Thanks again to everyone who replied and commented on my post from a month ago, which I found most helpful. I thought you might be interested in an update. As I mentioned previously, I was minded to seek some further professional opinions (and others in the forum when I posted a month ago also encouraged this) as ultimately although the recommendation of my original EP Cardiologist to not get fixated on ‘chasing sinus rhythm’ had much merit in my circumstances, given my well controlled persistent AF with tolerable symptoms, it just didn’t feel right to me, feeling (at 62) to be relatively young to end up with permanent AF, particularly as with the effect it would have on my active lifestyle.
At a further recent (since my last post) consultation with my original EP we discussed again my options, including the pros and cons of an ablation, as he was willing to do one if I decided to proceed down this route. His preference being for a radio frequency procedure under sedation and of course sooner rather than later while I was still in relatively early persistent AF.
After further consideration I decided to get two additional professional opinions in early September. I am fortunate to have the means of doing so (one of these BUPA paid for as a second opinion and the other I self-funded). The first was from a London EP working out of St Barts, who was more positive about ablation in my situation, although he also agreed that leaving things as they were was a reasonable approach. I was offered a Cryo balloon procedure under general anaesthetic.
My final appointment was at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital with Professor Gupta, whose passion and enthusiasm for helping people with AF were immediately apparent. Like the London EP he was also more positive about an active approach in my circumstances, involving an ablation, and I was also delighted to discover that he was able to offer me a Pulsed Field (PF) Ablation, as apparently Liverpool, along with Royal Papworth is one of only two centres in the UK presently offering this relatively new approach to catheter ablation. I was already aware of the reported benefits of PF Ablation, including that it is believed to make what is already a relatively safe procedure even safer, so as I was already moving towards deciding to have an ablation this made up my mind for me, which made me feel better straight away having finally made a decision! Of course, a smaller part of me thinks I am still in guinea pig territory, but I also understand that pulsed field ablation has already been used many times in the UK since April this year and in Europe and America.
So I have recently had the pulsed field ablation under a general anaesthetic (I believe sedation is not appropriate with this type of ablation but that was fine with me!) and left the Cath Lab and Recovery in sinus rhythm (not quite NSR as I have always been Bradycardic going back as long as I can remember – genes and general fitness I believe – so it has not needed intervention). I spent a night in Hospital and was discharged the next day still in sinus rhythm, which as far as I am aware is still the case (I don’t have a Kardia mobile or similar and hesitate to get one as for me I think it might be counter-productive). So far, I have felt fine with only a few mild palpitations and very little chest discomfort. I am of course aware that it is early days, but hopefully things will continue in a similar fashion. I am also hopeful that I may not need a second ablation as apparently the chances of a first procedure success with PF Ablation can be higher than with other forms of catheter ablation, but of course only time will tell. I will provide further occasional updates for the forum as I suspect interest in PF Ablation will increase as it becomes more widely available.
Should I have bothered with an ablation?
Persistent AF(ib) after Ablation
Pulsed Field Ablation
Advised to have an ablation
Wondering whether to have an Ablation
