I'm new to this forum

[MJZaw]

I'm new to this forum and am interested in the experience of others. Considering ablation at this point but am researching it.

[rosyG]

I chose not to have ablation but would if I had frequent episodes which made me feel very ill. Lots of people will tell you about their ablation experience

[bantam12]

I also chose not to go ahead with ablation, the risk of it not working was to high for me.

[BobD Volunteer]

You will find very few people ever say they wished they didn't have an ablation,. More who for whatever reason declined.

Just understand that you may need more than one. I had three before my AF was stopped back in 08. Treatment is mainly for quality of life and it really is the best chance of being drug free (apart from anticoagulation of course).

AF Association main website has a plethora of fact sheets and booklets on ablation including those on preparing for and recovering from the procedure which may help you to fully understand the subject.

[CDreamer]

In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t had an ablation but that had nothing to do with AF as my second did stop AF for 3 years. I wish I hadn’t had any drugs - it was the drugs and sedation which I later found exacerbated an underlying condition which is much harder to live with than AF but I stress that is rare!

The procedure itself was easy and straightforward, recovery may take much longer than some doctors indicate. I say ‘may’ as everyone reacts very differently and some are back to normal and back to work very quickly.

It’s so hard to predict how you will be. As Bob suggested - read as much as you can about it. Lots of people post their ablation experiences so why not do a search in the search box?

But remember that many people for whom ablation works don’t hang around this forum.

[Sfhmgusa]

If your afib is even moderately affecting your Quality of life then I would suggest ablation is the best way to rectify that. The drugs taken for rate and rythmn control work most of the time , but not all, and I think all have a potential for side effects that are not great.If you do plan ablation think of it like a driving test! Some “ pass” first time but many need a second or third go . For me with 9 months afib free since ablation 2 I would have no hesitation in recommending it

Steve

[secondtry]

Ablation or not is something that is very difficult to advise on unless you reach a point of very poor QOL with only one real option left to ablate.

What I would suggest is learn as much as you can about all the options as it is an individual subjective balancing act to weigh up the pros and cons of each and your personal circumstances. Also discuss with your consultant the risks of ablation before the day of the procedure! I elected on diagnosis of Lone PAF at age 60 to take a medium dose of Flecainide to stop it completely, whilst I worked on lifestyle changes to take over from the pills.

[indy64]

The best piece of advice I ever received about whether or not have an (second) ablation was from the Chief EP at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Walid Saliba. The first ablation was performed by a nationally recognized EP, Maricio Aruda at University Hospital, and it knocked back the episodes about 50%. Nine hour surgery as they dealt with the AFIB in the left atria and then chased down a flutter in the right. Saliba's advice was how much AFIB could I live with. Once a week, two a week, five a month? He said I was half way there and perhaps the second one would put me in a place that I could easily live with and maintain. As Bob said, You just need to access what quality life suits you and commit. Was getting cardioverted a few times a month prior to my second ablation and haven't one for about five years now.

[MJZaw in reply to indy64]

Hi Indy... you mentioned getting cardioverted a few times a month. I assume that it required the intervention of a physician or hospital visit. And how high was your BPM when you got converted. FYI, I was converted 4 or 5 times in the ER during a 7 year period with heart rates up to 200BPM...pretty scary as I could feel the heart pounding. My problem is because I have paroxysmal AF I have no idea when or if it will happen again.

[indy64]

Some times as high as 200, but usually around 170, but for hours. I have instant access to my cardiologist by phone, and I email him my Kardia EKGs and he would direct me to the ER and call the staff cardiologist at the hospital. I too am paroxysmal and either convert back into SR on my own or I take a pill in a pocket that always eventually works.

[MJZaw in reply to indy64]

Thanks for the info.

Regards,

Marty

[Palpman]

I have just returned from my ablation an hour ago.

It was for a re entry tachycardia.

I had sedation that kept me 100% alert and awake. Did not feel a thing. The cannula insertion was the only slight pain.

The re entry circuit was obliterated and tested 3 times after and it can no longer happen. 😊

Now 7 hours after the procedure I still have absolutely zero pain.

[Jamflake]

Hi, I had an ablation last April after having paroxysmal Afib for about 4years. Episodes had got more frequent (average every 8 days and lasting up to twelve hours)Unfortunately, although the ablation (under sedation) went well & I didn't feel a thing, it didn't work.

I am now on the list for another ablation and meanwhile, my flecainide dose has recently been increased. Episodes now are about every 2 weeks on average and only last about 4 hrs if I take an extra flecainide (as prescribed)

Also take bisoprolol and rivaroxaban.

[MJZaw in reply to Jamflake]

Thank you, Marty Z

[seasicksurf]

Welcome Zaw. Lots of good advice above, and as you can tell everyone seems to have different experiences and choices. In the end, it’s up to you. Remember AF is the result of an underlying physical condition (commonly it’s bad circuits that have developed in your heart tissue) that usually progresses. You may identify and minimize triggering events, but your bad circuits are still there and in most cases, get worse. I had PAF for 5 years with PIP treatment. What were infrequent episodes at first became so frequent, my QOL was lousy.

I ultimately opted for ablation. Post procedure, it took a month for my heart to heal enough to feel better. And another month to be free of weird beats. Now I’m good (3 months after). We’ll see how it goes from here.

Wishing you the best of outcomes for whatever you decide.

[MJZaw in reply to seasicksurf]

Hi S.., you are correct about the fact that it usually progresses. I started off with 25mg metoprolol and have progressed to needing to use Sotalol and Cardizem over a 7 year period. I'm afraid it can only get worse from here. I appreciate your advice.

Best regards,

Marty

[Flyer2820]

Hi MJZaw,I had an ablation on November 5th 2019 and after about a month I had no more af attacks.

I have been af free now for 1year and 8 months and feel great because of it.

I spent a night in hospital at the surgeons request (I could have gone home after it if I wanted) and had one days rest after and then the day after that I was pushing someone in a wheelchair although only for a very short distance.

I felt I was fully recovered after a few days and would definitely have it done again.

If you are very asymptomatic with af I would suggest you think hard whether you want it or not but I was 70 years old when I had mine and think my recovery was excellent.

Hope all goes well for you.

Take care.

Flyer.

[MJZaw in reply to Flyer2820]

Hey Flyer, excellent news and congrats! You are the poster child for ablation...I appreciate your sharing your experience. At 73 YOA, I think I need to get moving with this decision.

[Flyer2820]

Hello again MJZawMy younger brother who is 59 has serious bouts of af ( As you may know it is hereditary my Dad also had it)

He is looking forward to an ablation, the doctor has put him forward as a priority. He has had a pacemaker fitted to stop bradycardia and still has af badly. Just remember you can say yes to an ablation and change your mind when it comes if you want.

Good luck again.

Flyer.