AF issues.

[Hilianna]

Hi I saw the EP last Wednesday and he has offered me an ablation. I was somewhat surprised and taken aback. He discussed a number of issues, including the time limitations - how long you have had af etc. He does not do abalations if the af has been present for 8+ years. He was not bothered by the atrium being slightly enlarged - it is the lower chambers that are more important and they are fine. He is going to send me a letter explaining things and to help me make a decision. He does not know if it will cure my tiredness. I think I have already made up my mind to try it - no idea what the waiting list is, probably quite a while. Lots to think about.......

[BobD Volunteer]

Always worth trying.

[Hilianna in reply to BobD]

Never say die!! 70% success rate, although you may need to have it repeated. Couple per cent death rate. In hosp at the moment recovering from a knee arthroscop op. Due to go home the same day but I cannot put weight on the repaired knee. Hoping for better success tomorrow.Thanks.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hilianna]

I had three before my AF stopped but then gained a different arrhythmia. In the last 17 years I have been involved with AF and the 15 I have been involved with this charity I have yet to hear of anybody who died during or from an ablation.

[Hilianna in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob Thanks for your thoughts on ablation. I don't particularly want to have 3, but if they lead to success in the end, it will be well worth having done. Also the mortality rates are very reassuring. Now back to the present. My knee is working well today but my waterworks are bit lazy!! Anaesthetic often hàs this effect on me. I might get home tonight, fingers crossed.

[Lee-J in reply to BobD]

Here’s a first for you Bob! I had a cardiac arrest due to my root of aorta being punctured when the wire was being passed through the atrium. Following cardiac arrest and emergency surgery to repair my aorta I was placed on life support in critical care . My surgeon said it was a miracle I lived, given I was in a Lab and not theatre. He told me his team were just finishing a transplant and about to go to the canteen. If they had gone I would have died. You have four minutes to live with a punctured aorta. Whilst it’s rare, the fallout is very real !!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Lee-J]

Must have strange shaped heart! Catheter shouldn't be anywhere near any arteries or even ventricles for ablation of AF . They go in through femoral vein to right atrium and then via puncture in septum to left atrium to ablate in there.

[Gumbie_Cat]

I felt a bit like that when ablation was offered in the summer. Decided to go on the waiting list anyway. I was waiting for the ‘pill in the pocket’ and thought that might work well for me. It did work on one occasion, but not so much the next time…

Now I am very relieved that I did go in the list, as it has turned persistent. Happening next week, yikes!

[Hilianna]

I hope your op goes well next well. I have tried fleccainide in the past but it never worked for me. It seems that ablation is worth a try and hopefully it might work especially if your af has become persistent!!

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Hilianna]

Thank you! It seems like the drugs don’t work the same for different people. Then I can’t have too high a dose of rate control either, due to a low resting heart rate.

[Morzine]

you’ve got nothing to loose in my eyes and much to gain. I’d have a second one without a pause for thought….i fretted befire the last one thrn realised I’d need not fretted at all. Ok you must take it easy after but hey ho that’s no big deal is it.

Onwards and upwards I’d say

Best wishes

Sue

[Hilianna in reply to Morzine]

Hi Sue Thanks for your thoughts on ablation. It is good to hear that It has been successful for you. Now that I have decided to have it done I am keen to get things moving. It is reassuring to hear that you would have a second one without any delay!

[2learn]

Hi have you had any cardio versions, I'd go for that first, as for me they have lasted longer than ablations, up to 16mths and less invasive

[Hilianna in reply to 2learn]

Hi 2learnThanks for your response. I was not offered a cardioversion and assume that the EP is happier doing an ablation. I will go and read up on what it entails.......

[BobD Volunteer in reply to 2learn]

But not a cure for anything and not without risk.

[2learn in reply to BobD]

don't know answer but can't cardioversion permanently stop AF. Also what are stats re success of ablations cf cardioversions

[BobD Volunteer in reply to 2learn]

No. You have AF you will have AF regardless of how many times you are cardioverted. Ablation often stops it for some time but remember all and any treatment is only for quality of life ie symptom control.

[2learn in reply to BobD]

thanks, thought so, bit dishearting but realistic

[Hilianna]

Hi I was always under the impression that cardioversion was more of an instant, on-the-spot treatment, as you explained in your latest posting Bob. I know very little about it, apart from people's comments on here. The EP I met with also mentioned a pace maker, which he said would stop the heart from going up too high but did not deal with the fibrillation. I have most probably got it wrong!! My fibrillation is not constant. It happens about 2 to 3 times a week and usually lasts a couple of hours.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hilianna]

No it sounds like you got it right. A pacemaker will niot stop AF thugh if you have teh AV node ablated you become PM dependent but have a steady heart beat even whilst your left atrium is playing Dave Brubeck.

[Jetcat]

it was a no brainier for me when I was offered ablation even though I was petrified at the thought of it.!! we are all different and suffer differently from AF symptoms but I’m glad I went ahead and got ablated 3 times. I do still get little runs Rarely but I’m a lot better than before. I’m sure it won’t hurt to give it a try hilianna. all the best. Ron.👍

[Hilianna in reply to Jetcat]

Hi Ron I am glad the ablation(s) worked for you and your situation has improved. I find myself still thinking it might go away of its own accord but after 3-4 years do not suppose there is much chance of that. I am still at a loss looking for the mysterious trigger. Anxiety is often put forward as one of the front runners but I find that the anxiety comes after the a fib has already got going, not the other way around. Hope you continue in an equable state!!

[Jetcat in reply to Hilianna]

I spent a good couple of years trying to identify a trigger and nearly drove myself insane.!! I could do heavy work lifting etc and never get a missed beat but then I could be sat reading and BAM…. here we go.!!!! I also hoped it would somehow just go away on its own. After every afib episode I had I thought I wonder if that was the last.??? But unfortunately it wasn’t. so ahead I went with the ablation but needed 3 to get where I am now.! Iv no doubts that one day it will be probably back but I hope I’m retired and older than my present age of 55. I still struggle with stamina but put that down to 10mg of bisoprolol daily. I can manage a 3 mile walk but it whacks my energy out sometimes which is no good when I’m holiday in Spain and wanting go for walks all time.!!!

[Quest4NSR]

Reason people thing CV is a cure is because some lucky peeps will have A-Fib only once and had a CV, brought them out and to this day never had A-fib again. God, wish I was one of them LOL. I've heard people say to me, 'Oh my Husband had that about 10 years, they shocked him back into rhythm and cured him'. I'm like 'Awwww right', knowing what we've all gone through.

[Hilianna in reply to Quest4NSR]

Seems very logical!!