I've just had my first ablation! I was diagnosed back in May 2021 and have been in asymptomatic (apart from some fatigue) paroxysmal AFib since then with episodes roughly every two weeks lasting between 10 and 17 hours with a HR of 180. After various consultations and different views on treatments versus meds only, I decided to go down the ablation route and have just had a Pulsed-Field Ablation under general anaesthetic at the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin. The procedure took four hours followed by a one-night stay at the hospital. I've had no pain in the heart area at all and just some colourful bruising in the groin area but again with no pain, just very mild tenderness at the point of incision, so I've had no need for pain management meds. It's only three days after it so incredibly early days but so far so good. Obviously I'm still on meds (Apixaban 5mg & Flecanide 50mg) and am aware that anything can happen in the 'blanking' period but I just wanted to report back as I was fairly anxious about the procedure and had wondered long and hard whether I just stick with trying to manage things with meds and avoid surgical intervention and the risks attached to that. All I can say is it felt very well managed and controlled and so far absolutely no regrets. Hoping it remains that way!
Just had my first ablation: I've just... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Just had my first ablation
What wonderful news! Fingers crossed it all stays positive for you 🙂
How are you doing PCC62?
Really interested in your experience PCC62.
Myself (now 69) No other health issues.
Diagnosed with afib then cardioversion 6 weeks later (Jan 2021)
Since then 2nd cardio Apr 2021 and 3rd Aug 2023.Each successful on first attempt.
Apixiban and Bisoprolol 1.25
Was on Flecanide but now only as pip.
Avg hr 52 bp normal
So in short doing ok but….read on this forum that success rate of ablation decreases the longer it’s delayed.
I live in Derry and have read that team at Mater in Dublin are best in Ireland for treating afib. Your experience at Blackrock sounds very positive.
Hi gtkelly
I had both my ablations at Blackrock Clinic under EP Derek Crinion - both were pulse field which I believe has a lower risk attached. Staff and facilities were really great. I don't know whether I was lucky or what, but I had no side effects at all apart from bruising in the groin area. I was on flecanide for the blanking period and then came off it. I'm just on apixiban now - basically precautionary. Happy to chat on a telephone if that was helpful but I would certainly urge you to consider ablation sooner rather than later if you can to offer the best chance of a positive outcome.
Hi gtkelly
Yes, it's now a year since the second ablation. I'm off all meds apart from blood thinners. I'm planning to have a Loop recorder installed so that I can come off the blood thinners too. Hoping to do that in January.
The first ablation didn't quite eliminate all the rogue electrical pulses apparently. I went back in to asymptomatic paroxysmal AFib after the meds were withdrawn. I felt fine but the EP wanted to effectively do a touch-up of anything he'd missed. So that was the second PFA last December. He felt confident the second PFA should solve it. So far so good and feeling strong. My cardio health is now up to 36VO2 which is the top end of 'above average' for my age bracket and my liver function (did my bloods again last month) has also shot up significantly, all following coming off flecanide last May. So well worth aiming to get off as many of the meds as possible in my view.
Hope that's helpful.
Pádraig
Had my First and hopefully only Cardiac Ablation
Ablation yesterday
Just had my third ablation
Had my Ablation yesterday 
