Out of AF naturally....

[travelbug54]

Having come out of AF on my own!! Does this make any difference to ablation coming out on my own? Not sure when I came out, it's only been a day since I found out, still waiting to feel light on my chest like I did when I had Cardioversion. thanks for reading....

[Rellim296]

Don't think it would affect your ablation, but coming out of AF without any assistance is always good news! Long may NSR last.

[BobD Volunteer]

Many people do. this is the point of paroxysmal AF -- it comes and goes.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

It's a really good thing that you can convert on your own. Being in paroxysmal AF, as you are, gives you a better chance of long term success with your ablation! Enjoy the NSR!

[Hidden]

As a newbie can I ask at what point is ablation persieved to be preferable to living with PAF?

As an active 63 YO my PAF means that I can still do the things that I was doing before PAF, just not as well as before. I have been very lucky in my life and have had very little contact with the medical profession (non intended!), no broken bones etc.

The thought of an intrusive procedure like ablation (which may not be successful) makes me think that I would prefer to live with PAF.

People seem to be quite blasay about this surgical procedure but I'm not so sure. Am I just being a bit of a wuss?

[paulh1 in reply to Hidden]

I know what you mean. Even though I'm on Tikosyn I still get an occasional afib . I have been fortunate that I go back into nsr relatively quickly. I can live with my PAF this way rather than they go in and scarring my heart. For today, I can do the things that help me enjoy life. Exercise (biking and swimming) is a large part of it and I'm over 70.

[GolfMyrtleBeach in reply to paulh1]

Paul - have you had a positive experience with Tikosyn??. This is considered to be one of my next options down the road of treatment for my PAF. I am currently on Sotalol ( 120mg x 2) and it makes me quite breathless with any kind of activity. I bike 40 miles a week, so I power through it, but I am hoping Tikosyn would not have that side affect.. Does it cause breathlessness with you.??

[paulh1 in reply to GolfMyrtleBeach]

I've been on it for about 10 months. I've noticed that climbing long hills I struggle, where I could just push thru before. On rollers and moderate hills no problem. I can't tell you if it's the Tikosyn or the other drugs i take . I does help me get back into NSR quicker. If I go into Afib(which I have a couple of times on my rides) . I just stop and wait until my HR settles down. Then I'm usually good to go. Only have had on bad bout with Afib since being on the meds. It took about an hour or so to convert back. In that case I stopped my bike ride and pedaled back to my vehicle real slow. I usually ride any where from 25-40 miles per ride. I think Tikosyn helps me stave off the real big episodes of Afib. As far as feeling out of breath and tired,I still get them but I have adjusted my rides and I'm going to see my EP in a few weeks and discuss my meds. Hope this helps

[GolfMyrtleBeach in reply to paulh1]

Thanks, Paul. Good luck with your AFib battle. It can certainly be demoralizing at times.

[pip_pip in reply to Hidden]

Hi theoldb...

It's really how hard the AF hits you. If its not bothering you much and you can get on with life then maybe the ablation is not for you at this point. A lot of us have a lot of problems with AF, and believe me, it can hit hard. I'm 64, was 59 on my first ablation, I couldn't wait. My AF was well out of control when I went forward, and 3 ablations later, No problem for well over a year.

From what you say it seems you're not to bothered, unless maybe you are more worried. I can't think of any way I would go for the option of living with AF. Bad news (AF) begets bad news.

That's just me talking.

Be well

Phil

[Hidden in reply to pip_pip]

Thanks paulh1 and pip_pip.

Since joining this forum I have become very aware of the fact that, although diagnosed with PAF, my condition is almost non existent in comparison to so many others.

For me, and as of this moment, living with my very low level PAF seems to be far preferable to a surgical procedure!

[Hidden in reply to pip_pip]

"unless maybe you are more worried" that's very perceptive Phil.

Having been very lucky to have had almost no call upon the NHS during my life when the old ticker starts to play up it might be an even bigger worry for the likes of myself.

Access to this forum has suggested that, sure sh£t happens, but luck is still with you.....just harden the £:(& up and just do it!

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Hi Oldbuzzard

I think people are as you say "blasé" about ablations (and I have not had one) because for a surgical procedure it's often quite successful

But the decision as to whether or not to have an ablation is almost totally one of risk versus reward and nothing to be blasé about

Ablation, like all surgical procedures carries risk, if your lifestyle under AF of any form is such that it does not trouble you then, actually very few doctors in the UK will carry out an ablation, it's one of the guidelines that you must have symptoms which necessitate an ablation. (unless you go private)

So the initial decision should always be one of what difference will it make to your life and lifestyle.

BUT there's a complication, and that is that the longer you have AF, then the harder it is to ablate, and that seems to be across both PAF and persistent, stronger for persistent. So then you have to balance the "will it get worse" and if so then will an ablation be successful in your decision, and that's a harder one to work out.

In the UK that decision is largely taken for you in the guidelines, I'm in long term persistent, but am almost completely sympton free, they generally will not ablate me. However I live with the knowledge that if (when) it gets worse an ablation has a much lower change of success.

Nothing is black and white here

Be well

Ian

[Hidden in reply to Beancounter]

Many thanks Ian, I think that is probably the most succinct answer that I could have hoped for.

[travelbug54]

Thank you all for your replies, I have had AF twice now, one being persistent Af and the other which I have learnt tonight paroxysmal AF! Your replies are greatly appreciated....

[pip_pip in reply to travelbug54]

Hi travel... It would not be persistent AF if it stopped. It seems yours is paroxysmal.

Phil

[travelbug54 in reply to pip_pip]

Hi Phil, the first time I had AF I had to have Cardioversion to come out of it, this was back in the summer, then I went 10 weeks before I had AF again but this time I have came out of AF on my own....

[PeterWh]

The key thing is the success rates, as we were reminded last month at the patients day. The chances of success for ablations (each one) are higher if someone is in paroxysmal AF vs persistent AF. Someone who has persistent AF typically has to have two ablations to attain the same success rate as someone with paroxysmal has on their first ablation.

There is also no means of predicting when or how quickly your symptoms will become worse. It may be gradual or it may be overnight.

[Susiebelle]

That is excellent news - just keep getting it checked

[wilsond]

go for it travelbug. I do that as well sometimes go for ages without an Af doo dah. I am convinced its to do with stress as much as physical symptoms,a lot of the brain is not understood yet,the old mind/body thingy has a lot of mileage in it yet.

I go the travel bug too, was very proud to climb Vesuvius and most of Etna this summer...yay! still ticking mostly in the right order