Will you kindly share your experiences with Afib ablations - any major problems, such as punctured heart, damage to the veins and oesophagus, etc.?
Also, all those who had a very successful procedure, please share. Thank you so much.
You see, I have already cancelled two scheduled ablation procedures. Why? Because I fear the possible consequences. The risks sound horrendous. Apparently, risks are even higher for women who weigh under 60 KG. I weigh only 44 kg.
Thank you kindly.
There is risk in everything even doing nothing Ruza. I had three totally trouble free AF ablations up to 2008 since when no AF. Doctors tell you all the bad things that could happen so you can't take legal action against them . They seldom happen!
One of the doctors ran through the risks on the morning of the ablation. Bit late but they area very rare. It was trouble free, no pain, no damage, no bruising where they inserted the catheters. Maybe the EP enlarged the hole in my heart which led to ten days of migraine afterwards but I think that's rare too. After that no tiredness or after effects, no AFib.
I'd be happy to have it done again tomorrow.
7 stone isn't that light but it depends how tall you are.
I'm under 60 kilos too and just 24 days post ablation. My advice would be to ask for a GA and not to have it under sedation. Apparently I moved during the procedure in response to the pain and although they successfully completed it, they're not sure how secure the circuit breaker will be. Check that out with them. Too early for me to say more. In my case though, I WOULD have a repeat procedure if needed.
Risks are very rare Ruza but you have to ask yourself how much you want to be rid of your AF. If it’s a minor distraction in your life then you might decide to live with it. If AF dominates your life, as it did mine, there’s no contest. Ablation is the only way you will be rid of it. It’s important to remember that most people who have successful ablations - the huge majority- are not around this site to tell you. So don’t let their absence dissuade you. They’ve just got better places to be….. I’m seven years free in June, an occasional visitor here, and it’s bloomin’ wonderful. If AF came back, which I hope it won’t, I wouldn’t hesitate having another. Jump in girl, the water’s lovely!
Hi Leelac, may I ask where you had your ablation carried out?
The masterful Dr Lee Graham, Leeds General Infirmary.
Sounds like he's good.
I think so - but I would, wouldn’t I? 😍
Don't blame you if you're AF free now.
Thank you leelec. It is wanderful to hear you are doing well after yor ablation.
When I get my Afib episode, I am in an absolute hell. Last year I had 14 Electrical Cardioversions within three months or so. Right now Amiodarone has minimized my Afib episodes greatly.
Regards.
R
Hi Ruza, I had a cryo ablation in September 2018, it has improved my quality of life by about 99% to date. Yes it was scary and I had to sign a disclaimer on the day of the procedure but what a great result. Life is for living and sometimes you have to be a bit brave to get what you want.
I guarantee if you go ahead you will not regret your decision, I would have a second procedure anytime verses having my life disrupted by heart problems again. Best of luck with whatever you decide. 👍
Personally, I won't be going for an ablation until poor QOL or the likelihood of pushes me.
I would have much preferred not to wait until quality of life was so poor - much better chance of successful outcomes and quicker recovery time.
It’s the fear you need to deal with and perhaps talking to someone might help?
I think my greatest fear is, what if things get worse after the procedure.
R
That can happen, did to me but its rare. I thought of it this way - it’s not going to get better on its own & it’s going to get worse if I do nothing. Knowing that, having got worse how would I feel knowing there ablation could have worked.
2nd ablation did work.
Ok , you asked and you have a right to hear the good and the bad so here is my experience both the good and bad bits.My first ablation was fine, I was out of it for most of the time and it was deemed to be a success but after 4 months I was still having some episodes when not on flecanide so a tidy up ablation was scheduled.
This time nothing felt right. I was very nervous, the sedation didn’t seem to work well and when the EP pierced the septum the needle pierced the aorta instead so panic stations as he knew this could cause a bleed round the heart or worse. He aborted the procedure and I was sent to coronary care to be monitored. I had excellent care there and thankfully there was no major bleed so all was well except that the ablation had not been done and my EP won’t risk it again incase it was a quirk of my anatomy that caused the complication. My AF has returned big style and with all the medical options having been tried and ultimately failed my only option is now a pace and ablate procedure which doesn’t require puncture of the septum but is a bit scarey for me as it means total dependence on a pacemaker.
For what it is worth, I am still glad I had the first ablation as it improved my life greatly for about 6 years. I was the only mishap my EP had ever had , and at the end of the day his quick reactions after the event meant I didn’t actually have a bleed., I believe you are right to question things and I would suggest that you let your quality of life guide you. Before my first ablation mine was dreadful so quite honestly I would have been prepared to take much higher risks than these.
Good luck with your decision making . I don’t know where you live but I would recommend trying to go to a centre of excellence where the EPs do loads of these procedures. X
By the way I weigh 53 kg
Had a PVI Cryoblation Jan 28th 2018, stopped Afib , and it has not returned. Unfortunately I developed reentrant atrial flutter 10 days later owing to the FLECAINIDE I was still taking post ablation. (drugs are not risk free). I had an RF ablation for that in the right atria, on 26th Feb 2018. No flutter since.
I stopped all drugs by May15 2018. Not taken anything since. No more side effects: brain fog exercise intolerance or tiredness.
Both ablations done under mild sedation, with a local in the groin. Felt nothing in the groin. No problems. Little pain felt during the cryo procedures. You can ask to increase the dosage but it was not necessary. The pain manifests itself as brain freeze in your head not your chest. Just like biting into a cold ice cream on a hot day. That's it. 4 times: one for each vein with quite a time between each as the have to reposition the catheter.
I could see quite a lot of the screen so it was quite interesting watching what was going on.
The RF flutter ablation was slightly more painful, again no pain in chest it's felt in the right shoulder. It did not go on for long.
I have had much worse pain at the dentist, than either procedure.
If I get afib back tomorrow morning, I would happily have another ablation tommorrow afternoon to keep off the drugs side effects, and away from all the hassle of having afib attacks, managing holiday insurance and carting drugs about where ever you go.
I was otherwise healthy and had no structural heart issues and no comorbidities. I am not medically trained.
Best wishes.
I had two ablations last year first one did not work well, second has given me a sinus rhythm and full life back for 6 months and counting. I had the second because ( despite being a very nervous patient) the first ablation was very acceptable . I did have a G A for the second and if / when I need a third that would be my choice.
I have my moderately active life back at 60 that I thought I had lost , probably because I am 13 stone low weight was never mentioned to me so can’t comment other than generally that it would surprise me ( a lot) if your bmi was a show stopper or big risk
It is a scary decision but well... welll worth taking
Steve
I had RF ablation of ganglionated plexus under GA commencing at 9am.Took 5 hours. Came to in recovery and the chest pain and lower abdominal pain were unbearable. I was unable to urinate so was catheterised. The EP hadn't expected it to take 5 hours so hadn't catheterised me for the procedure. The chest pain was excruciating so I was given i/v fentanyl which knocked me out again. Back to ward 5pm. Two hourly morphine. Unable to move until 11pm to allow groin wound to heal which it did. Blood pressure/heart monitor alarm going off every 15 mins. Unable to sleep due to pain. Given piece of toast and tea for breakfast next morning which produced severe central chest pain. 5 days in hospital went home, pain so bad readmitted for a further 6 days - diagnosis pericarditis with effusion and oesphagitis due to the RF damaging both. Given colchicine, morphine, tramadol, codeine, metoclopramide and a cold pureed diet, no solids. Still have swallowing pain and backing up difficulties two and a half years later. But no AF that I have noticed.
Hi, Ruza,
Ive had 4 femoral/heart procedures in the last year; 3 ablations and an internal cardioversion. UK NHS.
I had been in persistant, constant AF since September 2018.
First was a PV cryo ablation under sedation, for AF, in Feb 2020. Unfortunately I went into asystole (flat lined) twice during the procedure and the op was stopped after only 1 vein was ablated. (I'm very pleased for the quick reactions of the excellent team to get me going again, difficult while only sedated !)
I knew the risks but was happy to be rescheduled for RF PV ablation under full GA, September 2020.
That was successful but revealed flutter in right atrium.
External cardioversion 4 weeks later didn't work so scheduled for an internal cardioversion (up the femoral vein) at the beginning of November. That didn't work either so was scheduled for an RF ablation, under sedation, for flutter in Jan 2021. (procedure completed in just 30 minutes)
All sorted since then, NSR .......and no meds other than continuing Edoxaban.
I knew the risks, they had been fully explained to me and I was happy to proceed each time.
Thank you localad for sharing your absolutely frightening experience with us. Thank you for being honest about it.
Wishing you all the best.
Ruza
Hi Ruza,
It wasnt frightening at the time, i cant remember a thing due the sedative they used!
The operation report i was given did surprise me though. It was odd reading my heart had stopped twice. But these guys practice for this sort of thing. Im so glad of their skills.
I haven’t had an ablation but decide on how much af interferes with quality of life. You can see the bad experiences people have had but probably a lot of the successful ly operated on don’t return to the site often as have no need of support Your ep should give you figures fir his complications if you ask. Experience is vital.
Hi I had a cryo ablation in March under sedation,also under 60kgs if needed I would have another
I had my one and only in 2013 and free of AF until recently so fully recommend. I never took any meds except beta blocker whilst on waiting list for 6 months as I hated the idea of taking long term meds and my EP gave me a choice. Ablation or meds route. I have had a few runs over the last few months so if it returns I will be hoping for another. I take anticoagulant.
I've read all the risks before my two ablations -- first was cryo, second radio-frequency. My first EP wasn't that experienced in ablating around the esophagus so he let that vein be, which caused future a-fib episodes. He also lightly touched on the phrenic nerve, which he said caused my diaphragm to stop working momentarily, but continued on with the ablation. He told my brother in the waiting room the experience took 10 years off his life! I recently had my second ablation at a much better facility, world renown Cleveland Clinic, where they very easily ablated the errant vein my first EP was unable to ablate. I wasn't frightened of the risks, as they were very minimal percentage-wise. I'm female and weight 120 lbs. and they thought my slight frame was an advantage, rather than a hindrance. There's more success in lower weight patients than those overweight because of various complications. I hope this helps!
Thank you Snowgirl65. Yes, that does help.
All the best from here on.
R.
Get the BEST EP you can find. I've had 4 ablations. They're very safe nowadays.
My first one failed after 9 months; however, my 2nd lasted 10 years of blissful peace.
When my second one failed and AFIB returned in AUG 2020, I did not hesitate and booked an ablation with a seasoned EP for OCT 22. The new ablation was much improved over the older ones I had due to advanced procedure and technology. Recovering nicely.
Don't be afraid of ablation in the hands of a top EP.
Read book THE AFIB CURE by EP John Day. He talks about ablation and what a great help it can be for AFIB sufferers. Lays out all the options for you. How you might be able to avoid ablation with lifestyle changes and monitoring, etc. Give it a look ...
Thank you The_Lord_is_with_Us
I have heard of John Day. I saw him on TV giving a talk. I also visited his website... Lots of good information there.
Regards,
R
You might think about why you would have it. Are you symptomatic? Does your AF interfere with your lifestyle? What is it worth to you? I came to the place where going ahead was better than any fears or concerns.
Thank you marcyh... You are absolutely right about weighing pros and cons... but still tough to make a such a decision - - to let someone into my heart - and do some burning there scares me😲
Cheers,
R
That is tempting for sure, but it is actually something to let the expert think about. Would this be under general anesthetic or sedation? Mine was under GA and that was helpful in my anticipation of it.
What a great question! I had my first ablation in early December (2020). Felt immediately much better —- more energy, brain- fog totally lifted, and no problems at insertion sites. But afib returned during the blanking period (almost every 7-10 days). In general, still felt much better than I had for years. Had second ablation in early April (2021), zero afib breakthroughs as of now. Much more bruising and soreness at insertion sites (not terrible and went away within a week). However, I also have a very rare complication (an AV fistula) which isn’t causing me any apparent symptoms for which I’m seeing a vascular surgeon this week. Most likely they will be able to correct this without surgery (an ultrasound procedure). SO: first procedure only partially successful, 2nd one seems to have done the trick. I wish I had done this 3 years ago.
Thank you Nigel2000. Wow! You are a brave person... to go for the send ablation within 4-5 months is a lot to go through.
Wishing you all the best.
Ruza
Ablation - Success v wish I hadn’t had one!
If I have had AF for more than four years, can ablations still be successful? 
Question for those of you who experienced worsening of symptoms after first ablation.
Please share how to live with afib while having very young children.
Cost of ablation for AFIB left atrium? Already had right atrium for aflutter and SVT. 
