Permanent AF--is it worse than intermittent?

[ronat2545]

I'm intrigued by many of the posts I read on this site where people are or are not in permanent AF.

I am, but my Cardiologist only sees me once a year even though I'm on the wrong side of 80. My GP, who I trust implicitly says he is the conduit to the Specialist and thus checks blood pressure, pulse rate etc every time I see him. He tells me I am in permanent AF, but neither he or the Specialist have suggested ablation (a kind person on this site advised that ablation was not done in the UK if you are over 80, maybe the same here), but I was certainly in AF all through my 70's.

As I said in a previous post I am not overweight, have a BP around 120/70, walk several kms daily, don't smoke, eat sensibly and have a bottle of Bourbon at a mate's house so that It lasts me 6 weeks. I am on Metoprolol 75mg am/50mg pm and Apixaban 2.5mg morning and evening. Although I have a pacemaker the only symptom I have is breathlessness if I exert myself.

Many posts I've read here have said after ablation their AF has gone completely so I'm a bit envious. I'm English born, but have spent the last 60 years in OZ and I'm certain the standard of healthcare here is equivalent to that in the UK.

[10gingercats]

I am of a similar age to you and life style to youand live in the uk.I am not medically trained,well not for humans, so I write only from personal experience.I have had perm. afib. for many years with a similar bp to you but no pacemaker. I can walk quite well as you do and do many stairs if need be with no breathlessness.Thorough checkup with echocardiogram last year gave the thumbs up with an all round improve. in spite of advancing age.I take verapamil and Apixaban.. the lower dose.I am not anxious/envious to go down the ablation route even if it were offered as all seems pretty good at the moment. Why tip the balance? I believe keeping up beat as much as possible is one of the keys to managing afib. well. Worrying about it cannot help .It sounds to me as if you are being well cared for. Enjoy life while you can.

[ronat2545 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thanks, 10gingercats---as I said some time ago my then (2011) Cardiologist decided I needed a pacemaker because the halter he put on me for 24hrs was showing my heartbeat dropping to 35 during the night and I was going into hospital for a hip replacement. My current Cardiologist inferred I needn't have had a pacemaker, but of course wouldn't criticize a fellow professional. Again an experienced contributor to this site pointed out that it has value in that every heartbeat is recorded and all periods of high heart rate can be seen in my annual checkup. I'm up for my 10 year replacement soon and I hate the feeling of getting needled in the chest--when I said how much it hurt the Cardiologist said "that's the adrenaline in the injection to stop bleeding. I don't think he was joking!!

[jeanjeannie50]

It sounds like you're doing well as you are. First ablations are not always successful, do you need to be having those procedures now when life is good as it is? My very humble and non professional advice would be to stay as you are. I've had three ablations and still have AF.

Jean

[ronat2545 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks--your experience makes me feel more confident.

[dedeottie in reply to ronat2545]

I agree with Jean. If all is well leave well alone. Remember, ablations are not entirely without risk as I know from personal experience. Enjoy your life. X

[Buffafly]

Ablations are generally for people with symptomatic Paroxysmal AF, not so successful for those with persistent AF and not done for permanent AF because it doesn't work. Sounds as though you are doing great and your story brings hope to those whose PAF is progressing to permanent 💜

[ronat2545 in reply to Buffafly]

I had never heard of Paroxysmal AF----in the words from the Goon Show many, many years ago "So much to learn, so little time!!!"

[BobD Volunteer]

As I keep saying. any and all treatment is only ever for quality of life. Paroxysmal AF seems to be harder for peoeple to deal with due to the constant flicking in and out and the anxiety this creates. Permanent AF generalyl affects people far less as the body adapts to it. Consder yourself fortunate and carry on enjoying life.

[Wightbaby in reply to BobD]

I would most definitely agree with that, Bob!

[Gowers in reply to BobD]

How is the recovery going?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Gowers]

Slower than I would like but on track I think. Age seems to matter!

[Gowers in reply to BobD]

Ah! Good to hear you are getting better even if slower than you hoped. Age certainly does😉 matter!

[Finvola]

The comment from my EP was ‘permanent AF wouldn’t be too bad’ when we discussed possible progression of my PAF. Apparently, one can get used to the chaos - I wasn’t too convinced at the time!!

My belief if that if it ain’t broke - leave it alone. If you are happy and lead a full life, that’s what matters.

[ronat2545 in reply to Finvola]

Thanks Finvola---it certainly ain't broke so I now feel reassured.

And thank you to all the many who have given the info regarding their own experiences--what a great group of people!!!

[Wightbaby]

I was on meto and Warfarin. Now on Bisoprolol and Warfarin.

I was diagnosed at 58 (Paroxymsal) and by the time I was 61, (lots of stress in my life!!) it had become permanent. When I saw an EP, he suggested chances of ablation being successful only 50% first time, and that I stay as I am, unless I was 37 and wanted to take part in the Tour de France (he was also a cyclist!) or run a marathon!

So age is not the only factor to what you are, or not, offered, it seems!

[Buffafly]

That is very interesting question because it seems quite common for people to be 'discovered' to have AF when they had no idea anything was wrong, or 'felt a bit tired'. So I wonder if people have 'mild' PAF which they've ignored for years until it became permanent or does their heartbeat gently morph from Sinus rhythm to AF? It would be good to have a poll to find out how many people deemed to be in Permanent AF when diagnosed had had minor symptoms beforehand.

[Jill13]

I am also living in Oz and like you am in permanent AF which with daily medication is almost not noticeable unless I walk up lots of steep stairs. I am much more comfortable in permanent AF than when I was having regular episodes. I am 79: see my cardiologist for tests and consultation once a year and don’ t want or feel I need an ablation. Of course I am on a daily anticoagulant and generally feel fit and healthy.

[Hidden]

Two EPs told me that paroxysmal AF can be more dangerous than persistent/permanent AF: apparently it is the going into or coming out of the arrhythmia which is particularly dangerous.