Ablation Blues: Hello Good People... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Ablation Blues

haverhill88 profile image
29 Replies

Hello Good People....Has anyone out there had a successful ablation that cured their

afib? (That is their heart returning permanently to normal sinus rhythm).

Time and Time again I read about unsuccessful results that include everything from infections to several return procedures with poor outcomes.

It would be wonderful and encouraging to hear some positive news on this subject.

Kind regards to All,

Haver

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haverhill88 profile image
haverhill88
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29 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Permanent is a long time but ten years isn't bad. Along the way NOT having AF allowed me to have a life saving caner op which may otherwise have been refused so for me it was a life saver.

12 months (almost) and it's been worth it for that. I'm sure AF will return at some point, but who knows, maybe not.

In the mean time I will live as healthily as I can , shed the excess weight (there is a lot of it) and try and reduce my AF burden .

Hopefully if it does come back I will be in a better condition for the second shot.

Mike11 profile image
Mike11

4 years and counting. I've had two brief AF returns due to flu viruses ignoring my flu vaccination but basically i got my life back.

UScore profile image
UScore

I have been completely cured.... for 26 days so far. Will keep you all updated.

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

For nearly 3 years and though returned - not nearly as symptomatic.

ijan profile image
ijan

My first ablation for paroxysmal Afib worked for 8 glorious symptom, and drug, free years.

I'm currently awaiting a date for a second procedure as I've had a couple of long episodes since last August and don't want to go into persistent Afl or afib.

My guess is that there are many, many, people out there who had sucessful ablations and are blissfully unaware of this forum. Much as I was after my original ablation. Once it had worked I simply got on with life unaware of any "bullets" I may have dodged.

:-)

Harboreyes63 profile image
Harboreyes63

I had a successful cyroablation in May of 2018. No problems since then. Thank goodness.

I still stay on a low dose of sotalol even though the Dr says I don't need it but it's like my security blanket.

Best of luck

Deb

hock217 profile image
hock217 in reply to Harboreyes63

Same here. Had ablation for SVT caused by an extra node. I'm on 40mg Sotalol 2xd

JoolzC profile image
JoolzC

Cryoablation in Aug 2015. AF free since then 😀👍🏻

Asdfvv profile image
Asdfvv

I think it also depends on each person's lifestyle choices. A person who is on a very clean diet, and exercises regularly, and avoids anything that might trigger afib is more likely to stay Afib free. But people who think that because the ablation was successful that they can now go back to their old lifestyle, these will suffer the consequences.

bushy2016 profile image
bushy2016

Like Bob says....alot of people who have a successful ablation dont come back and keep telling us the good news....

Barb1 profile image
Barb1

3 years now but it is a reprieve not a cure. Also it is not always as a result of poor lifestyle choices. I am doing what I have always done and with EP approval. I do tend to get tired of some people thinking that AF is always a result of poor choices. It is not!

UScore profile image
UScore in reply to Barb1

I think people often want to believe that life is inherently fair. That we get what we deserve. It makes sense to us when someone who smokes a lot gets ill, same for people who overeat or under exercise. I think it helps give us the illusion of control in an actually unfair world.

You only get one life/body so you should look after it. But sometimes bad things happen despite your best efforts. Fortunately I think the majority of people on this forum are more supportive than judgemental. When they talk about lifestyle improvements it is usually intended as advice, not blame.

Barb1 profile image
Barb1 in reply to UScore

On this forum you may be right. Generally....now that's quite different....in my experience anyway. More education needed I think even amongst the wider medical profession.

momist profile image
momist

There is a lot of truth in Bob's view that those who are 'cured' do not post on this forum, only those that have problems. Do not be downhearted by the negative events - what would you do if it didn't work fully? We have to accept the NHS figures that talk of percentage 'successes'. Many who have had successful treatment for AF have never even found this forum!

haverhill88 profile image
haverhill88

Thanks to all who replied re my "Ablation Blues" I probably should have mentioned tHAT I was referring to "persistent" atrial fibrilation.

Sue5453 profile image
Sue5453

Last time mine was in AF was Xmas 2016 and went back after a week and tuch wood been ok now still just on Apixaban no other meds for heart so hope it Carrie on

Sue5453 profile image
Sue5453

It’s seems to be my blood pressure keeps going up and down so need to lose weight a lot ASP

checkmypulse profile image
checkmypulse

21 months and ok so far, this was for PAF.

Dodie117 profile image
Dodie117

My ablation in 2013 and still af free.

hock217 profile image
hock217

I had SVT. Was on train, became extremely weak on verge of fainting and extreme warmth. Limp wrists.....opened coat and auto dialed my son. Not sure I could walk. He met me at LIRR stop. I asked him to get me a cadbury bar (Not diabetic) but likely dehydrated and had a lot of etoh that night at play Imbible and not enough water. The candy helped (not diabetic). Went to a cardiologist for stress test...fine. Wore 10 lead monitor. Had 2 calls asking me if I was just jogging etc. I was standing at kitchen counter feeling fine while making coffee. Wore monitor for 30 days. DX SVT. I had an extra "conducter" near the middle one in heart. Sometimes blood heading back would stop there and move on. Sometimes it kept looping around with long delay moving back. To avoid stroke etc I wanted it "fixed" so had the ablation and take Sotalol. Was sleeping 15 to 18 hrs a day, hair falling out, lost 30 lbs...skin n bones...sagging skin on thinning bones. I was hospitalized about 5 months after procedure with diverticulitis (have hx). On my own I figured out I was not absorbing nutrients and starving. Sotalol slowed down everything and made me sleepy. Instead of 80 mg 1/2 AM and 1/2 PM, I break it into 3 parts. Use Diatermateus Earth 100% food grade daily to scrape out diverticula (it worked). Gained 10 lbs back. Still weak and tired but less so. I'd love to stop the Sotalol but am worried the SVT will return. I did wear a monitor again for a few weeks. Results were "not remarkable" but not fine. Want to do more but am too weak.

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday in reply to hock217

Sounds like you got some really good help when you needed it. I had diverticulitis twice and it’s a rough thing to have. Zero energy to do anything but breath with that. It gets better.

hock217 profile image
hock217 in reply to Aprilbday

Thanks April. This was my 3rd episode of diverticulitis n sigmoid is damaged plus very narrow colon. Check out diatomaceous earth 100 percent food grade. It helps clean the waste stuck in diverticula. Digestion begins in the intestines....was able to absorb again. I think the Sotalol is adding to fatigue. Recent Rx had additional warnings 're driving, using machinery etc. Want to stop taking since I was ablated. No real research it seems. Did you recover or have surgery?

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday in reply to hock217

I recovered both times but my goodness-I thought the drugs for diverticulitis would kill me. I first had diverticulitis from swimming in a West Virginia lake. Once you have it -you tend to get it again.

A-Fib was exasperated by a steroid I was given for seasonal allergy symptoms. I have only been to the hospital twice with A-Fib. I have flutters at times now but no A-Fib. Nevertheless, I am on Pradaxa and Dilacor.

hock217 profile image
hock217 in reply to Aprilbday

The diverticula pockets are still there just no longer infected. Important not to become constipated. I had a diverticula perferate. IV Rx in ER. Those pockets never go away unless I have sigmoid section removed ......6 mths to heal n have that bag. No way!

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday in reply to hock217

Ouch!! That’s why you were in ER and hospitalized for months!!!! So sorry!!The diverticula pockets are still present in mine. I can not have typical colonoscopies I’m told . They do something similiar but are careful. Thank God they are not infected. I avoid tiny seeds as much as possible but have had them and noted nothing. Will take D-earth. Thank you The cure is to section that off!!!I know someone who has the “dreaded bag”. Doing well. Flys with work related trips and 15 years in with it.

If you live long enough-seems like something comes along to whack at you. Now it’s A-Fib!!!

hock217 profile image
hock217 in reply to Aprilbday

I was hospitalized for a week....it was 5 months after having SVT ablation and put on sotalol. That's why I was wondering if sotalol contributed.

dmac4646 profile image
dmac4646

The biggest indicator of success is WHO does the procedure - as recently highlighted by some posts on here - this has also been borne out in fact in a US study. The experience of the EP is vital.

hock217 profile image
hock217 in reply to dmac4646

Yes. I went to EP at St Francis (the Heart Hospital). Don't know if that extra node ablated can return but I think once it's ablated it's gone. Not understanding why I need Sotalol. Aprilbday, unless it's the hx of diverticulitis that's causing fatigue, weight loss and brain fog.

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