Why ablation?

[PN17]

I had a successful cardioversion in May but a cardio consultant has suggested I may be good candidate for ablation! Not sure why.

[Shcldavies]

Doc knows best, they are not always right but they have much more knowledge than us and have the details of your condition which we do not. The workings of your heart are extremely complex (not even the Docs know everything) so second guessing what they say is unlikely to be right.

[Hidden]

Because a cardioversion is a bit of a sticking plaster, they rarely last. My best was 6 months (with amiodorone ) worst was a few days.

Having a "successful" cardioversion will point to the chances of ablation being pretty good.

I had an ablation 2.5 years ago following 2 years of AF with several cardioversions both by shock and medication

[Maryannbrown in reply to Hidden]

Can you tell me what what it feels like to have an AF attack? I have never had palpitations, at least I don’t think I have, just get breathless when I climb stairs or walk very far but put that down to a previous diagnosis of asthma and now I’ve been told I have grade 3 AF and heart failure and to take life easy. I do get very tired and a bit dizzy but put that down to all the drugs I’m having to take. I feel very despondent.

[Hidden in reply to Maryannbrown]

Different for everyone I guess?

For me it was my heart doing a marathon at 195 BPM , 24/7 .

Permanently tired from the "exercise" on edge and anxious all the time from the rabbit kicking my chest all the time.

If I rested a book on my chest when reading you could see it jumping around. I had chest pain and shortness of breath.

I was initially misdiagnosed with asthma!

Because my heart had been working so hard for so long I had an enlarged heart, particularly the left ventricle iirc.

I had a really hard time with all the medication, most of them made me feel worse. There were times that I just wanted my heart to stop beating .

I had no quality of life.

My first cardioversion lasted for 6 months with the help of amiodarone (that damaged my thyroid) but my heart returned to normal size and my ankle swelling reduced.

Unfortunately it only lasted 6 months, then went in to AF again and again and again.

I was a zombie on 12.5mg of bisoprolol a day and could barely function.

Having the ablation gave me my life back.

[PN17 in reply to Hidden]

My symptoms very similar. Hated taking the amiodarone as it affected my thyroid and .y kidney function.

[CDreamer]

I suspect he said it simply because your cardioversion WAS successful as people who don’t revert to NSR are much, much less likely to respond to ablation. Maybe something to think about as and when AF returns.

[Roto]

Consider this...the Af becomes more frequent, your health isn't as good as it use to be be, your much older now...you may not be fit or well enough for the procedure

Not a good position to be in...

Im assuming now your fit & well

And able to have an ablation...now might be the right time ...good luck

[MarkS]

The best candidates are those who have paroxysmal AF - i.e. it stops on its own. If you have persistent - i.e. it does not stop on its own but will with drugs or a cardioversion, then it's not as good. If you have permanent AF, i.e. nothing stops it, then that's more difficult again.

If you have lone AF, i.e. nothing obvious causes it, the odds are improved.

[RichMert]

Making assumptions here.

You are young.

Your career.

Success rate is higher when caught early.

They do not want you on tablets for the rest of your life.

Your Postcode. LOL

I would seriously consider it.

[djmnet]

And because it's what they do for a living -- ablations. In the US it's a real money maker. In the UK, with national health service, probably not so much but it's still how they make a living.