Hi all,
Looking for some advice, I have been offered a third RF Ablation and have 6 months to make a decision and was wondering if anyone else has had three and if they had any increased issues afterwards / advice on risks from a third time?
Many thanks!
Hello Sophie, I've had just one ablation but many, including one of our well respected volunteers have had 3 ablations and some others here in the forum have had more. I guess the guide must be if your consultant believes there is benefit for you to have another one, then assuming you trust his/her judgement, then it is likely to be worthy of serious consideration. That said, excessive scarring which I understand can be caused by the ablation procedure can cause future problems, so not an easy decision. I'm sure others here will help with their expreiences......John
Thank you John. Just want to make sure I'm making the right decision before I make any decision.
I had scarring from first and second EP plus afib scarring. My last EP was able to work around it along with other issues. Just need a more skilled EP.
But his last two ablatons were touchups. Either breakthrough a d line needed a touchup or new spot needed burning.
But follow up ablations do not necessarily mean .or scarring. Could just be touching up what they did previously.
Hi Sophie, I've had three ablations and felt really unwell after the first two. However, after my third I felt so much better immediately. That's just me and my experience. How bad is your AF?
Jean
Hi JeanJeannie, I don't have AF, I have SVT. BobD recommended I join this page a few years ago when I first found HealthUnlocked.
The SVT is still affecting my life daily and the first two ablations worked partially but only for a certain amount of time before the 'episodes' started to return again. Given the fact that I am only 25 I just don't want to make the wrong decision and worsen things but at the same time I don't feel as though I have a good quality of life with it.
Sorry for the long reply! Hope you don't think I'm a fraud either by having SVT as I know it's nowhere near as severe as AF, just found people's experiences helpful.
I've had three ablations and the first was for paroxysmal SVT which I had had for about 20 years, starting when I was about 42. It had become more frequent and was occurring perhaps once in 10 days. Although none of the ECGs I'd had showed any sign of it, I actually had full blown AF on the day of the first ablation.
I've had two further ablations and have been able to give up antiarrhythmic medication which I was taking in quantity for a while.
I'm 70 now and still have AF but it doesn't really bother me too much and I feel a good deal better off than I was a few years ago.
I have been offered a fourth ablation but am happy enough with the way I am currently. I think I'd prefer another ablation to a return to medication. The only regret I have is letting years pass after the first ablation - I think I'd have done better if the second had been earlier.
I thought SVT could be worse in some ways than afib?
I'm sure everybody knows I had three RF ablations for AF and no AF past nine years. I still get ectopics and occasional other arrhythmias but not having AF is wonderful. If your EP thinks it will help then I would say yes.
I have had five. First in 2011 was only right side so doesn't count. Next.was last year and by then the next EP was over matched. My afib and flutter had festered since 2011 getting much much worse.
My last EP has done three since then. His first my third got rid of Afib. Next two chasing atypical flutter which I think the fifth finally got rid of.
My current EP said there really is no limit on number of ablations if done correctly and no complications.
"If done correctly" is the important phrase....my one and only RF ablation turned into a life threatening Tamponade - a stroke -infection - pneumonia and 7 weeks in hospitals.
I have had 4. Last one on both sides of heart and effective so far for 2 years 5 months. If you are symptomatic and considering your age why wait 6 months?
If your previous ablations were for AF and this one is for SVT then my understanding is that this ablation has a greater chance of success than ablation for AF.
Whilst for us patients it sounds like yet another ablation, SVT is less difficult to identify when they map the inside of your atrium. AF is much more chaotic.
I have had AF for many years and a number of ablations. After my last AF ablation in March I developed SVT (circa 120bpm resting). I now have an ablation planned for 5 weeks time to address the SVT.
My EP, in whom I trust, has told me he feels much more confident that he can deal with this for me even though I have extensive scarring.
I have had exactly the same recovery experience after each of my previous ablations.
One caveat - we are all different, but I would still go for it if I was you.
Pete
I'm 3 weeks post surgery with my 3rd ablation! So still early days to say whether it's a success. The day of my surgery the ECG showed I was in Afib and Aflutter. Aflutter had never shown up before but my EP suspected it excisted. Yes, this 3rd procedure is different, I'm 7 years older for one thing. The first week I felt terrible, lots of chest pain, bloating and episodes of Aflutter. I didn't experience this the last two times. 3 weeks later I'm feeling great. I do wake up in the middle of the night with Aflutter but no Afib. I trust this will subside in time. I'm taking it a little more seriously this time around. (Not getting any younger) Lots of walking, positive attitude more self care. Although I have never had a weight issue I gained 9 lbs in the 9 weeks prior to surgery on bisoprolol also felt very tired, lethalgic, bad tempered and suicidle.( my EP said this drug can definitely effect some people this way) I'm now on xeralto only. Already lost the extra weight I gained (mostly fluid retention) my energy level hasn't been this good in a long time and my head feels a lot clearer (strange I know)
Am I pleased I did the 3rd ablation! 100% YES
Hi SVT Sophie, I am 4 weeks post my third ablation. The first one was for SVT with my first EP. Completely successful and rapid recovery. The second one, with a different EP, was for Afib and was something of a nightmare in terms of poor recovery and sinking into permanent Afib just 3 months post-op. My third ablation, with my original EP, was just 4 weeks ago and was the complete polar opposite to the second procedure, in terms of recovery and symptoms post operatively.
I think the moral of the story is get your SVT sorted asap, mine went undiagnosed for 25 years despite seeing two different cardiologists and having umpteen tests but not having a 7 day holter ECG until last year which picked up both the SVT and Afib. I do wonder if my late diagnosis of the SVT led to me developing AFib.
I also think the skill of the EP is a determining factor too, as mine were totally different in every respect.
The whole point of an ablation is to interrupt the flow of rogue electical impulses in either the right atrium for SVT, or the left ateium for AFib. This is done by creating scar tissue to block the flow.
Hope this helps.
I had five ablations myself. It didn't seem to increase any risk to my problems. My condition had gotten so bad that ablations had actually stopped working and medication didn't help. I had gone almost 8 and half years without an issue after my first three. I sending hugs and best wishes.
I'm quite likely facing being listed for number 3 come August 17th so I'm quite heartened to read positive experiences from people having three.
Hey Sophie I am just recovering from my second ablation and I feel terrific my heart beats around 60 blood pleasure low I believe I am out of a fib but it's only been 10 days. from when I read and if you can tolerate the procedure go for it. I don't know if there's any statistics If frequent oblations can hurt the heart.
But feeling so good now I don't think I think twice I don't again for a third time.
I have had 3 ablations in just under 6 months. The first was for AF left atrium, then right for flutter and back to left with flutter. Very happy to say my heart is behaving very nicely now. I had no complications or other issues with the procedures. Same wonderful doctor used same vein each time. It healed nicely and quickly each time. The most annoying part of recovery for me was from the TEE, which left my throats scratchy and sore. It is six weeks since last ablation and I feel fantastic! It was worth it to me! I will also point out that I am 57, with no other health related issues. Good luck!
May I ask how often and long your SVT episodes occur
Hi Dane. Symptoms occur daily and can last minutes or hours. Previously lasting up to 8 hours.
Can't believe the response from this! Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and can't believe how much better it's made life for you all by having 3 or more! 😀 you've all definitely put my mind at ease.
Thank you so much for responding to me. I'm 34 and notice my PSVT IS GETTING more frequent. Did you start with PSVT
Hi Dane, no problem happy to help in anyway I can! Mine definitely started intermittently to begin with but became so much more frequent that they offered me my first ablation which helped for a few months but returned daily again then the second ablation kept all episodes at bay for a whole year but came back again and still symptomatic daily even with Ivabradine and bisoprolol hence the offer of a third op!
I have had one ablation in Feb 2017. Didn't help much. Now the EP believes my regurgitation from the mital valve is causing the afib.
When I had the properative ablation preperations, seems every hospital tech asked me if it was my first. I am guessing it is not uncommon. Think someone posted here they were on their 5th!
Hope you come up with an answer that works!
Hi Sophie,
I've had 3 ablations and if l could turn the clock back l would do it in a heartbeat. I fully realise that ablations have worked for most people on this forum.
Regards
Good to read your Cryoablation turned out well Nik. I asked about this procedure, but it was dismissed and I was given RF ablation instead.
I just had my third ablation in May. Since the ablation my heart has been irregular but I feel so much better! I see my EP this week, 2 months post ablation, and we'll see if the irregularity in my pulse is afib or ectopics. He did extensive burning with my third ablation and he told me the healing would take 3-6 months this time. But I'm judging by the way I feel, and since that is good I'm not worried! I do hope he takes me off the diltiazem since my heart rate has been good. I'm currently just taking the diltiazem and xarelto.
Thank you Nik...I also hope it was successful as the EP said. Perhaps when eerything settles down completely, I will know if it had ended the SVTs, A flutter and A-Fib.
No, I did not receive any reason. Perhaps RF ablationis used more in Canada.
Three weeks after ablation 2 
Breathless three weeks after ablation
Face massage three weeks after ablation?
