Change of Heart

[hypomans]

Hi everyone, have been reading this site for a while this is my first posting. I have had PAF for at least four years, finally diagnosed officially june 2016. Up to July this year i had PAF episodes every 11 to 20 days for about 15 hours then returned back to normal bpm. My last episode was 8th july and since then nothing except some ectopics. I am due to have an ablation on 1st September and am wondering if i now need it. Does PAF ever go away permanently on its own? I am on Bisoprolol 5mg and Rivaroxaban 20mg

[rosyG]

That's a difficult question- I am very cautious about ablation but you were having quite frequent, quite long episodes, so I'm guessing that's why you opted for the ablation- I don't, I'm afraid, think it's likely they have stopped when it is just 4 weeks since the last one.

I think the main way to decide about ablation is a) if your AF causes a lot of bad symptoms for you and b) your age- as the drugs, which would be probably needed as an alternative, would cause harsh side effects if taken from a young age onwards.

I hope you manage to decide- if you put more information up, people will give you their opinion!!

[hypomans in reply to rosyG]

Thanks rosyG i am a 65 year old retired man so as most of my episodes are late at night or early morning i just sit tight at home and wait till the episode passes. Only once or twice has it happened when i have been out and i could barely walk, just about managed to get home.

[PaulaCH in reply to rosyG]

What kind of "harsh" side effects ?? I'm only 49 and still going through investigations. Had first AF attack 10 days ago which last 2 days, and feel I'm in AF now as I'm stressed about my 72hr ECG this coming Friday, though it's not fast AF .

[jeanjeannie50]

The 8th of July was only weeks away! I don't want to be a kill-joy but think you may be getting hopeful of being free from AF too soon. I've had 3 ablations and 12 years of PAF and like you was always hoping it would just go, I'm sorry to say that that rarely happens. I had a procedure carried out (nothing to do with my heart) about 4-5 months ago and have been AF free since. I'm enjoying life, but no way would I ever believe I'm totally cured - a year or two down the line, well perhaps then.

You could always postpone your ablation to a later date, but I bet as soon as you do your heart will play up - it's sods law! A difficult decision and one only you can make.

I'll be interested to hear what others have to say to you.

Wishing you well.

Jean

[hypomans in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thanks jean, i guess it is just wishful thinking

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to hypomans]

Always have hope and I'm sure positive thinking can have a knock on effect on keeping you well, but be ready to be disappointed.

[hypomans in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thanks Jean, i guess it is just wishful thinking

[BobD Volunteer]

No Go for it.

[Bagrat]

Sounds like you've just had a gap. My husband had one episode about 18 years ago which lasted a couple of days. he was on his way to the warfarin clinic and went back into NSR and did not have another episode until 2012. Nor did he have any treatment after the first episode. Apart from the shedload of drugs he took post MI and for hypertension. He has been in permanent AF ever since the 2012 episode.

Only you can make the decision but hope you get the opportunity to discuss your doubts with the EP concerned

[pottypete1]

In the past I have gone between 2 days and circa 90 days between AF episodes. This is the nature of PAF.

If your EP recommends ablation I would go for it if I were you.

Pete

[Mike11]

Talk to your EP and perhaps ask to be put down, but not off, the waiting list

[hypomans]

thank you all for your advice i am now booked in for 22/09/17 and will go for it.

[secondtry]

I would have another cardiologist consultation.

I had PAF for a similar period then hit a hot spot' having 9 episodes of varying lengths in a month. I was then offered an ablation but chose the alternative which was to go on just Flecainide (200mgs/day), a tried and tested drug and reasonably safe if you have Lone PAF.

That was 3+ years ago and no more AF episodes to date - however I do take Mg & CoQ10 supplements and have made a shed load of lifestyle changes.

An important point I think whether to ablate or not is your general health condition and your age/robust body rating (my words not an official medical term!).

Go with you gut feel.