Hi. Spoke with cardiologist today as i sent him Ecgs showing AF and Bradycardia. He told me he can see my problem and explained i was getting 1 and a half pulse instead of two and that i am down on the waiting list for a cryoablation . He said it is a rogue pulmonary vein that is causing the problem. It is done by inflating a balloon and freezing the area, anyone had this done here? Also my meds are not working and when i mentioned this he did not seem interested, i have been on Bisoprolol for 3 yrs and flecanide for about 6 weeks but since taking the flecanide i actually feel much worse feel more symptoms eg fast heart rate, bradycardia and ringing in the esrs and tiredness . I would like to come off the flec or at least wean off them but couldn’t really get an answer from cardio and i am scared to stop taking them, any advice pls thanks.
Cryoablation: Hi. Spoke with... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Cryoablation
We are not medicaally trained sos must not advise on medication.
Cryo ablation is very common and if you go to AF association website there is a fact sheet which explains the procedure.
Ok Bob i understand. I seem to be getting more frequency in af events and i feel i cannot finish a sentence, i am not sure if that is anxiety or the AF or the flecanide. Cardio wouldnt really give me a straight answer.
AF causes anxiety causes more AF causes more anxiety.......
I agree
I had PULMONARY VEIN ISOLATION Cryo ablation. Worked and stopped my AFib (so far) since 29th January 2018.
The ablation was not a problem.
Best wishes
Great to hear Robbo, thanks for that. Hope you long continue to be AF free. Was it your 1st and last ablation? How long was your procedure? And did you go home the same day? Sorry for all questions 😁 cheers !
First and last for AF yes, unfortunately developed reentrant atrial flutter in the right atria 9 days after the afib ablation No flutter on my previous Ecgs. My EP believes it was promoted by the flecainide I was taking for the AFIB so I had an RF ablation to sort that out a month later. The ablation in total was about 3 to 4 hours from lying down to leaving the lab I think It did not seem so long as there was a massive LCD screen to my left showing images of my heart and also the rogue signals, so I could see a bit of what was going on and the rogue signals disappearing as each pulmonary vein was isolated.
I was mildly sedated, I never asked for any more. The groin entry was a local, and I never felt anything at all.
There is a bit of pain with the cryoablation , but it is nothing, it is in actual fact like brain freeze when you bite into a very cold ice cream so you feel it on your head not your chest! It does not last long (minutes) So if you do all 4 pulmonary veins you have 4 lots of brain freeze. Have had much worse for longer at the dentist. I think a lot of the time appears to be the EP looking whats going on and getting the catheter in the right place , the actual ablation bit is short. After the procedure you are taken to a recovery ward, and get a drink of water. Then after 30 mins or so moved to a ward. You can't move as the groin has to be allowed to heal and walking would open it up. I had my lunch then ( I took a packed lunch And was given cups of tea) Then it was about 4 hours later they checked the wound I walked up and down the ward, and was then released to go home. Once home for have to go upstairs and stay there for 24 hours. Apparently going downstairs puts pressure on the wound. All the focus after the ablation is on the wound.
I think I was there at 09:00 In the lab 10:30 an going home 19;00 (ish).
Thanks much appreciated, just started taking Flec and i am worried it will start flutter, not been feeling great on it. Thanks so much for your post. 👍
Bizarrely I had no issues at all on flec until after the ablation. If I get a fib back I would happily go on it again (whilst waiting for another ablation which if afib occurred tomorrow morning, I would happily have tomorrow afternoon ).
Best wishes
I had a cryoablation in July. I was in and out in 12 hours and the ablation itself took around 1hr 15mins. You are usually awake during the procedure (I was), which really isn't as daunting as it may sound.
Thanks Cally, not something i am looking forward to it has to be said lol. But will be glad when it is done. Thanks for your post 👍
I'm sure all will go well for you.
No i dont think so i was officialy diagnosed with af four yr ago. Just hoping flec isnt causing flutter as well.
I had my first and only PVI cryoablation in August 2018, and I've been completely AFib free since then. 
I'm in Canada, and all cardiac ablations here are carried out with the patient under general anaesthetic - therefore I was in "la-la land" for the entire process. The procedure could not have gone better (so I was told!), and the EP advised afterwards that my ablation was acutely successful.
I wouldn't hesitate to have another ablation should the need ever arise.
Best wishes,
Richard
It sounds as if you live in Ontario. If you lived in British Columbia, you would still be on drugs without the ablation. In fact, one of my friends is in permanent AF because her cardiologist wouldn't even refer her to an EP. He merely said it wasn't time yet.
^ Yes, I live in Ontario. The various antiarrhythmic medications I was taking over the years stopped working, so the only solution was to have an ablation. I was on the waiting list for about 8 months, then finally had my cryoablation in Aug. 2018 at University Hospital in London, ON. I can't believe the cardiologists in British Columbia make you jump through so many hoops in order to have an ablation - what's up with that?!
- Richard
That was my friend, not me. Actually, I have two friends for sure that are in permanent AF due to the system's attitude in this province for non-life threatening issues.
My case is a horror story. My not up -to- date GP, now retired, played GP for a full year from my diagnoses to PERSISTENT AF. Whereupon, he sent me to this incompetent cardiologist who had trained him. Afterwards, the waiting time delay to an ablation would get me to long-standing ÅF for sure. I spoke to the manager of the cardiology department who forwarded my EP appointment to five months persistent with an ablation time to over a year. Fed up with lax, socialistic attitudes, I said no to Canada. Packed it in and within ONE MONTH, at the six month persistent stage, I had an ablation in Bordeaux, France. If I had not had an ablation at that time, I never would have been able to return to sinus. I have had to have another two ablations to be at the fifteen months AF free, but with meds. I paid for all three ablations in Bordeaux myself.
British Columbia has just lost its court battle to have private clinics. The government position in B.C. for AF is, because it is a non life-threatening position, just plod along, even get to persistent, eventually even to permanent, especially if you are older. We still pay a lot of money for health care , but it's not efficient and definitely government restrictive.
You were fortunate you were paroxysmal because 8 months would be too long a wait time for persistent. I had considered going to Ontario, but at five months persistent when I finally got to an EP (only due to my shouting or I would have been at 8 months just to see the EP), time was of the essence. I definitely made the right choice because Ontario would have failed me too to wait 8 months compared to Bordeaux one month, plus added time to see an EP in Ontario.
Wow, your case is a horror story indeed. It was a good idea that you went to Bordeaux, France for your ablations. It's unreal what goes on in British Columbia regarding those who suffer with AFib. Have you elected to stay out of Canada, or have you moved back?
Canada is my home, and I do not have the pension or the funds to sustain myself outside Canada. Also, if I ever needed another ablation, i could hopefully book myself back in Bordeaux that has more an advanced mapping system and technique.
I must add that I have had very good treatment for basal cell carcinoma for my nose and for a broken ankle here in B.C. Canada is still a beautiful country despite its political shortcomings. You just shouldn't get AF here.
Thanks Richard, great outcome i wish you well. Thanks for reply 👍
I had cryoablation April last year after 10 years on flecainide and atenolo . I was fine taking the medication but it stopped working over time (I was warned this would likely happen). The cryoablation procedure took just less than 3 hrs and I have been a fib free ever since without any medication. I would do it all again if the afib ever returns. My rationale was it was worth having the ablation with a couple of hours discomfort rather than the lifetime of misery with afib that I was potentially facing. I would arrange to speak again to your consultant or someone else about the effects of the medication and dont be fobbed off as it's important to you and obviously causing you anxiety as well as unpleasant side effects. Good luck!
Thanks very much, yes i have told my cardiologist about the medication he says there is nothing left to do but an ablation. I showed him ecgs from my kardia mobile when i was in afib and he said he could see what was happening. I am on the list now and hoping i will get a call in the next few months. Glad all is well with you and long may it continue. 👍
I have had AF for over 10 years I take Atenadol 50mg morning and night and had a pacemaker fitted. This seems to now keep it fairly under control .My Specialist said it wont kill me.
I am in Australia where our health system is pretty good
Soosie
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