Hi Mark, my husband did not go on an anti arrhythmic drug post op. He tried Flecainide prior to his ablation...It actually made him worse. He was on Xarelto which he came off of 2 weeks ago, and he takes Diltiazem for blood pressure. He does have Flecainide to use as a PIP if he has an episode. He had Afib about 9 weeks post op for about 6 hours then it stopped. He has been afib free since then. He had an ablation November 9th. He did have a lot of PAC's up untill a week ago. They seem to have disappeared. Take care, Lisa

My EP told me before the ablation that I would need to take an anti arrythmic for several months afterward. But right after my ablation, for whatever reason, he decided not to start me on a heart rhythm med.
Then 5 days later I had a bad A Fib episode (nausea, dizziness, and trouble breathing) and was told I must go to ER. At the ER was started on a heart rhythm med. Ended up on Multaq for 4 months. My EP asked me to wait until I got home from a trip before stopping the Multaq---- just in case started having problems.
3 days after stopping Multaq I had A Fib on each of the next 2 days which only lasted 10 minutes. And that was all.

Several people who have posted on this site said they weren't put on an anti arrythmic after ablation, and didn't seem to have any problems.
Would be very interested in knowing the reason why your EP didn't put you on one right away because looking back, think maybe I should have been started on one right away.

I was on Sotalol before my ablation. My EP told me to stop it 3 days before the procedure. I was given Sotalol in the hospital the evening of the ablation and told to I continue my usual dosage of 80 mg BID for a month. ( I never used blood thinners) I stopped taking it after 30 days and everything was fine, till this past August. Ten months after my ablation I had two episodes which I thought were Afib , the ER diagnosed it as SVT and my new EP from the Cleveland Clinic said it was atypical left sided flutter.
I am back on Sotalol 80mg BID and had no episodes since August.

I had an ablation about two years ago. I had afib with flutter, they ablated the flutter, but kept me on Sotalol 40 mg in the evening as all I did was want to sleep at 80 mg at two times daily. I had one afib after about a year later, I took one 80 mg tablet and stopped it. I have had nothing since
I take no blood thinners.

I am to have a parathyroid gland removed, that has a growth on April 11th that can cause fibs! I am wondering if that may solve my problem?

I had an ablation about 2 months ago and was not put on an antiarry. following the procedure. In fact, I don't think I've ever been on an antiarry., unless sotalol is considered one (I was on that for about 2 years until it quit working). I would seem to me that the EP would you off everything just to see if the ablation worked, that an antiarry. would just mask thepossible poor outcome of the procedure, which would be very important info. to all concerned.

I was put on Rhythmol for 6 weeks post op. My Ep said it helps calm the heart during the initial healing phase. Its stands to reason the heart could react with Afib and flutter after undergoing a pretty traumatic procedure. For me there's no doubt it was helpful. After stopping the Rhythmol at 6 weeks I had my first Afib episode, and then a day later I had a beauty. That one happened in my sleep and I was up all night. "Just like old times" is all that I could think, I was really disappointed. I also felt the discomfort in my heart while in Afib just like the day after my surgery, which goes to show that my heart had not healed all that much in 6 weeks time. Fortunately that was the last episode I had and that was 7 months ago and with no meds aside from Pradaxa.

I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a rough time. I'm praying that things will improve very soon. It's a slow healing process, so try not to lose hope.

Steve

I was on Tikosyn before the ablation (which didn't work) and remained on it after the ablation for about 3 mos. Then he took me off it. I seemed ok. I was on Pradaxa for about 6 mos after the ablation.

It would be interesting to find out why your EP didnt' put you on one.

I was on Multaq for a while after the ablation, the EP took me off it with no ill effects.

EP took me off It a few days prior tp ablation and did not put me back on it after procedure. H e felt it would mask any problems I might have after the procedure.

My ablation was 11/29 and put me on Tikosyn 375 mg twice daily. My local ep told me to stop two weeks ago but I am headed back to Duke today for a follow up with my other doctor and I will let you know what happens. I suspect my Tikosyn is not working as I still have afib but symptoms are much better.

I'm on my 5th day of the Flecanide and I feel its helping. I only had a 10 minute episode yesterday and so far nothing today. The 2nd week after the ablation was horrible and the episodes so long 8-16 hrs a day. I see my EP on the 26th and I'm trying not to get discouraged that something may have gone wrong. My first emergency room trip, the cardiologist on call said that some people having ablations have more episodes than before the ablation and sometimes worse symptoms but it resolves as it heals. I hope. Either way, I want to keep moving forward and will happily take the Flecanide. Thanks for the replies.

Mark - staying on Tikosyn for now. Heading for 3rd ablation on April 24th. Switching hospitals, switching doctors and hopefully switching my luck. First ablation for flutter and second RF ablation but only fixed two pulmonary veins because they had a lot of work to do. Maybe fixing the remaining two will "cure" me. So glad you are doing better. Pat