Ablation Options

[Rossdkemp]

Hi All, looking for some guidance. I had my first known experience of Afib around a year ago and required a cardio version. Since then I’ve been on flecinide and Bisoprolol daily. Had no further symptoms and returned to playing football on a regular basis. Then at the start of this week went into Afib again. Took an extra flecanide and it cleared up around an hour later. I’m due to see my cardiologist on Saturday and wondering if I should be pushing for an ablation before the condition progresses further as it generally seems to do. I’m 32 with a young family so hoping I still have a few years left of being fit and active. Thanks in advance. Ross

[Hidden]

I think that consultants now are less likely to contradict patents with strong views.

I suggest you go with an open mind. That way you are more likely to hear what the cardiologist really thinks. There is no hurry and a later second opinion might be sensible.

This is also the time to be exploring a more holistic approach to managing your AF, before going further down the route of more potentially toxic medication, and invasive procedures.

[Rossdkemp in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I’ll go in with an open mind and take it from there.

[jedimasterlincoln]

Repeated AF episodes would certainly make you a candidate for ablation, and my own EP would probably suggest it would be a good idea particularly if there was an impact on quality of life.

I say this as being 31 and active when I was diagnosed the AF was breaking through the same medications you are on and my quality of life was affected severely.

[Rossdkemp in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks. Appreciate you sharing.

[Snowcatdaddy]

If and when you are ready, please research the brilliance of Dr. Natale in Texas. Fitness was exactly why I sought him out circa 2009!

[Hidden]

I agree with Oyster that it’s best to go with an open mind- neither pushing for an ablation nor resisting one of it is proposed. I have an assessment for an ablation at Barts next week. Some people have told me that they like to intervene early with PAF; others (including a consultant) say that they think they may not offer one as the medication option has not been fully explored yet. Whatever the EP says, I will ask that he justifies his decision with a coherent argument.

[Rossdkemp in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I’ll see what my doctor has to say.

[Geza10]

At your age don't jump the gun I am still playing football at 61 I played semi pro at 52 then AF come along my heart rate before AF came along was 45 resting and it would take 20min to get to 140 in a game

Now it is 55-65 per min jumps out of beat every 30 or so but can still play just not as as much stamina

If your heart beat is fast at resting you may need to talk to a good heart specialist I never thought my heart would go out of beat for being to fit

There are worse things in life keep positive keep you football going even if it's 6-side with mates good luck

[Rossdkemp in reply to Geza10]

Thanks. Appreciate the advice 🙂

[KMRobbo]

I was 55 when AF was diagnosed . I was on a light drugs routine for 20 months and I could actually get rid of the AF by running. 1 or 1.25 miles, 7 or 10 mins then back to NSR. Unfortunately after 20 months this trick stopped working and after being cardioverted by IV flecainide infusion from high rate AFib i was prescribed flecainide and diltiatiazem. I did not get on with these drugs esp the latter. At this point i started looking to do "something else". This became the ablation. It took until 29th Jan 2018 to get this sorted (8 months) and then after 10 days I developed atrial flutter in the right side if my heart, nothing to do with anything else but maybe promoted by the flecainide I was still taking for the AFib. To get rid I had a flutter ablation on the 26th Feb. A month recovering from this and I had spent 10 months I wish I had not spent as it was not very pleasant! If I have to do this again in a future life I would have started looking for the ablation a lot sooner, as soon as I had multiple attacks of afib and missed the 10 months out! Only hindsight but it was apparent my AF was progressively getting worse. "AF begets AF" is true for me certainly. I have not had AF since the ablation(or flutter either) which is 12 months in a weeks time. I have not taken any drugs since 15 may 2018. It is great not to as I had drug side effects.

With hindsight I would have had the ablation earlier to prevent the AF, which may not have got worse as I would never have had another attack. It would have slowed everytbing down certainly and I would not have spent 8 or9 nights in hospital. It would have been a " nip It in the bud"aporoach. Sorry but afib affects people in different ways and for different reasons so I cannot tell you this would work for you. Worth discussing with your medics though.

I doubt my current happy state of affairs will last forever , but I am happy now

[Rossdkemp in reply to KMRobbo]

Great to hear your outcome and thanks for sharing.

[Geza10]

No problem rossdkemp

[Rossdkemp]

Hi all. Just thought I’d share my update. Had my appointment on Saturday and got given the option to proceed with an ablation. Have decided to go ahead and hoping to be booked in for March. Fingers crossed.