Successful ablation

[splashrollandplod]

I had my post ablation follow up with the cardiologist today. Ablation was a success! And he said ”I have no restrictions to place on your exercise regime”. Flecainide to stop immediately, Verapamil to stop in 3 months. Everything seems to have gone to plan, hoping it stays that way.

[Jfbould1]

Congratulations! Thanks for sharing, splashrollandplod It’s good to hear about the successful cases. One can get a skewed perspective on their rareness on this site. When the time is right, there is probably one in my future. Best of luck!

[KMRobbo]

Great news!

[Afibflipper]

That’s excellent, I’ve had 2 ablations so don’t know if they can do more or not - hope you continue to do well - thanks for sharing

[Bluetonic]

That is great news. Still be careful with the exercise and build it up again gradually.I'm almost 5 years af free following my ablation, fingers crossed for you

[splashrollandplod in reply to Bluetonic]

Thanks. Yes, plan is to build exercise up gradually, increasing fitness and watching for ectopics after as I increase HR. Cardiologist didn’t think focussing on ectopics is required. I can’t help thinking that ectopy is a part way stage to AF.

[Bluetonic in reply to splashrollandplod]

As it was explained to me by my EP, ectopics are your heart trying to go into AF but being unable too because of the ablation.As I've said before, I have had ectopics, bigeminy and trigeminy from time to time since my ablation. But touch wood no AF

[Hidden]

Great news! I hope it all goes well for you.

[Jajarunner]

Excellent news. It may take you a while to get back to your exercise regime though. The heart is inflammed for three months after ablation, apparently, so be kind to it. I've written a tediously detailed set of blog posts about my recovery if you are interestedhhtafibathlete.blogspot.com...

[jeanjeannie50]

Good news to hear and best wishes for the future.

Jean

[Figbar]

I’m so happy for you! May you continue to enjoy a healthy healing journey.May I ask how long you had A-fib, along with frequency and duration?

(Also, are you in the US?)

Of course I wonder when it will be my turn; my cardiologist admits he doesn’t like turning to ablation right away altho “ the right answer when MD’s are taking their boards is ‘ablation’ as the answer to what is the first line of defense against aA-fib”!

So I’m sorting things out.

Thank you for sharing your good news

[splashrollandplod in reply to Figbar]

First got AFib July 2019, mid triathlon (500 miles East of Moscow!). I live in northern Scotland. AFib recurred 1 year later then about 7 times over the next year, generally asymptomatic apart from feeling a bit rough/palpitations and always self reverted to sinus rhythm either within a few minutes, 3 hours or overnight. Exercise induced with it recurring with ever less intensity. Ablation 2 years after first occurrence. Good old NHS despite 12 years of neglect. I think it was indicated that the earlier they ablate the more likely it would be successful.

[Figbar in reply to splashrollandplod]

Thank you so much!Wow! You must be in great shape; a triathlon.

How do you exercise now ( not immediately post ablation but prior to).

[splashrollandplod in reply to Figbar]

Initially after first AFib I stopped, then cardiologist said ok but not too intense so I limited my max HR to 160s. I did another triathlon in 2020, just 2 hours, at 80% effort - all ok. Then in 2021 having qualified for Bermuda & Edmonton world age group champs, I tested the water in a U.K. triathlon …, got AFib so quit. Covid and AFib cancelled all events! I am 66 now. I have been power walking since ablation, average HR 124-123, good base training. Now I’ll restart running, slowly initially and monitoring with Kardia 6L

[Afibflipper in reply to splashrollandplod]

Oh my you are amazing - hope you stay well

[Figbar]

You are an inspiration.Thank you, best luck, and stay well!

[Figbar]

I’m always amazed when I hear of so few episodes of A- Fib; such as one a year ago, then another in a year and then 7 over a year.I’m wondering if this is the norm for other fibbers altho I realize there is not a “norm” for us.

I started in October with about 6 per month until I cut out sugar in January and am now down to maybe 3 per month.

Hoping they continue to finish as time goes on and healthy lifestyle takes over and sets in.

I also know fib generally worsens, not eases up.

So here I sit wondering and waiting about the best course- to ablate or wait.

My cardiologist alluded to better/ improved treatment in the future; not ablation.

Thanks for letting me “ share”.

[splashrollandplod in reply to Figbar]

Defo no normal and the extent of the burden is important. Mine was in general not too burdensome but because it impacted my sporting life style choice it was considered more and also because of no underlying/other health issues I think I was considered a good candidate to ablate. Gradual deterioration is very typical. Also important is whether rhythm reverts naturally or requires cardioversion and if so whether that sticks. No idea what the future holds but right now I’m optimistic, who knows I could be back at cardiology within a week or doing triathlon no. 74 come summer.

Good luck to you - what’s your burden, underlying health, age and does AFib revert naturally?

[Ablation7]

Congratulations! 🎈

[Figbar]

Not sure how to answer “burden”.Hypertension and mildly overweight which rectifying now, otherwise very active sitting 2 small grandchildren, and working in the gardens.

AFIB reverts naturally.

Tapering off Diltiazam to use as PIP.

On Eliquis.

Im thinking triathlon for you this summer!

You go!

[splashrollandplod in reply to Figbar]

Burden - how much does it impact you? Bad would be .. can’t walk far without breathless, dizzy, panic, HR racing so have to call Doctor or go to hospital, have to go lie down and don’t go out for several days, several times a month. Average would be, a little breathless, have to sit down for an hour or two, feel bad for a day, once a month ish. Low would be asymptomatic apart from a few palpitations, doesn’t stop me doing anything, a minor concern, HR normal or slightly raised, once a month or less. Just my thinking.

[Figbar in reply to splashrollandplod]

I would fall into low category.I don’t stop my activity . Sometimes I think I do more activity to take mind off it.

[momist]

Thank you so much for posting. We hear little from the (70%?) successful patients. I'm only five months past my post ablation problems, but there has been nothing in that time and I'm hopeful that I can be taken off the flecainide and cut down on the bisoprolol. My follow up has been postponed, and the latest update is it now will happen 14 months after the procedure! I hope for the best.

[splashrollandplod in reply to momist]

Thanks. 14,months! Seems wrong that you might be on meds for 11 months longer than could be optimal, cost & risk factors. Really hard for NHS to cut quality as demand exceeds supply.