Advice please.

[Bubs6]

I'm waiting for a date for ablation. I'm still not sure if I should have it done. I have 1 to2 episodes per year lasting 1 to 1.5 hours at a time. I doesn't affect my quality of life. It always happens between 4 and 6 am, i take my medication and rest. Just don't what to do for the best .

[Hidden]

Hello Bubs, one of the most difficult questions to respond too because in the end, it has to be your decision. An ablation may not cure AF and it can often take more than one procedure to get a good result. It’s all about quality of life and there may be a number of things you could do to reduce the burden of AF which appears to be fairly low at the moment. Life style changes (if they apply) can have a major impact and you can read lots about that on the AF Association website. However, AF generally is known to be a progressive condition, I’m sure you have heard the phrase AF begets AF and the view of most medics is that the sooner the ablation the better. It is also accepted that once AF becomes persistent/permanent, which it generally does over time, the success rates reduce significantly.

If I were you, I would heed the advice of your doctor because a lifetime of fairly potent drugs for many is best avoided. That said, there are many here who have developed permanent AF and go on to lead normal lives, hence the conundrum! Personally, I am in favour of ablation having had two so far and I would not hesitate to have another if it was necessary. Others here may have a different view so hopefully, you will get the help you need to make the decision. If you do decide to proceed, there are two factsheets you should read......

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

Hope this helps and good luck with making your decision.

PS. I should add that my situation was very different than yours. I had be diagnosed with lone persistent AF which I don’t think I had had for long and I responded well to a cardioversion.

[Jalia]

Personally I would not have an ablation if I was only having 1- 3 hrs of AF a year and your QOL is not affected. Why put yourself at risk of things going wrong and multiple burns made in your heart tissue when you barely seem affected by it.

Regards

J

[Tikaneko]

Hi, you could have paroxysmal AF. Also we are not always aware we have AF. Some episodes we sense with obvious symptoms and other times we are totally unaware. When I was diagnosed they said I had had numerous episode, my first thought was the machine I had been wearing was faulty, then they showed me the results. I had an ablation on 1st July and although I am still in recovery I know I have not had any symptoms of AF since except for 2 which I was told was still part of the recovery. Also it has helped with my ectopic beats although which it is not meant to! I hope you make the right decision for you. All the best

[Fazerboy]

Are you on meds all the time or only after the AF episodes? I have SVT and it started by being only once a week or so without meds. It slowly got worse so that it was here almost all the time without meds. I have to take meds now to keep my hr at a reasonable level. This convinced me that I wanted an ablation. Hopefully I can then come off the meds (Bisoprolol).

[charlwood35]

I’m very surprised you’ve been steered toward an ablation with that very low level of AF burden. That’s 0.03% per annum if you have 3 hours. You say it causes you no distress. I have PAF but my burden has now moved up to mid 20%s and I will be having an ablation in 10 days. I agree that it is lifestyle changes that should be the focus at this point and you can always revisit the ablation idea later if the AF progresses. Good luck.

[Bubs6 in reply to charlwood35]

I do get upset and frightened during the episode and tired afterwards but I'm grand after a rest. Thank good ness i don't have them often. Thank you for advice.

[heartmatters1]

I agree with Jalia below. I decided to decline my ablation when the date was offered, as I was in the the exact quandary as yourself. Some of the advice given to me, from the lovely people on here, was that I would probably know when I felt ‘ready’ to have it - when QOL is affected. The only thing with that is the length of waiting lists & having to go through the process again. Then there was the chance of it not being successful.

Best wishes with whatever you decide.

[Jlaine]

Sounds like you may have sleep apnea which will trigger afib. Perhaps you should be tested for that 1st.?! That may resolve your issue ??