I am having an ablation done next week, and was curious if anyone who has had this procedure was successful in not going back into AF?

[PaulBenevente]

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Paul, statistically there is a 50% chance of AF returning within five years of successful ablation. Remember also that many people may need repeat procedures to be AF free although many obtain some relief from a first attempt. Recovery is also much longer than doctors let you think. It takes at least three months for the scar tissue which blocks the rogue impulses to form and many odd rhythms may intrude during that period.

It is also true that whilst AF may be stopped other arrhythmias such as ectopic beats and runs of tachycardia may remain although these are far less intrusive in every day life than AF.

All that said I am five years plus down the line from my third ablation and AF free but see above re other arrhythmias.

Go for it, take plenty of time to recover and good luck.

BobD

[PaulBenevente in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, yeah it seems a bit absurd that they say you can resume normal activity within a day or two after the procedure.

[BobD Volunteer]

My arrhythmia nurse told me to do nothing for the first week and not a lot more for the second and then ease in gently.

Frankly if you have general anaesthetic like I did that takes forever to get out of your system Four or so hours under doesn't pass in a few days. When I had my first in 2006 you were not allowed to drive for a week but by 2008 when I had my last it was two days. I still didn't know who I was two days afterwards! Take it easy and don't try to be a hero like I did after my first

[johncb]

Had my first ablation 7 months ago. Had some irregularities for the first 5 - 6 weeks and then everything turned around and have been in NSR ever since. Still get very occasional ectopics, but very short and insignificant. There is certainly some odd beats and BP variances in the first few weeks.

[LakesLad]

Hi Paul

I had my first ablation done in April of last year and went for 8 months before having an episode. I have since had my second ablation last month and so far so good. Prior to my first ablation I was on sotalol and from three months after ablation I have not taken any beta blockers.I hope that my experience is of use.

[PaulBenevente]

Thank you everyone,the idea of the procedure doesn't bother me nearly as much as the cardiac MRI, feel like a torpedo in a tube.

[Maitha]

I had my first ablation for atrial flutter four weeks ago and still under recovery

I agree with the above that recovery may take longer time than mentioned by doctors even mine was not under Anastasia

No AF showed Up till now but I'm having another type of atrial irrethemia now and advised to have another ablation to treat it , and on sotalol / warfarin

I still have little hope that it will disappear soon without the need of another ablation but my doctor didn't agree since it is already 4 weeks passed

I think we can't say it is successful ablation till a month or more passed safely

And the procedure itself was more easy than what I was expecting

Good luck

[Offcut]

I have had 3 ablation 9 cardio versions 1 Angiogram all while awake ( Except the CV but I woke up in the op room everytime) and have a lot of scars now in my groin and had an MRI with some expensive glupe because I am allergic to Iodine. I am not a good yard stick as I had AF a long time before I was treated and ablations when they first talked to me about it had a 85% Fail rate and there was only 2 hospitals in UK that would do it.

To make things worse I have a lung problem that likes to mess my AF up.

Be Well