Afib heat laser Ablation

[riffjack846]

Here's a quick back round. 61 years old. Have had Afib off and on for 25+ years. So after countless Cardioversions, numerous Homeopathic regimens and a try of SotaloI (which was the worst by the way). I always ended up back in Afib along with the terrible quality of life that goes with it within days or a couple of weeks. Finally, 2 years ago a new Cardiologist put me on Amiodarone 200mgs a day after initial dosing of 800mgs for 5 days for rhythm and 25mgs metoprolol twice a day for heart rate.....Wow-bam-bliss. 3 days in and I went into NSR on my own and no recurrence of Afib for 2 yrs. Ok, here's my question. My cardiologist has recommended an ablation for the 21st of July since Amiodarone is toxic to some people if taken too long so I'm wondering if anyone on here has had an ablation when in medication induced NSR for awhile and if your Afib came back after the procedure. I sure would hate to go back to being tired and miserable every other day again. Thanks for your time. Mike

[mjames1]

What was the longest you were in afib continuously? Everything else being equal, as long as it wasn't more than a month or so, your odds of a successful ablation are probably about the same as anyone else which was quoted to me at around 80%. But probably a better question to ask the ep who will be doing it.

Jim

[BobD Volunteer]

You must understand that ablation is not the instant fix many EPs try to sell. It will take at least three months if not six or nine for full recovery as we expalin in our fact sheet on recovery (See pinned posts- right of screen) but prvided that you are patient many people find it the best treatment and it allows then to stop most medication. (not usualy anticoagulation of course. )

I had three between 2005 and 2008 and have been AF free ever since.

[riffjack846 in reply to BobD]

Thanks James, good to know.

[riffjack846 in reply to riffjack846]

I mean James and Bob.

[Hidden]

Hello riffjack, you may well know that there is a massive difference between how healthcare is provided here in the UK compared with the USA. In the UK, the vast majority of healthcare is provided indirectly by the government via the National Health Service and is funded predominantly by employees and employers through a tax known as the National Insurance. There is a relatively small amount of healthcare provided privately which is funded either by the individual or through a private health insurance company. This bears little or no comparison with the healthcare funding in the USA. So here (the UK) a patient sees his doctor who may be referred him/her to see a specialist who carries out an assessment in conjunction with the patient to determine the best treatment plan. No money changes hands and the consultant has to be confident that the patient is likely to benefit from the ablation assuming one is offered but currently, waiting times can be anything up to a year.

This process is often not understood or appreciated by people from overseas and arguably there’s no reason why they should but from what we hear, because almost all healthcare is funded by private insurance companies there may be a financial incentive for a specialist to recommend an ablation, other than for medical reasons. Now that said, Amiodarone does have a reputation and although many patients do very well, some can have long lasting side effects. So your question really is not an easy one to offer advice on but an ablation would seem to be well worth considering.

[riffjack846 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the input.

[CDreamer]

I had 2 RF ablations whilst on Flecainide back in 2013 and 2014. The second was because the AF became even more symptomatic after the first. The second stopped AF, bliss, but exacerbated an underlying condition. By year 3 after the ablation, AF returned.

Alternatively, my 88 year old husband has been on Amiodarone for the the last 3 years with no ill affects. It was thought that ablation would not be successful so was not recommended. He reduced the dose to 100mg daily, has had no ill affects yet and no AF. He is monitored regularly - bloods, echocardiogram and ECG, BP etc.

It is a difficult choice as you really don’t know how ablation will work for you, I met a lady in her 80’s yesterday, very fit, had an ablation last Friday and was back in the gym doing light exercise by Wednesday. No bruising, no AF, get a bit more tired than usual but relieved of the AF and feeling reborn! I, on the other hand, never attained that because of the underlying condition, had high resting rate for 9-12 months, ectopics and constant fatigue. And AF returned 3 years later.

It may be worth researching other treatment options which work for some:- Pacemaker was my saviour, Lifestyle changes help many, especially to maintain NSR after coming off drugs, Mini-Maze surgery - several members have been posting about this from US and UK recently - you can look up their posts - just put Mini-Maze in the search box. Other anti-Arrythmia drugs?

There are individual risks and benefits to all and every procedure and only you can decide which one seems appropriate for you and the accessibility to the resources available, but I found it always helped to discuss with people in similar position. Be quite forensic in your questioning of your EP and their record, equipment used and success rate. Know that ablation could work, which would mean no more drugs and recovery could take longer than you are led to believe.

Best wishes

[CDreamer]

PS - if you haven’t already I would strongly recommend reading The AFibCure - Dr Day

His blog on when to consider ablation is I think very well balanced. drjohnday.com/when-should-i...

Hope that helps.

[riffjack846 in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you.