Afib

[Superdave]

I have acquired Afib or Aflutter ( doctors have different readings of the echocardiogram.and I never get tachycardia and have slow resting heart rate. I am an amateur athlete who runs and does high intensity interval training. I have exercise intolerance which my docs say may be pulmonary related which is being tested soon. My heart rate does get higher then the recommended 220-my age) but never above 180.

I had an aortic valve replacement in 2008 and acquired Afib and/or Aflutter. They tried two Cardioversions which failed. I was on Tykosyn which other cardiologists said could cause sudden heart death with a very slow heart rate. I went off the drugs and asked an electrophysiologist about ablation. He said that my heart had remodeled over 12 years and that an ablation may not be permanent in his experience.

He did say I may need a pace maker in the next 20 years because heart rates tend to slow down in older people; I am 66 and have a resting heart rate below 48bpm.

I can live with this Afib because I have to take blood thinners anyway due to a mechanical heart valve.

I would consult with an electrophysiologist to get the best advice on drugs, ablation or pacemaker.

David Robbins

Mechanical Heart valve(twice) and brain surgery for an aneurysm (2008).

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

You have a complex case. I would recommend you consult with a world-class EP. I've had 4 ablations ..... and my last 3 were performed by two of the best EP's in the world. There's a vast difference between the good ... and the best, as ablations have become routine now.

Even though the one EP says your heart has remodeled, I would definitely get a second opinion from a top-tier EP. They love challenging cases .....