4th Ablation?

[AnneTS]

Has anyone had experience of more than 3 ablations? My EP says he can offer me a 4th but every ablation after the 3rd follows the law of diminishing returns. I would greatly appreciate anyone's thoughts and/ or experience. Anne

[jeanjeannie50]

Well I've had two ablations, with the last one taking 6 hours and I've now been told I'm too scarred inside my heart to have any more. So I wonder how your EP can suggest a 4th. Strange.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

I have had three but met a chap who claimed to have had eight. YES 8 !!!!. If the EP is prepared to try then why not would be my thought.

[AnneTS in reply to BobD]

I really don' t think I could cope with that many!! Thank you for your sage advice Bob.

[Rubley]

Hi Anne, I have had 9 ablations with the last one only a few months ago, albeit I think my situation may be unique from some of the reaction I received.

The only logic to explain this is I am only 48 and I'm fortunate to have medical insurance. I also have a small hole in between the atria and my EP has confirmed he has never had to burn through to get to my left atria. The ablations have been for several different types of arhythmia such as flutter, AF and tachycardia and therefore the odd beats will have came from different places.

In my experience I have had longer spells in NSR following the later ablations than I had with the earlier ones, each time my EP tells me he will "get it" and still has hope I'll get a permanent "cure" eventually.

I can only speak from my own experience but hope it helps and good luck!

[AnneTS in reply to Rubley]

Thank you Rubley for your reply. I do appreciate it. I hope all goes well for you too.

[Barb1]

I had my 4th in February and so far still in SR but the EP said there was a lot of 'electrical disease' so he expects me to go back into AF. My problem is that the AF caused DCM and every time I go back into AF it worsens the heart failure.

[AnneTS]

Sorry to be thick Barb but what is DCM?

[BobD Volunteer]

Dilated cardiomyopathy.

[AnneTS]

Thanks Bob. Anne

[Hidden]

Wow, you've been through a lot Anne, good luck with it.

[AnneTS in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your good wishes!! I'll report back on the results of ablation #4. Annel