Advice needed!

[Cindercincinge]

Hi my name is Cindy and I'm a 59 year old great grandmother. I badly need some advice from people who are also dealing with afib. Afib for 6 years and have RVR. Am now on Xaralto as I've had 3 CVA's thanks to afib. Luckily mild ones. Can't seem to find a medication to control afib and keep pulse and blood pressure stabile. Have tried sotalol metoprolol and now on verapamil. Would not take the amiadrone afraid of the horrendous side effects. Still having afib 4 times a week or more which lasts awhile. Pulse jumps between high 30's to mid 150's. Should I opt for an ablation? Anyone else have had luck on just meds? Any advice? Also Thank you!

[pottypete1]

You seem to know a lot about your condition.

If you are not seeing an EP that should be your next step.

If you are, or have been, offered an ablation you should have the suitability for your personal condition explained to you by the EP.

Ablation has a high success rate first time for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation, but sometimes it is necessary to have more than one ablation.

Pete

[Cindercincinge in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks for the advice Pete! Much appreciated!!

Cindy

[CDreamer]

Hi & welcome. I wondered if you have looked at lifestyle and nutrition? Ablation works for many but it often needs more than 1.

I’ve had 2 ablations, had about 3 years free of it but now back. I am not quite as symptomatic as I used to be though and don’t use any drugs other than anti-coagulants - because they all made me feel a LOT worse.

I use Mindfulness a lot, deep breathing, valsalva interventions which all help but don’t always stop the episodes. I have very low BP which drops in AF so controlling BP is the opposite for me!

If you go to the AFA website you will find lots of information on ablation and many posts by people who have had ablation and who are considering it. Just put ablation in search box at top of page and threads discussing will be listed.

Best wishes

[Cindercincinge in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, and thank you so much for your response which was very helpful!

Cindy

[Melleray]

Hi - I have had AF for 18 years. I have had 5 ablations, but I think only the first one really helped. It is a very difficult condition to deal with and is so different for everyone. We all react in different ways. But I am sure your situation can be improved by ablation if drugs are not helping. I take Sotalol. I also take Magnesium Citrate which I do think makes a difference. Also, do watch Dr Sanjay Gupta on utube. Yorkcardiology - he has lots of great advice to give about AF.

[Cindercincinge in reply to Melleray]

Hi Mellaray and thank you so much for your response! At first I was pretty apprehensive about an ablation, but now see it in a more positive light. The meds can be a roller coaster! Will check out Dr. Gupta's advice and thanks again!

Cindy

[Sarah57]

Hi Cindy

I had a successful , so far, cryoablation 2 years ago at 58 after my PAF was getting steadily worse over last 2 to 3 years. ( first started 20 years earlier..)

Got referred to an excellent EP, decided to have it done, and they offered me to go on a trial for a newer speedy cryoablation that sends you home the same day! I took it, had it done and after taking it slowly for 6 months, my quality of life is improved 100%

Just a positive thought for you. You are young enough (ha like me !) to really benefit from some AF free years and consider doing it before PAF becomes permanent ( which is possible in my understanding from EP/ cardiologist...)

Obviously risks with all medical operations and procedures so a very personnel choice.

Good luck

With good wishes

Sarah

[Cindercincinge in reply to Sarah57]

Hi Sarah and thank you so much! So glad it's worked for you and hearing this gives me some much needed hope! Take care!

Cindy

[Dodie117]

I had first and only ablation in November 2013 and AF free since then. See an EP and if they say you are suitable, I would say go for it.

[Cindercincinge in reply to Dodie117]

Thanks lallym and so glad to know it worked so well for you...very encouraging!

Cindy

[Spartacusfl]

I’m 58 and just had PAF and A-Flutter ablation last week. Bottom line, ablutions work. See a tried and truer EF with experience. Had Cryoablation on AF Much safer... and RF ablation on flutter. I did not want to ruin my future with meds. The condition only gets worse. Tuff out the 2-3 days of discomfort (not really pain). You’l be Glad you did! G

[Cindercincinge in reply to Spartacusfl]

Thanks Spartacusfl! Glad you're feeling better and I will look into the ablation.

Cindy

[barabas]

Below is from a prior post on this site. I am now about two months downstream from two ablations, one for Fib and one for Flutter. Going well so far, but impossible to predict how long it will successful - hopefully a very long time:-)! The primary reasons I proceeded with ablations, even though meds/PIP were an option, and EP didn't push me one direction or the other, are as follows:

(1) Ablations tend to be more successful if done early rather than later, and mine were starting to become more frequent

(2) Some drugs that treat Afib, for example, tend to exacerbate Flutter...if you have both Fib and Flutter. If the ablations at least remedy or reduce one of them, it makes an RX approach potentially much easier in future if only addressing one or the other.

(3) While there is always risk from any medical procedure, the stats on ablations are very good, especially for those in reasonably good health to start with. Statistically, very low downside to procedure for patients in good health other than Fib/Flutter.

(4) Like to stay active, and know some others who, for example, may have to drop out of round of golf midstream due to Flutter or Fib meds not working...or using PIP approach and even if Meds return them to normal rhythm in a few hours, it drops them out of action for at least a few hours. I wanted a chance to avoid all that, so decided to go with ablations.

BELOW FROM PRIOR POST ROUGHLY A MONTH AGO:

I had both flutter and A-Fib ablations about a month ago. Flutter only ablation is simpler/quicker procedure, apparently, and has higher success rate. Apparently many who have flutter only ablation are released same day, whereas for A-Fib or both almost always hospitalized overnight.

Procedure was painless..out entire time. Pretty tired for a few days after, but was under general anesthesia for quite a while since two procedures. Another person I know had flutter only procedure and was only under local, not general, anesthesia. Groin catheter entry point requires you to take it easy for several days and not lift anything heavy for 5 days or so after.

I did 30 minutes on an elliptical exercise machine, and then played 18 holes of golf, 6 days after the procedure.

Compared to even arthroscopic knee surgeries, the pain is way, way less - and in my case essentially no meaningful pain - and recovery time much shorter.

The only thing I really noticed, which many others on this site have reported, is "unusual sensations" for a while after procedure. Not pain, but feelings of light pressure in upper chest or neck...some shortness of breath if bend over and then stand up quickly. Apparently much of this is caused simply by Rx's that are taken post-procedure for a few months. They lower BP and pulse, so your heart/blood flow doesn't react as quickly to sudden movements. Psychologically these things can be worrisome because they are "new sensations" , but I have checked with MD's several times and even had a post-procedure CT scan....and all was viewed as normal.

Good luck with your procedure, sure it will go well!

[Cindercincinge in reply to barabas]

Hi barabas, thank you so much for the information and advice! I really appreciate both, and glad to hear you're now doing better!

Cindy

[Hidden]

Hi Cindy, I'm 74 and was diagnosed with AF in 2011. Was successfully cardioverted and remained AF-free without meds til 2014. Then when it returned was treated with various meds all of which caused side effects and stress as it was hard to stabilize my pulse with the meds. I was given a diagnosis of Tachy-Brady Syndrome and my Electrophysiologist suggested I might do better with an AV node ablation and a pacemaker. I noticed your rate jumps around which was what mine did. I opted for both in 2014 and have done well. Feel better all around and now take no cardiac drugs. For me my daily quality of life is much better than when I was on and off the various meds. Even if I needed another ablation down the road I would be happy I had the first one. I also tested and managed my own coumadin but wanted to be off all anticoagulants so in Jan of this year I opted to have a cardiac cath procedure called Occlusion of Left Atrial Appendage with insertion of a Watchman device. So far, so good. Off Coumadin and I already feel a reduction of my side effects from the coumadin. For me this route has so far worked out well. If you want to talk to a doctor about your options please go to an Electrophysiologist. No surgery should be taken lightly but for me the meds caused me to feel unwell most of the time. Am happy to be rid of them. I now feel I'm well managed and don't have all the stress I felt before getting off the meds. IMO, once you find the treatments that work best for you, hopefully you will find AF is not such a bad illness to deal with. It's possible to feel well, be stable, and not have to focus on a-fib all the time. Good luck on your a-fib journey. xx irina

[Cindercincinge in reply to Hidden]

Hi irina and thank you so much for your response! I'm glad to hear that you have found some relief, and something that works well for you! I will certainly take your advice and see a electrophysiologist. Knowing your success gives me hope. Tonight was unfortunately a bad night for afib, and like you, the meds are really wearing on me. An ablation is looking less scary everyday, and I would love to throw all these confounded things away! Thank you again and all the best to you!

Cindy

[Hidden in reply to Cindercincinge]

Good morning, Cindy. (It's morning here in Atlanta). You're very welcome. And if you want to PM me with any questions. please feel free. Take care. xx irina

[Cindercincinge in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much and I really appreciate that, irina! All the best!

Cindy