evening all !
Not posted for about 7 years, I have had AFIB for over 10 years now !! I used to get 1-3 episodes a year, unfortunately last few months it’s daily , was thinking to ask my GP. refer me to cardiology again ( re ablation) nervous and not sure if right for me, I take metoprolol when have long episode and they work !
Have a discussion with your GP and ask for a referral to an electrophysiologist. They will advise you of the best way forward and arrange tests as appropriate. Seems like you have had a good run of controlled AF until now. Best wishes.
Hello. I’m going through the same situation!
Episodes are happening every other day and last for at least 12 hours. I respond well to flecanide as PIP but mainly take it before bed because it makes me feel so “strange”.
Consultant has suggested that ablation is the next step - but I’m not too sure and am so scared of the procedure. But I feel the quality of my life is getting spoilt, I’m tired and fed up, so I’m continuing to read all I can about ablation to try and talk myself into the right frame of mind to move forward and get it done. 😊
I felt like you. I used flec as a PIP then as daily maintenance dose when the AF gradually got the upper hand.Then ablation was suggested.
I really struggled to accept ablation,kept talking myself out of it for several years( helped by covid lockdown)
I thought of all different reasons not to go for it ( would it make me worse,what about the risk factors etc etc)
Then 2 extended periods of 24/7 AF, 5 and 6 weeks of it hit me for 6.
I had accepted the ablation by then and had it done 1st June 2022.
Never regretted it no Flutter no AF since.
Just thought I'd share xx
I had first and only ablation in 2013 and kept me in NSR until recently. So highly recommend. No complications and easy recovery. Took about 5 or6 months for everything to calm down. Easy does it!
Good luck in decision making.
Hi Lingo
I agree with Wilson.
I struggled with should I/shouldnt I have an ablation.I had been on the waiting list for 18 months(have had afib since 2008) and that gave me time to put it to the back of my mind but the call finally came offering me the procedure and I said yes! I was very frightened but can honestly say the procedure itself was easy as I had a general anaesthetic, it took an hour and a half and I had an overnight stay. No bruising or pain. The only downside was I had a week to ten days of misery with AF on and off every day. I wasn't used to that as my af burden wasrelatively low but very symptomatic and would go on for hours every 6 weeks and always at night. but that stopped when I started 1.25 of Bisoprolol.
SO, ablation 24th January and no afib since February 2nd. I am also off the Bisoprolol and just take Apixoban. am aware it could come back and my consultant is not discharging me until he sees me in December but for now I am happy and he tells me my prognosis is good.
Good luck!
Lizzie , thank you, it is worrying for sure , I will update with any news, take care
if you are going to have an ablation better sooner than later. The success rate falls once AF is persistent. The procedure itself is not a big deal as many on here, including myself, will attest. Try to be referred to a centre that does a lot of them.
Peter
My now elderly friend has had full on AF for very many years now and takes nothing for it except warfarin. Luckily, he has few symptoms and a normal-ish heart rate. If I went the way he has, I wouldn't have an ablation, but if the rate stayed high, or if the beta-blocker caused side effects, I think I would. I tend to trust whatever advice my GP gives me.
Steve
That seems a sudden change?? Can you think back a few months in case there is a possible reason for it? Personally, I would be making a private appointment with a trusted cardiologist to discuss any appropriate tests and taking a drug daily to settle the heart, giving it 6 months to bed down. If that doesn't work and QOL is poor I would only then consider an ablation.
early ablation best, if a good EP thinks it worth doing with good likely outcome. It really isn’t as scary as it sounds.
I have had AF for40 years. I have had 3 ablation and have a acemaker inserted.I had my last ablation in 2009 after which I did not have much AF at all. Just recently I have been getting AF every day particularly in the evening although last night was AF free.
An ablation is a small price to pay rather than having AF and would recommend it any time.
Good luck with whatever you decide to go ahead with.
My best wishes CaroleAnne ❤️
Episodes
Flying whilst having an episode of AF
Paroxysmal AF - but a long episode.
Length of AF episodes
Stress and afib episodes 
