Telephone consultation

[stoneyrosed]

Hi all. I had a cryoablation done on mar 9th of this year, I thought by now 4 month later I would have been called by one of the team to have a chat about my meds and recovery progress. Anyone else have to wait longer than 4 months? Thanks for reading this.

[BobD Volunteer]

Frequently though strangely the telphone consult system seems quicker than waiting for out patient appt .

[Physalis]

Yes, since my ablation in July last year, I've not heard a thing.

[Singwell in reply to Physalis]

Blimey. But you're doing well I think? I got that impression.

[Physalis in reply to Singwell]

Yes, if I had had any problems I guess they would have heard from me or my GP. I dropped the bisoprolol after a fortnight.

[Singwell in reply to Physalis]

Lucky you! I'm still on mine with slightly reduced dose. But that's because they weren't convinced of success because I moved around. I still feel better than before though

[Elli86 in reply to Physalis]

That’s a bloody good turnaround physalis. What dosage bisop were you on before? You just dropped the meds yourself without speaking to anyone about it? No withdrawal symptoms?

I’ve got my cryo booked in for 16th august 😬 hopefully it’s as successful as yours sounds 🤞🤞

[Physalis in reply to Elli86]

I was seen at the hospital on 5 Feb last year and told to take the bisoprolol, 1.25mg daily, up to the time I had the ablation and then afterwards. I only took it under sufferance. My ablation was on 8 July. After a fortnight I thought "what am I taking this for?" so I stopped. No withdrawal symptoms at all.

[Maisiemay13]

Hi I had my telephone consultation after three months got the letter appointment within 2 weeks of Abalation,have my 6 month date as well !

[stoneyrosed]

Thanks for replies, the thing is I have not had an episode since the early days after the ablation, I could contact my GP but part of me is reluctant to upset the status quo I am in at this part of the recovery 😳. If I come off the meds who knows what might occur.

[Singwell in reply to stoneyrosed]

Yes, I know what you mean! Initially I was keen to come off my meds, I suppose that find out if it 'worked'. But once I'd cut down my evening antiarrhythmic dose by half, the nurse and I decided to leave well alone for a bit. I feel pretty good actually, different than before the ablation. How about you? I had one episode fur Ng a horrible stomach bug but it went away when I managed to sleep.

[Bring-on-the-bird]

I also had an ablation in March, consultant said will see you in four months. I am waiting for an appointment. I am still getting episodes usually about two or three a month.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Bring-on-the-bird]

May need more time for the heart to settle, suppose we will need to be patient and we will be contacted.

[Singwell in reply to Bring-on-the-bird]

Do you find they're less symptomatic though? I had nothing for 2 months (but that was typical prior to ablation), and then a short one when I allowed myself to get wound up. I didn't have to take extra meds for it though and it was short, with lower HR. It's an improvement at least. Just might not be 100% success.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Singwell]

Yes I had a couple of bouts of AF just a week after ablation, I get the odd ectopic now and again but no af for about 3 months. Much improved but I am still on beta blockers flecanaide and blood thinners, I am really wanting to come off them all eventually but am a bit wary hence waiting for a chat with the EP.

[Singwell in reply to stoneyrosed]

Yes, same. I'm on Diltiazem and Flecainide. I reduced my evening Flecainide by half on advice from the nurse with no ill effects. I'm feeling ready to reduce the morning dose by half pretty soon I'd say. But for the moment I'm gradually introducing more exercise such as mowing the lawn!!

[Bring-on-the-bird in reply to Singwell]

No, I always have had and still getting symptomatic episodes. Like you prior to ablation I didn’t have any episodes for around 2 months. For two months following I occasionally got eptopic beats but more recently AF episodes. Last year I bought a SnapECG device (similar to Alivcor) to record episodes and to see when I am out of them. I have not found any occasions when I have found assymptomatic episodes. I was on Bisoprolol and Flecainide prior to ablation and started on Apixaban a month before and am still taking it until I see the EP.

I was finding that Flecainide was not stopping me having an episode whilst taking 100 mg twice daily but an extra 100mg got me out of it within two hours (GP advised to try that as he didn’t want me on the max 300mg all the time).

The EP advised me to ‘experiment’ with Flecainide after 3 months to try taking it only as a pill in the pocket which I am doing.

[Singwell]

They're trying to clear the decks with long overdue ops etc. My original follow up appointment was to be early August - so 4 months. They cancelled it. When I called they said - wait for it - March 2022! They're trying to organise an appointment at my local hospital, which my EP visits every 6 weeks and that would be October. The reason for cancellation? I think he's on holiday...Luckily I have access to the Arrythmia Nurse and I'm satisfied with that for the moment.

[Sparky143 in reply to Singwell]

INSANITY.

[Jajarunner]

4.5 MTHS last year. Why not just call them and see if you've been missed?

[stoneyrosed in reply to Jajarunner]

Because i am doing ok I kind of don’t want to upset the apple cart if that makes sense 😁

[Singwell in reply to stoneyrosed]

It's always worth calling them I think, or get your GP to write a report - you're doing well etc and wondering if it's time to explore reducing medication...

[Cally53]

I had my cryoablation in August last year and finally got my review in April, but only after I rang to ask for it. It didn't work for me and I am now booked in for an RF ablation.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Cally53]

Thanks for reply Cally, good luck with the RF 👍

[Cally53 in reply to stoneyrosed]

Thanks

[JefferyW]

Here in Oxford at the JR where I had my ablation in late June my “ 3 month” follow up call is scheduled for late November! I am not complaining as the staff do a fantastic job and the whole service is totally stretched. I was amazed and delighted I got it done in June.

[SophieBella]

It was a good 6 months b4 I had a phone call. But I always have the no. of the arrythmia nurse available for any concerns - do you have that?

[stoneyrosed in reply to SophieBella]

I do Sophie but I am not keen on bothering them until I get in trouble with the AF, guess I will just wait 6 mths and if not heard anything I will prob call the GP if there not too busy 😏 Thanks for reply

[Lucymoo]

After my ablation mid may my review appt is October. In addition when I phoned the number on my discharge slip for some advice I was told speak to your GP. I then paid for a private consultation with a cardiologist who was brilliant in answering my queries in early July as still struggling post ablation

[stoneyrosed in reply to Lucymoo]

Thanks Lucy, yes will call GP in 6 mths I think 👍

[Jetcat]

I waited longer than that then found out I’d been discharged.!! I’m chasing it up tomorrow to see what went wrong 😳

[stoneyrosed in reply to Jetcat]

Discharged? Is that good or bad lol, I am sure you will be able to clear that situation up fairly quickly with a phone call good luck

[Jetcat]

Yeah I think I will. I suppose I can take it as good news that they felt they could discharge me.? Although last year I was planned a fourth ablation if needed but because of the awful covid situation I never heard anything from them apart from we will be in touch but unfortunately they never got in touch.!!

[Sparky143]

Had my SECOND Ablation more than 2 weeks ago. Post Op was a night mare. They said it was a success but more complicated than they had previously thought. I was under for 4 hours. No phonecall after I got home. NO FOLLOW UP WHATSOEVER. NO DOCTOR HAS CALLED, NO NURSE. NOTHING.

The whole thing was so devastating to me physically. It knocked me down very hard. Was in bed for 2 weeks in bed barely able to breathe or function. Im getting better now but feeling not a little pissed off about the lack of support. And this Dr is supposed to be the best in America if not the world. He's lovely, I like him, but REALLY???

I find this totally irresponsible medicine. They automatically discharged me the next day after horrible post op with an Appt in October.

The doctor told me he wants me on Sotalol and Eliquis for at least a month. So who will be monitoring my going off those meds ? Sorry you had this experience as well as others here. My contempt for the Western Medical system continues with more and more reasons.

[stoneyrosed in reply to Sparky143]

Sorry you have had such a bad time, hope moving forward you start to feel better real soon 👍

[Sparky143 in reply to stoneyrosed]

Thanks. Same to you, Kid. 🙏🌈💖☀️

[Dlo2 in reply to Sparky143]

As the saying goes about the “squeaky wheel”—I suggest communicating your concerns with your EP and, if no response, reach out to the department head. The lack of communication between provider and patient is too often a structural issue of insufficient mentoring during residency and fellowship and the impacted lives of providers with hectic schedules. Academic centers may have EP fellows in training who might be more available and hopefully responsive.

[Magson]

I would contact your EP. After my ablation in late 2018, they arranged a consultation after 3 months. It was then my EP officially discharged me and told me to stop taking Flecainide. In fact I stopped taking it 6 weeks before.

[lovetogarden]

How frustrating! Different experience in US. ablation last summer, quick checkup w EP 5 weeks later. Then a 4 month followup.