Got A F 24/7, had it for years allways Kept myself fit, since been on Amiodarone can exercise more with out getting out of breath.
Doctor told me my thyroid gland is up or down not sure witch one and platelets in blood as well, buy still feal ok, asked for a Ablation because don:t want to be on drugs for rest of my life, now 60, after having A F for years there is only 1 in 4 chance of it working, Do you think i should or go for it or could i be worse off if it dont work.
Thank you
Look at the AFA booklets because I thought that if someone was in persistent AF it was a 20% to 30% chance FIRST time and that the chances increased with multiple ablations. However was it specific assessment or a statistic that you were given.
I was / am in persistent AF. Took flecainide for almost 6 weeks then had a cardioversion but only lasted in NSR for just over 24 hours. EP told me to stop flecainide and that the only realistic option was an ablation. I asked him to be open and honest as the the chances of success in MY case. (If you don't do this they will give general answers). His assessment in MY case was that there was no chance that it would work first time and that it was quite possible it would take three attempts. I went for it but went back into persistent AF less than 72 hours later. Waiting for ablation no 2.
Thanks Peter, Had 2 cardioversions only worked for 1 to 2 hours, E P told me 1 in 4 chance of Ablation working, he said you can have 2 then pace maker
I had ablation in January, aged 60. Like you, I had always been very fit, but had been in persistent AF for about a year. I had continued to exercise, but st a lower level, I had a lack of power, and was slow going up hill. I had been on bisoprolol for about two weeks, but took myself off it because it wiped me out. For me, there was then a recovery period from ablation of about three months. I briefly went into atrial flutter, but came out. I still occasionally get periods of erratic pulse, and it takes a week or two to resolve itself.
I would say go for ablation, some people need 2 or 3 goes at it, but not all. There's nothing to lose, and potentially a lot to gain. Good luck!
It's something you need to think of carefully. Also ask what the chances are of being worse after an ablation as there are downsides as well as upsides.
I was in the same situation and opted to stay in AF as there was a 10% chance of being worse, only a 30% chance of being better and I wasn't actually being prevented from doing anything by my AF
I was also on Amiodarone - for 8 years though I had to stop eventually due to side effects and alternatives didn't work.
Are you in NSR now?
lance
Hello, No been in permanent A F for 10 years
If you're not in NSR I'm not sure why you're still on Amiodarone! Have they tried cardioversion and if so did they try internal cardioversion via catheter?
had 2 cardioversions only worked for 1 hour, but dont know i am in A F unless i check my pulse or have E C G
If the cardioversions worked, butvthe Amiodarone didn't keep you in NSR I don't understand why you're still on it. Sounds like you have tobdecide whether to stay in AF (and probably come off Amiodarone) or try ablation(s) but without the probability that they'll succeed. For me the issue was "am I comfortable with the current state - permanent AF that doesn't significantly impair my quality of life or do Ibrisk ablation(s) that might possibly make it worse". So far I've opted to stay in AF. But you may feel quite differently
Lance
I would give it some serious thought and evaluate where you are at the moment. Is this effecting your quality of life to a great extent. It doesn't sound as if it is. I went for my 1st ablation because my quality of life was poor, very breathless and symptomatic when I progressed to persistent AF. It lasted for 5 months before AF broke through again but then also had tachycardia as well. So 2nd ablation performed at the end of July but this was a challenge to them and I have reverted to AF, atrial and ventricular tachycardia. Have now been put on Amioderone since Thursday, which hopefully seems to be working quite well so far. So a 3rd ablation may well be on the cards. Ablation is a marvellous thing but often takes lots of attempts if you are in persistent AF as the success rate is so low. Are you prepared for this. There are also some wonderful success stories you just have to weigh up what is the right thing for you to do, we are all different. Listen to your EP carefully as they are the experts. Hope all goes well for you.
Brenda🐝
Hello. Be careful with Amiodarone! Don't stay on it too long. Cardiologist told me three months, but they forgot and left me on it for three YEARS! During the last year, I became ill and they realised it was Amiodarone poisoning me! I was a different person after they stopped it. 🙂
Amiodarone is not a good drug to stay on, especially if it is already upsetting your thyroid. You get into the 'one problem breeds another' syndrome.
If you don't try ablation you'll never know! and the meds don't seem to work for ever. Have you tried various recommended supplements, in combination, but introducing each one separately? They tend to support one another.
thanks for advice
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