Just curious what other people are experiencing for wait times to get an ablation in Canada. I was just told my wait is one year. Lots of reasons why I'm not happy about this and so I'm looking for alternative clinics if that’s even possible. Also wondering if Canadians ever go down to the US and pay to get ablations (I know it would be very expensive and likely not covered but at this point I'd consider it).
thx
Hi Velobob
While you're waiting for your ablation why not try changing your diet to one that contains no artificial additives, just to see if that works. Losing weight if needed can also help as can avoiding alcohol, caffeine and sugar.
I went along for my fist ablation thinking it was going to be a miracle cure, but the truth is my first two made my AF worse. The third did help, but I'm now in constant AF at a rate between 60-90 and can cope with that.
A member on this site Bambi had an ablaltion with a Dr Wolff, think it was in Houston, Texas, for her it has been a miracle cure.
Jean
Thx for your response Jean!
I have already cut out alcohol and caffeine. I am a fit 53M former (before my afib started 2 yrs ago) competitive cyclist. My wife is a registered dietitian so my nutrition is very good 
I’ve got a list of triggers that I manage - mainly stress and sleep now that I’ve cut out alcohol, caffeine, intense exercise. I am also taking sotalol daily. None of this is keeping me out of the Emergency- I’ve been cardioverted twice in the last month.
AF is a hateful condition isn't it! It sounds like you're doing all the right things. We've noticed on this forum that it's often people who have done a lot of exercise who end up with AF. Me being one of them.
I kept having cardioversions, then after having two fairly close and still going back into AF it was decided that they would offer no more. My EP signed me off after my three ablations saying there was nothing more he could do to help.😪
Sorry to hear that
Jean, I've read your individual posts and those to others, so know your history of permanent a-fib. Have you thought of going to a different EP for a diagnosis? The reason I mention this is that my first EP gave me very faulty information before and after the ablation he performed on me. I've since changed EPs, had another ablation by the new one, with much better results. Just a thought -- take care.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I've made a decision to stay as I am now and not have any more ablations, have already had 3.
Understood.
I think you are referring to the woman who had a Wolf mini-maze procedure which is much more invasive than an ablation.
Yes, I am.
I know someone on this forum flew to France from Canada for ablation, I think because it was cheaper than US’s eye watering costs.
12 month wait in UK would not be unusual on NHS. Unfortunately too many patients, too few specialists all over the world.
In the U.K. you can get a private ablation for around $20,000 with about 1 month to organise it. I asked for a good friend of mine just recently
I am in US and had an ablation last year. Fortunately, the pandemic funds that US Congress put into the Affordable Care Act ($93B) as part of their inflationary giveaway programs last year allowed me to have it done nearly for free. I had been researching the cost for ablation without insurance prior to obtaining the coverage and based on two quotes it was between $160,000 and $190,000 (Mayo Clinic and Honor Health facility). I called my doctor after getting insurance approval for the procedure and it was done two weeks later. No waiting. I'd guess the cost is prohibitive for most. Interestingly (to me anyway), the doctors cost was only about $2800 while the cath lab and facility costs were huge--but paid by insurance thankfully.
Wow!!
I'm on the West Coast of Canada and mine was going to be a year wait. It depended on how symptomatic I was and I was to keep them informed. I became increasingly and severely symptomatic and ended up being incrementally moved up the list by months.marcyh
I had a cryoablation in Jan of this year at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. I flew from Orlando to Baltimore to get the procedure done because the EP at Hopkins, who I chose to do the procedure is world renown. I contacted them in Mid November and the procedure was done in early January. I used Medicare and have Cigna Medicare surround (it's an added insurance policy that covers most of what Medicare (80%) doesn't cover). I paid $68 out of pocket. That's the good news. The bad news is the invoiced cost was $36,000.
Where are you in Canada? I am the one that CD mentions that flew from Canada to France. I flew from Vancouver, B.C. to Bordeaux, France. The cost of the ablation is $25,000 Canadian and you can get it done. in one month. The ablation procedure that we know today was pioneered there. Dr. Jais is tops.
Today, I would consider if the Pulsed Electric Procedure would be available (depends on the stage of AF you are in). The Bordeaux Group would be doing it. I would also look into the Wolf Mini Maze presented by Bambi although the cost would be too prohibitive for a Canadian exchange rate and all.
I am in Kelowna so your experience is very relevant to me. I am in early stages I guess - paroxysmal afib for the last 2 years with episodes every 1-2 months. Biggest issue for me is that physical exertion is a trigger and I used to be very active and I have young children so afib has really impacted my quality of life and mental health. Unfortunately our health care system doesn’t have much capacity and I am low priority - hence the year wait (which isn’t actually even confirmed as my appointment is just listed as Pending in eHealth).
My main concern is follow up - did you stay in France for awhile after the procedure? Have you had any issues?
Are there any EPs in Kelowna or did you have to come to Vancouver? Have you been seen only by a cardiologist or did you get to an EP?
How long are your episodes? Getting an episode once a month or once every two months need not press the panic button. I was in persistent AF, and had I remained here I would have been at the long standing persistent stage which is the reason I choose to go to Bordeaux. As it was, I was one of the worst cases at the six month persistent, and that's from an expert Bordeaux EP.
Your physical exertion being a trigger is something to really explore. It could be a trigger today, but change tomorrow.
If I were in your position and could wait, I would wait for the Pulsed Field Ablation. I know Dr. Jais is performing it in Bordeaux.
The whole time spent in France was two weeks, with a few days devoted to the health issue. The ablation is done early Monday morning with over night stays until Thursday. Friday by noon, you are discharged. I walked out of the hospital just fine all three times. The week after the hospital, I went sight-seeing.
I have had issues because I was so far gone that it took three ablations. My last ablation was three years ago, and I still have to take Propafenone 150mg x 2 to keep me in sinus rhythm. But, I am in sinus rhythm and feel just great. I should add that I am also old, so I started with an aged heart on this journey.
You are young; you barely have AF. Just relax and your mental health will get much much better. Don't let AF get in the way: enjoy your young kids.
Far later down the time path and should you choose the ablation road, the Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto I believe is doing the Pulsed Field Technique. So, rather than waiting for Vancouver, you might want to research Toronto. St.Paul's has a better cardiac division than Vancouver General.
I would be pleased to answer other questions. Feel free to pm ( I believe that's what it it called) me.
Hi - thanks for your response it has lots for me to think about. There is an EP in Kelowna and I have seen him once. I am on the waitlist here. The issue I have with my AF is that it generally doesn't resolve itself so I have to go to Emergency to get cardioverted. I think I will take your advice and try and chill out a bit and try and be happy while I wait.
I had not replied earlier because I was on a holiday for two weeks in Austria. When you say your AF does not resolve, what is the time period that you are in AF before the cardioversion? Are you saying that you are going beyond seven days and by definition persistent? In my experience, the trick is not to get to persistent and definitely not to stay persistent for any length of time. There is only one EP in Kelowna? You have checked him out.
Since you have stayed in AF for less than 24 hours, you should do very well in your ablation. Good luck to you.
Why dont you go to Germany, the have the PF ablation which is safer, easy and more effective. Thats my plan if i need a second one.
Thx - food for thought!
I thought I'd post a follow up as I just got a PVI ablation done six days ago. So while I was originally told I would have to wait a year it ended up being 6 months (I'm in Canada and our Healthcare system is severely strained at the moment). I had a few arrhythmias in the first few days after the procedure but nothing major. Biggest thing was a sore throat which lasted 3 days. I'm feeling quite good actually - I described it to my wife as the absence of feeling anything - so where I used to always get some reaction from my heart (like lying down, short efforts, eating, drinking hot liquids, work stress, etc) now I feel nothing at all. I was hoping to get off the sotalol I've been taking for almost a year but my electrophysiologist wants me to keep taking them for 6 weeks just to be sure. I think my biggest issue now is just hoping that nothing goes wrong in the 2-3 month blanking period - which of course is anxiety inducing and counter productive so I'm just trying not to think about it! Also I'm looking forward to getting back to exercise starting tomorrow and seeing how that goes. Overall I'm cautiously optimistic and grateful for getting the procedure.
Good to hear you got yours done. Wondering how it has been since? I was also seen by a Kelowna EP a month ago … am on 6-month waiting list, but the anti-Arrythmia med they have me on (Multaq) is not working, with no other drug options apparently, due to my low HR. Am curious if you’ve been able to resume your normal exercise level, since ablation?
Hey there - it's been mostly good. I could immediately feel a reduction in arrhymias and I have not had to be cardioverted since (6 months) whereas before I was averaging once every 2 months. Unfortunately I am still on my anti arrhymic drug and blood thinner after 2 failed attempts to wean. I am going to see the Dr again in 2 months to discuss next steps - I'm guessing a possible second ablation. That said I am very stable right now (knock on wood). Since I am still on the meds my exercise level is still much lower than before - not much I can do about it really. I go to the gym 3 times a week and make the best of it.
Ablation who decides General Anaesthetic or Sedation.Big difference in waiting time.
Ablation waiting list
how long to wait for ablation
