AFib & Aura Migraines

Diagnosed with AFib 2020

After 1st (2020) ablation and 2nd (2022) ablation, I was taking Flecainide. During that period of time I experienced Aura Migraines. Flecainide was discontinued due to RBBB.

3rd ablation 2024 I took Multaq which worked for 8 months, after a 5 days hospital stay I started Sotalol which was immediately discontinued and started Amiodarone.
4 months Amiodarone was discontinued due to the side effects of hyperthyroidism.

4th Ablation (PFA) 3/25. 4 months no afib but aura migraines have returned and seem to be a little more intense than previous auras.
Afib and aura migraines are both our electrical systems gone awry, although concerning.
Has anyone had the experience of AFib & Aura Migraines?

A number of us have had auras after an ablation, and the consensus seems to be that this is a result of the necessary puncture of the atrial septum. I experienced this after two procedures where the septum had to be punctured, but the aura dissipated and disappeared over the next few months as the puncture closed.

Another question is: have you considered going to one of the top EP who does ablations? It seems that you are needing quite a few ablations in a short period of time and still needing medication. Have you read Carey‘s post above about multiple unsuccessful ablations? It is quite an eye-opener.

Hi Irene,

The post Daisy refers to can be found by clicking here. If all four of your ablations have been done by the same EP, my advice would be to stop allowing them to do ablations. You're way down the same road I traveled and I promise it doesn't go where you want. The only meds you should be on at this point is a blood thinner.

And yeah, I've experienced auras too. Still do on rare occasions but they're much less frequent and don't last as long now. There's really nothing to be done about them.

First 3 Ablations were at MASS General Brigham Hospital In Boston MA. EP was highly recommended and was the Clinical Director in Cardiac Arrhythmia with 28 years of experience. He has since moved out of state to another position as Senior VP Chief Clinical Officer - Heart & Vascular Service. .

My cardologist recommend a new EP with over 30 year experoence. I had a PFA ablation, instead of the cathera ablation. My Afib (fingers crossed) has been under control since March.Thw procedure was less than 2 hours without an overnight stay, Recovery went very well.

I Have/ Had paroxysmal Afib and always converted within 12 hours without being cardioverted. The only side effect since the PFA has been palpitations brought on by the Amiodarone. Presently I am taking medication for hypothyroidism which has helped and I should be able to get off of medication as soon as thryoid heals itself.
I had been on a number of antiarrhythmic drugs but no longer. I do take a long lasting BP medication and Eliqus.

My concern is the aura's because I had gone for a number of years without the having an aura and this is concerning as I feel the aura's are slightly worse than I had previously epxerienced

The auras don't really signal anything serious. They're just annoying and will probably go away gradually, but it may take some time.

Was your PFA done by Moussa Mansour at Mass General?

EP @ Mass General Hospital was Dr, Conor Barrett. Doctor Barrett preformed first 3 ablations before he moved on to New Jersey. After going into AFIB again shorttly after 3rd ablation I went to UMASS Hospital in Worcester MA. Dr. Lawrence Rosenthal. (retired).
Dr Rosenthal preformed a PFA ablation. Afib returned in short burst lasting 10 seconds each time 7 months after PFA ablation.