No ablation!

[margar17]

Hello again! Been awhile since I was here, so, an update. My cardiologist referred me to an electrophysiologist at Bristol Royal Infirmary, last June. I finally saw him in January! At the same time as the referral, my cardiologist changed my medication from Bisoprolol to Diltiazem, which I've been on before. However, it worked! I was getting AF episodes daily, but that stopped within two weeks of taking Diltiazem. Its wonderful to be free of the discomfort and sleeplessness caused by AF. So, when I discussed this with the EP, he said an ablation, at this time, would be unnecessary. If AF returns, I'm to phone my cardio unit and they will make the appointment for the BRI straightforward, no referral again will be necessary. The EP says, after they did an ECG, that the AF was active, but I couldn't feel it because of the medication. I'm happy with that, but so hope the medication continues to keep it at bay. I know there's no guarantee of that, though.

Hope everyone here is okay.

[BobD Volunteer]

As I am sure you will have been told many times any and all treatment for AF is only ever about improving quailty of life (QOL) so that all sounds quite sensible.

[MarkS]

I found Dilt to be great for my AF. It covered up a lot of my symptoms. However I was very surprised when I went for a holter monitor which showed I had AF 80% of the time. It was then that I decided to go for an ablation.

[cuore]

It sounds as if you are/were paroxysmal. Your new drug is a rate control to keep the heart rate down as opposed to help you get back into sinus. It's interesting that you got the added bonus of getting back to sinus without having to add an anti-arrhythmic drug. I would venture that you are still relatively young.

I have been told by my EP, as I am persistent, that anti-arrhythmic drugs will hardly fix the problem. Do update us as to how you get along.