A brief introduction

[Csingicsong]

Hi All I am fairly new to this forum but I find it extremely useful and the participants very knowledgeable. I am a 62 year-old Caucasian woman. I live in Harrow, UK. I have long-standing persistent AFIB and congestive heart failure. I take a lot of medications for both my conditions . I have already had a cardioversion which at first seemed to be successful but unfortunately, AFIB came back in just 2 days. I have recently been offered a surgical ablation and I can hardly wait to have it done as my AFIB is progressing and my quality of life is diminishing.

[Hidden]

Good evening and welcome to the forum. A couple of years ago I posted asking folk how they arrived at their nickname. It was a bit off topic but it was very interesting and a lot of fun……methinks yours might have been interesting too!.

Any way, back to the subject. As far as I’m aware, surgical ablations here in the UK are not very common but recently, there have been a few people talking about it and if you type “surgical ablation” in the search box located top right of this page, you will see a good few of them which you might find helpful. I believe success rates are quite good but it’s not something that I know much about. Hopefully, others with more knowledge and experience will contribute more.

I believe there is also a chance that successful treatment may also help to reverse heart failure so fingers crossed for a good result……all the best

[Csingicsong in reply to Hidden]

Thanks a lot for your reply, FlapJack. I’ll have a look at the comments re surgical ablations. Thanks for the advice. I am sure I’ll find them very useful. Yes, I have also been told by my cardiologist that a successful surgical ablation may help with my heart failure and my largely dilated left ventricle as well. But first things first. The main thing now is to have this procedure done as soon as possible. Fingers crossed and many thanks for your well wishes!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Hidden]

HiWell I did not get that question so I must be classed as a late comer.

My Joy to the World comes from my dear grandpa as he named me. First girl and Mum wanted me as Margaret Rose but her older sis was also expecting and told no I want Margaret.

Then grandpa stepped in call her JOY and she is Joy to the world.

My Aunty had a boy.

1 year 4 months Mum had another girl and named her Margaret Rose. I'm glad I'm Joy.

Aunty went on to have 2 more boys and then finally another 2 girls.

cheri JOY

[Hidden in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

and Joy to the World is my favourite carol!!

[Jalia]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! We don't hear about many surgical ablations in the UK so will be very interested to hear how you get on. It should transform your life. ( I used to live near Harrow ( Stanmore) where I went to school....many moons ago)

Regards

J

[Csingicsong in reply to Jalia]

Hi Jalia Thanks for your reply. I’ll definitely let you know how I get on. If only I knew when. I am eager to have it done as soon as possible but I doubt it’ll happen soon. And in the meantime my AFIB is progressing and the symptoms are becoming worse and worse. It is very scary and I am so worried all the time which, of course, doesn’t help at all

[BobD Volunteer]

Hello, good evening and welcome as David Frost used to say. Welcome to the club.

[Csingicsong in reply to BobD]

Thanks, BobD. I’ve already read a lot of your very useful comments and thank you very much for them! I am so happy I have found this forum.

[jeanjeannie50]

Welcome to the forum. Feel free to ask any questions and bear in mind that we always say that there's no such thing as a daft one.

Jean

[Csingicsong in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks a lot. I’ll definitely ask and will be very grateful for any advice. I always ask a lot of questions and I think that’s the reason that some doctors don’t really like me. 😄

[Frances123]

Welcome to the forum. You are in the right place and as you said, a lot of useful information on here. Agree with Jean there is no such thing as a daft question so feel free to ask any questions. x

[Csingicsong in reply to Frances123]

Thank you very much, Frances123. x

[CDreamer]

You have a fellow traveller about to undergo a similar procedure

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Hope all goes well for you.

[Csingicsong in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks a lot. I’ve already found her and ask her to let me know how it went once is better. Thanks again, CDreamer.

[Singwell]

Hello, please feel welcome! This group definitely improves QOL as members are so supportive and knowledgeable. We also have a few laughs. I don't know what surgical ablation is - I'm guessing you need it done this way due to the congestive heart failure. Being close to London you'll have access to done of the best surgeons though which is a plus.

The only thing I can share is that I find Max Richter's Sleep album really useful when my AF kicks in. If I breathe and hum in rhythm with it my HR slows down.

[Csingicsong in reply to Singwell]

Thank you very much for your advice and kind words!

[bassets]

Welcome from me too

[Csingicsong in reply to bassets]

Thanks a lot!

[MummyLuv]

Hello again and lovely to see your photo I’m now one week away from surgical ablation with the same surgeon as 2 others on here who have had the procedure in the U.K.

I would be incredibly nervous if it were not for the WMM Facebook group where c4 people a week go through surgical ablation. I have learnt so much. The people are so friendly and share so much great knowledge all around surgical ablation. It’s worth a join. I’m pretty sure you’ll find someone else in your situation there x

[Csingicsong in reply to MummyLuv]

Thanks a lot! I’ll try to find and join the group! Hang in there, it is not long now! In the meantime, take care of yourself!x

[MummyLuv in reply to Csingicsong]

Here you go

facebook.com/groups/4129396...

See you over there

[Csingicsong in reply to MummyLuv]

Thanks a lot. I have submitted my application for becoming a group member. Btw I don’t really know what the difference is between a surgical ablation and a mini maze. Can you explain it to me? Thanks in advance.

[MummyLuv in reply to Csingicsong]

Sorry for some reason I have posted response but has appeared further down 👇

[Ppiman]

Welcome to this forum. Let's hope your ablation is more successful than that cardioversion! It will be, of course. By surgical did you mean "catheter", I guess, i.e. one performed though a groin vein by a doctor (an EP cardiologist) rather than by a cardiac surgeon?

Steve

[Hidden in reply to Ppiman]

No Steve, it’s not the same……a bit more complex but has high success rates.

[Ppiman in reply to Hidden]

Hi FJ, I was wondering whether the OP had meant catheter ablation rather than "surgical".

Steve

[Csingicsong in reply to Ppiman]

Hi Thanks for your comment. As FlapJack has already explained it is not the same. Surgical ablation is a key-hole procedure and the chance of success is better with this than that of a catheter ablation considering my heart failure and other heart problems.

[CDreamer in reply to Ppiman]

It ablates the outside of the heart so can ablate places that cannot be or are very difficult to reach with catheter ablation.

[Csingicsong in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you very much for your explanation. Really useful. Thanks. 👍

[ETHEL103]

Welcome.My cv only worked for 2 hours then the ectopics hit and took me into persistant a fib.Also waiting for ablation sinceOct 21.

[Csingicsong in reply to ETHEL103]

Thanks for your comment and hope you will have your ablation soon! Good luck with it! x

[Csingicsong in reply to ETHEL103]

May I ask if you have been given any indication when it will be done? Sorry, I am not familiar with the procedure. In the meantime has your condition deteriorated? Just because I am very worried that my condition will be much worse by the time I’ll have it and also this waiting is terrible. I’d like them to tell me at least roughly when it will be done. Do you think it matters if your condition is rather bad? Perhaps I can get a jump up the list? Or it doesn’t work like this?? Thanks.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Csingicsong]

Hi.I think a fib does get worse over time but after 18 months I am more relaxed about it.My meds(verapimil)have had to be increased but almost there with them now.I also get ectopics from the atria which to me are more troublesome even tho peeps on here say they are benign the certainly don't feel like it .I have been waiting since last Oct for the ablation .Had a pre op assessment over the phone a month ago.I asked how long it would be and he just said don't know ,covid still rife in hospitals .I'm due to go to St Thomas's in London.

[Csingicsong in reply to ETHEL103]

Thank you very much for your reply. I know I should not be so impatient but I cannot help it. My meds (2.5 mg of Bisoprolol and 1 Digoxin a day) don’t help at all. I have been feeling terrible recently, especially in the morning. I have to take my blood pressure each morning but very often I just cannot do it due to the “chaos” in my heart. And I also have chest pain very often. So, I am very worried but try to calm down by listening to meditation sessions each morning before I get up. It’s really awful that this terrible Covid is still here and makes delays even longer.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Csingicsong]

If you want to chat privately message me .

[Csingicsong in reply to ETHEL103]

We could chat privately if you are okay with it.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Csingicsong]

Yes I also chat to another member on here.A lady with similar heart probs.

[Csingicsong in reply to ETHEL103]

Thanks, I’d be glad to chat privately, I just don’t know how. Sorry.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Csingicsong]

Messaged you.

[Kevin2331]

I too had a severely enlarged left ventricle due mainly to leaky mitral valve for years, which led also to mild afib. I had valve surgery and while they were in there they also did a cryo ablation. About two weeks later I had an ultrasound and ventricle and left atrium were back to normal size! I wish you well.

[Csingicsong]

Oh, thanks a lot. This definitely gives me some hope. So happy you are well and thanks again for the encouragement and your well wishes. Take care!

[MummyLuv]

Same thing. There are various different types of mini maze but most are minimally invasive and do PV ablation, left appendage clipped and other scarring on the back of the heart (the maze bit) depending on the surgeon to both ablate nerves and stop electrical pulse misfiring, cox maze iv box on the back of the heart is common,

The wolf mini maze is not actually a maze (one of his patients names it a maze and it has stuck 😂), Dr Wolf ablates the PV, clamps the left appendage and ablates nerves, he does not maze the back of the heart, he does not believe this is necessary.

[Csingicsong in reply to MummyLuv]

Thank you very much for the explanation. Very helpful. The Professor who offered the surgical ablation to me said that he would recommend to do a left atrial appendage closure as well while the ablation is done.

[MummyLuv in reply to Csingicsong]

The reduced stroke risk from closing the left appendage is in the 90 percents, blood thinners are in the 60s. It’s obviously way more intrusive but also way more effective x

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Get your heart sp to try out a CCB Calcium Channel Blocker.

It worked wonders for me!

CCBDiltriazem 120mg a.m and 2.5mg BISOPROLOL.

Now balanced after 2 years 3 months left. After Stroke and AF, 4 days later Carotid Artery Scan showed shadow on Thyroid. Tests never showed!

Have your Thyroid Neck Scan.

I am 73 and had no drugs except B12 Solgar Gold Top series of natural supplements. No gall bladder.

cheri JOY 73

[Csingicsong in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks very much for your advice, Joy.

[trina97462]

Welcome to the forum. I had my second ablation surgery, April 28. My heart doctor said success rate is 80 to 90 percent. I am a 62 year old woman. My 1st ablation I spent the night in the hospital. This time it was done as day surgery. I went back to my hotel and stayed the night since I live over an hour away. The surgery was smooth and very little pain. I really don't like taking metoprolol, it causes weight gain and the blood thinners cause me to bruise easier. If all goes as it should I will not have to take them soon. I hope you get to have the ablation surgery

[Csingicsong in reply to trina97462]

So happy to hear your surgery ablation went well. What kind of an ablation was it? Could you really go back to your hotel on your own so soon after the procedure?? I hope you are well and recovering quickly. How bad was your AFIB?

[Csingicsong in reply to trina97462]

Can I ask something else? When did you have your first ablation surgery? Was it successful?

[trina97462 in reply to Csingicsong]

Had my 1st about a year and a half ago. and no it wasn't.

[trina97462 in reply to trina97462]

It did help but I still had episodes do to changing to a more stressful job

[MummyLuv in reply to trina97462]

Hi Trina, just wondering if this was surgical ablation (is through the rib cage) or if it was catheter ablation (through a vien usually in the groin). I’ve not heard of anyone have surgery as a day patient. If so would love to know more :). Hope you have a very smooth and successful recovery x

[trina97462 in reply to MummyLuv]

It was thur both legs in the groin and my next. I think I prefer staying over night. Feeling pretty good now, just still tired

[trina97462]

My ablation surgery was for AFIB and flutter. I went in the hospital at 6am, surgery at 8. I left for my hotel at 2pm. I do prefer spending the night in the hospital. I feel more at ease with medical help right there. So far all is well just tired. I was getting AFIB about every other week.

[Csingicsong in reply to trina97462]

I am so happy to hear you are well. 👍💕 Hopefully your tiredness will lessen and you will be getting stronger and stronger as time goes by. Wishing you all the best! Take care!