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 Administrator Arrhythmia Alliance AF Association]

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