So...I'm sitting in a hospital bed, cannula in arm waiting for my second ablation but....I don't know if I want/need it!! Need some views from people in the know! I had my first ablation for persistent AF on 31st march. Had a rough post op month going back into persistent AF twice and needing cardioversion both times. Was put on WL for second ablation after 2nd cardioversion. Was then tried on flecainide as well as bisoprolol. Since then I've been fairly settled until about a month ago when I had a week or so of going into AF and tachycardia but which settled spontaneously with no need for cardioversion (a first for me this year!). So I've come to the top of the WL and here I am. Spoke to nice doc and explained my history and she asked if I was still happy to go ahead with the procedure and it was quite ok for me to opt out - even at this late stage! So now I'm in a right conundrum! My first ablation was absolutely necessary but as I've been fairly settled since May I would say that this one is less so. Do I go ahead and anyway or back out - my worry is I back out and end up in persistent AF again next week and then I'll be kicking myself. But.. it's only 5 months since my first ablation so I'm probably still recovering from that and should give my heart more of a chance to heal before subjecting it to a second invasive procedure so soon. So what do you people think? Sorry, I know it's my decision but grateful for views. My brain is aching going over the pros and cons of each side of the decision. Thank you so much to anyone who is out there that can respond before they wheel me down to the cath lab or I run out of the door!!!
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FizzioGirl
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If you've been in NSR since May, I would sit tight and wait until there are further problems before getting another invasive procedure. Just my opinion...
It does sound very early to be having another ablation. I went a year between each of my first three and 11 before my fourth. That said I think in your circumstances I would go ahead.
Thanks Bob. My gut is telling me to sit it out and see what the next few weeks/months brings. It's a really tough decision not helped by me feeling like a right pain in the backside for messing everyone about!
My ablation was done as part of a clinical trial. The intention was to do two ablations that would be between 3 and 6 months apart; mine was the whole 6 months. I was not experiencing any AF at this time, but when I went for the second ablation, they found electrical reconnection of one pulmonary vein and a little bit of flutter. Normally, they would wait for symptoms to return before recommending another ablation, so I think that the speed of the second ablation (with amiodarone in between) stopped me going into AF and stopped any further remodelling taking place. The flecainide may be doing the same for you.
It is now 3 years since my second ablation; no further symptoms or episodes and I am now completely drug free.
Hi. Thank you for your reply. I'm still here and waiting! Your experience is really interesting and I'm glad you had such a positive outcome. Makes me think - sod it, let's just get it over and done with but then I think about the anaesthetic and radiation etc and the small but real risks of the procedure and just think I'd rather subject my body to that when I feel I really need it. I fairly skipped into hospital to have my first ablation as I was so symptomatic - this one...not so much!!
I was the same, I was so excited to have the ablation that they let me walk to the cath lab instead of pushing me in a wheelchair.
The radiation is not a problem, but there is a tiny, but real possibility of issues with anaesthetic. I chose to worry more about how AF had changed my life.
It will be interesting to find out just what you did. I think we all feel like calling an ablation off as the time for it draws near, but generally we go ahead with it. I'm guessing that's what you've done?
Thanks Jean. Yes!, I went ahead!! On ward now as didn't go down until 2pm so staying overnight (JRH Oxford). Feel the usual crapness due to anaesthetic but otherwise ok. Glad I did it. Going to take everyone's advice on here and take it very easy for a few weeks.
Hi. Not seen docs yet. Had to stay in overnight as didn't come out of lab until 6pm. Wasn't 'with it' enough to see then before they went home so will get to speak to them later this morning. Had an ok night and managed to doze between HOURLY BP readings! Had the automatic cuff on my arm and got the fright of my life every hour when it groaned into action!! Enough to put a person into AF!!! Anyway been ok - a few ectopics overnight but otherwise NSR so will wait to see what they found/did.
Personally speaking, I had one ablation and that was quite enough, told it was a complete success by the doc only to find it was far from it, offered another and said no thank you. Now wear a trusty pacemaker and life has become so much better, Good luck whatever your decision x
I decided not to go down the ablation route and have been in permanent AF for a couple of years. Did have internal cardioversion which only kept AF away for about six weeks. Once my body had become accustomed to the new normal I have felt better, much better than when I was popping in out of rhythm. Although I have other heart problems I think being overweight, BMI of 34, was the biggest factor in my AF. My key to feeling good is exercise. This is good because it also helps to reduce my appetite so I lose weight. I think we all react differently and what suits me won't suit many others. What I'm trying to say is permanent AFIB is nowhere near as bad as I used to think it was. As far as you are concerned you should do what you think is best for you. We all have a tendency to worry about what the medics or family and friends think we should do. I know it is easier said than done, but think hard about what you want to happen and go with it. Be a little hard faced in being selfish about your decision.
I guess it's a case of personal preference. I've had one Ablation, with the outcome being 4 years free of any symptoms. Unfortunately, the symptoms started occurring again about this time last year.
Now I'm waiting for a second ablation, and frankly it can't come soon enough - especially as outcomes improve with each successive procedure / treatment. I'd be there like a shot from a gun if they said I could have it today.
I had my first ablation on May 20. This was done using cryo. I had quite a bit of afib over the next month, despite being on Multaq the entire time. I tracked my heart rate using a Kardia device (which I highly recommend). My electrophysiologist recommended a second ablation, this time using RF, which I did on July 28. He found another spot that needed feeding. It's been a month since then and I've only had two episodes, one for about an hour, one for only a few minutes. I'm now off Multaq and still doing well.
If your first ablation was cryo, and your doctor can do RF for the second one, I'd go ahead. The RF procedure is much more precise.
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