Abalation recommendation

[Kahst1]

Today went and seen the EP. his recommendation was to have this procedure. He says the success rate is between 75-80 percent. Is this realistic. Trying to weigh options of medicine vs abalation.

Any advice welcome.

[dar2drm]

Hello:

I think many people experience the good results your doctor mentioned. I have not had that experience and I think you will find others have had the same challenges. I admit that I am responding from a frustrated place, two months after the surgery, but if I had to do it all over again, I would stick with my well controlled AFIB on medication and not do the surgery.

[Kahst1 in reply to dar2drm]

Thank you for the reply. What struggles are you having?

[Alexander901]

I tried medicine first but was always advised that ultimately I would benefit from cardiac ablation. In fact this came sooner than thought as the AF episodes were not managed by drugs. One week post op feeling very confident. I too was advised that 3 out of 4 procedures are successful.

[Hidden]

Always a difficult decision to make, but we rarely (and I mean rarely) get posts from folk who say they regret having their ablation(s). Good luck.

[BobD Volunteer]

In my opinion go for the ablation. The sooner the better really as the more the heart gets used to AF the more difficult it is to stop. Do remember .however, that it may take more than one procedure (it really isn't surgery) to reach the quoted percentages and recovery is not instant. I was heartbroken when I wasn't dancing out of the ward next day fully cured but it isn't like that and can take many months before you feel the full benefit.

If you decide then please go to the AF Association website and read the fact sheets on preparing for and recovering from an ablation.

Another thing to emphasise as Flapjack mentions is that on a forum like this you seldom get people hanging around who have had successful ablations. The just don't need our support any more so by definition you will have more negative responses than positive I fear.

[Kahst1 in reply to BobD]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I will keep it updated to how it’s going.

[jeanjeannie50]

What is your heart doing Kahst1 to make you need an ablation?

Jean

[Kahst1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I am in persistent afib since November. Tried 2 cardioversions and now recommending abalation

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Kahst1]

Is it making you feel really ill?

[Kahst1 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

No not at all. I get fatigued from time to time. But overall not to bad

[baba in reply to Kahst1]

If it's not affecting you quality of life why risk an ablation?

[IanMK in reply to Kahst1]

I haven’t had any cardioversions but I had an ablation last week. As Bob says, it’s not (open) surgery. The EP went in through the femoral artery at the top of my leg/ groin under general anaesthetic. This left a very small wound and a slight bruise. The dressing was off after a few days. It was easier than a visit to the dentist - and I don’t mind dentists! If I had to identify a worst part, I would probably say that they didn’t shave me. Although I’m not a particularly hirsute male, it made my eyes water when the dressings were changed. Unfortunately, the procedure wasn’t sufficient in my case so I’m lined-up for a pacemaker and further ablation at the end of the month. I’m looking forward to reaching the light at the end of the tunnel.

[Kahst1 in reply to IanMK]

Thank you for the response. It is all helpful.

[secondtry]

I got the same advice from my EP 4 years ago but I am PAF not Persistent. The decision is complex, personal and individual. In summary if you are asking then your QOL is probably quite good and if you are a coward (there a few of us around) then you try medication first while you get your head around it and your physicality built up for quicker recovery of 'the insult' that an ablation certainly is.

I have no regrets sticking to medication ( as no side effects) and in the meantime making some major changes to lifestyle and health, which I feel sure have helped me avoid many other chronic issues in the future. Good luck, either way you won't know which was the better route so go with your 'gut feel'.