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Afib free

Clarendon55 profile image
43 Replies

Has anyone been Afib free for years & years after an ablation?

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Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55
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43 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

No known AF since recovery from my third ablation in 2008. Lots of other arrhythmias mind. adn PM fitted in 2022.

Physalis profile image
Physalis

Four years now, no AF at all.

En85 profile image
En85

When I asked my surgeon if it always comes back, as docs say to people in the UK, my Italian surgeon said that one of his first ablations is still afib free after 20 years. The patient was at the time in his 40ies and now in his 60ies. He also said that because most of people had ablation in their 70ies and 80ies the disease was probably more advanced when treated and because of life expectancy we don't know what would have happened if those patients would live other 30-40 years. So the actual statics are more negative than what the real outcome might be. I keep my fingers crossed for mine 🤞🤞🤞

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toEn85

My EP, Professor and lead for north west , put in writing that he can offer me a curative ablation. I like his confidence . Maybe carto mapping has changed things ? I will have to wait and see

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toPeony4575

Mine too - initials DG?

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toClarendon55

They are indeed ? Keep me posted you will be done before me !!!!

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toPeony4575

Had mine beginning Sept - so far so good 🤞

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toClarendon55

Great to hear and SO pleased for you ! Any advice /tips gratefully received !!!

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toPeony4575

To be honest, I was only diagnosed three months prior to the procedure and had very few symptoms, so he told me the earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome. When I go back to see him for my check up in a couple of weeks, he said he is expecting to take me off blood thinners too even though I’m a 69-year-old female. When is yours booked?

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toClarendon55

Haven’t got the date yet . I have only had 3 episodes. First two were 2 and a half years apart , 22 months between second and third episodes , but they last 24 hours are highly symptomatic with HR 180 + RVR , that was coming up to a month ago . I am also a 69 year old female . His PA Sharon told me the waiting list was about 7 months but I suppose it depends on the triage system . I was offered an ablation after the second episode, am now wishing I had taken it !

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toPeony4575

On NHS? Mine via BUPA. Good luck 🤞

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toClarendon55

Yes NHS . Thanks

bean_counter27 profile image
bean_counter27 in reply toPeony4575

What's his definition of a "curative ablation" and does he back that up with any guarantee or warranty? I'd be impressed (and surprised) if he backed it up with something like "no success/no fee" or repeat ablation(s) free unless/until "cured".

Cliff_G profile image
Cliff_G

Yes, ablation and a top-up 3 months after in 2002, then 15 years essentially AF -free. I was in continuous AF before the ablation and it's still true today that "permanent" AF is much harder to stop with ablation than paroxysmal. So I did pretty well, I got 15 good years with one or maybe two short episodes after large meals, fixed by 200 mg PIP Flecainide, plus the odd short tachy run of a few seconds.

The best I advice is, don't then go and do what I did which was to have an aortic dissection and a 14-hour open chest surgical repair🤣. Have been bothered ever since.

Nick1957 profile image
Nick1957

AF free since 2021. Ablation at St Barts hospital.

30912 profile image
30912

No. First ablation in 2009 reduced bouts of self-converting AF to about every six months or so. Got progressively worse. Second ablation in 2018 - same result. Now in a very persistent mixture of AF and tachycardia so awaiting to discuss the way forward with cardiologist on 5 Nov.

Please don't let me put you off. As you can see, some are successful and the QOL years those ablations have given me, despite not being totally free of it have been a marvellous improvement.

Brizzy50000 profile image
Brizzy50000

AF free for 6 years now after ablation at Bristol Royal infirmary in 2018

Jajarunner profile image
Jajarunner

I wish. My three lasted average of 3 months. Fourth attempt next week 🤞

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena

Had mine in March this year, AF free so far 🤞

Christobel23 profile image
Christobel23 in reply toKarendeena

Had ablation 2 years ago. It didn't work was prescribed dronedarone also didn't work. Back to sotolol 180 and 80 daily. Plus warferin plus bisoporol for rescue dose. Afib every 10 days lasting up to 17hours. HR up to 145 bpm. Exhausted most days wish there was a cure for AF. Don't know when I'll get to see consultant again. Some people on here are so lucky when they inform us ablation worked. Full of envy. But good luck hope it continues.

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toChristobel23

I feel for you ❤️❤️I know how symptomatic my episodes were, I used to cry it felt so bad and lasting 36 hours each time was unbearable. It was like it had its own clock would hit me every 4 months then moved to every 3 months.

I paid to see a top EP privately but I was working then so could afford it. I waited 16 months for the ablation on the NHS and even then I nearly chickened out as I was so scared. My EP made my mind up for me really, he said "Just think, you have boarded a plane to Barbados and your AF starts", that was the deciding factor. I so wanted to go on holiday again but was too afraid.

I was still paroxysmal when I had the ablation done so had a better chance, even so I am aware there is no cure so I will always be waiting for the beast to wake up. It's an awful disease. My brother, mother have it and so did my father. He took warfarin and fell, banged his head and died from a brain haemorrhage 4 days before Christmas 36 years ago. There wasn't such advanced treatments then.

I take Sotalol 40mg x 3 per day, it didn't stop my episodes hence the ablation but I am being kept on it for now as my EP like 'belt and braces', not sure if he will ever take me off it. I know I have to be on apixaban for life.

My heart rate is a bit faster now since the ablation, it used to be about 64 BPM now around 72bpm but my EP isn't worried about that.

I had a holter monitor on for 24 hours 4 months after the ablation which showed occasional premature atrial beats and 3 runs of tachycardia lasting less than 3 seconds, so I won't be complacent. 🤞It stays away for now.

What is the next step for you?

Christobel23 profile image
Christobel23 in reply toKarendeena

Hi thanks for replyingI'm on the cardiologists list to have another look to see what's happening. He said 3 months ago it would take a year for appointment. I can't plan anything too far ahead and have cancelled so many family occasions. My life is unfortunately governed by AF.

I think I'll end up with a pace and ablate which scares me.

I'm so frustrated with this condition. I used to be so active and busy. It's slowed me down completely.

I really appreciate your reply.

Thanks x

Sixtychick profile image
Sixtychick

My ablation was a year ago. 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 been ok since, but I did go 1or 2 years between bouts of AF sometimes.

I had my first bout of AFib in 2014, after catching a nasty coughing virus at my sons wedding, which put me in hospital. I had 9 episodes of it in the 9 years before I had my ablation. Covid brought it on the 8th time and the last time I had it, I’d had to stop the Sotalol I took for it, 2 days before my ablation, so suddenly stopping that, brought it on. I had very symptomatic AFib and my heart rate and BP soared and I was told I had to go to A& E, if I got it, so they could keep an eye on me and try to stop it. A few months after my ablation, the EP told me to come off my Sotalol and I had got the dose right down to 20mg, when I started getting very high spikes in my blood pressure and I rang 111 and they told me to go to A&E in the next hour. That’s happened 3 times now and I was put back on 40 mg of Sotalol twice a day, so don’t think I’ll be able to come off it now. I also have had to start a blood pressure tablet called Amlodipine, which I’ve been taking for 5 days now. So far, so good. 🤞🤞

Wish they could find a 100% cure for all us millions of AFib sufferers around the world. You would think scientists would be trying hard to find a permanent cure for it, as it is apparently the most common heart complaint. Best wishes.

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toSixtychick

Hi there, think you are the one who had the ablation done at Glenfield, like me? I think I am going to be on Sotalol for life too. Prof Ng doesn't seem to want me to come off it 😔

I wish they would find a cure too ❤️

Sixtychick profile image
Sixtychick in reply toKarendeena

Yes that’s right.I did try to come off Sotalol, as Dr Sandilands said, but then when I got it right down to 20 mg twice a day, my blood pressure started spiking very high, so that’s why they’ve put my dose back up to 40mg. I did so want to stop it, but not sure I’ll be able to. There are so many medicines that react with it.

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toSixtychick

I struggle with that, you can't take this and that! I have just had a very nasty cold virus and couldn't take any decongestant. I was sitting with my head over a bowl of steaming hot water at 4am but was scared even to put menthol crystals in it! Can I ask you, does Sotalol affect your sleep? I wake a lot and have nightmares.

Alan1947 profile image
Alan1947

Second ablation at St Thomas in London July 2020. Touching wood desperately - free of AF and tachy since then. Also far fewer ectopics.

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toAlan1947

Are you on medication ?

GordonS profile image
GordonS

8 years for the first RF and 4 years after Cryo. Just had my third last week.

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toGordonS

That's a long time but just shows the beast is always lurking in the background 😔I dread it coming back and I am only 7 months post ablation. I couldn't go through that again, 4 hours under sedation and I felt every burn, I also suffered a weird type of indigestion that kept me awake at night, like a lump in my throat when I swallowed. I was so scared they had damaged my oesophagus

DKBX profile image
DKBX

Six and counting. Multiple cardioversions. Still on sotolol. Been quiet since March. Years in nsr would be nice but I’ll take months if that’s all I get. Do all the right things regarding lifestyle and then accept that eventually everything falls apart. Meanwhile, be merry (even without eating and drinking).

Dodie117 profile image
Dodie117

I was - from 2013 until about 2022. But has come back though less severe , less symptomatic, slower and less frequent.

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toDodie117

On any medication?

Dodie117 profile image
Dodie117 in reply toClarendon55

Apixaban and nebivolol 1.25 mg. Wa on Apixaban throughout even when no af as per recommendation of EP.

Ennasti profile image
Ennasti

My husband had an ablation after his first known AF episode. His cardiologist believes the sooner you do the ablation after the first AF episode, the more successful it is. He’s been AF free for 2 years now. Time will tell I guess.

MarkS profile image
MarkS

Ablation in 2009 was successful for 13 years. On seeing a cardiologist last year, I found out from my Kardia results that I had actually gone into permanent AF in 2022 without realising it. I still go to aerobics classes, cycling, paddle boarding with no problems.

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toMarkS

What are the symptoms?

MarkS profile image
MarkS in reply toClarendon55

I felt a slight change of rhythm at night but nothing else. As I had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, I wanted to be on top form for the treatment. I showed the Kardia results to the EP consultant who went back through them and said I appeared to develop permanent AF back in 2022. I was very surprised as I had hardly any symptoms. The traces just show a slight change of HR, e.g. from 65 to 70, but I don't have any symptoms now. I still go to pretty energetic exercise classes and even at the age of 73 I outperform many younger than me.

Regardless, I have to say I'm pretty happy with life.

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toMarkS

That’s good! Medication?

MarkS profile image
MarkS in reply toClarendon55

Warfarin and that's it for the AF. Prostap for the prostate cancer.

lwm1198 profile image
lwm1198

Had my ablation in 2018, had been off and on for several years before that but didn't know what was going on until it became more frequent. Still take Elliquis and Metoprolol but no more AF.

SkyBluePInk47 profile image
SkyBluePInk47

curious why they keep you on the blood thinner still?

Clarendon55 profile image
Clarendon55 in reply toSkyBluePInk47

Me too

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