I need a answer in layman's terms.
If one has a successful ablation for AF - does that not cure it ?
If the is beating normally then surely that is 'cured' or have I got it completely wrong - some please explain so someone from a totally non-medical background.
Many thanks
Susiebelle
I had a consultation with my Cardiologist on Thursday. He's really great and his help to me has been exactly as per NICE guidelines re referral to EP for ablation 20 months ago. I have had 6 or so mild episodes of AF with none since last October. We discussed my current position and he wants to see me again in about 10 months ( seeing EP in 6 months ) but I am to contact him if I have a problem.So am I cured?
No, I'm kidding myself if I thought that. I could have another episode at any time. Hopefully it would be mild, and 100 flecainide will control it. I am 98% better than I was pre-ablation and having the ablation was me giving it my best shot. No regrets, but cured? NO.
So I'll stay on Pradaxa, keep taking the magnesium and hopefully lose a bit of weight.
Hi Susiebelle, That's certainly a fair question. It's just that "cure" is not a word that is used a lot when talking about AF, because the same factors that made it happen in the first place, can eventually make it come back even though an ablation has been successful in keeping the heart beat normal. This is why people who make big lifestyle changes both before and after an ablation have a significantly better chance that the ablation sticks.
For example, one of the biggest reasons that people develop AF can be high blood pressure. The pounding of the vessels eventually makes for areas where the electrical impulses of the heart are jumping across places they don't belong. So someone has these areas burned or frozen in an ablation and all is well....but the person has not changed their habits, their stress response, their diet, their exercise, and so the pounding continues. Pretty soon the elements that caused AF in the first place, are doing it again.
If you can, think of the ablation as the putting up of little fences to keep the electrical impulses from jumping across the wrong areas of the heart. Everything is great as long as those are still in place. But eventually some of those areas can open back up again, or new wrong highways for electricity of the heart can be created, so the AF can come back.
There are many things other than high blood pressure that can contribute to developing AF if one is prone to developing it, but this was just one example of how/ why it can seem to be cured but come back. That's why my message is always LIFESTYLE changes make a huge difference. And instead of thinking about cure I always just think that any day without AF is a success and a really great day!
I guess it's knowing what caused it and addressing that - so it's decaf & very limited alcohol - what else could have been the cause other than just having AF .....
My short AFIB story.
Born with TOF (Tetralogy of Fallot)
AFIB diagnosed when I was 24 (1994).
Ablation in 2003, but EP said it was only 70% successeful.
Since then my heart went into AFIB 3 times, 2005, 2011 and 2013, but got it back in rhythm with cardioversion and prayer/meds. There were other times that I had AFIB, for a short time, but my heart went back into rhythm by itself.
I agree with SRM that lifestyle can help keep AFIB away.
1. Less caffein
2. Less alchahol
3. Check stress levels
4. Eat balanced
5. Always be hydrated (drink water, not realy other stuff)
I have a blog if you want to read more: myafibheart.com/home/catego...
So are you cured after ablation? I think for many people -Yes, but not all. If you read through this forum you will see that many people need a few ablations.
Hope this was helpful.
I was cured after my ablation for a whole 5 weeks ! My life style is and always has been healthy . Same with my mother who never drank or smoked , but we still got AF . I put it down to one of those things . I have survived a stroke and feel lucky that I know I have a condition and am dealing with it by medication . I agree with everything else that's been said , but I'm afraid there is no cure , it'll always be there . Sometimes less , sometimes more
see comment in the attached as why you are likely to need more than oneoliversegal.com/heart-condi...
It's only 9 months since my ablation, but no AF since. I am happy to rely on Prof. Schilling saying that he considers me to be cured and does not expect to see me again. I suppose if I tried hard with the aid of lots of alcohol, caffeine and so on, I could prove him wrong but I am going do do the best I can to help his statistics. The success rate for PAF is claimed to be 80% plus.
Peter
So good to hear. We'd like that - I am now on waiting list for A fib ablation
Very good luck. I am sure it will go well. Please let us know how you get on.
Peter
AF
AF
