Should I go for second ablation?

[JamesPublic]

Hi

I am new to this Forum and sharing my Afib experience in the hope of getting some response .

I have been having Paraxysmal Afib for quite sometime (> 10 yrs) . Decided to get catheter ablation Nov 2019 under my EP advice. He put in on pradaxa and Cordorone and continued after the procedure.

The healing period was quite a difficult experience . I experience Afib , fatigue and short of breath for a couple of months. However improvement was felt as months passed. Wondering if anyone have similar experience post procedure.

I stopped Cordorone as it caused hyper thyriod. Afib re-occured agan thru this 1 year after the ablation and while taking medication like Flecainide & Nebilet .

Recommendation from my EP is to do a second ablation. I have not decided ,hope to get feedback from anyone who has done more than one ablation.

Thank you

[jeanjeannie50]

Welcome to the forum James.

It can often take more than one ablation to get the heart back into a better rhythm. Yes, some people need just one, but for me it took three and I guess it depends on just how bad your AF is. My attacks would hit hard and lay me low for a few days. All I can say is I'm so glad I opted for a third one.

Jean

[JamesPublic in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean for your feedback, Thats very reassuring. Glad that you had a successful ablation

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes I had three before my AF was terminated eleven years ago. Well worth it!

[Hidden]

My answer would be yes, particularly if the first was a cryoablation as it is not unusual to need a RF ablation to touch up any areas the balloon may have missed. I have had 2 and would not hesitate to have a 3rd if necessary and I’m a lot older than you!

[Sfhmgusa]

I would agree that a second ablation is well worth it

In my case my first ablation made things "Simpler" but sort of worse as it was mainly a flutter and so not as addressable with drugs.

Betablockers and Flecainide don't really agree with me as they make me feel very sluggish or worse,

My second ablation 3 weeks ago has so far given me 3 weeks of sinus and that in itself is such a relief. I am on anticoagulant only now and feeling optimistic about the future.

If i were a EP I think I would say "ablation is a multi step fix some are lucky and it works in 1 but for many 2 or more are needed" I think that would manage expectations better

Steve

[Barb1]

My first lasted about 6 months. My 2nd 18 months. My 3rd 2 1/2 years. My 4th 5 years. Having my 5th in January. Hoping for 11 years like Bob!

[Barb1]

Just to say that when I am in AF it is persistent.

[john-boy-92]

You haven't mentioned your age; age can affect the likelyhood of success. I spoke to an EP / surgeon who carries out ablations, who said he wouldn't have one and, he thought that in my early seventies that it would not be effective in the medium to long term. I have brief traces of atrial flutter on an ECG, and I flip flop between flutter and fibrillation during hard cardio exercise.

I've been on Pradaxa for four years without any issues, except if I need to have a colonoscopy or other procedure associated with bleeding. By the way, there is a Pradaxa reversing agent called Praxbind that hospitals may stock (I haven't asked my local hospital). Declaration of interest: I featured in a short video about Pradaxa for clinicians in the UK and USA.

I suspect the other medication is called dronedarone, that is very similar to amiodarone but does it not have the iodine component. It was intended that it would not have the side effects of amiodarone, but it does in some people: it gave me pulmonary toxicity with the symptoms and x-rays of someone with severe COVID-19.

[Haymaker42]

I just had my third ablation and I can honestly say it has improved my quality of life. Everyone is different but I wouldn’t hesitate to have another one done if I have to.

[Swedish]

Go for it. I have Done two ablation. And feel good now and dont take any drugs.

[JamesPublic]

Thank you all for your feedback . Certainly helps in my decision for a second ablation.