Afib

[Deekas]

What’s the longest success of one ablation by the people on here?

[CDreamer]

Sort of impossible question - many are still in NSR so how would they know? Also when ablation is successful most people leave the forum.

[Physalis in reply to CDreamer]

I haven't left. I had my ablation nineteen months ago and have had no recurrences of AF since then. I feel I have learned quite a lot from this forum.

[listerines]

Depends on what you define as success. Black or white or shades of grey? I have had two ablations about a year apart, the first in Oct 2020. After a few months out from both procedures after coming off meds within a few weeks I was back to having afib episodes. So you could say they were not a success (Black or white perspective) , but once back on daily low dose of flecainide I have far greater heart stability now than when i was on same dose of flecainde prior to abalations. So feel this is a level of success greater than if I had never had the ablations (shades of grey perspective).Hopefully my third ablation allows me greater heart stability and ability to come off the medications for a while. We will see...

[Megams in reply to listerines]

~Hi listerines - I am new at all this but would you know why ablation/s beget further ablations? Not sure if this is impossible to answer but my thinking suggests that surely the EP will have some idea from the tests done prior i.e. Echo, Cardiac CT, ECG's where these rogue beats are? Or have I got this completely wrong.Having to undergo further ablation/s because the 1st one didn't quite get it all scares me silly ~

[listerines in reply to Megams]

Honestly probably best to get a more formal answer on this from your ep if you are considering ablation.But from my limited understanding there can be mapping done prior to ablation but to what extent I am not sure (may also differ based on country and whether public or private pay) .

Many EPs seems to target the pulmonary veins for isolation first as this seems to be the sight that generates the most rogue impulses. That said, afib can be initiated from other regions of the heart which can be trickier and more time consuming/ riskier to isolate during abalation. Possibly these areas are harder to map as well.

My work mate's brother had his 8th ablation a few years ago and his heart rhythm is holding up well.

[Megams in reply to listerines]

~Thank you for your response - appreciated..I am having pre-pulmonary vein isolation cardiac CT on Wednesday.

Interestingly my Cardiologist said to me some years ago that my faulty circuitry connected with my genetic ASD would probably not be suitable for ablation as the rogue circuits would eventually pop up elsewhere.

EP thought differently so who knows?

Having medical insurance I am going ahead as now in early heart failure without going into all the issues - want chance of remaining above ground to skip & dance again

[listerines in reply to Megams]

Hope all goes smoothly for you during the Cardiac CT scan this coming Wednesday. Can appreciate your concerns/ questions re: abalation.In my experience I would tend to listen to the EP more and let him/her guide you versus cardiologist (just based on years of schooling and experience with arrhythmias).

Keep safe and let me know if you want to bounce anything off me re: ablation (my two went very smoothly as well as recovery)

[Megams in reply to listerines]

~Thank you so much listerines - I'm starting to feel slightly edgy now that its becoming a reality - have many things to do but ticking them off as I go. You give me hope & I thank you for that ~

[jedimasterlincoln]

Well, my 5th Ablation was January 2019. I've not needed another once since. I've had sporadic episodes of AF since, usually months apart and during/after a cold virus or chest infection (but interestingly not when I had covid).

They settle with pills in the pocket within 48 hours, if they don't I'm advised to attend ED for monitoring (due to the dose of medication for rapid rate control).

For me, that would still count as a successful ablation given all the times between the other ones were still very debilitating episodes and weeks apart.

[LordGabriel]

I had my first ablation 16 months ago. I’ve moved house twice since, had the most stressful miserable time of my life after the 1st move. Both moves were exhausting. That certainly put my heart to the test! Had a few nights out drinking too.

Everything ok so far!

[Maggimunro]

Hi Deekasi’ve had 3 ablations in all. The first for SVT in 2016, and not a blip since. The second and third for left sided Afib, both five and a half hour ops, in 2017, and again not a blip since.

After my second AZ vaccine I had a couple of days of ectopics but I gather that isn’t unusual after vaccination .

[CliveP]

I doubt I’m setting any records but I’m at almost 5 1/2 years since my only ablation.No reoccurrence of AF at all. I take no meds and live a completely normal life including plenty of exercise.

I realise that I’m quite fortunate but it shows that it can happen.

[Megams in reply to CliveP]

~Wow CliveP - hope I can follow in your footsteps ~

[momist]

I'm not very knowledgable about this, but from reading many, many posts on this forum I've gathered that the first ablation is often a cryoablation (as mine was) which is a bit of a scatter gun approach to stopping all the possible wrong paths around the area of the heart most likely to be the problem. The second ablation, only if necessary, is a more skilled RF ablation choosing individual targets that the first one might have missed. This takes longer, costs more and likely to be more 'successful'.

No ablation is a 'cure', and may not last forever, but all should improve quality of life, or it's not worth doing. Mine at the end of June last year seems now to be holding up well after four months of sporadic problems at first.

[stoneyrosed]

I had an ablation last March, came off the meds in November and weeks later AF came back. Hoping to have a 2nd ablation. Everyone is different and I hope yours is successful .

[MarkS]

I had an ablation in 2010 which has been very successful. I had been getting AF about 80% of the time when I had it. Afterwards that dropped to an hour or so every 3m. However over the last year I haven't had any. I don't know quite why. Possibly because I've upped the fruit and veg from 4-5 to 6-7 per day. I have also retired fully so there's less stress. My exercise has reduced a bit as I get more creaky.

[Hidden]

10 years after my first ablation, I was in for a second stitch up. I couldn't and still can't say that it's successfully cured my AF but any bouts are now rare and short lived. Second ablation was 3 years ago. Quality of life back to normal. (I'm still here too!)

[Breezera]

I'm 65 years of age. Had my first and only ablation (a PVI cryoablation) in August 2018 (3-1/2 years ago) and I've been in NSR ever since - zero episodes of AF. My quality of life was restored. As for meds I take Eliquis (apixaban), candesartan & metoprolol (for blood pressure) and pantoprazole (for stomach & esophageal issues). I fast-walk 4 miles every day (along with other exercise) and enjoy 2-3 bottles of light beer daily. Life is good! 😀

[Dodie117]

My one and only ablation was in 2013 and still free of af. I have had the very odd short bout but in my book a massive success.

[Magson]

After an ablation 38 months ago my quality of life has improved dramatically. I have had 2 or 3 episodes of A F over that period but consider ablation was the best choice for me. The odd episode of eptopics don't worry me. Still doing gym 4 days a week, walking and lots of jobs to do on my classic car. In summary , my one ablation has been a success ( but only so far- who knows!).

[maggs1]

I had my 1st and only ablation in 2017 and I have only recently started to have fibrillation so I have pill in the pocket fl ecanide 100mg only needed it once.

[Rela]

Hey, I had mine over 3 years ago. No AF since and no medication. I'm back to 100% normal life. I'm 52 years old.

[Bluetonic]

5 years for me so far.Fingers crossed for at least another 5