Successful Ablations? Anyone?

[MalJam]

My EP has told me my only real chance of getting off all Ffib drugs, and restoring normal heart rhythm is with a successful ablation. Has anyone achieved this goal and if so for how long?

Thank you all in advance.

[BobD Volunteer]

I had three ablations between 2005 and 8 before my AF was terminated. BUT!!!!!

AF whist the most common arrhythmia is not the only one and by 2017 I had gained a different one which required another type of ablation. I now have a pacemaker since last year.

My point is that whilst a fan of ablation I have to make you aware that any and all treatment for AF is only for quality of life (QOL or symptom control). Since they know what it is but not why, there is no cure as such and no gaurantees. As far as getting off all drugs is concerned anticoagulation may still be required as ablation does not appear to remove stroke risk.

[Lilypocket in reply to BobD]

So you have been Afib free for 15 years, Bob ( not counting your other rhythm problem)? That sounds like a great success and very encouraging for those hesitating to go ahead with an ablation.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Lilypocket]

Yes but it took three by a top London EP. Some are even more lucky but they tend not to waste their lives sitting around on this forum.

[Lilypocket in reply to BobD]

Yes the choice of the right EP is a gamechanger.

[CDreamer]

Second ablation gave me about 30 months AF free, gradually episodes returned but now controlled by pacemaker.

[CDreamer in reply to CDreamer]

PS - I stopped taking meds as they stopped being effective or made me feel worse than the AF - which was all of them. I could cope with the AF but not the drugs.

[milehighlinnie]

Yes. I had an ablation over two years ago. I had a loop recorder inserted so we could be certain I was having no more episodes. I have been off meds for a long time.

[Yachtsman]

Hi,I had successful ablation in November 2020 and have been AFIB free since.

Just now on Apixaban and Amlodipine the latter for high BP.

All the best Colin

[LordGabriel]

I had my ablation in October 2020. A, OK!

[Flutterby100]

I'd recommend it. Only had my ablation in January but alls well so far. Off rivaroxaban 90 days later and almost back to pre AF fitness but really depends on the individual and lifestyle and whether theres any underlying health problems/comorbidities etc. Theres obviously a chance it could come back anytime but making hay while the suns shining...good luck

[Bluetonic]

Yes, one ablation 6 and a half years ago.My EP was awesome ❤️

[localad]

Yes, after 2 years of constant, persistent AF (trying bisoprolol, sotalol and amiodarone. +edoxaban) it took 3 ablations to get me to NSR by Jan 2021. (including 1st aborted cryo ablation under sedation, when I went into asystole)

All good since apart from 2 days of single blip of AF, each day, during a covid attack, Sept 2022. (sorted in 30minutes with a single dose of 80mg Sotalol

No meds now. (taken off edoxaban, April 2023, by consultant)

71 now. good health. normal BP again. Fit. No meds at all.

Still on this forum as I cant quite believe it !

[wilsond]

Ablation last June. Nsr since apart from an identifiable cause once.Cryoablation.

Find out next week if I can continue titrating down on flecanide and cease bisoprolol.

Naturally I am on Apixaban for life as we all should be

[Dodie117]

I had my one and only in 2013 in St Thomas in London. Lasted 10 years but now getting odd episiode every couple of months. So far short and heart rate not too high so no real effect on my qol.

Great result for me.

[Jajarunner]

Sorry to say that I had three within 20 months and none of them worked more than a few months on average. However they work for years for some people. I hope it works for you 🍀

[MaryCa]

7 months and counting. Nsr. Only meds I'm on are Xarelto because I couldn't tolerate the beta blockers. I was getting an ten hour episode every three days with average heart rate of 186.

[Wellperson]

Had ablation in February this year and now off drugs apart from Dabigatron (blood thinning) Successful so far and do not get out of breath as I used to but consultants say it takes time for things to get back to normal.

[bonnie54]

hi, had a successful ablation for PAF in September 2009 and stopped drugs (sotalol immed. Warfarin after 3? months) also stopped aspirin later as research showed it does not help.

So I was lucky. Hope it goes as well for you.

[lovetogarden]

We’ve all had so many different experiences here. Many people who have had “one and done” success don’t tend to hang around as members of the forum. It took 3 ablations to get rid of my afib. But still left me with atrial tachycardia that the EP couldn’t ablate. Worth trying an ablation to see if it works!

[Back2Life]

I developed paroxysmal AF in 2021 (aged 48) and had an ablation (Dr Antony Chow - Wellington Hospital London) and came off all medication over the following months. I have now been two years without any AF.

[Back2Life]

yes I had an ablation in 2021 by Dr Antony Chow at Wellington Hospital in London. I had two episodes of AF close together in 2021 but since the ablation I have had no AF and am on no medication at all for over a year now.