Permanent Afib

[TO383Y]

Hi All

I think that for people with permanent

Afib the ablation to restore NSR is not

an offered option . Or ,have someone

with permanent AF, had a successful ablation?

The only available therapy for permanent AF seems the chemical rate-control, that in some case,unfortunately leaves the patients with poor QOL

connected with chaotic rytm of the

heart.

The evolution of therapies for this

horrible disease has been very slow,

let's hope will be better for the next

generation.

I had 3 unsuccessfull ablations and my

EP strongly advises me NOT to try

the 4th.

[BobD Volunteer]

Ok lets go back to square one. Permanent AF is just a term which means that both doctor and patient agree that futher intevention to restore NSR is not desirable.

As such you are correct in saying that rate control and anticoagulation for stroke prevention are the likely treatments as so long as the rate is well controlled there is little additional risk to health. Any and all treatment for AF is only ever about quality of life.

I would argue that treatment has improved greatly over the last thirty years, before which you would have been told it was benign and just get on with it. Sadly because it is such a mongrel condition there can never be a one size fits all treatment.

What has become obvious is that life style and diet play a very large part in controlling AF and that all patients need to explore all options themselves to reduce their AF burden.

[Paulbounce]

I'm with BobD on this one.

Permanent afib doesn't bother me - I've said on the forum before - when my cardio said 'we'll try a few more treatments and then leave you in permanent if they don't work' was almost a relief. Sort of "we all know were we stand" type of thing so let's get on with it.

Rate control helps and taking the right med's helps if you are in permanent.

However my view has changed slightly. My resting HR is 55 (ish) in sinus but I would be luckly to have 75 - 80 in afib.

If you are in permanent afib it's unlikely you'll 'feel' it after a few months. It can still affect your QOL but that - I guess - comes down to your age and other health conditions (it can still affect on it's own I know). I would say, looking back, I had it for a few years before it was picked up - I had no idea there was a problem. Now I know if it kicks in with one heart beat.

Rate and rhythm control are the most important things to consider in permanent afib. Med's help with this.

If your EP has said another ablation is not a good idea then heed the advice. However ask about the 'mapping' system - it could just hit the spot so to speak.

Worth asking about in any event.

Good luck

Paul

[Paulbounce in reply to Paulbounce]

Just to add. I wrote

"Permanent afib doesn't bother me"

Not quite true. It does a bit TBH.

Paul

[TO383Y in reply to Paulbounce]

Bob and Paul

Thank you x replies.

[RoyM in reply to TO383Y]

I am 73 and I have been in permenent AF for over 4 years. Resting HR 68/72 I am able to walk miles, cycle, swim and chase my 7 year old grandaughter. My HR on exercise can quickly rise to 100/110 BPM luckily comes down equally quickly. My medication is Apixiban and 1.25mg Bisoporol daily. I would prefer to be in NSR but my quality of life is fine. So I have stopped chasing the Holy Grail of NSR.

[seasider18 in reply to TO383Y]

I'm in permanent AF and consultants question was, Why do you want to be in NSR anyway ?

[ETFCfan]

I have been in persistent AF for over a year after two ablations. I thought that was it when it came back but am on the list for a third ablation and have also been to,d I’m a good candidate for Pace and Ablate if that doesn’t work so it’s given me hope. My quality of life at the moment is quite bad absolutely no energy or tolerance to exercise at all however I’m honestly not sure if that’s the F or the 10mg of Bisoprolol that I take. I hope that they find a drug combination that suits you.

[bbigH in reply to ETFCfan]

Hi i was in a similar position to you and had a pace and ablate 6 weeks ago, after 3 failed ablations the last one worked for only 2 weeks.Since the pace and ablate i feel much better and think it should have been done earlier for my Qol.So nice to come off betablockers after 6 years and have reduced water tablet.

[ETFCfan in reply to bbigH]

Thank you so much for that, so good to hear. My consultant did say that it needed to be done sooner rather than later to work when I saw him in February so sort of hoping that he could possibly go straight into Pace and Ablate when I do get seen.

[djmnet]

I'm in persistent afib and frankly I don't even know it's there, unlike when I would have periodic attacks. My resting heart rate in persistent is around 85-95 and I'm more than happy to stay this way.

[MtLSteven]

I was diagnosed with PAF just over three years ago, I'd like to be in NSR because:

I wouldn't have to take medicatio.

I wouldn't have to juggle effectiveness of meds with managing the side effects.

I'd be able to climb stairs without breathlessness. Or be mindful of changing my position so as not to cause dizzyness.

Hopefully I could have sex ,something that is becoming a distant memory.

I was relieved not to be offered an ablation.

[Tuttle4]

Hello my husband has been in permanent afib for 5 years. He has had 2 cardioversions and one ablation. Never put him in normal sinus for even a minute. He recently had prostate surgery and because of hospitalizations he was without his digoxin for 2 doses. He has an ICD that is intended to shock him if his HR goes over 180. Well it did and it shocked him 5 times and he was in normal sinus for 6 hours then flipped back. His EP said he wants to talk to him about another possible ablation this week because his HR has been creeping up to 150 at times. His ICD reports his HR via a monitor. His fit bit watch says his resting rate has been 70-90. We are scared.