Ablation coming up January or February.Still some doubts.Should I or shouldn't I!

[kkatz]

I am so tempted to not read any more ablation posts as they make me wonder if I am doing the right thing going for my first ablation.In the past year I have gone from no way "I will lose weight & build up my fitness".A couple of bad weeks changed that.Chased up admissions & told probably January so I went through the "sitting in the docs surgery thinking where was that pain "feeling.Feeling able to do more excercise then so knocked out for 2 days.

Got over the worry of pain & things going wrong but then I read today about constant ectopics .I Really don't want to swap AFib for constant ectopics .Am I just going to replace one problem with another?

I like to weigh things up being a Libran so comments do help please.

Kathy

[BobD Volunteer]

Just do it and stop being negative. Things really do happen according to your mental approach. Be positive and all will be well. The world is like a computer and if you click on a program it opens so if you think negative then bad things will happen.

When I was diagnosed with cancer in 2010 I never thought "I'm going to die" so I didn't. conversely I have on many occasions given myself a cold because I didn't want to do some future event so the world tried to give me an excuse not to. Waking up the morning afterwards with no sign of sniffles made me realise this. Same thing with my first ablation. Bad head cold made me think they would cancel it. No way. next morning no sign of cold.

[kkatz in reply to BobD]

D o I sense a bit of exasperation in your Reply Bob! I guess your right though.Been such a long journey though.

[DawnTX in reply to kkatz]

so glad you are going to be smart about all of this it’s a long journey absolutely for all of us. I don’t think anyone on here has not been where you are and many much worse. Be grateful for the little things you know like they say about life living in the present. It is a present it is a gift we don’t have a guarantee about tomorrow. I know that’s not how it really reads but that’s my version lol. Maybe by Tuesday night I can tell you verbatim how it really reads if my brain clears after my procedure. See we all have our issues. I have been trying to make banana breads for a couple of days now and I’m so exhausted I don’t have the energy to even sit at the counter and put it together because it makes me want to cry. My cousin put a couple of dishes in the sink they make me want to cry because the dishwasher is right there. For me to rinse them and bend over to put them in makes me nauseous when I bend over. To be able to do those things would make me so happy.

I have never been and I want I want I want kind of person of course I have dreams but I figure if I just hope for a normal life every day I might be able to get that. I told Santa I want a pool lol and if he can throw a hot tub and sauna in that would be great right now also because it’s 20° out lol. But I will settle for waking up Tuesday with a heart rate that is normal again and to be able to stand up and walk into the bathroom by myself

sometimes I think these things happen to us because we may have been a little too greedy or full of ourselves. I think of them as wake up calls. I took my health for granted. I pretty much still have all my original parts and realize the things that I have made it through including Covid. I also had a couple of brushes with death including my first a fib event where I blacked out hit the concrete floor not once but twice facedown and then backwards and then I climbed into bed and went to sleep and called the doctor two days later. The other was being rear-ended at a red light by an 18 wheeler. I am still here there must be a reason so I am going to do everything I can to stay and I will be grateful for every little thing I get in life

I know Bob sounded testy but sometimes I see people on here also that I just want to shake. If you ask a question seriously and you get answers to help you maybe you should listen. I have seen foolish things said and I probably say a few silly things. I was terrified of my first cardioversion but I did listen. I had great people here they told me how good they woke up feeling so I chose to listen to them. They were right.

You already said you’re going ahead with it and I think that’s great going somewhere warm. We got a big cold snap down to 20 last night supposedly staying all week. I don’t like it but I am more worried about our outside animals. Send me some warmth we have sunshine but it’s not doing much lol

[BobD Volunteer in reply to BobD]

Just don't want you to miss such a great opportunity.

[DawnTX in reply to BobD]

LOL I stopped making up health excuses to avoid doing some thing exactly because of what you said. I remember as a kid saying I sprained my ankle because I did not want to go skating with my estranged father so then I fell and sprained my ankle lol served me right. Be careful what you wish for they say. Except for one doctor without sounding full of myself I have had staff love me wherever I go but I think it’s my positive happy attitude. I do not shoot the messenger, I hope for the best and I try to remember the good stuff for me that would be my last cardioversion and what it felt like when I woke up and being able to walk to the car without pain and breathlessness and for 3 1/2 weeks to feel normal before it fails.

I love your answers thank you it shows me I am usually on the right path. I do not believe in BS I have a new doctor that doesn’t either and although it’s not fun to hear stuff you didn’t expect and don’t like it’s better to hear it. So often we get left hanging if we don’t ask and then make up our own answers. The imagination can be very cruel. I go for preop tomorrow and Tuesday for my cardioversion and hopefully get put on my meds and stay for a few days with them. I am hoping to be able to get home and cook up a storm and be laughing by Christmas Eve. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it I don’t want to be Eeyore the donkey

[Bailey2004]

hi, I was exactly in same position and put off ablation for 2 years as I tried to offset the good days versus the bad days but then the bad days became more and more. I had mine in April and had rough few months but have had no AF since July. I have however got high burden of PVCs which again I weigh up the good days v bad and again the bad are becoming more and more feeling extreme fatigue similar to the AF episodes so having ablation for these in 4 weeks. I’m positive this will be as successful as my AF ablation and I can then move on with my life. Only you know what’s best for you but I learned to just change my mindset and I know that 2023 is going to be much better year! Hope it all works out for you.

[MikeThePike in reply to Bailey2004]

Hi there, I'm interested to know how your ablation for PVCs goes. Kindly update us when you have it. Thanks and well wishes.

[Bailey2004 in reply to MikeThePike]

sure I’ll add a post later next month. Happy holidays 😁

[Van28]

from one Libran to another go ahead. I’ve just had my second after another 21 mths in persistent Af. I had no energy, out of breath & v poor quality of life. Didn’t hesitate & wouldn’t again Hope you make the right choice for you. X

[kkatz in reply to Van28]

Thank you for the encouragement.They say us Librans are well balanced but I always find it hard to make decisions as I always find another little bit to add to the scales.I always accept what happens and live fine with my decision.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to kkatz]

I’m another indecisive Libran. (Though I’m not sure it’s anything to do with my birthday…) Had my first ablation yesterday, so just crossing fingers things will work well. I had ended up with really persistent AF, so was very keen to have it. Wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought. Worst thing was nausea from the sedative.

I was reaching points where I really felt that I was building up fitness, improving back pain, walking further - then wham it hit, and was stopping me from just getting on with life.

[kkatz in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Sounds familiar.hope it works well .Keep us informed

[Van28]

don’t think my husband would agree to the well balanced. 😀good luck with what you eventually decide

[rc-k]

I suspect I am not the only one who didn't dare talk about their successful ablation for fear of jinxing it. I had mine five years ago and it was the difference between night and day. My af has only recurred after a year of gruelling cancer treatment and I am on the waiting list for another ablation.

[kkatz in reply to rc-k]

Thankyou so much for replying.I hope the cancer under control & good luck with ablation.

[MummyLuv]

The earlier you have it, the higher the success rate! Don’t put it off as it’s harder to treat later.

[kkatz in reply to MummyLuv]

I have been in Persistent AF for almost 2 years.The fact I stayed in Nsr for 9 days after CV in April is slightly optimistic.Told probably only 50% chance but 2nd would probably do it.

[MummyLuv in reply to kkatz]

I was in persistent 5 years plus. Where do you live? I ask that as I wonder if minimaze is available to you

[kkatz]

I am so near now & fought hard to get to this stage so not looking at other paths.I am in Leeds.

[MummyLuv in reply to kkatz]

I hope it works for you 🤞🤞 you’ve got a 50% change 🤞😍 if not don’t be downheartened as you may be able to access surgical ablation.

[secondtry]

As a fellow Libran I too like to know about all sides and then weigh it up, after that I sit back and let gut feel make the decision - simplistic I know but usually works well 🤞😀

[Nigel2000]

I waited way too long; did supplements, lifestyle changes (meditation, diet, etc.), prescription drugs AND suffered! I’m so much better! It took 2 ablations but only now do I realize how debilitated I had become from afib. Do it!

[DawnTX]

Kathy I had a wonderful experience after each ablation. I remember sitting up the next morning amazed at how easy it was just to sit up and be able to breathe again. I had no anything once I got home I was very blessed. The first one was cryo- it did not last longer than six months but the cryo- was not a failure there was just another spot of a fib to fix. I had an RF Christmas week that year and it lasted a year and a half. Again I had no problems until another spot of a fib popped up. The ablations I had did not fail. When I write I try to make that clear to people. Think of your electrical system in your house there is a lot of wiring. Well we have a lot of wiring in us which means problems can pop up time to time. Yes I know it stinks. The doctor I had for my VOM is world renowned if you looked him up. I think he was suspect some thing had failed which ticked me off because I loved my other doctor in Florida. The doctor here in Houston told me afterwards that both of those ablations were fine. That shows me that what I suspect might be right. Some of us just have a weakness in the electrical system for whatever reason. If you read what they tell us I am definitely not the perfect patient over the years but we can’t go back. Better we understand what we are dealing with now. Telling me lifestyle caused it doesn’t help it’s almost like fat shaming I don’t like it. I have been heavy I have been thin they need to get off of that and just find a way to fix us that will hold longer. I will not promise you your appointment is a cure all because there is no cure. But wait until you feel the difference. What do you have facing you if you do not get the ablation? Come on go for it it’s not open heart surgery as much as it sounds like a lot it is not that invasive. If you get aches let your doctor know. I personally tend to get an inflammation. It’s not the end of the world they have some thing for it. I had the vein of Marshall done the end of April. I have had a cardioversion sadly it only lasted 3 1/2 weeks but oh Kathy those 3 1/2 weeks were amazing. Tuesday I am going back in for another cardioversion and to be put on a new med. mine just doesn’t work anymore do you know how that happens with stuff you take it for so long and it’s just no longer effective. They have stuff for that too. I have atypical flutter not afib itself evidently it’s hard to map. That is why he is doing this again because I was in NSR. Now hoping to stay in it. Look for the positive think about how lousy you are feeling right now. I had my last cardioversion and was able to walk out of the hospital down from 158 heart rate to 82 and I woke up with a smile on my face and when I say walk I mean I was able to walk after being unable to do more than shuffle for six months because of pain. That’s all I’m hoping for Tuesday is to be able to walk again without pain.

don’t chicken out get that ablation if the doctor says it’s right for you. The way I look at it I have nothing to lose only quality of life to gain

I called Santa I told him after the first of the year you want a peaceful heart

[kkatz in reply to DawnTX]

Thankyou for a wonderful post and your letter to Santa.I know I have got to give it a shot.Even 2 shots.Now got to get date sorted.Previous indications were probably 6 months so I thought I could book my month away in warmer climes for 5th Jan to 6th Feb and booked flights.Admissions department have now said January.I explained the situation & that I could be back as long as I have a few days notice.I said will ring mid Jan.She said no but ring at beginning of month before I go.I can be flexible as it is our own apartment & flights reasonable cost.

Again thanks for your best wishes.

[DawnTX]

I just wrote to you again but I know you wrote here as well and I’m so happy you’re going ahead with it and I like your plans. Better to have them do it ASAP it gives you less time to think about it and more time to feel better after it. Too bad you couldn’t go away after it’s done because if you’re lucky as I was you would enjoy your trip away even more.