AF Returns

[Stucoo]

Hi

Short back story, I was diagnosed with AF in 2016, Ablation 2017, then AF returned in 2020 and second ablation in 2021. All good until September 2023 when AF re-appeared and had a successful cardioversion last month.

During last night I went back into AF (I am generally always persistent). I have been waiting 4 months to see a cardiologist and don't know where I am in the the queue.

Question is what are my options? Are they likely to offer me another ablation or will they say we have had 2 attempts and can't fix it. I'm aged 54 and feel really breathless and lack energy, though I have found previously that my body adapts. I'm taking Apixaban & Sotalol

Has anyone had a similar scenario?

Thanks,

Stuart

[BobD Volunteer]

The numbr of ablations really depends on your EP and his views. I had three for AF before that stopped and then ten years later had another for atrial tachycardia. To paraphrase Harry Enfield " I am considerably older than yow"

[Stucoo in reply to BobD]

Thanks for the reply Bob. That is what concerns me - potentially many years in persistent AF when I am still relatively young.

[Rainfern]

Hi Stucco. I had quite symptomatic (though low level) persistent AF for which I’ve had one ablation, now in NSR. The EP thought it likely I’d need a second though so far it’s holding. I asked him what would happen if I needed a third and also discussed the possibility of a mini maze should ablations fail. He left me very confident that I’d be able to keep going with further treatments. His judgement regarding treatment is not only down to the obvious (condition of heart etc) but the impact of symptoms on lifestyle. So being an avid walker who was getting breathless, being a carer for adult daughter with MS, losing sleep due to a bumpy heart - he knew I meant business! But to really get him on board I needed more time to discuss options than a normal EP appointment allows, and I wanted to have answers fast. So quite simply I paid privately for the consultation.

You are very young and so long as your heart is otherwise sound and you lead a healthy lifestyle then you surely have as good a chance of further treatment as I do at age 70. Good luck and don’t leave any stones unturned!

[Lenlec]

sorry to hear this. Hope it gets sorted. They should offer a 3rd ablation? Any known reason why the F has returned? What type of ablations did u have ?

[Stucoo in reply to Lenlec]

No Idea why it has returned. I rarely drink, don't smoke, try to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Previously I have had radio frequency & freezing ablations.

[Ppiman]

You are still young to have persistent AF and I am sure another ablation will be offered, but the NHS is creaking under the weight of so many crises, sadly. We can only hope a general election brings something wonderful with it.

I suspect perhaps that anxiety levels naturally rise when these things return or start up but slowly the body (and mind) slowly accustom themselves to the "new normal" (argh, that phrase reminds me of Johnson and lockdown!).

I think the arial activity doesn't overly concern specialists so much as the ventricular health. That's why their focus is on rate control and keeping blood pressure down and the like. Have you had a recent scan to check on this? A private one is quite expensive, and if money were available, a stress cardiac MRI would be the best of all? That will provide useful data for a specialist or GP to work out a better plan for you.

Steve

[Stucoo]

Although I have health insurance through my employer, they deem my AF to be a chronic condition and will not provide cover anymore. ☹️