I have an appt this afternoon back at Atkinson Morley at St George’s.
I was discharged last year after my 1st Ablation- all had been good until this year, AF came back. It’s gone again but I am back to see them.
I have my questions at the ready:
1-Mini Maze and referral to Mummyluv’s surgeon Mr Hunter.
2- brain bleeds on Apixiban as this keeps rearing its head here and scaring me!
3- could I just take Apixiban when I go into AF
I just need to remember them now!! Lol
Please let us know the answers to your questions. I’d bet my pension on the one about only taking Apixaban when you go in to AF!
Reference brain bleeds, we recently had a speaker at one of our Support Group meetings and he indicated that because brain bleeds were relatively rare, particularly where DOAC’s are prescribed, references to HASBLED scoring were becoming less prevalent. I guess we should remember that there are 1.5 million people with AF in the UK alone and roughly 25,000 members on this forum of which only a small proportion of 5hose are active. Forums generally attract folk with “less good” news, so maybe the incidence of brain bleeds is lower than most of us might think, but important nonetheless. Good luck this afternoon…….
Your pension is safe FJ! No taking Apixiban on and off. Dr Li said that research shows that you could have a stroke before and after AF had started/stopped so that’s off the table!
The brain bleeds- he said it was unlikely at my age (I’m 57) and he’d be comfortable taking them - so that’s good enough for me. He mentioned that Forums, while helpful, generally seem to report the bad moments - I can agree really as I contribute more when I’m actually in AF.
He didn’t dismiss it, just put my mind at rest.
As to the Mini Maze- he said he didn’t think I needed to go down that route… yet.
He said if my AF returns again, I would probably have another ablation followed by a procedure they do similar to a Mini Maze but not quite one! A hybrid something or other… sorry didn’t catch the name.
So for the moment, I’m just seeing if my AF returns again in the next 6 months.
Btw he said that Flec as a Pill in pocket takes a few hours to work - so when I took it back in April and went back into NSR very quickly it could have been the exercise that Jean Jeannie recommended that actually did it, not the drug!
Good Luck - I hope all goes smoothly at the appointment. If you need any advice or support, our Patient Services Team are always here to help.
All sounds good LG. I think the general view is that MiniMaze variants may be more effective for Persistent AF but there is little additional benefit for those with Paroxysmal AF compared with catheter ablation. However, the risks associated with MM are slightly greater and therefore need to be considered but I’m not medically trained. Let’s hope sinus rhythm reigns 👍
Yes I have persistent AF. However since my ablation it has only returned once, a year and a half on.
I’m satisfied with what he said tbh.
There has been so much talk on here lately about those 2 subjects…. I wanted a professional opinion.
I’m a little bit confused LG which is not unusual 😉 but if your AF returned 18 months after your ablation but has since reverted back into sinus rhythm so why do say you are now in persistent AF when you are actually in rhythm……..
No I mean it’s persistent when it comes. It’s not an ‘attack’ as such. It never goes until an intervention.
This may come as a bit of a surprise but the definition of Paroxysmal AF is:
What is paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
Atrial fibrillation is the most commonly encountered cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice (box 1).7 Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is intermittent episodes of atrial fibrillation that terminate within seven days either spontaneously or with intervention.
This is taken from the British Medical Journal and I have added a link.
bmj.com/content/375/bmj-202...
Not sure what difference it might make in real terms but Paroxysmal AF is believed to be easier and more effective to treat than Persistent AF 😉
You know when I arrived here FJ I didn’t know there was 3 types. I was soon told mine was persistent but tbh I don’t really know!! Happy to be corrected and would be even happier to not have any of the buggers!
So I’m the one I can’t pronounce? Typical!
It’s not even as simple as that, I think the NHS definition doesn’t mention intervention so I think it’s a case of “keep taking the tablets 😉.
I’ve got my review at St George’s in a couple of weeks, I’m half expecting to get discharged which I want to avoid if poss!! Take care
Who do you see at St. George’s FJ? I used to see prof behr who did my ablation but unfortunately didn’t work. Was put on flecainide and carry on with bisoprolol even though after my ablation which made my heart rate so low. Then I was transferred to my local hospital who do nothing except phone call occasionally to see how I am……!!!
Yeah I was discharged last year but I’m back in now!
Try not to worry about brain bleeds. I had one after two falls where I crashed my head on the ground. I was taken to hospital and they gave me the reversal drug through a cannula. I was going to be sent to St. George’s to have it cauterised but because I had had brain tumour surgery it was decided bit risky for some reason do decision made to wait for it to heal Good luck snd try not to worry about brain bleeds and anticoagulants. I was restarted on them after 3 weeks as again decision re stroke
My Dad had AF and died of a brain bleed so I was very nervous at first. I’ve got used to it now but thought I’d ask as so many scare posts on here lately about them. I see Dr Li at St George’s
I’ve had nothing but good experiences there over the years. An excellent hospital.
Hope you are ok?
Yes I’ve heard of dr li. Along with prof camm who I believe has long retired St. George’s do have the better EPs. Flapjack speaks highly of dr Gallagher tooBest wishes
Pat
I was told that blood thinners had to be taken ALL the time not only during Afib. However, because of my elevted increase for brain bleed, it was recommended that I look into the Watchman. It is am implant in the left Atrial Appendage. So now I do not need to take any blood thinners. Just a suggestion to add to your list to tall to your Dr about.
how are you getting on? Hope you are making positive progress 
Hospital
Radiofrequency ablation 11 days later
Appt to see EP? What next.
Choosing a hospital for Ablation
London Heart Hospital
