Follow up from ablation - mixed feelings

[Karendeena]

I had my follow up appointment tonight with Professor Ng (my ablation was performed on the 26th of March). He asked me the usual questions and I told him I had no AF as far as I was aware since the procedure. I told him how the recovery went - aura migraines, indigestion etc all of which has settled. I did tell him my heart rate is faster than pre ablation at around 74 BPM.

He then listened to my heart and chest and his comment was 'that's good'. I asked about my heart rate and his answer was "Don't worry about it, we had to ablate a fair bit of tissue which can increase the heart rate, it often settles after a while". He also mentioned something about touching the nerves which needs to heal.

What I don't get is that he said I had to have a 24 hour holter monitor which he insists is normal protocol, again he said "You tell me you feel ok but I want the facts, I need to know how your heart is behaving". He said it was no hurry and this is done around 6 months post ablation.

He then said he would follow me in another 4 months and then at 12 months before hopefully saying goodbye.

He won't take me off Sotalol at the moment and when I asked if I could he said he likes "Belt and braces".

What do you lovely people think? Does all of this sound normal. I do go privately not that should make any difference.

[CDreamer]

Sounds as though you are getting gold star treatment. I think the 24 hour monitor is a good idea as that may show up any irregularities that you are not aware of. After the results of that are in, then maybe discuss stopping the Sotolol, unless you have difficulty tolerating it? I have to say not a drug I would be wanting to be on because I am very intolerant of Beta Blockers but everyone reacts very differently and it will help lower your HR.

[Jalia]

This is exactly how the aftercare went fir my first ablation under Dr Rowland in London (NHS) in 2009.

[Karendeena in reply to Jalia]

Thank you ❤️

[BobD Volunteer]

All sounds tickety boo to me. I would say that you are getting excellent follow on . The raised HR may take up to a year to return to normal pre ablation levels , maybe even longer by my own experience.

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob ☺️

[southkorea]

I had my ablation 6 years ago and I am still on beta blockers and apixiban. I think cardiologists are cautious as Af could come back using different pathways. I have about 2 small attacks a year now. One caused by the covid vaccination and one by stress . I hate being on tablets but I don’t want a stroke! Good luck!!

[opal11uk]

It sounds to me that you have a good medic and he wants to follow your progress and direct it too, be grateful lol x

[Jajarunner]

He sounds excellent

[Physalis]

On the other hand, I had my ablation four years ago at the local district general hospital. No follow up whatsoever. Took myself off bisoprolol after a fortnight and no sign of AF since.

I have just gone through a house move which was quite stressful at times and not even a blip.

[Ppiman]

That is all following the proper NICE/NHS protocol, Karen. All good!

Steve

[Karendeena in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve

[Ecki]

Hi Karen, Prof Ng did my ablation in 2020, just before the first lockdown. Like you, I had follow up appts with him at 4, 8 and 12 months, phone appts due to COVID. I don't remember having a holter but again probably due to COVID.He wanted me to stay on sotalol, which I am still on, 20 mg 2x daily. He said it's to make sure the AF doesn't come back as he doesn't want my heart to get used to having it.

My RHR is low 50s, so it's likely yours will reduce a bit.

I've had 2 short episodes of AF since my ablation. One was when I had a nasty chest infection, RSV, lasted 6 hours. The other was when I had some posh coffee my husband had bought. He didn't realise it wasn't decaf and I didn't think to check because he's usually very good at making sure I only have decaf. Resulted in 36 hours of AF, not nice, and now very cautious about drinking coffee (only drink it if I've made it myself).

It sounds like you're doing well and having the excellent care I'd expect from Prof Ng. He's a very nice chap.

[Karendeena in reply to Ecki]

Thank you ❤️ I understand he is one of the best. Having read some stories I am alarmed at the fact that some don't get a follow up!!

[Sixtychick]

Hi Karendeena, Considering we’ve both had our ablations at Glenfield , I’ve only had one follow up appointment since my ablation and will only be getting a phone call appointment in September and then I’ll be signed off and Dr Sandilands didn’t mention having a monitor and I’ve also been told to stop my Sotalol. Also I’ve read and also been told by someone on here, that it’s a good sign if your heart rate is a bit faster than before the ablation. You can read about that if you Google it. Hope both our ablations stop the AFib returning. 🤞🤞

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

Thank you, I wish you all the best too ❤️❤️

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

I do hope I can stop the Sotalol at some point as I don't like taking these toxic drugs even though I know they help me

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

I’m down to 20mg in the morning and 40mg at night, from 80mg twice a day. I’m doing it very very slowly, hopefully I’ll be off them in September, with no problems. I’m on Edoxaban for life though. Hope they’ll take you off them before too long.

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

Thanks, yes I hope so too! At the moment I am on 40mg three times a day and apixaban. I don't think he is leaving me on them because of the increased heart rate but because it is what he believes to be the correct thing to do. I know he thinks Sotalol is a wonder drug but it didn't stop me getting symptomatic episodes

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

No it didn’t stop mine either.

[manabouttown in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes there is an article published in theJournal of Clinical Medicinein April 2022 that suggests an increased resting heart rate after PVI is a predictor of 'Favorable Long-Rerm Outcome of the Procedure'.

[Buzby62]

I think you’re having better attention and diligence than most of us will get to check and double check that all is well, the down side of that is that it might play tricks on your anxiety having more checks. Sounds like an excellent result with a great service to me so try to relax.

Best wishes

[Karendeena in reply to Buzby62]

Thank you so much ❤️ I do wonder though if it's because I am paying for follow ups. It's the only way as I have heard nothing from the hospital. He is arranging for me to have the holter monitor through the NHS

[Jackiesmith7777]

I wish my husband would have had thst after care after his first ablation in 2017 , no thinners and one follow up appointment . Last year he had a stroke because of his unchecked AF which had returned . He doesn’t have symptoms until we realised why he felt unwell with a heart rate of nearly 200 at its highest . He now has aphasia , heart failure and right sided blindness so be thankful you have such good aftercare . Take care

[Karendeena in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

So sorry to hear about your husband, this lack of care is unacceptable.My brother had a stroke in January 2023 from undiagnosed AF which took his left periferal vision and subsequently he lost his driving licence. He is now a shadow of his former self 😔

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Karendeena]

Sorry to hear this . Was his speech affected ? My husband goes to aphasia cafe and he s joined a community garden for people suffering with anxiety and similar health problems . It has def helped his well-being . We’re still waiting to hear about whether he will have another ablation or not

[Karendeena in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

His speech wasn't affected, just his eyesight, having said that I think it has progressed his Parkinson's as he sort of makes funny movements with his mouth. He is also terribly depressed and anxious. We have tried lots of things but he won't go anywhere. Went to a stroke group meeting once but never went again. Everything you say to him he responds with he can't see. It's so very sad, makes me unhappy and angry with him at the same time

[manabouttown]

Sounds like very good advice.