After successful ablation

[layla3]

if after 3 months after ablation all is well will heart consultant take you off all medications, currently on blood thinners, beta blockers and blood pressure tablets, I know probably have to stay on blood pressure meds, my chadscore is 2 when first diagnosed, 1 being a female and number 2 for blood pressure tablets, any advice please

[Teresa156]

Hi,

You no longer get a 1 for being a female under 65. This score was removed late last year by the European Cardiology Society and my arrythmia nurse confirmed this to me and notified my GP. I don’t think this news has completely filtered through to surgeries yet. So you will be a ‘1’.

[Northshire in reply to Teresa156]

A year ago I had a Watchman put in because I could not be taken off blood thinners ever. It’s the best thing I ever did. I just had my year TEE check up and it’s all good. It will protect me from ever having a blood clot.

[BobD Volunteer]

Anticoagulation is generally considered for life by many of us, since successful ablation does not generally remove stroke risk.

[layla3 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob I knew you would know the answer 😁

[Peony4575 in reply to layla3]

My EP and an increasing school of thought , is take you off the AC after ablation because the risks outweigh the benefits . Personally I would be guided by your EP. Medicine moves on . But it’s up to you if they are willing to keep prescribing them

[Brizzy50000]

After 3 months of my successful ablation the doc took me off flec and biso but said anticoagulant was for life now rivaroxaban

[Buzby62]

Mine did take me off all the meds. I see my ablation as successful in that it stopped my 3 to 4 weekly episodes but I haven’t been 100% AF free, see my bio. We’re all different and your EP will have all the information to decide or discuss with you. There’s no straight answer in my opinion.

Best wishes

[Wilkie1]

As a male over 65 my chadsvas2 score is 1. Three months after ablation my EP took me off anticoagulant on the basis that the risk from anticoagulation outweighed the risk of stroke. That's not to say there's a high risk with anticoagulant. I think that at a score of 1 the EP is having to use their judgement taking into account a range of factors .

[wilsond]

I never expect or want to be taken off anticoagulants even after a successful ( for now) ablation.The University of Birmingham did an interview depth study of continuing with or without AC after ablation.

Firm conclusion after AF diagnosis :

AC advised for life if over score of 1

Due to the erratic nature of AF,it can return without warning ,sometimes asymptomatically, a clot can form in 20 minutes....

[layla3 in reply to wilsond]

I agree on your point too, I’m only a 57 year old female so I want to stay on blood thinners if after my successful blanking period, it’s just piece of mind to be honest

[Sixtychick]

I was told I’d have to stay on Anti- coagulants for life, but, when I had my last follow-up appointment, 17 months after my ablation, the Dr who did it, said I could come off my Sotalol heart drug. This I did slowly and got down from 80mg to 20 mg, when my blood pressure rose to a very high level and I has to go to hospital with a hypertensive crisis, which has caused me all sorts of problems with the blood pressure medication they gave me. I am now back on Sotalol, albeit a low dose, as it keeps my blood pressure ok. Sotalol does lower your blood pressure. If you look on here, you will find my posts about the problems I’ve had, with the medication I was put on.

I hope you don’t have any problems coming off your drugs. I think I was just unlucky that it affected me like that.

[LadyLawson]

I saw my cardiologist EP last week at my 12 month post ablation appointment. I’m 69 and female. Thankfully I’ve been AF free since the ablation. It was my second - the first was a cryoablation, the second a touch up RF ablation. The reason I’m replying is that this is the bang up to date advice straight from the horses mouth:

Basically - anticoagulants for life.

Interestingly and very encouragingly he said that 1 year AF free after ablation = symptomatic AF is unlikely to return.

Which is one of the reasons that anticoagulants are needed for life - if the AF is asymptomatic you can’t take them as a PIP.

[Karendeena]

I had my ablation last March. It was deemed successful and I have had no episodes that I am aware of since. My EP told me I would be on the anticoagulants for life. I also take Sotalol and although he has decreased my dose he has kept me on this at least for the foreseeable future as he likes a 'belt and braces' approach.

[layla3 in reply to Karendeena]

Thank you, it’s still early days for post ablation for me middle of January this year I’m also on sotalol 80mg twice daily and rivaoxoban blood thinner, but was thinking after three month blanking period and no AF episodes EP might take me off blood thinner and sotalol but your reply suggests he probably won’t take me off them I’m not to bothered if he keeps them on them as I see it as a safety blanket if AF suddenly appears it’s ugly head again

[Karendeena in reply to layla3]

Same here as if it kicks off again it might keep recurring. I am now on 40mg twice daily

[layla3 in reply to Karendeena]

Can I ask you your age if you don’t mind, I’m 57, just wondering if age goes against you or not

[Karendeena in reply to layla3]

I wouldn't say so. I got diagnosed with AF and flutter age 63, I am now 67 fast approaching 68. I don't have any other heart conditions, I was told I had 'lone AF' My episodes were dreadful, used to come every 3 months with heart rate around 170bpm. So relieved that the beast has gone away for now anyway! My EP said that I had an 80 to 85% chance of success at the first ablation whilst I was still paroxysmal. Once you get to persistent or permanent it becomes difficult to treat ❤️

[layla3 in reply to Karendeena]

So I’m 10 years younger than you, so I might get took off some medications then ie blood thinner and sotalol then?

[Karendeena in reply to layla3]

I think that depends on your EP. I really don't think age has anything to do with it.My EP says he likes belt and braces so favours low dose of antiarrhythmics to maintain NSR (reducing risk of AF returning). As for the anticoagulants, I am on apixaban and will be for life. I had it explained to me that I could go into AF without knowing it so stroke risk is not eliminated following successful ablation. I wouldn't want to end up like my brother, he wasn't aware he had AF and had a stroke which took some of his vision.

Who did your ablation and where if you don't mind me asking?

[layla3 in reply to Karendeena]

Glenfield hospital Leicester

[Karendeena in reply to layla3]

Was it Dr Sandilands or Professor Ng? The Prof did mine.I think sixtychick was under Dr Sandilands and she started to reduce Sotalol and hit a manner of problems, sure she will tell you