For any folks that have gotten an ablation I have a few questions if you don’t mind.
*do you get a catheter for bathroom breaks while your under? Do they install this after the put you under?
*how many days before your ablation did you stop taking Flecinide?
Thanks all!
Hi Kmm96, I had a cryoablation two days ago. I was at home by tea time the same day. I wasn’t under long enough to need a bathroom break! As for flecainide, I never stopped taking it. In these first days, I take it as usual, because Im getting af, short runs in between normal sinus. When do you get your ablation?
Thanks. This Tuesday!
Good luck with that. Kmm96. I am 3 days on now, and apart from a short run of af at the beginning, my heart is steady. It’s a bit faster than usual but that’s normal. I’m getting headaches now, also not unusual and they should go soon. I keep marveling at the miracles the surgeons perform with this procedure. Somebody has actually been inside my heart, tinkering about!! And only a tiny mark on my leg to show for it. I am so lucky to live in these days!
Keep in touch.
Good questions. For my cryo ablation it was nil by mouth for a while before hand (but no general anaesthetic) and the actual time in the surgery was only two hours so no need for a pee. I had to lie flat for two hours afterwards but to my surprise no need for a pee then afterwards! Good luck
May I add another question?
For how many days after the ablation did you need to take the anticoagulant?
I have had three ablations, the last one around 10 years ago. After a few years with just occasional short ectopic episodes, I have been symptom free for at least 6 years. I still take Flecainide twice a day and recently switched from Warfarin to Edoxaban and I will continue to do so for ever. Fortunately, neither drug causes me any problems whatsoever. Good luck!
Would you mind stating the dose, and you are not taking any other drug with Flecainide for flutter issues that some will have if not taking anything alongside Flecainide?
I had a d Catheter and the inserted it whilst I was asleep.
I never stopped taking Flecainide.
Pete
Thanks
You don't need a catheter. You can pee right before the procedure. Afterwards ... you're up and walking around within 2 hours if you have the latest collagen plugs in the groin.
Anti-coagulant was maintained during ablation. In USA, if successful you can discontinue after a few months.
I just had 4th ablation on OCT 22. I'm going back in for a followup. I might need a Watchman Device installed or some minor touchup ablation. The EP said after 5 or six months, I can stop anticoagulant.
My brain shuts off and I have a hang up about peeing in a bottle. Once they measured 2 litres in my bladder on the last occasion they did not put a catheter in me.
Sadly for me a urinary catheter is the only solution. Definitely worse than the ablation.
Pete
I did not have a catheter but did need a bottle to pee in after my first ablation.
After my second ( successful) I stopped flecainide immediately and bisoprolol immediately I don’t think there is any plan to stop apixoban
I did not need a urine catheter as I was abated under mild sedation. I did not stop flecainide until 3 months after my ablation, a couple of weeks before I had the follow up post ablation appointment with my EP.
No you do not get a catheter for an ablation (some might for other conditions), can't remember how long before you stop medication, from memory it was a week and the anti-coagulant a day or two before.
I just had my first ablation last week at 72. They put the catheter in after I was sedated, but I was sedated for over 5 hours before I was conscious again. I am still on all my meds including my blood thinner Eliquis.
I didn't have a catheter during my cryo-ablation in 2019, but during the 6-hour period after the procedure when you have to lie still, I needed to "go" and the nurses used a temporary catheter to relieve me. I'm having my second ablation, this time radio-frequency, in 10 days so you'll probably see me on this forum after that time!
Good luck Please tell us how you get on.
I have just posted about cryoablation needing a second radio ablation.
How long did your first one last and could you say what happened after please
Rod
My first one lasted about a year; that is, after the 3-month blanking period when I was a-fibbing all over the place, and at one point needed a cardioversion. After the first successful year after the ablation, my episodes began again and were coming a couple a month. After having Covid in December, I was having them a couple a week, hence my reason for changing doctors and having the radio-frequency soon.
Good for you changing EP's. My first AFIB ablation lasted 9 months. I immediately had a 2nd ablation ... and that one gave me 10 years of normalcy. Good Luck! to you. Hope you get a complete cure.
Thanks so much -- I hope I have the same luck as you!
Snow girlI had Covid last February/ March and like you a couple a week.
Were they as bad
Have you been told if the rf is more effective?
I am not where you were. I am getting ectopics and that is why I fear the beast is coming back!
Rod
Hi Rod -- I've been told that RF is more effect that the cryo-type. My events are happening about every week to 10 days now, though not very brutal. I too have ectopics. I read (actually on this forum) that calcium could be a culprit. I stopped having skyr yogurt in my smoothie and it seemed to help. I do hope yours doesn't come back!
Ablation procedure was straightforward and lasted about 90 mins. No catheter. Flecainide dropped 6 weeks after procedure. Bisopropol was stopped about a year previous. Recovery was a matter of weeks but everyone is different. Go well.
I believe the difference you are referring to is that you did not reach the persistent stage and stayed there for months like some unfortunate ones do for whatever reason. Also the frequency of your episodes as well as your duration must have been short. I would love to hear your timeline if that is not your story.
Yes, Paroxysmal AF for a number of years and episodes became more frequent and lasted longer. Typically, every 3 days and lasted a minimum of 24 hrs and sometimes 36 hrs . This in late 2018 before the ablation. Perhaps, this is why I was recommended for ablation by the consultant? "A good candidate" was the term used.
You are so lucky that you got excellent medical attention. The signs were there for an ablation. Your frequency was every3 days -- time for ablation. Your duration was 1 day to 1 1/2 days -- time for ablation. The combo : frequency + duration = ablation required or fast track to persistent AF.
When I was at your stage, hoarded by my GP of 30 years, and when I said I was going 3 days in AF and 3 days sinus, his stupid answer was, "That's the drugs working." Twelve days later I became persistent. This "GP" then sent me to the lousy cardiologist who had trained him who continued the substandard treatment. Bottom line: I have had three ablations and currently now in arrhythmia. When I get back to sinus via cardioversion , I will have to remain on anti-arrhythmic drugs for life. And, the arrhythmia is more than lurking over my shoulder.
I am from Vancouver, Canada. We also have a socialistic system. In order for me to not remain persistent beyond six months or I would never have been able to return to sinus ( I was one of the most complicated cases at the six month stage), I had to fly to Bordeaux, France with the ablations costing 16,500 euros each (worth every penny) plus the cost of getting there. I try to express extremely strongly NEVER to allow , via waiting time, the "doctors" to get you to the persistent stage.
Thank God, there are doctors like yours that took excellent care of you.
Good luck!
Ablate or medicate that is the question! 
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