age out of an ablation?

[Sweetmelody]

It appears I would greatly benefit from a second ablation. The first one was in my late 70’s. I am about to turn 82, however. Am I “aging out” of the ablation window? Have any of you had ablations in your 80’s? There are EP’s at my university medical center who won’t take anyone over 75. My EP says he decides case by case depending on the pt’s overall health. Mine is very good. But still I wonder if age isn’t a factor in foot-dragging. Would feel reassured to know others have been accepted as ablation candidates in their 80’s.

[Jalia]

I had my last ablation..4th ...at close to my 77th birthday.

[Sweetmelody in reply to Jalia]

4th? Wow. I’m crossing my fingers 2 will do it, but there are no guarantees. I hope I can get #2 within the year, before I turn 83. I appreciate that cardioversions can get me back in SR, but I’d rather not have to keep going that route the rest of my life. Other than slipping back into AFL and it’s awful tachycardia, I’m in good health, so I hope my age won’t be a deterrent to an ablation. I’m encouraged by the kind responses to my query.

[Vonnegut in reply to Sweetmelody]

Have you tried Flecainide? I’ve never had an ablation and that keeps my heart in NSR now I take it regularly ( 4 months from 80!)

[Sweetmelody in reply to Vonnegut]

Thanks! I’ll investigate it with my cardiologist should I revert again.

[BobD Volunteer]

Jolly hope there is no age bar which I am sure would be denied anyway. In my nearly twenty years in the game I have never heard of a policy of ageism.

[Raffles2602 in reply to BobD]

I was told (Edinburgh) that he wouldn't normally do an ablation at my age - just had my 71st birthday.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Raffles2602]

Had my fourth at 74+

[Raffles2602 in reply to BobD]

I asked to be referred to a electro? after being taken to hospital 2 weeks ago with four days of AF heart 140-170, given solotal which caused asthma attack. Don't know where to go next, pretty exhausted.

[Sweetmelody in reply to Raffles2602]

I understand how exhausted you must feel. I’ve been there. I recently spent a month with a resting HR of 135, with highs in the 180’s. It was awful. We tried drugs while I was wearing a monitor; they didn’t touch my AF/AFL. The monitor data turned out to be corrupted. I’d had enough. I pushed for a CV, which got me right back in rhythm. I feel immensely better, but I know NSR’s from CV’s often don’t last, so I’m proactively pursuing a second ablation if my tests and history merit it. I make sure my two cardiology teams, my general cardiologist and her team plus my electrophysiologist and his team, know what’s going on with me by messaging them — and make sure the two teams are communicating, which has not always been the case and I’ve had to fill the gap. Not my job, I know, but if no one else is doing it for me, I do it myself. . Being a self-advocating patient requires, I’ve found, navigational skills in the corporate medical maze. Just as an example, I knew from my own research that my best bet was an ablation. I “interviewed” two cardiologists before finding the right one, the third, who listened, took me seriously, respected my input, set up the right tests (echo and MRI), then referred me to the top EP specialist in my area, who did the ablation. He is nationally known, the head of the EP unit at the major and top university hospital system in my state, and a leading professor at the med school. My persistence paid off. I’m in good hands

The first two cardiologists basically said their version of “Take two aspirin and see me in the morning”—they simply wrote prescriptions and told me to check back in six months. Finding the right cardiologist is the best thing that could have happened for my Afib, which was rapidly evolving from paroxysmal to persistent and I was rapidly getting older. Don’t hesitate to change providers if the one you’re seeing leaves you feeling like you don’t know what to do next. It’s good to remind oneself that half of all doctors were in the lower half of their graduating class, and somebody had to be at the bottom. I insist to myself that a doctor must treat me as an equal partner. It was that quality in the third cardiologist that made us click. I feel so fortunate that I found her— but it did take some looking.

I wish you the best in finding your next step.

[Sweetmelody in reply to BobD]

Encouraging! Thanks.

[Sweetmelody in reply to Raffles2602]

Really?! According to US Social Security actuarial tables, a 70-year-old male can expect on average to live another 15 years. 70 is not old! A decade and a half living free of Afib is nothing to sneeze at. Looks like ageism to me. It’s a good thing there are other EP’s not so biased and ignorant about what it means to be in one’s 70’s and 80’s, when due diligence to any medical measures that can provide improved health is just as important as at any other age.

I may just be cynical in my old age, but I can’t help but wonder if EP’s who set an arbitrary age limit on ablations are not more concerned about their success percentage and reputation than about their individual patients’ well-being in their later years. One of those unknowable curiosities. It’s true that success rates for younger patients is higher than for older patients, especially those with other health issues.

[Rainfern]

My EP told me half jokingly that in their department I was considered young (at 70) and that they regularly offered ablation to people in their 80s. It’s an individual decision between you and the medical team at any age.

[Ppiman]

I am only 70 but your cardio/EP knows you well by the sound of it and I would very much follow his advice as each person's cardiovascular system, heart and the major organs it feeds - might well be in a different condition and that needs to be accounted for.

Steve

[Jackiesmith7777]

Are you in persistent or permanent we re waiting to see if my husband can have a second ablation he s 65 , he had a stroke four months ago caused by AF it says he s in AF all the time on his Apple Watch . Does anyone know what inconclusive means as he gets that a few times too .

Thank yo u

[Sweetmelody in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Inconclusive just means his Watch doesn’t know what’s up. Just delete it and try again. I hope your husband is on a blood thinner. With consistent AF readings, has his cardiologist suggested an electrocardioversion? It might help control his AF while decisions are being made about a second ablation. That’s where I am right now. In SR following a 3rd CV,, on Eliquis, awaiting an MRI to see if the docs can figure out the Afib/Aflutter substrate, i.e., what’s causing it and whether it can be corrected through a second ablation. Good luck to you and your husband. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through dealing with a stroke. I did that with my grandmother, my mother, my sister, and my husband (now passed at age 90). All of those experiences make me proactive in getting the right and best care I can for my heart. I’m 81.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Sweetmelody]

Sorry to hear about all your family suffering with strokes Hope you can get your s sorted . Yes he s on edoxoban and bisoprolol for his heart rate/rhythm . We finally have an appointment for 9/11 so we ll find out more then . Take care x

[Boatdriver in reply to Sweetmelody]

When I get an ‘inconclusive’ result on my Apple Watch, I still save it and show it to my EP. Every one he has looked at he indicated is PVC, not AFib. Due to PVC, it is not Sinus rhythm.

[PICCASO]

I'm 80 and had Ablation for atrial flutter 3 months ago, now feel fine again hope you get sorted

[Sweetmelody in reply to PICCASO]

You’re very reassuring. Thanks!