I have read everything about ablations and I am seeing my EP tomorrow to discuss this. However, I have read that if you are in permanent AF, it would not be successful. I already have a Pacemaker which stops my heart rate going below 70 so it will be interesting to hear what my EP suggests. Watch this space!
Hope you all have a calm day.
Di
Di, I think the word "permanent" with regards to AF means that it is untreatable. It may not even be 24/7, just that it hasn't responded to treatment. i.e. permanent in that you're stuck with it, rather than permanent meaning round the clock.
I have had persistent AF, i.e. 24/7, and had a very successful ablation, no drugs and no AF for 8 years. The EP in fact said that because my AF was there all the time that it would be easier to fix because they would know whether they had "got it" straight away.
I had been persistent for probably a couple of years, but I had virtually zero AF/symptoms because the drugs I was on removed them all. I was probably in persistent, untreated AF, for a few months in all. I came off the drugs before the ablation.
I don't want to build up your hopes because our cases might be quite different, but I wouldn't write-off the chances of an ablation till they tell you. Be interesting to hear what the EP says.
Good luck, fingers crossed.
Koll 
Hi Koll, thank you for your helpful comments, so there is hope for me then.
Will let you know after tomorrow.
Take care
Di
Hi Koll, saw my EP at Duchy Hospital in Truro. Such a lovely man and straight to the point. As I already have a pacemaker, he is now going to do an AV node ablation which will be a day case and the actual procedure only takes 30 minutes, so with preparation and finishing off about one and a half hours, rest for a couple of hours then home. He never suggested Cardioversion which rather surprised me. I will still have to take Rivaroxaban but come off all the others. Dr Slade is brilliant and told me he will see me in a few weeks time and in the meantime he is writing to my Doctor with additional medication.
So, all in all a very good outcome.
Take care and Angel blessings
Di
I am in persistent (since May 2014) and my EP in October was very negative about the chances of it working the first time (50%) and the second (60%)........he kind of implied if I was 38 and wanted to run marathons, it might be worth the risk........but at 61 he didn't actually SAY i was a bit old...but thats the implication I got...he also suggested it should have been done 6 months ago!
So will be interested what yours says!
Ablation
Ablation it is then...
Ablation and anticoagulants 
Ablation
Ablation
