Ablation

[foxchase15]

have had 2 ablations; still on sotalol; considering 3rd ablation with Dr Natale; I suspect a watchman as well; issue is fatigue; short episodes about every three weeks. I welcome any thoughts since I am undecided. Thanks

[jeanjeannie50]

My views on ablations are a little different to most on here. I had 3 and then was still having attacks of PAF. I'd often have to go in for cardioversions and then it came to the point where I was told that I wouldn't be offered any more. My EP had already discharged me, saying some people aren't helped by ablations and I was one of them. So there I was, abandoned with my AF nurse trying to find the most suitable medication to control my heart rhythm as best it could. I eventually went into constant AF

I'd long suspected that my AF was caused by the food I ate and thought the ball was now in my court to find a cure, I cut out all artificial additives in my diet and also went lactose and gluten free. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my AF which I proved by unwittingly having them in my lunch at work.

I was desperate to feel normal again. I had energy mornings and then had to sleep afternoons. Then it was discovered that I had an underactive thyroid which had been caused by my taking the drug Amiodarone pre ablations, my GP knew this but had kept it from me in the hope that my thyroid would get better naturally. It was discovered while I was seeing a another consultant and had a blood test for something else. A GP at my surgery called me to say that I needed to go on medication to right my thyroid immediately or I'd be in trouble (well I already was). Taking that thyroid med gave me back my energy, it was amazing! I'd thought the tiredness was all part of my AF. Please everyone get your thyroid checked if you suffer with being over tired.

So my advice to you is to follow my footsteps and just see if it helps. I dropped the gluten free but rarely eat cakes or bread now. Continued with the lactose free milk, I find the Sainsburys semi skimmed one the most normal tasting. I avoid alcohol as the sulphides in that can set hearts off racing. I cook all my meals from scratch and never use artificial gravy powder or granules, make my own with a chopped red onion cooked really well to the point of turning brown with the meat. Then add a little cold water to some rice flour, add water from the cooking vegetables and stir until the consistency I like. My pulse now flits between 60-90bpm and I live a fairly normal life.

If I could afford it I would be off to have the Wolf-Ohtsuka mini maze with either Dr Randall Wolf in Houston Texas or Dr Toshiya Ohtsuka in Japan. People give good reports when having this procedure.

Jean

[SamAdmin]

Thankyou for your post, I can understand your feeling anxious about AF, hopefully a member of the group will be able to offer you some advice.

If you have any further questions please contact the Patient Service Team below:

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

SamAdmin

[Greenbeast]

I had my third ablation for afib (PFA) with Dr. Natale 7 weeks ago. Since then I have very bad atrial flutter and tachycardia and thousands of ectopic beats. Feel worse than before. Sofar I’ve been put on multaq, then flecainide, which made it worse. I’m now trying sotalol, but the lowest dosage lowers my bloodpressure and heart rate to the point that I can barely walk.

I’m told that I should wait out the 3 month blanking period and see what happens. I was already advised that flutter after afib ablations can happen(?) and I probably need another ablation for flutter, plus a watchmen for the LAA.

I had a mini maze 14 years ago for afib, which was a complete failure ( life was miserable afterwards for one year) and needed a second ablation to correct it. Was afib free after the second ablation for many years until, eventually , paroxysmal afib started again…but easy to live with. Last December I got Covid, which put me in permanent afib for several months, and around May of this year settled back into paroxysmal.

I now wish I had waited longer before getting this third ablation …maybe not get it at all. I was not told about the risks for the afib ablation possibly causing tachycardia and flutter, which would need another ablation (still don't know why: surgeon error or heart rerouting itself after afib pathways are eliminated?)

I’m in the US with very good insurance.

As our health care system is profit driven ..not for patient benefits, we should inform ourselves thoroughly and if possible seek second or third opinions before making a decision….ideally from doctors who are not part of the same health care conglomerate and maybe even add another opinion from a doctor who would not do the procedure him or herself.

I didn’t do that thoroughly enough and I regret it.

[foxchase15 in reply to Greenbeast]

sorry you are having issues; did you ever try tikosyn?

[foxchase15 in reply to foxchase15]

not sure its a tip; I am on sotalol but have episodes every other week for a few hours; have had two ablations, not sure I want a 3rd with the LAA and a watchman; having an episode now; I think I may try tikosyn if a candidate for it; I hope you find a resolution

[foxchase15 in reply to Greenbeast]

feeling better?

[Greenbeast in reply to foxchase15]

Thanks for asking… yes, I’m feeling better during the last week (rate control): I’ve been only on 60mg sotalol and 30mg diltiazem twice daily which made me feel functional for the first time after the ablation. I have permanent flutter at a rate of 85 and a normal on the low end BP.

I experimented for weeks with many other drugs and they all made it worse.

[Greenbeast]

thank you for the tip. I have not tried it.