In sinus ablation day?

[cuore]

I have an ablation (my third) scheduled for May 27. But I am now in six day sinus. My question is were you in sinus the day of ablation and did it make a difference?

[BobD Volunteer]

Makes no difference. They have clever drugs to put you into AF if needed.

[Hidden]

Yes I was and no it didn't. Many folk are in rhythm prior to having an ablation, because the EP is able to induce AF it is not normally a problem.

[Hidden]

Oh the irony! Drugs to put you into AF.... what about some to put you in NSR?!! Properly I mean, a proper cure!

[Dawsonmackay]

I just underwent my third this past Monday. I was definitely in Afib. This morning I took a walk and when I returned home, I was back in Afib. This is a tenacious fighter. I’m hoping that the scarring tissue in the blanking period will snuff it out. If not, the docs implemented the Topera system, a new mapping and math technique to pinpoint “hot spots.” The docs said if it’s needed, they will do a fourth ablation using the Topera coordinates. Five million people a year are diagnosed with Afib. The sheer volume of ablations per year will make this technology superior soon. Don’t give up. It’s part of this life! If you’re in sinus a few days before your ablation, then they will cancel it.

[cuore in reply to Dawsonmackay]

For me, canceling is not an option at the late date as I am flying 14 hours for the procedure and paying for it myself. Once I pay the hospital fee, book flight and hotels, there is no turning back.

I do hope you go into sinus and remain there.

[dmac4646 in reply to cuore]

no need to turn back they will soon have you in afib

[icklebud99]

I was in synus and it made no difference.

[val757]

I was in sinus rhythm when I went in for my first and so far only ablation. With paroxysmal AF if they had waited for me to be in AF to do it, it would never have happened. Over two years later I’m currently free of AF episodes.

[cuore in reply to val757]

So wise of you and your medical team to have your ablation while you were paroxysmal. The "medics" let me get into persistent so I'm still battling to get into sinus and remain there. I am so hoping this third ablation will do the trick to remain there.

[val757 in reply to cuore]

Good luck, I hope it works for you this time

[AIW58]

I've been in sinus rhythm since starting Flecainide in Sept and before that I had AF for 3-4 hours once or twice a year increasing to monthly last year. I was still put forward for an ablation (due March 28th 😀) . So it can't matter being in SR.

Bit scary knowing they can put you in AF but makes sense they need to locate the problem area.

Good luck

[cuore in reply to AIW58]

Wow! You must have a really good medical team on your side because you don't appear to have spent that long collectively in arrhythmia. How wonderful that your medics are so up to date. If I am reading your post correctly, you have been in sinus for over six months. Your post is most encouraging as I have been in sinus for only a week, and if I remain in sinus, it will be short of three months total to ablation.

[AIW58 in reply to cuore]

Hi yes I've been AF free 6months since starting Flecainide (50 twice daily) I saw a cardiologist 3 or so years ago when I was getting episodes once or twice a year and at that time we just left it. When the episodes started increasing to monthly (Jan 18) I went back to see him. He said he'd put me on ablation waiting list recommended I start meds whilst waiting and if they worked it was my choice whether to have the ablation, but in his opinion an ablation was a 'no brainer'. It took a while to get on the tablets as I had to wait for the CT angio. I could've had ablation a a month or two ago but they were happy to defer to now as that worked best re my work and having time off to recover. Yes I guess I'm lucky with my docs and having a good (I hope!) EP.

I really hope your travel and procedure goes smoothly.

Let us know.

Amanda

[Jfarreast in reply to AIW58]

The way I understand it, they have to put you into adib to see which areas are misfiring so they know where to ablate.

[Brizzy5000]

I was in AF and Atrial Flutter when I went in for mine last year, it was just for AF but my EP told me I was in flutter as well he said it made no difference to him he said he would do both and he did, since my op no AF or flutter.

One happy bunny here!

[Hidden]

Yes I was in NRS, Like Bob says, they can put you in AF to see where the rogue singles are coming from on their mapping software, they then ablate these areas and you return to NSR

[Hidden]

Yes I was in sinus they gave me a drug in the cath lab that set off the AF and they mapped where they needed to zapp. At the end they gave me the drug again to set it off again but I stayed in sinus so the surgeon was pleased and said it looks as if its been a success.

[Dawsonmackay in reply to Hidden]

They did that to me too a week ago. Induced Afib and it would not happen, so they deduced I was Afib free. Six days later, I take a walk and back in Afib! Everybody's heart is different.

[cuore in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Your situation is the concern that my heart will behave likewise. Since I'm traveling over seas to get this ablation, I am banking that should I continue in sinus, they can put me in arrhythmia. With my history of persistent AF, putting me back in arrhythmia should not be a problem.

I suspect this was your first ablation and you were paroxysmal.

How ironical that battling to be in sinus, I am now discussing "wanting" to be in arrhythmia. Right now, I can only see the humour of it all.

[Dawsonmackay in reply to cuore]

Last week was my third ablation and I Have persistent Afib. Good luck to you.

[Hidden in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Yes indeed and it's early days for me only 4 weeks, I'm taking each day as it comes. I have now been diagnosed with sleep apnea so it could have been triggering the AF, just learning to get used to sleeping with a mask on.

[cuore in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for explaining how the drug to induce AF works.

Give the drug to start the arrhythmia; do the ablating; confirm no AF by giving the drug again. I will know what to expect should I be in sinus.

[Coco51]

When my first ablation was booked I had been put into sinus for 3 months by cardioversion. I went back into persistent AF the week before the ablation! But they weren't to know that would happen when the ablation was first scheduled so like many people posting above I don't believe it matters.

I thought of cancelling when I went into NSR. Thank goodness I didn't. Pesky unpredictable atria! Good luck with the trip to France.

[cuore in reply to Coco51]

The combination of Diltiazem 120mg and Flecainide 100 x 2 mg has put me back into sinus so far for a week. Pre this drug combo, cardioversion ( my third) lasted 5 days.

My EP where I live seems to take a slower approach to ablation rather than booking me right away compared to yours when electrical or chemical cardioversions don't work. You can be booked to get an ablation in Bordeaux in half the time for a cardioversion where I live. It sounds as if you were booked for the ablation at the same time you had the cardioversion.

As I have a history of persistent, there is a high probability that I will be in persistent at the time of ablation. Your post gives me guidance not to even think of canceling.

[Coco51 in reply to cuore]

Good luck!

[KMRobbo]

I was in nsr and had been for months, con trolled by flecainide. I did not stop the tablets. The EP can induce AF and then ensure it is removed during the ablation. Don't worry