1 week post ablation

[Gloria2023]

Hi! I was diagnosed with AFib several years ago as well as atrial flutter, and PVCs . I have been on a number of meds and most recently took Flecainide 50 mg 2xday, metoprolol 12.5mg 1xday and Eliquis 2xday. I had an ablation gone 8 days ago and my EP said I could immediately drop my Flecainide and Metoprolol. I am slowly decreasing the Flecainide and am interested in other’s experience,

[mjames1]

Our afib histories are similar and we're also both in the US healthcare system.

Different US ep's have different protocols regarding when to drop anti-arrythmic's like Flecainide and beta blockers like Metoprolol.

They generally range from stopping immediately, as in your case, to remaining on them up to six months. Have even heard longer. The mean/averate seems to be around 3 months. I imagine a lot has to do with your overall health/afib history, but a lot has to do with the ep's approach.

In my case, I was told I could go to half-dose Flecainide in 4 weeks and then stop completely in another week. During the half-dose/weaning week, I had a short episode of aflutter and went back to full dose for another month. Then I weaned over a 2-3 week period.

Not an doctor, so no recommendations here, however at least with me, I really needed the Flec to carry me for those two months while the heart was still healing from the Flecainde. To do it again, I would have stayed on it for 3 months. That said, no study data I could find that suggests anti-arrythmic's post ablation produce better outcomes.

Good luck with your ablation holding. And beyond the Flec advice, just take it really easy for the next month or so. Listen to your body. You don't want to undo all the good work both you and your ep have put into your ablation, by doing too much, too soon.

Jim

[Gloria2023 in reply to mjames1]

Thank you Jim! When you were decreasing your dose, were you taking it once a day? And then did you go back to twice a day? And thanks for the encouragement about resting.

[mjames1 in reply to Gloria2023]

My instructions were to decrease from 50mg bid (twice a day) to 50mg, morning only, for a week. Then stop.

About day four on the once-a day dose, I had the flutter episode, so went back on 50mg bid and stayed on the 50mg bid for another 3-4 weeks, so things could calm down.

After that, went back to 50mg once a day (morning) for a week. Then I did 50mg once a day (evening) for a week). Then I believe I split the pills and did 25mg bid for a few days. Then 25mg once a day for a few days. Then stopped completely.

As to the resting, we all heal differently. But for me, at day 7, I pretty much just moved from my bed to my couch and back to my bed Week two, started with short ten minute walks but no housework or anything. Then very gradually built up. One day I did too much, so had to rest completely for the next day or two. It wasn't until the 3 month mark, where I felt my energy levels were getting back to normal and I could exercise at pre-ablation levels. PS My ep told me I could resume full activity in 10 days. He obviously never had an ablation himself

Jim

[Gloria2023 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks! Hope your ablation is still working.

[mjames1 in reply to Gloria2023]

15 weeks post ablation now and no significant arrhythmia's since the flutter episode at week 8 when I was weaning off Flecainide, so I'm hopeful. Also, very important, no afib episodes since the ablation. In the past, my flutter would turn to afib.

Jim

[Gloria2023 in reply to mjames1]

Hope it’s gone for good for both of us!

[nikonBlue in reply to mjames1]

hi, I'm about the same time post ablation as you though I'm in Scotland. My EP just stopped the Flecainide from the day I had the procedure. I then went into a really bad 3 day episode 4 days later and could not stand it. My gp on hearing how bad it was told me to call an ambulance.....they arrived and were honest enough to say that they didn't really know enough about the whole AF thing so they called a cardiologist at the hospital who told me to go see my gp that day. He also called the hospital to discover that I should have been told to continue with the Flecainide for another 3 weeks after the ablation.

On saying all that, I get the beginnings of 'flutters' ALL the time but thankfully they don't result in me going into AF, so fingers crossed the ablation has worked for me and great you're free from the AF too.

stay well,

Blue

[Westknoxgirl in reply to mjames1]

The first day home from my first ablation I felt great! The second day and for two weeks I felt horrible! Have you ever heard of the the phrase “Being hit by a Mack Truck” That’s Exactly how I felt!

[Bell50]

I am eight weeks post second ablation and had my appointment with my EP yesterday and he was happy how I was going and has told me to stop my flecainide he said I could just stop so know weaning me off of it as he said it would be ok, I am seeing him again in six weeks to see how I am doing as I had to have a chest X-ray while I was there as I have developed a cough which I have now had four weeks so he wanted to check that is isn’t anything to do with the ablation.

[Ppiman]

After my right-side ablation for persistent atrial flutter in 2019, I was told to stop my digoxin immediately and my bisoprolol after a few days but within a very few days, AF began again in earnest (new to me). It stopped in hospital with 5mg bisoprolol then stayed away for over a year, only to return sporadically but with less intensity so far.

I would follow your doctor’s advice but I think that there is some evidence that keeping the heart free from AF industry after the ablation - for about a month - bodes well,

Steve

[Jetcat]

Take it easy Gloria, plenty rest and feet ups.! Best wishes.

Ron👍