Advice post ablation

[afhanhound]

Hi-I know this subject has probably been discussed before but.......... back in May last year I was put on the waiting list for an ablation having had regular bouts of Afib which were treated successfully by using Fleccanide as a PIP. I didn,t have any Afib episodes after August but had ever increasing ectopics. After waiting 10 months my ablation arrived and was hesitant about going ahead with it as hadn't had an episode for 6 months. I have a Fitbit which gives me a fairly good indication of an Afib episode and captures the ectopics. I have not ever had a Echo or MRI to ascertain the origin of the PVCs and had assumed incorrectly this would be part of the pre-op preparation. Since the ablation 3 weeks ago I have been consistently irregular (but not AFib) with a mixture of bigemeny and trigeminy episodes but irregular the whole time with a pulse rate of around 85 BPM. I know there is a blanking period after an ablation for maybe 3 months but my key questions are: Should I take Fleccanide as a PIP for constant ectopics (rather than AF) or even daily to see if it supresses the ectopics? I want to ask this to a cardio but there is a 3 month waiting list just to get a telephone appt. Grateful for any advice or views.

[Buzby62]

You should have been given contact details for your EP’s arrhythmia nurses and you should let them know what is happening. I contacted mine at day 6 for an episode and they said I was right to do so. If you don’t have the contacts then ask the EP’s secretary for them.

I find it hard to believe you’ve never had an echo before having an ablation, I’d had two and my EP ordered another one before proceding with ablation.

I hope you can get the support you should have.

Best wishes

[afhanhound in reply to Buzby62]

Thank you!

[Murphy10]

Hi

I had my ablation 2 weeks ago. My EP continued with my medication Fleccanide and Diltiazam.

I have had no AF since my ablation.

I did not have an Echo prior to my ablation but I had one after it was done.

Agree with the previous comment you should contact your EP to discuss further.

It seems normal to have some irregular heartbeats after an ablation during the 3 month blanking period but worth going to the hospital perhaps an having an ECG.

Keith

[afhanhound in reply to Murphy10]

Thank you-were you taking Fleccanide as a PIP or daily ? if it was as a PIP did you take it for ectopics or only AF? and just to clrify are you still taking fleccanide post ablation? If so what dosage?

[Murphy10]

I went on 50mg Flec. (2 tablets daily) about a month before my ablation and not as a PIP. The general recommendation is to continue medication during the blanking period. I guess some EPs are different. I was on Solotol prior to Flec. and had no AF for about 12 months and then it returned. That is when I went on Flec. and decided to have the ablation.

[PCC62]

I had my ablation 3 months ago. I was on Flec as a PIP but post-ablation my EP moved me to daily for the initial 3 months (blanking period) and I've been in constant NSR with an average 65 resting heartbeat and no ectopics. Honestly, feeling normal. He plans to ease me off Flec in the coming month.

[LaceyLady]

interesting, I had my ablation 3 wks ago, told to stop Dronedarone 2 wks later, just stop 🤷🏼‍♀️

Decided to wean off, to 1 pill and last Thursday completely stop. No idea what to expect.

[ian16527]

I get ectopics with Flec (currently 50mg 2xdaily) but not every day. I think you need Bisoprolol for the ectopics but you should be taking that if you are on Flec anyway.

[Magson in reply to ian16527]

Ian,That's interesting. I assume your medical team said you must take Bisoprolol with Flecainide. It's the first time I've heard this.

[ian16527 in reply to Magson]

Is well documented on here as the flec can cause atrial flutter Maybe the diltazem does similar job

I have been on bisoprolol since 2012 long before the flec

[Desanthony]

Please have a look on the AFA website and read the pamphlet on ablation and recovering from ablation.