Happy Ablation Anniversary to me!

[Kennyb1968]

Cannot quite believe that it is 1 year on from my ablation at the Golden Jubilee in Glasgow. I had paroxysmal AF for about 5 years. Like many that started with isolated instances months apart that then increased in frequency until it was almost everyday. Flecanide would stop it but the duration became longer albeit the intensity diminished. The events were one thing (symptomless) but it was the constant anxiety of "was that it starting" and the fact the vast majority would happen in the middle of the night drove me to seek medical intervention. Tried all the alternate therapies and lifestyle changes to no avail. Eventually after going private I got my wish and the ablation was done. It initially got me into sinus for about 2 weeks but eventually I reverted into constant AF. I've been there ever since but consider my procedure a complete success. I am completely symptom free - my heart rate averages out at 75 BPM during the day and low 60s during the night - I walk/run 5 miles a day - I work out at the gym 3 times a week - I am back on my bike- I sleep like a baby - I can have a beer again - my family don't walk on egg shells around me and I am happy and content. I still take edoxaban and bisoporol daily but that's ok and apart from low B12 I aced my man mot this year. So not the ideal outcome but good enough for me!

[dmac4646]

great result Kenny - I had an ablation in May not yet total success but vast improvement on almost daily afib !

[Gumbie_Cat]

Glad it’s still going well for you Kenny. I am in a similar position, though it’s more like a mile or two of walking each day. Still getting tired legs on hills.

Bisoprolol and Apixaban, reasonable average heart rate and not too high when exercising. I would have loved that return to NSR, but might still have been worrying when AFib might hit again anyway!

It is good to see positive messages from those of us whose AFib is stubborn, but can still get on pretty well!

[Kennyb1968 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I took at least 8 months to get over the ablation properly. In that period I did get very breathless walking up hill and was really worried I would never get back to the level of fitness I had before. I was/am a very active man in my mid 50s and exercise and fitness is a huge part of who I am and what makes me happy and content. I'm never going to get back to the levels I once had but the way I look at it is I am getting older and I would have slowed down naturally anyway. I'm not giving in - far from it - I've got a fair few physical adventures to go. But I am kinder to myself - on the hills I stop more and take in the views - I don't feel the need to crawl out the gym I'm happy to walk out - I take my rest days. It's all about happiness for me now.

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Kennyb1968]

I am rapidly approaching 69 years old, so the big 70 is looming. I really just do Pilates exercises, plus some from the chiropractor - but do walk quite a lot. In Edinburgh that inevitably involves hills. If anything my back pain slows me down more than the AFib, and I only run after the grandchildren or for a bus. And not far at that! I do try to get those thirty minutes exercise each day, missing one occasionally.

I do agree with that time taken to get over ablation - about 6 months for my rather basic level of fitness. I don’t exactly get breathless, and can still talk while walking uphill. But I need to pause sometimes due to my legs feeling heavy, as if the energy has drained out. Taking the stairs a little more quickly helps, which seems completely counter-intuitive. Three of my children live locally, and they all have third floor flats - so I need to keep going!

[Kennyb1968 in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

Sounds like you are doing the right things and you are happy and living life to the full. What more can we ask or hope for really? There's many people a lot worse off - sometimes I think AFib has been a good thing for me. It's made me slow down and reassess. It's made me more conscious of my habits and how they can impact on my health. It's made me appreciate those small things in life like walking in the fresh air, feeling at peace, being with my family, etc. I certainly don't stress as much and I feel a great deal more content. Don't get me wrong I'd much rather feel that way and be in sinus rhythm but that's not my lot in life so it's upwards and onwards from here.

[jeanjeannie50]

Good to hear that you're feeling so well Kenny.

I'm much the same as you, still in low AF after 3 ablations and take Bisoprolol - how much are you on?

Jean

[Kennyb1968 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

5mg

[Threecats]

Hi Kenny, good to read your positive post. I’m glad things have worked out so well for you, even though the outcome wasn’t what you originally expected. Like you, I’m happily ticking along in persistent AF and life is ok.

All the best to you, TC

[Keswickman]

Hi Kenny, that’s great news and I hope that your quality of life continues to improve over the years.

I do have a question for you though. If your heart rate during the day and night is normal and you are symptomless, doing all the things you are doing, how do you know you’re still in constant AF?

I’m recently diagnosed with a couple of short episodes of PAF, which I didn’t feel, so am not convinced. I haven’t felt anything since diagnosis 2 months ago and an echo says my heart is ‘normal’. Could it be I’m in AF and don’t know it at all?

Thanks

Nick

[Kennyb1968 in reply to Keswickman]

I test myself twice daily with my Kardia - it's part of my routine now and confirms my status. My watch also tracks heart rate and that clearly shows AF.

[Keswickman in reply to Kennyb1968]

Thanks Kenny. My watch has an AF function which says I’ve had no notifications at all but perhaps I should invest in the Kardia app.

[Ormegirl]

So pleased for you. Has given me hope. I'm waiting for 3rd Ablation.AF. If this does not work, I'm having a pacemaker.So good to read good news. Your my Sons age. Too young to go through all this. I had wolf parkin white from being young but had that Ablated 2000, and no problems since. Unfortunately AF continues.

Good Luck