With funds tight on NHS Has anyone gone private for Ablation

[Doohan1]

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Doohan

I must admit I'm not sure who's more strapped for funds me or the NHS

Not an option for me sorry to say, so I will have to wait or go without

I think a few here have had them privately with insurance so I am sure they will help.

Ian

[Offcut]

I cannot afford my prescriptions

[dbparsons]

when I looked at it in Mexico it was going to cost U$20,000, cardioversion cost my insurance company US$4,000

[GarethR]

I was fortunate enough to be able to use my employers insurance for the two ablations I've had. I decided on this option having had little response or help from the NHS when I moved from paroxysmal AF to permanent AF. The only suggestion I had from my GP was to increase the Bisoprolol from 2 to 3 tablets per day.

Going through the private option, I saw a cardiologist within 3 weeks, who conducted tests and discussed in detail my options. I chose ablation and he referred me to the nearest EP who I saw 2 months later. He again discussed in detail the options, and again I chose ablation. The following month I had the ablation, which unfortunately only lasted a week, but he scheduled me for a second op within 3 months and I have now been AF free for the past 14 weeks and working with the EP to start reducing my drugs. At all times I have been able to contact him directly by phone or email with any questions or concerns.

Of course, some people will say that you see the same doctors if you use the NHS, which is true, but in my view the main benefit of private v NHS is that treatment is quicker, gives greater access to the doctors and you have greater input into your treatment options.

[MarkS]

I also had my ablation done privately through my medical insurance. I saw a cardio and a local EP first before deciding to see Prof Richard Schilling in London. The ablation was carried out 3 years ago, it was tricky as I had had AF for about 15 years+ and it was getting close to going from paroxysmal to permanent. I had some AF and Tachy after the op for a month but have been AF free since.

I could have seen Prof Schilling through the NHS but decided that it would be a lot more convenient to go privately. I had 2 long sessions with Richard when he very patiently answered lots of questions I had written down. I also had various examinations beforehand including a cardiac MRI scan, exercise ECG, holter, etc. I could chose the day and time of my op.

I wanted to maximise the chances of the ablation working first time, and I'm very glad I went privately. I had a private room at London Bridge Hospital, but to be perfectly honest that was nice but irrelevant.

Mark

[Vdl1 in reply to MarkS]

Hi mark, I had two ablations done privately...which succeeded in putting me in permanent af.....having read your blog I wonder if I should visit schilling, I have read about him, even tho I have not seen anybody re my af in 6 years....nobody is interested...in fact the nhs cardiologist told me to come back when I was 75......a long way ahead.....

[MarkS in reply to Vdl1]

Hi Vd1,

From my research, I believe Schilling is the best in the country. He is good with permanent AF as well, though he will be straight and say there is less chance of cure with permanent as opposed to paroxysmal AF. Your other alternative is to wait for a new mapping process involving a jacket (sorry can't remember the name of it) which is supposed to provide particularly good results with permanent AF as all the trigger areas can be precisely identified. It was only in the US, I'm not sure if it's in the UK yet.

Your issue is that if you've been in permanent AF for 6 years then chances are very much reduced. But there's no harm in a chat with Richard anyway.

Mark

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[MarkS in reply to candyx]

Hi Candyx

I'll reply to this post, there are 6 others which are identical! You can delete those by clicking on "delete" at the tope right of the post!

Ablations aren't really scary. They're uncomfortable, I had some discomfort in the op itself when I came to when they were still ablating, but that was no worse than a tooth filling. I had back ache the first night and couldn't get comfortable in the hospital bed. My chest and deep breathing were sore for a few days. I have bad tachy and AF for a few days afterwards - but it all wears off. It's great you're getting an ablation and by Prof Schilling as well.

Mark

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

So pleased that you have seen Prof Schilling I am under him at present. I have been so ill with all this for the last few years undiagnosed with either anxiety or just tachycardia! I have now been diagnosed with AF and am lined up for ablation in July hopefully having been in hsp twice in the last month again. My drugs have been changed but I live with dread every day in fear of another attack around 203bpm! So hate it affecting my quality of life. Is the ablation as scary as it sounds? I am so pleased it has worked for you please god I get the same result as being on loads of meds are not good either! Thanks

[candyx in reply to MarkS]

I am so pleased that the ablation worked for you I am seeing Richard Schilling at present having had 2 hsp admissions in the last month I live with dread each day it is affecting me very badly! Having taken 10 years to get my diagnosis having been told either anxiety or just tachycardia! I wish some of the doctors knew how we felt in an attack! I hopefully will go for ablation just going to take his advice as the meds are not good for me either! Can you tell me if the ablation is as scary as it sounds? Thanks

[gardenome in reply to MarkS]

Hi Mark Before I read your message I had decided on Dr O'Neill. I have the luxury of health insurance plus cash for shortfall. Would you prefer Prof Schillilng above all others. It sounds as though London Bridge probably has more gadgets than others??

[MarkS in reply to gardenome]

Hi Gardenome,

For me, yes, I'd prefer Prof Schilling. I know very little about Dr O'Neill. However you'll need to reach your own decision on this, Dr O'Neill may be great. I put together a questionnaire before I decided - no of ops performed, success rates, methods (RF and/or cryo), gadgets used/mapping/robotic assistance, etc. and sent this to the two on my shortlist. Research the websites as well. I think it also helps if the EP has authored research papers.

Mark

[Ruuth]

Options seem to vary around the country, between different Consultants and obviously if private insurance is already held the patient will rightly use it. My NHS cardioversion failed and as yet no discussion on Ablation (until I attend the next appointment).

Are there definitive reasons for AF - still very new to this and have read yesterday that Glaucoma drops can cause heart problems. I was treated for Glaucoma at a NHS Eye Clinic for 3 years, was subsequently told I didn't have it - all treatments stopped - and now I have AF??? Coincidence or a real contributing factor in developing heart problems.

Anyone else had a similar experience???

[Polldoll]

Just home from laser balloon ablation , I have private health insurance so whole thing has been sorted quickly and efficiently. Of course the doctors and nursing staff are the sme as NHS and are immensely capable but I found that by cutting waiting times. Ensuring seeing consultant and not junior docs , being sble to have the time to ask questions have them answered and access the most viable treatments is well worth the payments . Especially with conditions like AF which can be time crucial to ensure optimum ablation results. ( I am reliably informed but I am. It a medical professional ) But all this pales into insignificance compared to having a guaranteed private ensuite room to oneself unhindered by other patients visitors family and friends no matter how well meaning . It was for that reason that I took out health insurance many years ago .

It won't ensure a quicker recovery or better outcome but for me it's worth every penny

[Independ]

Just a note - you won't necessarily get Prof Schilling doing the ablation unless of course you go privately. I have had three, with only one being done by Prof Schilling, another by one of his team and the last done by a robot as it was supposed to be more accurate, I presume overseen by another of his team as there was a doctors name on the paperwork.

[Ladysmith64 in reply to Independ]

Hi did the Robot procedure work? And was it performed by Dr Schilling?

[Independ]

Sorry for delay but haven't visited site recently - Dr Schilling didn't perform the Robot work. Too early to say whether its worked as this is my fourth ablation! The one before this worked for about 18 months, this one is 2 years 4months so far.