My cardiologist is advising me to go for ablation. I'm not too sure if I should or even need it done.
I would have about 2 episodes a year lasting about an hour which settles after taking my meds. Reading on this forum it seems to me that ablation could make matters worse and my cardiologist did say it may not work. I need advice folks.
I had 4 episodes in a year and had an ablation. Only 3 months ago so can't say if it was a success yet, tho I've had no AF since. But it was a pretty easy procedure on the day, and a very easy recovery. I'd have another one tomorrow if it was necessary.
For me, the primary motivation was that AF is usually a progressive decision. So it might be 4 a year now, but it could be 8 next year and more the year after. And it's supposed to be that the sooner you have an ablation, the more successful it is likely to be, because you stop your heart getting re-modelled thus making AF more frequent.
I certainly wouldn't consider an ablation in your situation. I personally think that AF needs to be really disrupting your life and making you feel ill before you take the ablation step. Have you tried the healthy lifestyle route? Members on this forum have said how changing to a healthier diet, losing weight, cutting out alcohol and caffeine have really helped.
After having three ablations (and still have AF) a cardiologist has suggested to me that my heart is now a little stiff, due to the scarring. Little is spoken about this effect of ablation anywhere.
My advice is please, please try the healthier diet etc. I just wish someone had advised me to try that before I had my first ablation.
Jean
Also a perfectly valid alternative opinion to what I said.
My personal preference would be both things. Ablation AND living healthier.
The very worst thing to do would be have an ablation and then go back to a lifestyle of over-eating, smoking, no-exercising, and/or heavy alcoholing.
Hi UScore
Why not advise others to try the healthier lifestyle first, it just might work. If it doesn't then opt for the ablation. The procedure does damage the heart with the scar tissue that forms, so in my opinion when AF is mild it should not be the first option. Before my first ablation I had no idea that lifestyle and diet could help and as I said wished someone had brought it to my attention. Did you try the healthy diet route first?
My younger sister had AF quite a long time ago and after a few years it just went away. She doesn't give it a thought now.
Jean
I'm not medically trained, I can only really advise on what I've done. Plus I was advised to go for ablation early by the two EPs I saw.
Personally, I didn't have many lifestyle changes to make. I don't have much weight to lose, and am reasonably healthy. There was room for improvement as there is with anyone, which I'm trying, but I didn't believe that would be enough to make significant difference to AF.
In addition I suspect that AF chases you your whole life, you can delay it through lifestyle changes but it'll probably catch up eventually. I wanted to to hobble it as early as I could.
But, like I said, I'm certainly no expert, and I'm not saying your approach is wrong at all. It's just not what I did.
Thank you x
Thank you for your advice folks. Well I don't smoke, drink coffee I would maybe have 2 glass of wine or 2 gins in a month I don't walk enough which I'm trying to do my diet isn't too bad but I'm on steroids for a thing called polymyalgia rheumatica which don't help. Every time I reduce them to come off them the PM flares up. Thanks %
Inflammation is one of the triggers for AF so that may be a factor in your case, ironic that an ablation which inflames your heart initially should be a treatment for it! You don't give your age but I think it is a consideration, younger people often seem to opt for ablation early if offered to nip AF in the bud, whereas older people often have it as a last resort - several reasons for that. I just chose a pacemaker over ablation because of tachybrady syndrome which worsens with age and means I can't safely take any meds for AF while at home.
I worry a little that ablation is a 'thing' at the moment and may turn out to have a downside in time. Just going on what I know of your situation I'd wait a while and see what happens.
I had an appointment with my EP in Wythenshaw this week and I am in the same position as you in that I have had AF twice a year since 2014, last year it amounted to 40 hours. My EP decided with my approval to leave it and see him in a years time. I take Bisoprolol as a PIP as I am very aware when it starts. I also take Apixaban, I would only consider Ablasion if it got worse and I couldn’t cope with it, hope this helps, kind regards, Heather
Having had a successful ablation myself I am very pro them, but in your case I think I'd wait a year to see if it is getting worse. If not then stay with the meds but if you start to see it getting more regular get the ablation done then.
I have only had three goes with AF in the last 12 months, but I was put on the waiting list for ablation after the second bout. I'm in the same position of being totally wavering on whether to go through with it or not. The more I read, the more confused I get. When the time comes, maybe by November this year, I still don't know which way I will go. However, it's not just the drugs/ablation choice, it is also the side effects and co-morbidities to be considered. I have recently read the two opposing views about the CABANA trial, and that almost convinced me to have the ablation. Another consideration is an American report from 2016 "Atrial fibrillation patients are at increased risk of dementia, regardless of anticoagulation use".
One thing is certain, you must maintain the anti-coagulation even after AF has stopped happening. It can always come back as well.
My doc said if Afib is gone for several months, it’s ok to stop thinners...I just had my 2nd ablation Tues, 4 months after my first.
Well, maybe that is his opinion, but I wouldn't risk it. Perhaps not certain then, but I know that I am certain after reading this very recent thread, and the links that Hidden posted there.
healthunlocked.com/afassoci......
And: they are NOT blood thinners! The anti-coagulation function has no effect on the viscosity of the blood, they affect the speed at which clotting occurs.
I am a great believer in ablation and had one in 2013 which has stopped my AF for now. However in your position I would not have one. I was having 4/5 episodes a week, lasting 5/6 hours.
Ablation like all af treatments is to improve quality of life and as yours is not really impacted there is no real need. I know it’s more successful at an earlier stage but this seems too soon. Only the opinion of a non expert!
I've had AF 20 times in the past year. It lasts anything from a couple of hours to two or three days but it doesn't affect me too much. In January 2017 I was offered an ablation (which would be number four) and also daily medication but have not opted for either for the time being and seem reasonably stable. I was diagnosed seven years ago.
Two episodes a year for an hour or so? I have two episodes a week and I've learned to live with them because they're not debilitating and I can easily tolerate them. (I don't take medication for them either, except for the anticoagulant for stroke prevention.) Frankly, I've seen too many people on this forum who have had multiple ablations before they get any relief. I could definitely live with two a year without surgical intervention!
Thank you for your advice. Think I'm going to just continue the way I am going.
I had an Ablation in September after what I thought was 2 major episodes. My EP however suggested, following a heart reading for 3-days, that I was in and out of AF much of the time. I wasn’t aware and had no specific symptoms. So at 50-years of age decided on Ablation mainly because I did so much research on the longer term impacts of the various drugs.
I have been AF free until recently and I am scheduled for a touch-up Ablation. I am however cautious about the long term impacts of scare tissue on the heart however.
I am trying to completely change my lifestyle because I don’t know what has caused my AF. It could be hereditary but as both parents are deceased I’ll never know.
I think I’m coming around to thinking it’s my nervous system at fault, for whatever reason.
I've just had an episode of AF which lasted just over an hour. Exactly 6 months since the last and I feel so tired. I had 3/4 glasses of wine on Sunday at a family BBQ. ( bad move I know) just wondering if that would trigger it as I would only have one glass now and again.
To ablate or not
Ablation?
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Confused- ablate or not
