Hey Y'all , first Let me put my boots on and kick these tumbleweeds out of way first..
I'm 60ish male at proper weight. I've had PAF for 5 years. Took 2 years to get a proper diagnosis (glad I didn't have a stroke). Spent a week in the hospital when I went to emergency room. They put me on flecinide , metopolol and xarato daily. I'm a Vet so I use the VA medical system. They recommended an ablation at the time but no longer do. At first I agreed but changed my mind. It was the right decision for me. I'm fairly stable with an afib episode every 6 to 7 months, usually 4 hours at a time. The young Dr's who wanted the ablation totally sugar coated the procedure. I thought to myself after much reading that these youngsters are going nowhere near my heart ! I know things can change and it might be inevitable but my cardiologist is fine with the way things are. I was recently diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. Afib has taken a back seat on the anxiety bus. Reminds me of my Dad. When I was kid and something was hurting he'd say something like" let me stomp on your foot , you'll forget about it "
Much empathy to those on here who have been run through the mill.
Well y'all have a good one , time for me to go shoot a couple rattlesnakes out back in the barn..
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Hi from the UK. Im of the same opinion. I have had AF diagnosed since 2013,probably had it before I think. A really bad time in my life I think had contributed massively,work and home up to my neck in stress. Was given bisoprolol and sent home. 4 years later and stress levels still high due to all sorts of reasons,(last parent died in nursing home in unexplained circumstances...Inquestetc) I had a ministroke.No aftereffects,but was put on anticoagulants(good!) and flecanide(hmm) by ElectroPhysiologist and Cardio people. And put on waitng list for ablation Feb 2018.
However
long story short....With the guidance of my GP have been able to reduce from 200mg flecanide to 25mg a day...hoping to get off altogether,also beta blocker now gone.Can use either as a Pill in Pocket if get sudden attack.
So,the million dollar question,having waited a year for the ablation,do I need it? Lost/losing weight/exercising lots etc etc......I am not suffering as others are on this forum...
BTW what is an acoustic thingy?
Will be interested to see how you get on! Go eat your cowboy beans!!!
Howdy Wilsond , after reading all the stories of multiple ablations , long recoveries, ectopics, etc. I see no need to put myself through that until meds don't work anymore. Ablations are temporary solutions. I believe better ways of doing ablations are getting closer. Maybe by the time it's my turn there will be better ways of getting it done. I recently read about one.
Any and all treatment for AF is only ever about improving quality of life so even though I am a great fan of ablation (having had ten wonderful AF free years) I do understand your position. I am also concerned that unlike here in UK where doctors get paid whether they do ablations or not, I know that across the pond it has been seen as yet another money grabbing opportunity and not all EPs are equal.
Hi BobD , I'm also a Bob (Robert). The VA system is the closest thing to socialized medicine here in the states. You get who you get for a DR. No choice. It has gotten better for certain procedures if the VA doesn't have that certain specialist. Your allowed to go outside the system with choices. In my case I didn't feel the need to take a chance . If my QOL was rotten with constant afib I definitely would have done it.
Hi & welcome. It is a personal choice, I’ve had 2 ablations which gave me 3 AF free years after 7-8 years of very symptomatic, fast AF with frequent episodes lasting up to 3-4 days. I couldn’t tolerate Beta blockers but Fleccainide did hold the AF at bay for a few years but it is a very dirty (toxic) drug to be taking daily, long term and I would caution you to have regular liver & kidney function bloods, I hope your Dr has that arranged for you,
From the sounds of it your AF is not frequent or that symptomatic so I think one always has to balance the risk to benefit and in my case it was definitely the right thing to do for me. Recovery times vary hugely and you will read only the bad reactions on forums like this as the people for whom it is successful ride on out into the sunset.
Hi CDreamer , they do blood work every 6 months. They worry more about xaralto than the flecinide. Your right , they call it risk-reward . Cardiac ablation carries a risk of complications, including: Bleeding or infection at the site where your catheter was inserted. Damage to your blood vessels where the catheter may have scraped as it traveled to your heart. ... Damage to your heart valves. A 1 in 1000 chance of death. No doubt it's a serious operation not to be taken lightly. Important to decide what feels right for ourselves. I also belong on ANA acoustic neuroma association site and it's the same way. The success stories move on.
Greetings from Illinois. My cardiologist never even mentioned ablation. I am only 52 and wanted it just taken care of. Best chance for success getting it done early. I was informed that all medication avenues must be exhausted first. But I am doing okay on meds. That wasn't the case at first. Glad you are doing good and glad to meet ya.
Hey Madscientist16 , nice to meet you. I believe i've read that less ablations are being performed with more emphasis on meds for people with paf here in the states. Managing stress , diet and lifestyle along with it. At first I was paranoid about the meds, especially the xaralto. Not so much anymore though I'm still very careful around knives and ladders. It's actually a blessing now due to acute tinnitus from an acoustic neuroma. The meds put me to sleep.
You have probably the best ablationist in the US & Canada near you in Austin! I followed from Alabama to the Cleveland Clinic but he had left to start his own Clinic in Austin! I am so glad I found Dr. Natale in 2010!
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Update on my first EP visit & recomendation
too old for ablation?
Confused (like a lot of us!)
AFIB Return
Anybody ever get 'strange' chest sensations that aren't afib? 
