Has anybody traveled during the blanking period?

[OzRob]

We travel often as my AF is well controlled with medication. My EP is encouraging an ablation before AF breaks through, which I am fine with as it will be a Pulse Field Ablation with minimal side effects and a faster recovery that RF or Cryo ablations.

Is getting on a plane 2 or 3 weeks after an ablation for a 5 hour flight, then not doing anything too strenous for a couple of weeks going to upset the blanking period?

[BobD Volunteer]

Personal opinion . A bit soon really . What does your travel insurance company say?

[OzRob in reply to BobD]

We travel 4 times a year and don't have cover for AF as it is so well controlled by meds.

[Buzby62]

Some go through the blanking period with no issues and for some it can be a bumpy road. I don’t think the flight itself will do much harm but if something was going to play up in the blanking period then I know where I’d rather be. I chose to clear the diary for 3 months at least. See my bio.

Best wishes

[OzRob in reply to Buzby62]

I guess it comes down to the medical support at the destination. If travelling domestically it should no make a difference.

[CDreamer]

Yes, I had to fly back to Spain where we were living for part of the year 10 days after ablation, EP said it was fine as many people travel fair distances to have an ablation. I had to trave from London to Devon the day after, as many of us do. I had no problems travelling but I had very good insurance in Spain and local AF centre of excellence close by.

I got travel insurance for another trip whilst waiting for the procedure but that was 10 years ago. How you feel following ablation is incredibly variable - so to answer your question, as long as you are otherwise fit and healthy and don’t intend running a marathon or climbing mountains or anything else extreme, it wouldn’t bother me to travel.

[OzRob in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for that, all makes sense. I don't have a date as yet for an ablation, I am restricting all travel to within Australia at this stage.

[KiwiBlake]

I had my touch up RF ablation 18 days ago. I would have absolutely no worries about hoping on a plane for several hours. Post ablation I was a bit drowsy for the first 24-48 hours, but i think that was more from the anaesthesia (GA this time).

My wound site in the groin was a bit swollen for the first 4 days. Bruising (about area of a stretched out hand) on upper thugh was all gone by about day 10. Both this time and 2022 when I had the Cryo procedure done, I could feel no effects in the heart, felt normal, NSR, no funny sensations or ectopics.

I'm still on daily dose of Flecainide (100) for one month post ablation. Bisoprolol (2.5) and anti coag (Dibigatran) is to be reviewed 3 months post ablation.

I haven't excerted myself too much, taking it easy. I went back to work 10 days post procedure.

Cheers Blake

[bassets]

Personally, it took me six moths to feel ready to do anything like travel. I think it is down to how you feel.

[Tiff1]

I had a pulse field ablation in February and flew 6 weeks later with no problems.

I felt back to normal energy levels after about 3 weeks but my annual travel would not cover me for 6 weeks after the procedure.

You may want to rest up for a couple of weeks at least afterwards ,to ensure everything heals as well as possible.

Hope it all goes well for you.

[OzRob in reply to Tiff1]

Great to hear. We have 3 trips booked for the next 6 months, hope to slot the ablation in to get the maximum amount of rest before travel.

[2learn]

Hi, your stroke risk for 30 days afterwards is same as when you have ablation done.

[Fishingqueen]

This is probably a stupid question but what is the "blanking" period? I have not heard that term before. Thanks.

[OzRob in reply to Fishingqueen]

The first 3 months after an ablation.

[Fishingqueen in reply to OzRob]

Thanks. I have had 4 ablations and never heard that weird. I am having one for afib/aflutter in 2 days....Dr said probably a pulse field one. My others were got extra pathways in av node and other electrical abnormalities. This will be my first for afib. They have only been doing the pulse field ones where I am going in Iowa since January but the Dr who invented the procedure works with my Dr at the same hospital. The same Dr doing mine has done my other 4. I had one in 1991, 2002, and 2 in 2008. I am now 59 yrs old and have had 4 different spells of aflutter and fib in the last 4 yrs. This year I went into a flutter on 3-22 and was in it until 6-12 until I finally got cardioverted. That is the longest I've ever been out of rhythm! It was awful! I had an Echo and nuclear stress test last Wednesday that were good. I was scheduled for my ablation October 16th but they called me yesterday and had a cancellation Monday so I'm getting it over with. I occasionally go into afib since my cardioversion in June but nothing sustained so I'm hoping he can get it fixed. I'm sure glad I will be having GA this time. Once I had an 8 hr one and was just paralyzed but wide awake and any time I have a procedure I have PTSD from that. It was horrible!!! So going to be thankful for GA!!

[SnowQueenOne]

Hi OzRob

I asked my EP as was due to fly 4 weeks after my ablation on a 3 hour flight. He said it was fine with it being 4 weeks but he said to do nothing strenuous, just relax. Which I did. No issues at all. I would ask your EP if you are looking at 2-3 weeks after. And as others have mentioned, speak to your insurers too. All the best.

[OzRob in reply to SnowQueenOne]

Thank you, yes, relaxing is the key!