AF Ablation

[djbgatekeeper]

Hi there ... I'm 52 and been on Meds for 4 years due to AF... I think the Meds are becoming less effective as I have more frequent episodes especially when my heart rate rises due to work or fast walking ect. I think my next step is catheter ablation.. I was wondering if anyone has had this opp and how it went... thanks Dave.

[BobD Volunteer]

Procedure not operation but I had three up to nine years ago and no AF since. Go to AF Association main website and read all about ablation so you understand what is involved. I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned before as drugs seldom control indefinitely.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to BobD]

Thanks for the reply Bob, I will check that website out tonight... regards Dave.

[Rellim296]

Hi there. I don't know how many of us have had ablations - quite fair number. Many sail through, some have something not go absolutely right at some stage. Most find it was not the ordeal they imagined it might be. Some, like Bob, are free of AF afterwards (and tend, unlike Bob, to disappear from the forum). Some need a second bite at the cherry or several bites. But ablation can be a welcome alternative to a lifetime of pills and if it doesn't do the trick completely, it can still improve the situation.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you for the reply, it gives me hope to know this illness can be beaten.... ive made an appointment with docs next week to get a referral for ablation ... my cardiologist says it's about a 3 or 4 week wait... I'll keep posting and let you guys know how it goes.... hope you are enjoying good health and thanks again for the msg. Dave.

[Rellim296 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Yes, do keep us posted.

I don't see AF as an illness. It's a condition - a problem with the heart's electrics and this forum has taught me that it need not get the upper hand.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you... very helpful words of wisdom.

[cuore in reply to djbgatekeeper]

You are lucky you do not live in western Canada. I had to wait 43 days ( six weeks) just to see a cardiologist on March 7 , and now I have been told it will be the summer until I get to see an EP, let alone an ablation. And, I am in persistent fibrillation.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to cuore]

Yes I know how lucky I am.... the team at Liverpool Royal hospital are excellent.. I hope you get treated soon and keep in touch ... best regards.

[Rellim296 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

You might like to know that the Liverpool AF Support Group's next meeting is Saturday 20th May 2pm. Dr Vivek Chaturvedi Cardiology Registrar - "AF Ablation".

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Rellim296]

Thank you ... I would be interested in going.. I live in Warrington so not far from Liverpool... I presume the meeting is at Liverpool Royal? Thanks.

[Rellim296 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

It's probably the Research Department, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, Thomas Drive, Liverpool, Merseyside L14 3PE

Directions to the Research Department at LHCH -

It is found in the building opposite the glass fronted reception area of the out patients department.

This is all pasted from the slightly out of date website and refers to the meeting held in March! I have messaged you the phone number to call.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Rellim296]

You are so kind, thank you.. I will ring the number next week and see about booking a place... have a good day and thanks again.

[resqme1065 in reply to cuore]

so sorry to hear this. I have so many people say socialized medicine is great but I hear more about situations like you. Try and stay positive.

Judy

[djbgatekeeper in reply to resqme1065]

Thanks Judy, I will fight the good fight until I win.... hope you are well and enjoy the weekend 😊

[cuore in reply to resqme1065]

Thank you for your great advice, Judy. Being positive will always overcome the negativity, and that's my fuel right now .

[ken280 in reply to cuore]

I had two ablations in Vancouver one at St Pauls the other at VGH you will have to go through some test to see if you are able to have an Ablation! The Doctors and nurses are amazing if you were in an Emergency go to the hospital by ambulance and you will get in right away,well after a wait but, you will be all ready to get blood tests and EKG to monitor your situation.I know it's a terrible, frightening, feeling but, you will be ok! I hope we can fix our health care wait times with more Doctor's and nurses! The Men and women here can help you cope and understand but, something's are a little different than in Vancouver BC but, with an election soon in BC, maybe we can fix the people who put us in long wait times! I wish you good luck and all the best! The ablation procedure is like this, in at 8.30am and out in ICU 5-6hrs (feels like 3 seconds) later and out of the hospital 7 30 pm. Remember, you will be just fine! Do some deep breathing or learn how for now it will calm you or get

lorazepam from your doctor one per day for short term.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to ken280]

Thank you for your kind words of support ... very much appreciated!

[cuore in reply to ken280]

Hi Ken 280, I did land up in the emergency at the Burnaby General Hospital on October 12, 2016. Nothing happened except blood tests and I was sent home, still in AF, to go into persistent AF on January 13, 2017. Not even my GP woke up to the severity of my condition at that time.

My situation may have been resolved at the PAF stage, not in the persistent stage as it is now, if medically it had been handled differently, with more expediency.

So, in my case, all this waiting time is just allowing my condition to get worse. It appears that in Vancouver, the focus is on severe symptoms and not the worsening of the condition. Furthermore, as one is shuffled through one department and another, there are the same repeat questions just costing the taxpayer money. The waste makes me furious as the patient declines, and an appointment to see an EP is not even on the horizon yet.

Both my one visit cardiologist via his student resident appeared to treat AF lightly as did a substitute EP nurse (not the person's field) who questioned me over the phone. So, until I encounter some professional treatment, I have nothing but great disappointment in our system so far. I am programming myself to be positive that things will change because to dwell on the negative is self destructive.

I have done extensive research; I am not frightened at all; the frightening part is the waiting time. I just want the ablation before the condition gets worse and worse due to waiting time. Even you were drilled by our system with " if you are able to have an Ablation! " amplifying my point that our system fosters negativity. I see weakness, not strength. We trail the Europeans and Americans in the field of AF. Your viewpoint was appreciated, though and I do thank you for your concerns to alleviate my fears.

[ken280 in reply to cuore]

cuore You need to get to the Afib clinic out of VGH Get your GP to get you to see a doctor mine is Matt Bennet, your Doctor has to refer you or go to the Emergency at St pauls or VGH and I know this sounds crazy my doctor told me they need to catch it and then you will get in the Afib clinic! This is what I had to do if they got you on any meds after awhile they will start to fail and then they will try another one, to hell with that get to see a doctor that deals with AFIB! I have had two ablations, once you are in it can take two or three but I have been in normal sinus rhythm for close to 4 yrs,I have some fast heart rates but still in normal rhythm.The heart still clicks and clacks but, I'm going fishing! Good luck and get this done.Remember you have to go in by ambulance to be seen quicker, don't wait long because you will have to do many tests to see if you can have an ablation, lungs, heart, kidneys ect. Let me know how it's going! Ken McLaren

[cuore in reply to ken280]

Dr. Graham Wong, the cardiologist at VGH on the ninth floor, caught the AF via his student resident doing a 4 lead ECG on the one visit March 7, 2017. But, he said that the AF clinic would ask why I hadn't been cardioverted when I specifically asked I wanted an ablation right away before I deteriorate more. So, my cardioversion date is this Thursday. I also wrote a letter to Dr. Wong requesting that Dr. Matthew Bennett be my first choice. Furthermore, I asked Dr. Wong to bank my waiting time for the cardioversion towards seeing an EP. But, so far, the process has gone badly as already explained. So, after the cardioversion, I will scream that I have done my part, and that more waiting time will only guarantee failure.

Your advice is most appreciated and I will keep it in the back of my mind this Thursday. To let you know how it's going, I'm not sure whether to pursue the leisure, travel and tourism or the KT Products area that appear for your name for me to contact you other than via this site. Your guidance has helped tone my anxiety.

[Gabra in reply to djbgatekeeper]

I'm waiting too - referred by my cardiologist and so far - silence (2 weeks). In theory very good clinic, maybe due to it a long queue, danger for life next to none, so...

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Gabra]

Hiya.... are you waiting for Liverpool? Or somewhere else?

[djbgatekeeper]

Thanks you for the reply.I will definitely be having the ablation and hearing about some people's experiences on here gives me renewed confidence to get this condition sorted.... ive been too scared in the past, just need to get it done now... thanks again.

[Albobaggins]

I have had 2 ablations so far and have been offered a third which i shall definitely take up. Hoping for long term effectiveness this time rather than the 14 months or so after the last one without symptoms.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Albobaggins]

Good luck to you... sounds so promising... fingers crossed you get a permanent fix next time and thanks for taking time to comment it's great to hear from people in a similar position. Dave.

[Albobaggins in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Thanks Dave, yep fingers crossed this time around. Bored of being on Warfarin now!😆

[ken280 in reply to Albobaggins]

It will do the trick!

[Dodie117]

I had my first and only ablation in November 2013 and am still AF free so am really pleased with that. Try to remember not to expect too much too soon. I had lots of arrhythmias after the ablation. They gradually decreased. It took 5 months to disappear completely. Also, lots of people need more than one.

Good luck ☘️

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Dodie117]

Thank you and I am so pleased to hear you are on the right side.... many thanks for the msg.. encouraging 😊

[Bob56]

Hi Based one my experience ( one ablation to date) and reading any other people's experiences on this forum, most see some benefit from an ablation and a fair few have complete success after the first one. In my case, I am undoubtedly better for the procedure, but not AF free. My EP is happy to "have another go" but for now, I am very well controlled by a modest amount of medication so we are leaving it to see how things go. Statistically, my EP told me that the success rate for the first ablation is around 70%, rising to around 90% for the second, and 95% for a third. He also said that even one ablation can re empower your medication, although that's probably not a permanent situation. I waited a fair few years before I opted for the procedure, roughly coinciding with my AF starting to have a serious effect on my quality of life but, of course, we are all different. All procedures carry some risks, but I certainly wouldn't be afraid of an ablation. I would rather be where I am now than where I was before. Best wishes and good luck.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Bob56]

That's great to hear and many thanks for your information... really appreciated... i will definitely be having the ablation as soon as possible .... have a good day!

[resqme1065]

I would not be afraid of ablation. I had my first February 20 of this year. I have had more afib than prior and trialed several meds to quiet things down. Finally put on amiodarone, 3 months tops. I have been mostly NSR since starting the amiodarone.

Having a tee test Monday bc it apears my mitral valve has gone from mild/moderate to severe since mid October of 2016, when my afib/flutter was dx'd.

I wouldn't fear another ablation. Don't like the down time but if it makes my heart healthy, I will forward.

Good luck and stay positive more than negative.

Judy

[djbgatekeeper in reply to resqme1065]

Thanks Judy and good luck to you too 😊

[Hellie54]

Where would you have your ablation?. Dr Davidson did mine at The Alexandra in Manchester 6 weeks ago. I felt grotty for first three weeks but now feel better than I have for years. Stopped the amiodarone 2 weeks ago and the plan is I stop bisoprolol and rivaroxaban in abt 6 weeks time if I'm still in nsr. Before ablation I was afraid to go on holiday. Now I'm looking forward to my first cruise. I'm so grateful.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Hellie54]

Hiya... I presume I'd go to Liverpool as this is where my cardiologist has mentioned in the past.... nice to hear you are feeling better... yes I know what it's like being a prisoner of AF... scared to be away from home in case you have an emergency...this is the main reason I'm opting for the oblivion so I can get my life back before I'm too old to enjoy travelling ect.... glad you are feeling better 😊

[Hellie54 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Thank you. I hope all goes well for you.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Hellie54]

That should have said ablation not oblivion lol.... let's hope that's not an omen ! Good old spell check 😊

[Hellie54 in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Hahaha that's so funny.

[JeanetteH]

I have had 2ablations at LiverpoolHeart and Chest Hospital both improved my AF but were not a total success.I know of others who had success after a second procedure.I would recommend the hospital and the procedure.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to JeanetteH]

Thank you for the msg... ive heard Liverpool is a great hospital... I hope you have better times ahead... take care