Ablation

[grussell49]

Anyone have a successful first ablation

[BobD Volunteer]

Define successful . Most ablations are only a partial succcess as nothing currently actually cures AF. Many people find better quality of life and often reduced or eliminated drug regime (apart from anticoagulation) but this takes time. Three to six months is average so don't expect instant results. How long may it last? Again hard to say. I'm ten plus years since my last but not complacent.

[grussell49 in reply to BobD]

Thank u for responding..... That’s pretty much what I thought but I’ll take it 👍🏻

[Hidden in reply to grussell49]

19 months so far, so successful as far as it goes

Will I have af again in the future? Probably , but I'm enjoying not having it at the moment (there is always that thought at the back of your mind that it's doing to start again)

[wilsond]

Im wondering why people bother! If it does not lessen stroke risk or stop af or the need for anticoagulants?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to wilsond]

Best quote Dr Gupta there. It is not the AF that causes the stroke risk it is the company it keeps. If your CHADSVASC score was zero and you only take anticoagaulation for the period of ablation and recovery you would not normally need to continue after that.

[Hidden in reply to wilsond]

It’s all down to quality of life and not wanting to taking potent medication for the rest of your life. I know where my preferences lie.

[Dodie117 in reply to wilsond]

It does stop af for many. My quality of life was abysmal but one ablation in 2013 and I have had 5 years free of this horrible disease.

[wilsond in reply to Dodie117]

Oh I have read on here that it doesn't stop af but stops us being aware of it! That sounds good news and more encouraging. Thanks

[Dodie117 in reply to wilsond]

I think you may be thinking of pacemaker?? Ablation is meant to stop it and for some it takes a number of ablations, others need only one and of course for some it does not work at all.

My EP was of the opinion that the earlier it was done the better the chances of success. When first diagnosed he gave me the choice- meds route or ablation. I opted for ablation so have little experience of different meds. I was on bisoprolol whilst on the waiting list and hated it as made me very breathless and interfered with my way of life.

I am on apixaban for life as had suspected TIA prior to diagnosis. I chose this as stroke terrifies me.

Good luck in making choices.

[icklebud99 in reply to wilsond]

It has eliminated all the symptoms of AFib so it's well worth it for me.

[UScore]

Mine was 8 or 9 months ago and I have had no AF since. I now take no drugs at all and no longer worry about it.

I still carry flecainide around with me, just in case. But on the whole I'm getting on with my life and it's like I never had AF at all.

Ablation was the best decision for me. Even if AF comes back tomorrow, all this time without it has been worth the effort.

[grussell49 in reply to UScore]

Wonderful I can only pray for the same 👍🏻

[wilsond in reply to UScore]

Did you have any other factors such as high bp,obesity etc? Trying to get big picture while I wait...thanks for your input xxx

[UScore in reply to wilsond]

No, I am 41 and in decent shape really. Only time will tell if the ablation holds I guess.

[Rebma in reply to UScore]

Do you follow a strict diet and exercise plan also? It seems it all is connected. My neighbor cardioverted several times and on medicines but refusesto follow diet and alcohol restrictions.

[UScore in reply to Rebma]

Not really. Not strictly. I was already reasonably healthy; I exercise quite a bit, am vegetarian and watch what I eat. I enjoy a few beers every now and again, although certainly not as many as I used to.

I've always said that it's finding the right balance. I have no intention of completely denying myself things I enjoy. What's the point of living if you can't feel alive? But at the same time I'm pretty responsible and don't over-indulge very often.

[pottypete1]

There are cath labs up and down the country and worldwide that are dedicated to performing ablations for AF.

The patients who were lucky enough to have a successful ablation (the majority) don’t see the fun in visiting a forum dedicated to advice for those suffering with AF.

Pete

[UScore in reply to pottypete1]

That's why I keep popping up every now and again. Because when I was agonising over whether to have an ablation I was desperate to hear the good news stories too! So I am very pleased to (currently) be able to provide one.

[Dodie117]

Me too. Ablation in November 2013, 5 months with lots of bumps and arrhythmias. Then all went quiet and no af since then. BLISS!!

[Cat04]

No AF since my (first) ablation but it's only been 4 weeks, fingers crossed!

[sirey]

Three years and two months since my ablation. I know there is always a possibility it may return but in the meantime enjoying the freedom from the awful A.F.

[Quilafizz]

The goal of ablation is no meds and no AF. If you have been years free of AF without meds after ablation, I would call yourself cured. The Cleveland clinic now uses the terminology "cured" for successful ablations.

The factors that predict first time successful ablation outcome are:

*No cardiac co-morbidities (CHF, Valve pathology, history of heart attack, cardiomegaly, etc...you would have been told you have these prior to surgery)

*Normal left atrial size

*History of paroxysmal, not persistent AF

* Little to no remodeling tissue in the atria

* No serious lung pathology

* An experienced ablationist

* Having a 4 vessel ablation (all of your pulmonary veins) vs. a 1 vessel ablation

Having said that, I've had several patients that didn't meet the criteria above and had first time successful ablations.

I had one ablation 9 months ago, off all meds for 6 months, AF free. Like lallym above, I do get bumps and 5 second arrhythmias, but by the time I reach for my Kardia, they stop.

So keep your fingers crossed- I know it's hard not to obsess about it !

[wilsond in reply to Quilafizz]

Thank you for that,seems many of us get little information from our medical teams such as this,which is certainly reassuring. X

[Quilafizz in reply to wilsond]

I know- it's all so 'routine' for them. This is heart surgery, not a procedure.

[Adiepie]

15 months ago for me, full pvi cryo ablation, effectively med free, just anticoag and microangina meds’, feel infinitely better. Couple of breakthroughs, EP may still want to do a touch up, would have this with no hesitation whatsoever!

[jondeanp]

I started with AF which turned into flutter. I had an ablation in February this year and have been free of arrhythmia since and on no meds.

I have been able to return to exercise, which i struggled with previously.

I am aware that this period may be temporary but i'm going with the flow and enjoying my freedom from arrhythmia

[KMRobbo]

I had an AF PVI cryo ablation 29th January 2018. I have not had Afib since.

I unfortunately developed 're entrant atrial flutter in the other (right) atria in early February which was not anything I had had previously ( may have been promoted by the flecainide I was taking). I had another ablation on the 26th Feb for this and the flutter stopped then and has not re- ocurred since and my EP is not expecting it will.

I have not taken any drugs since May 15th.

Successful? I think so I am a fib and drug free!

Will it last forever ? Don't know and currently don't care as I am happy as I am.

I could get knocked down by a bus tommorrow- why worry?!!

Cheers

[Offcut]

I have had 3 Ablations however each one was to treat a different part of my heart. As my GP put it "My Electrics are screwed!" I am one with multi conditions as well that do not help the mix.

When I was first diagnosed in 1992 I had 2 choices of hospitals for ablations and they had a 85% fail rate! My last one was 15% Fail rate and was done by an EP that was trained by the now professor that did my first Two.

I must add I am by no means your normal AFer and have now to many conditions to list!

Be well

[Slim2018]

Yes indeed my Ablation fixed my Atrial flutter first time...ok it did give me an Atrial Fibrillation three days later that took a Cardioversion two weeks later to fix (?), well five weeks Flutter and Fibrillation free. The Kardia is worth every penny because every time I miss a beat or feel odd and think OMG its back, NORMAL pops up on my phone and I relax. Like many eight weeks on since the Ablation I don’t feel “right” yet, non specific just “not right” but every day feel a bit more “normal”. Best advice from this AF page is a) don’t expect miracles over the first three months b) listen to what other people say c) follow the Doctor from York University who is absolutely ace.

[icklebud99]

I don't want to tempt fate but I had my ablation in April and have been feeling great so far. Came off Flecainide after a month. Waiting to see Cardiologist to come off Atenolol now. I get some palpitations but never AFib. Slight thumping if I eat dark chocolate but my energy level has gone up and I'm living an almost normal life.

[Brizzy50000]

Similar to icklebud99 had ablation on the 2nd of May had an hour run of AF on day 6 but nothing since, now off all heart meds just on rivaroxaban anti-coagulant because of my age, also take Magnesium Turate for eptopics and this has reduced them greatly

[grussell49 in reply to Brizzy50000]

Awesome

[grussell49]

Thank you everyone for responding.... had my first yesterday... have had paroxysmal afib about two years... 🙏 I’ll have lasting results

[UScore in reply to grussell49]

good luck to you. Take it super easy for a week, then pretty easy for a few weeks after that.