just wanted to ask one question and I will make it short
I am having my 4 ablation now this Tuesday and having to stop my flecainide now today as in 5 days prior to the procedure.
I blame this on my AF but I can’t remember having done that for so many days before? But I trust my EP as he is an incredible Dr👍 but was hoping someone can share experiences with that?good or bad experiences? I am not scared anymore of Af it’s just sometimes very hard as I have young children and keeping up with them can be hard and I really want to be a mummy who is able to kick Fotball with my son without passing out… very hard condition sometimes but I have learned to except it in many ways but really hoping this ablation will help even more. I have had all the different types of arrhythmias on this journey and it’s so strange how it all behaves isn’t it❤️
I will call the arrhythmia nurses if needed but I thought I would ask you amazing people about your experiences so just thinking will the heart kick in and become really all over the place or will the flecanide still be in my system somewhat? Not sure how it works?
I am uk based and 45 years old.
love this forum and it’s such amazing help.
thank you and have a lovely day ❤️
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Sigi1
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Wishing you good luck for your 4th procedure. I'm about to have my 5th ablation shortly and I note on my information leaflet that all arrhythmia drugs are to be taken as normal up to the procedure so I guess different centres have different protocols. ( Actually I'm an exception as I take Disopyramide and I have to stop this 3 days before)
I think EP's all have different rules regarding stopping meds before an ablation. From what I can remember I took mine right up to the day of the procedures. I've had three and been told I wont be offered any more.
Sending you my best wishes for a successful outcome.
Thank you for your reply ❤️ yes they are all very different the rules I suspect…. Just little nervous getting off them as it is and has been a challenge even on the meds🙈 but thank you so much for the reply it much appreciated ❤️
I believe that if you are in NSR before the procedure they give you something to induce arrhythmia so maybe they would rather it was ‘natural’ for some reason? Best wishes 🍀
The ep probably wants Flecainide out of your system so that it will be easier for them to induce/locate an arrhythmia to ablate.
Since there is a possibility you could go into atrial fibrillation prior to the ablation, best to contact the office and ask what exactly you should do/ what you should take/ if that happens.
For example if you have fast atrial fibrillation, they might want you to still withhold the Flecainide, but take a rate reduction drug. Or they may have other instructions.
I had 3 ablations in total. First 2 were for AFib 3rd for AFlutter. I was put on Flec 6 months prior to 3rd one. I was in AFib so following a CV I commenced Flec that same night but back into arrhythmia 4 days later. Continued Flec & had another CV 3 months later. I continued in NSR for 7 weeks but then went into AFlutter which is thought to have been the result of Flec. I continued my Flec as the worry was that stopping it would put me back in AFib - I didn’t stop it prior to the 3rd ablation & have remained on it (24 months in total) & have the odd fast run of arrhythmia which hasn’t been caught on a formal ECG but to me feels more like Aflutter brought on by exertions such as lifting/carrying something too heavy for some reason or if I’m over tired. Good luck on a successful 4th ablation.
What a lovely post. You sound a wonderful mum! You didn't say that you have persistent AF, so, assuming not, the flecainide won't be stopping AF "all the time" as it were. I would definitely take it easy until the day of the ablation, so no alcohol, violent stretching, bending, crouching, bloating, constipation and stuff like that. All these can affect the heart in various ways and can induce ectopic beats (PACs), which can possibly trigger AF.
On a general note, I've been reading that high blood pressure is a Really Important Thing to avoid in life, and especially so for those with AF. Although it's not relevant to you just now, of course, doing things to avoid hypertension such as keeping diabetes at bay through daily exercise, treating sleep apnoea, and keeping weight at an optimum, seem to be A Very Good Thing. Finding that out has spurred me to lose the stone in weight that I have been promising myself this past couple of years, anyway, as my AF is becoming more frequent (although I am much older than you, at 70).
I love being a mummy and it can be so hard dealing with AF on the side of being strong for them also xxx it’s been a little bit of a fearful journey for them also as they have seen there mummy many times blue lighted into hospital..
I have a very complex At according to my EP as the location of it in the heart makes it very challenging… but I am still keeping my head positive and I have a great EP who is super present when there.
I love walking but as soon as I have a little slop in front of me even or speed up my walk then I go straight into AF so it’s hard doing any form Of exercise at the moment…
There were talks about Pacemaker after the last one as I went into really scary Bradycardia episodes 😞 but that passes thankfully eventually…
Also well done for loosing the weight as I know things like that can be hard on its own but harder for some people with Af do to exercise intolerance…
Thank you! Yours does sound a bit different but we’re all this and that it seems to me. Life can be a trial and you’re having it at a younger age than most!
Just to say that I had to stop my Flecainide 5 days before my ablation. This was also my 4th ablation. Flecainide has a long half life. So I expect they want it out of your system so that it does not interfere with the mapping. I hope that your ablation goes well and makes a big difference to your life.
My AF was on and off all day every day and Flecainide was not working very well for me. I think I may have experienced more PVCs. Flecainide stays in your system for a while, so this can help initially. It can take up to 5 days to remove it. So I hope it won't be too bad when you leave the Flecainide off. Thank you, It has taken a while but I am now improving and more or less in sinus rhythm all of the time. The ablation was very worthwhile as I hope that yours will be. Also Have a good day.
So happy for you to here that the ablation has worked out well for you xx it makes all the difference in the world to be in sinus rhythm so long may it last for you 👍👍👍
I stopped taking Flecainide 3 days ago because even a double daily dose of 400 mg. only lasted for half a day yo avoid AF. To my surprise my resting heart rate while in AF went down to an acceptable. 70-75 bpm. It was higher while I was on Flecainide! So I would not worry too much, as I suppose you are taking less than 400 mg/day.
I might also consider ablation, so here’s my interested question: have they told you why your previous ones did not work in the end? How have you been convinced to get another one still? Were all medication options exhausted?
Hope this one works eternally for you; all the best!
I have been explained by my EP as it’s in a super complex place in my heart and hard to get to.. but I had a different EP the first time as it was emergnecy ablation while on holiday in Devon so in hospital there for almost 6 weeks 😔 and then the same EP for the last 2 once here where I live.
He can see it all on my holter monitor observation what’s going on in my heart but I think the problem has been and is how to do it? And he is honest about that and I really appreciate that from him👍
I don’t respond very well to medication unfortunately but the Flecainide has been a great help as without it I suspect wouldn’t been great.
But I can’t stay on my meds to much longer due to side affects and my heart needs more help.
Was on beta blockers but taken of them as they made me super unwell….
Anyway long story 🙈
Have a great day and thank you again for your reply ❤️
I'm also intolerant of most meds, like you. Can't take flecainide any more as I developed an allergy. And they were running out of options. Tricky one isn't it? Best of luck 🌸
Yes, in the UK, in Wales.I went back into persistent AF within 2 days of all my ablations but 5 months after the 3rd ablation I magically went into NSR and have been that way for a year now. First time in nearly 20 years. And, it is pretty wonderful. It also means I am out of heart failure, which is the biggest relief.
I hope to hear yours has been successful in due course. Got everything crossed for you! 🌸
Hi Fullofheart did you make a typo? I think you mean went in to NSR after 5 months. I always look for one of your replies for people asking if AF has settled months after an ablation as Nan1 was asking earlier.
I'm really hoping I follow the same path. My first ablation was nearly seven weeks ago, I was in AF after two days and have stayed that way. I keep hoping I'm going to wake up in NSR one morning!
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but the Flecainide has been a great help as without it I suspect wouldn’t been great. 
Ablation
Ectopics???
Persistent AF(ib) after Ablation
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