Ablation

[Swedish]

Hello

who has been AF free the longest after an ablation here in the forum? after my second ablation I have not had af in 15 months. some extra beats but not AF. And i dont take any medicin/drugs.

[BobD Volunteer]

I was clear of AF since my third ablation in 2008 but have other arrhythmias.

[Swedish in reply to BobD]

Other arythmias? My comes from left atrium.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Swedish]

AF is the most common arrhythmia but tehre are plenty of others. I get atrial tachycardia.

[Hidden]

Not sure you will get any meaningful answers Swedish. Many people who have had successful ablations go off and enjoy their lives and quite right to, and only come back if they have a hiccup. It’s also difficult to quantify what is a successful ablation and we don’t keep scores either!

All I can say is that we rarely hear from patients saying they regret having an ablation and those who have acquired a fair degree of knowledge tend to understand that an ablation isn’t a cure. However, they do understand that it can be a very effective way of controlling symptoms.

It’s also a bit meaningless drawing comparisons because the variables which can influence outcomes are virtually endless. My advice would be just be grateful that you have 15 months freedom from AF and try not to worry about the future because worry and anxiety will only bring it on.....the irony is , we all do it!!

[Physalis in reply to Hidden]

I always think that, when anyone says that ablation isn't a cure, they are talking for themselves and a lot of other members of this forum for whom it didn't work but not for those who have left because it did. If ablations don't cure a lot of people then why are they performing more and more of them? The cardiologist I saw warned me that it only had a 70% chance of success. Those sounded pretty good odds to me and, in my case, after six months completely free of AFib, I was one of the lucky ones.

Where ablations don't work, or don't work completely, it is mainly because of underlying heart and health conditions for which, unfortunately, there isn't a simple cure.

[CDreamer in reply to Physalis]

I would point out that it AF returning after ablation is not always because of underlying heart and health conditions and this was highlighted when one speaker at Patient Day a few years ago was asked the question - why do so many people need to have more than one ablation? The answer given - we burn by fire or ice but some patients heal. I’m a fast healer and believe my AF returned exactly because the barrier scars created by the ablation healed.

[Hidden in reply to Physalis]

I think it’s all down to definition Physalis. All the information I convey on this forum comes either from personal experience or from attending a considerable number of presentations at my local AF support group meetings. Obviously, EP’s main desire is to eliminate AF but all the ones I have heard speak say that that is all but impossible due to a variety of different reasons. What it will achieve for the majority of patients offered an ablation, is significantly reduce the symptoms associated with AF. This can certainly reduce, or even stop, the need for them to take arrhythmia drugs which can in themselves, cause unpleasant side effects.

The Cryoablation procedure is a good example in that it is a method of treating the 4 pulmonary veins which are said to be the main area where rogue impulses result in AF. Unless the veins are regular in shape, the expanding balloon cannot scar all of the tissue around the veins and consequently, a second RF ablation is necessary to touch up the areas which have been missed.

So I agree with you, but I think it is important that patients understand the reasons why it is said that an ablation is not a cure, but for so many it has made a significant difference to their quality of life.

As an aside, it’s nice to put a face to a name! If I wasn’t so ugly, I might do the same.....😉

[Physalis in reply to Hidden]

Just got back from being vaccinated. All very efficient apart from there not being a clock in the room where we had to wait for 15 minutes afterwards! Will reply tomorrow. No side effects so far. I was slightly concerned as, after my last flu jab ten years ago I had a slight breathing problem. They told me not to have another and I haven't but I haven't had flu either. Maybe it was associated with the AFib.

The photo was taken a couple of years ago and since then I have gone grey and, having not seen my hairdresser for a while, I am quite scruffy. No change there!

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

I went nearly 10 years AFIB free after 1 Atrial Flutter ablation and 2 AFIB ablations (in San Francisco with an AFIB EP). It returned in AUG 2020. If it ever came back .... I vowed to see the best in the world, so I scheduled with Dr. Natale in Thousand Oaks. He's one of the best. I had a semi-major foundational procedure in OCT; I return in late FEB or MAR for a finishing procedure and possibly installation of a Watchman device. After 60 days post-op, I came off the Flecainide. So far ... so good. Resting rate elevated, but that's to be expected post ablation. I hope you get a 'cure.' A tip: I had pvc's and ectopic beats after my 2nd AF ablation. I took supplemental magnesium and heart smoothed right out .......

[RobertELee]

I experienced highly symptomatic PAF from 2009 to 2014 when an ablation at Leeds by the immensely talented Dr Lee Graham turned my life around. AF free ever since and while I am aware that it might return, the thought rarely occupies my mind nowadays. Because of this I rarely visit this forum and I'm sure that's the case with most 'successes'. Therefore as previous posters have observed, 'tales of woe' on these pages almost certainly reflect a comparatively small proportion of post-ablation cases. I still take Apixaban (I'm not so old that bleeding is a significant risk) and I also take a small dose of bisoprolol. I never found this drug problematic and and I've become rather fond of a low heart rate. After all, humans only get 3.5 billion in a lifetime, so best not to use them up too quickly eh?.......😇 (I can hear the calculators clicking already!)

[KMRobbo]

2 yrs 11 months, with 2 yrs 7 months completely drug free

[KipperJohn]

Second ablation May 2016 - virtually AF free from August 2016 to October 2019. Have remained on Metoprolol, Apixaban, Losartan and Simvastatin throughout. Have had several episodes this year (am very symptomatic) ranging from one hour to five days. I am still under the care of an excellent EP and have reported episodes to the arrhythmia nurse - I have an appointment in February 2021. I send ECG’s with my Apple Watch but most of the time just try to maintain and get on and lead a ‘normal’ life with sensible diet and reasonable exercise, no alcohol, caffeine etc At 73 might as well enjoy what time one has and look to the future, notwithstanding all current necessary restrictions.

[CDreamer]

1st made things worse, 2nd left me AF free for 3 years but had devastating affects from sedation & other drugs.

[Dodie117]

First and only in St Thomas’ in London in 2013. Still free of AF. Thank you Mark O’Neill.

[jondeanp]

I was offered ablation for AF and flutter. As flutter was the current arrhythmia and less invasive procedure I chose to only have the flutter ablation. My ablation was in Feb 2018. I’m on no meds.

My wife, who works for the NHS, refers to me as being cured. I know it’s in the background still, but it takes me some getting used to referring to myself as cured.

I guess I am cured until it may rear its ugly head at some point down the line

[Swedish in reply to jondeanp]

I tink the same. Your cured and no med. Like me. Everything can happend. But for now all is good.

[MarkS]

I had an ablation in 2010, I had been in AF about 80% of the time. It lasted 8 years. For the last 2 years I get AF very occasionally (<5% of the time) which is very manageable and doesn't affect me much.

[MerryMyrtle in reply to MarkS]

Hi Mark, now that you only get AF only occasionally, I was wondering how can you tell that you have it at all? Since I was treated during a mitral valve operation, I feel cured for now, but sometimes I wonder if it's still happening but not enough for me to be fully aware of it.

[MarkS in reply to MerryMyrtle]

Hi MM, I feel a bit anxious in my stomach and I can then tell easily from checking my pulse. I also have a Kardia but I only use that when I want to get a trace to send off. It also tends to be in the evenings after a bit of a work-out. It doesn't particularly effect my exercise capability, I can still do as much, I just feel a bit uncomfortable.

[MerryMyrtle in reply to MarkS]

Thank you Mark, that's helpful information. I think in my case I just get palpitations sometimes, and it makes me tnink I may be about to get AF, but it settles down agan quite quickly .

[sdweller]

Almost 15 years of very little afib after my first ablation. Prior to it, I was going into afib everyday...afterwards, 1-3 short afib episodes every year, MUCH better and I consider that ablation a success. For now there is no "cure".... but living with a couple/few episodes here and there is not a big deal...there are people who live with much worse things. You are in a good place...now ENJOY YOUR LIFE!

[David1958]

Swedish, I can only say that I have been afib free since January 2011. My tenth anniversary is coming up soon. Yes, I am one of the few that hangs out here despite having a successful ablation. I like to hear about other peoples troubles with afib and help where I can. Everybody has different reactions to medications and surgeries. I wish I knew what separates the successes from the not so successful. I then could tell you all. As far as I know my triggers are dehydration and exhaustion. As long as I stay away from those two states, I am good to go.