Afib subsided?

[Jadezmommy123]

Hey all so again I'm new to this community and feel so much better I came here to you guys and get to share my thoughts. I'm terrified of having an ablation it just overall sounds scary and painful. anyone ever been on meds for a few months and was able to get off of them without having an ablation? Just curious. Thanks.

[bayfield]

I doubt it. What you have does not usually just go away. I did an ablation - no drugs! - and 7 months later did another. I have been in NSR since August 10. If/when my AF returns I will do it again. Go for it!

[Jadezmommy123 in reply to bayfield]

I hear you it looks to me like I'm just gonna have to tough it out and go with the ablation. My doctor won't do it unless I have another af attack in flecainide so will see. Thanks for the reply.

[jennydog in reply to Jadezmommy123]

You say that ablation sounds painful. I honestly don't remember any pain other than when someone attached a blood pressure cuff to my disabled left arm even though it had a warning bracelet attached.

The unknown is always scary. Some things are uncomfortable and embarrassing but people wouldn't subject themselves to 3 or more ablations if it were that awful.

If it is recommended by your EP then you should grasp the opportunity. Don't risk living with regrets.

[PeterWh in reply to Jadezmommy123]

Was it your GP who said that or was it your cardiologist or Electrophysiologist?

If you have not seen an Electrophysiologist then insist on a referral to one as they are the specialists who are dealing with AF every day.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ablation sounds scary until you have had one and then you wonder what all the fuss was about. Pain? I've had worse dentistry. Dangerous? So is crossing the road. If you are offered an ablation then your medics obviously think you need it. It could be the only way you will be drug and AF free.

Bob.

[Jadezmommy123 in reply to BobD]

Thank it seems the way to go with Af I'm definitely considering it. Thank you.

[constabule in reply to BobD]

Hmm the last time I had a rough time with dentistry was having wisdom teeth out under full anesthetic - felt foul for days. afterwards and been short of widom ever since. Even though that was late seventies it made me really worrying about being put under. Was really nervous about my cardio version but came round with no bother at all and no worries about agreeing to a second.

[IanB48]

Hi there, I can't advise you about coming off mess but I reassure you about ablation as I had one a month ago at Derriford. I can't praise the staff there enough for the time and effort they expended reassuring me and putting me at ease. I had a general anaesthetic and, as a result, it was easy as I knew absolutely nothing about the procedure though it seemed to take me a long time to come around afterwards.

The only bad bit was a disturbed night's sleep on the recovery ward but, as promised, I was allowed to go home late the next day. Apart from initially feeling a bit groggy and sore from where they had inserted the catheter, within a few days I soon felt reasonably ok and now I'm fine. I now have to wait until early January when I start reducing my heart meds to see if the operation has been successful.

So don't worry, ablation, from my experience is not an ordeal! I hope things work out for you but try not to worry and enjoy life as much as your condition allows.

[Jadezmommy123 in reply to IanB48]

Thank you I'm going to pursue my doctor into getting one I'm only 27 and I would hate to be on pills my whole life.

[PeterWh in reply to Jadezmommy123]

Make sure that you get your GP to refer you directly to an Electrophysiologist and not a general cardiologist (as Bob says you would get a plumber in to sort the electrics out in your house). You can look up EPs on the main AFA website and also do some research and pre selection before you see GP. Good luck and keep us all informed.

[IanB48 in reply to Jadezmommy123]

Definitely a good idea to talk to your doctor. Like yours, mine adopted a wait and see policy and it was only when AF started up again even though I was on a high dosage of heart rate control drugs that he decided it was time for me to see a specialist. Thinking back about this, I think he was right to make me wait - surgery isn't something to rush into ( there's probably no completely cast-iron guarantee it will work) and there was a chance that drugs might have controlled my AF successfully.

AF is a curse but it can be a blessing. Before I got it I didn't really appreciate just how lucky I was. I know it sounds corny, but now, when things are going well, I try to treat every day as a bonus and get as much out of my time as possible.

I wish you every success and hope things work out for you. I would like to hear how you get on.

[PeterWh in reply to IanB48]

I totally disagree. The vast majority of GPs do not have the experience or knowledge to be making those decisions. The key is in their title general practitioners. Even many cardiologists do not have the knowledge and experience regarding arithmyias. Most EPs spend their whole time on this and see hundreds of patients a year. This also means they will have seen many of the issues and side effects of the arithmyia and the drugs that a GP won't. They also have the knowledge and wherewithal regarding anticoagulation and which is the best for each particular patient? Just being referred to an EP does NOT mean that you are being put forward on the waiting list for an ablation!!!! In fact EPs couldn't do ablations on everyone they see. In my case I was in persistent AF, had a dc cardioversion but went back into AF 24 hours later. When I saw my EP again afterwards he took me off flecainide because he said that the thinking now was that it has minimal, if any affect and therefore no point taking it due to side effects, etc. EP also said that the only realistic option was for me to have a catheter ablation (which he out in writing to my GP and copy to me) but he would NOT accept a decision from me there and then despite the fact that he had done explanations on three previous occasions and the fact that he knew that I had investigated it.

Another key reason for seeing an EP now is that you will get a cardiac baseline established now and any anomalies or underlying aspects identified, documented and looked into. Then when the time comes that the AF has progressed (which it will by all accounts) it will make life easier.

Since the first catheter notions were only undertaken circa 1999 most GPs didn't even cover it in their training. In addition, as I understand it, the treatment of AF and other arithmyias has changed in recent years. Also a number of the drugs can only be prescribed first by a consultant, not a GP.

If you look at back posts there are a number of people on here who were not referred by their GP and when they eventually were referred wished that this had happened years ago!!!!

Fortunately I have a very enlightened GP who straight away referred me to an EP. If she had just done things herself I would have been none the wiser at that stage. Also a few months back when I saw her about something else a medical student was shadowing her and she told the student that Peter knows and could explain more about AF than she could as it is a specialised area. A truly honest and enlightened professional!!!

[IanB48 in reply to PeterWh]

Thanks Peter and I note your interesting comments. Perhaps I was just lucky, but my GP was very well-informed and up to date and, within the time constraints placed upon him, was extremely supportive and informative.

[teach2learn in reply to IanB48]

I'd say you were lucky, alright. Even with one of the best rhythm specialty centers in the region right in my backyard, my GP at the senior clinic didn't refer. I had been having increasingly long episodes of AF, even leaving my volunteer job to rush to the clinic so they could get a good listen and ECG during one. Finally heard about the rhythm specialists from my NEIGHBOR who has a funky heart. Even cardiologist hadn't mentioned them! I skipped a second cardioversion when the first one and flecainide didn't work and went straight to ablation. From persistent AF to regular NSR and no meds but blood pressure. Ahhh. Best of luck in your journey on this sometimes rocky road!

[Rellim296]

I don't think an ablation would be anything like you seem to be imagining and you won't need to tough it out.

I've just had my third and, yes, it does sound scary but it feels much less so when you are surrounded by extremely competent people who are looking after you with the benefit of all the technology.

Painful? Not the right word at all in my experience. You get a needle in your arm which might tweak a bit momentarily. It amazes me how so much can be done with so little disturbance. I've two tiny nicks in my leg which haven't been painful or troublesome in any way. I haven't even got a proper bruise this time.

[AlanAF]

I am considering an ablation myself (if I can get one), so I know what you mean. I have, however, had 2 laser eye operations (for clinical rather than cosmetic reasons), which sounded very scary ('They put a HOLE in your eye?!'). In fact, they weren't too bad. Many people have no further problems, but I was unlucky and had bad reactions to the post-procedure drops they give you. That was - by far - the worst bit of that experience.

Based on that, ablation looks like something that looks grin and bearable when you consider the hopefully AF free future.

Looking on the internet, there is a lot of (admittedly US stuff) about improving your general health to stay AF free post-ablation. Things like loosing weight, diet, exercise, deal with stress better, maybe a few specific supplements. Worth doing, if you can.

As we get older, the sad reality is that we are just going to have to get used to more medical procedures, e.g. hip replacements, etc.

Bottom line is, if a good EP says I should have an ablation tomorrow rather than go on meds, and his reasons sound good, I'd sign on the dotted line.

[stargazer61]

I have to say I am waiting for a letter to go for an ablation and your post has made me admit here that i feel very squeamish about having my heart tissue burned, but did not want to admit it, anticipating the responses!! so i just wanted to say, I get you! I guess we have to talk to an EP and trust in their judgement. You are not alone, and I'm glad I'm not either! We're bound to feel vulnerable with our beautiful hearts struggling for whatever reason, it's ok not to feel great, I've struggled quite a bit with low feelings. I've had chronic pain for many years and am normally a grateful type of person, but since this SVT stuff, I'm feeling the opposite, a bit 'meh', hopefully it will pass. An ehug to you x

[Jadezmommy123 in reply to stargazer61]

I totally can relate I'm glad we're able to come on here and find people who have similar cases and are able to connect. Although the procedure frightens me everyone has reassured me that it's a great option to be drug free.

[Rellim296 in reply to Jadezmommy123]

It frightened me too but I'm glad I didn't let this put me off.

[stargazer61 in reply to Jadezmommy123]

The AFA will send you an online version of a booklet called 'Ablation for Atrial fibrillation (AF), they offered to send one snail mail too, which I preferred as reading a screen makes me feel sick now! it's really informative. I also just read a book by a woman who had a heart/lung transplant, yikes, you can guarantee whatever your problem, someone's got it worse...

Oh, and maybe folk who have got better don't use this site anymore?? from another Jademommy!

[Skitts]

Have the ablation. It isn't that bad. Be prepared for post op a few hours and difficulty when you first try to walk. Maybe some other minor pain, but nothing much to fear. Just had mine four days ago.