Further to my last post I went ahead & had a 3rd. Now I've had all 3 techniques.
1st, cryo. 2nd RF now a pulsed frequency!
Early days but feeling great, fingers crossed it holds.
Never give up, keep plugging away, as del boy says you know it makes sense.
"He who dares, wins!" 
I hope you continue to feel great - best of luck
fingers crossed all will be well this time.
Best of luck to you -- 3's a charm!
Did you have Pulsed Field Ablation for your third ablation and what did they ablate? If this is your third ablation, then I will conclude that at some point in time you were in persistent AF. When was that?
Have been persistent AFib for about 8 years. Had a cryo done after a couple of cardio versions & failing to stay in NSR. Fast forward 3 years and it kicked off again. Again couldn't stay in NSR after cardio versions. This time I had the heating, everything looked good from previous time so a tiny bit of tidying up & then a little bit more work on other side of heart as a maybe this will help. Again everything OK for a long time then back out of rhythm, not staying after cardio versions. All the way along I have been on a variety of meds, having been on Atenolol for for 15 years before AFib kicked in. Nothing really worked tremendously well but obviously contributed significantly to NSR for long periods. For the last 18 months I've been in AFib and had 3 cardio versions & evlots of meds but too no avail.
Now I have had the pulsed type where again a check of previous revealed all was intact so some work was done on the back of the walls because, if I understood correctly, it is possible to do so with reduced risk for nerves etc . It's now been a week and so far so good. Time of course will tell & I understand that it's not a permanent fix for someone like me, but if it buys me a few years of no AFib before I have to settle for rate control rather than rhythm control it will of been worth it. The added benefit is that the doc gets to practice new techniques which leads in general to better outcomes in the future.
Wow! Your case is a great example that there is hope for those of us who have been in persistent for a long time plus Pulsed Field Ablation may work for those who go back to persistent.
Eight years is a long time to be persistent for the doctors to try an ablation. You also say you had Pulsed Field Ablation after being persistent for a year and a half. Other than an anticoagulant, were yu prescribed any other meds?
I have been on Atenolol, Sotolol (twice), Metropolol, Amiodarone, Diltiazam, Bisoprolol & Multaq & a combination or two. Each have worked to a greater or lesser extent but I have a lot of scar tissue from major heart surgeries in the 90s & I have always fallen back into AFib once I started (mid 10s). PFA looked good to me once I found out about it because a couple of Docs I spoke to said I shouldn't go for a repeat RF given my situation, which to be fair is pretty unique.
My experience shouldn't put any one else off repeat RFs or looking only to PFA. It's not common place yet and when it is it's still unlikely to be a cure all. I'm happy that new techniques come on line and give us all better outcomes. Who knows maybe there are newer & even better ones just around the corner. In the meantime I shall be avoiding suspected triggers as best I can without compromising my quality of life.
3rd Ablation 1st With Dr. Natale
Slippery Slope- 3rd Ablation update
