time is definitely far longer than they tell you. 🙄

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to netie54

Thank you for sharing

netie54 profile image
netie54 in reply to Padayn01

It’s good to know your not the only one 🙂

Jc24 profile image
Jc24

I don’t. I take thyroid and xarelto. My last ablation was Sept. 2018.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Jc24

How many abalations did you have if you don’t mind me asking?

Jc24 profile image
Jc24 in reply to Padayn01

That was my fourth ablation but they had to go back to correct an issue from a previous ablation. I would do it again. I walk everyday and play pickleball. I do stay well hydrated and I listen to my body.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Jc24

That’s brilliant, sorry may I ask what’s pickleball?

Jc24 profile image
Jc24 in reply to Padayn01

It’s a game played with a paddle where you hit a whiffle ball over the net. Lots of rules but it’s a smaller court than tennis and much easier at 69. It has become more popular here since it can be enjoyed by all ages.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Jc24

Sounds brilliant 👍🏼

Beckijo profile image
Beckijo in reply to Jc24

Hi sorry to jump in. Can I ask what the correction was or on the lines of I had an ablation in January this year and now I need another to kind of correct an issue due from the 1st ablation.

I also had loads of missed beats my heart was all over the place for a good 3 weeks but even after and now it still has the odd missed beat I tried not concentrate on it and I noticed it less.

Jc24 profile image
Jc24 in reply to Beckijo

Somehow in my ablation the back of my heart was burned and after 3 years it had to be repaired. This last ablation has been great. Haven’t had anything since last September.

Beckijo profile image
Beckijo in reply to Jc24

How did you no this did you have any symptoms or did the hospital tell you? Thanks so much for replying.

Jc24 profile image
Jc24 in reply to Beckijo

My ekg showed up different and I sent it to my ep. Then I started going in and out of rhythm. He thought we should ablate and I agreed. Seems to have been a good decision.

Beckijo profile image
Beckijo in reply to Jc24

I take 360mg of diltiazem unfortunately got another ablation in october. Jc24 that sounds so similar to me I keep going in and out of rhythm I had the ablation in January I was fine for 7 weeks then it started happening. Fingers crossed this second ablation will sort it. Before I wasn’t takinh anyone heart medicine because I have a lung condition and a take a lot of medication and constant antibiotics for that so I didn’t want to Chuck more tablets in had the ablation as my SVT got worse but now I seem worse and off. I’m hoping I will be back to normal soon. Thanks so much for time and replies.

Jc24 profile image
Jc24 in reply to Beckijo

Hope everything gets lined out for you!

Beckijo profile image
Beckijo in reply to Jc24

Hi sorry to pop back up! When you said you was going in and out of rhythm do you no what is was like svt, afib or a junctional rhythm? I’m due to have my ablation tomorrow and I’m trying to find someone who is similar to me so I can kind of no what to expect as the last 7 months with this has been dreadful.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Beckijo

Are you still on beta blockers now?

Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju

Hello there! I had my ablation on November 2018 and I have been off drugs 2 months later. I don't take Bisoprolol anymore, only if my heart rate is too high at rest, I try to manually calm down my heart by breathing exercises. No AFIB episode since my ablation but sinus tachycardia sometimes. The recovery process is much longer than doctors can say, mine told me that I'll be fine 2 months later, well I've been able to enjoy my life 7/8 months later.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Lien-Ju

Thanks for your post yes the main thing I see here is recovery time takes a lot longer can I just ask what is sinus tachycardia is that just fast heart rate?

Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju in reply to Padayn01

Of course, sinus tachycardia is a fast heart rate (above 100 BPM generally)

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Lien-Ju

Thanks for this does the breathing excercises work when you have a fast heart rate?

Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju in reply to Padayn01

Yes most of the time, I try to focus on my breath and my heart rate decrease slowly but sometimes my anxiety is stronger and I need to talk to someone to have my mind clean and to not think "I'll die soon". Anxiety is the worst thing ever when you have heart rate issues.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Lien-Ju

Yes I know where you coming from I have extreme anxiety for the last 15 years

Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju in reply to Padayn01

My girlfriend is helping me a lot to deal with it I am grateful to have her by my side, the most important thing is to include breathing exercises daily with positive thoughts (it helps me a lot).

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply to Lien-Ju

Thank you for this 👍🏼

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