AF Free - close to 5 years after cryoablation

[SpritzerAce]

Happy New Year to my AF community.

It has been a while since I last posted anything on this forum.

I just would like you to know that I have been well generally although i have had other health issues besides AF since I did my cryoablation in 2020. I had since got my gallbladder removed, diagnosis with diverticulitis and have been to ER and hospitalised a few times because of the latter.

But AF wise, thank God i have been OK. Still on Exforge and Nebilets but my HR is under control. Once in a while I have been asked to share my experience with Sotalol or Bisoporol. I am off them now but to anyone taking it now, please follow your doctor’s advice. Please be alert on any side effects and report it to your arrhythmia nurse or EP asap. Otherwise they both worked for me very well. I had my blood sugar readings raised due to Bisoporol and I was asked to stop. But other than that no other side effects. While I was on it it managed to control my HR well.

Sotalol was my ‘last’ anti arrhythmic drug before I did my ablation. The only significant side effects that I had during the early days of taking it was anxiety. Once my body and mind adjusted to it, I was OK again. It had managed to keep my AF episodes under control too.

Again, given the opportunity I would like to urge anyone offered an ablation to give it due consideration It did make a huge difference to my QOL and I hope it will do the same too for you. Take care!

[BobD Volunteer]

Only another eight years and you are level with me. Keep it up.

[SpritzerAce in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob! So good to hear from you again and to know that you are keeping well. I will always remember the encouraging and comforting words of members of this community when I was at the height of my AF episodes and lowest emotionally - BobD, CDdreamer, Finvola, jeanjeannie50, wilsond, Kaz747 ..and others whom I might not be able to mention everyone here. This group is awesome and from the bottom of my heart, thank you ---- you guys are my pillar of strength and source of information and inspiration of whom no cardiologists or EPs could possibly offer. Keep motivating each other and may we live an AF-free life for as long as ever!

[dangalf]

That's great news re: the AFib - sorry to hear about the other health issues.

Particularly nice to read this as I'm going in for cryoablation in 11 days.

[SpritzerAce in reply to dangalf]

Hi there! All the best for your cryoablation and may you have a smooth procedure and speedy recovery! Take care!

[Blearyeyed]

Amazing , especially as you've had other surgeries.You've clearly been doing a really good job at trying to stick to healthy living and reducing stress.

You deserve a five year award for that 🏅

Very inspiring, thanks for sharing , Bee

[SpritzerAce in reply to Blearyeyed]

Auwww! Thank you 🏅😀

[Sixtyslidogirl]

Thanks for posting. Really good to hear.

[SpritzerAce in reply to Sixtyslidogirl]

Likewise, thank you for the feedback. Been there and I was always looking for positive stories and outcome from people who have done their ablation. Having done mine nearly 5 years ago and been AF-free since, I hope to spread positivity to those who are still thinking about it or not too sure if really ablation can improve their quality of life.

[50568789]

That's what I like to hear! I like to think I will get a good run out of my so far 6 month old ablation . Nice to know it does happen.

[SpritzerAce in reply to 50568789]

Hi there! Yes. Totally understood. I was too .... especially when my EP told me it could recur after Year 2. So far so good. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[Jetcat]

nice one👍

[Beta44]

Congratulations, I’m coming up for 10 years.

Peter

[Sixtychick in reply to Beta44]

That is encouraging. Had my ablation in September 2023. I had it for SVT and AFib, so hoping neither come back. 🤞 Hope yours stays away too. Trouble is you never know if it will come back or not. Just have to try and put it at that back of your mind, which isn’t easy.

I wish someone would find a treatment that is a 100. % cure for all AFib sufferers. Wouldn’t that be so fantastic. You would think with so many people in the world, suffering with this awful thing, that more research would be done to come up with something that gives a 100% permanent cure for it.

[SpritzerAce in reply to Beta44]

Wow! That’s very encouraging to know. May it stay that way forever ! Take care!

[LaceyLady]

I had mine last February, so far so good🤞🏻 I’d been reading a lot about AF and decided I really needed to get an ablation to halt the progression of the AF and have a more successful outcome. I was told that 2 zaps are best for longer term success, so far I’ve just the one.

[SpritzerAce in reply to LaceyLady]

Good to know that you have been well since the ablation. Hope AF will not rear its ugky head on you ever again ! Stay well!

[MWIC]

Fantastic update to hear and long may it continue - 1 year post mine and so far so good 🤞

[SpritzerAce in reply to MWIC]

Likewise, here’s wishing you an AF-free life! Stay well!

[Outsidethelines]

Thank you so much for your positive message. It’s timely for me, as my cryoablation in March 2024 appears to have been unsuccessful and I am now on the year-long waiting list for a RF touch-up. I must admit, I have been feeling a bit down in the dumps about it, wondering whether it’s actually worth putting myself through a 2nd ablation - if it didn't work last time, why would it work this time? On the other hand, my approx monthly AF episodes are really debilitating and I’m worried about the cognitive effects. So it’s really good to read your positive news re ablation. May I ask your approximate age please? I’m in my late 60s, which isn’t old at all in my book but the AF is really taking its toll.

[Sixtychick in reply to Outsidethelines]

I read and have also seen on here, that a second ablation is often very successful, so hopefully it works for you. Good luck.

[Outsidethelines in reply to Sixtychick]

Thank you for the encouragement. I have been getting a bit downhearted, but I’m starting to come to terms with needing a 2nd op🙂

[Sixtychick in reply to Outsidethelines]

👍🤞

[SpritzerAce in reply to Outsidethelines]

Hi! I am now 57 yo. I had my ablation when I was 52. I was first diagnosed with SVT at the age of 42 and had my first episode of AF in 2016 - four years after my SVT diagnosis. Before I opted for cryoablation, some of the medication that I was on included Bisoprolol, Pradaxa, Flecinade, Eliquis and Multaq (Sotalol). Some worked well for me but unfortunately Flec did not. A year before I did my ablation my AF episodes were becoming more frequent and my QOL was affected to a point where I had to be off work when I had an episode usually after breakfast 😔. I also became lactose intolerant and certain food would trigger an episode. Perhaps it got to do with the vagus nerve as well. But thank God after the ablation, I feel like I have a second chance at living a healthy life again! I have heard of cases where people need a touch up or a second ablation and they have been alright thereafter. Hope your ‘touch up’will resolve your issues soon.

[Outsidethelines in reply to SpritzerAce]

Thank you. I hope so too! 🙂

[Sixtychick]

Hi SpritzeerAce, . I had an ablation in September 2023 and tried to stop Sotalol a while ago. I was on 80 mg and had got it down to 20 mg, but my blood pressure went up to over 180 systolic and 111 told me to go to A&E, as it was seriously high. I had got right down to 20 mg from 80 mg over several months. After 2 more of these very high BP spikes, I was put on Amlodipine, which was awful and made me very light headed and put my BP very low and I was also put back on 40 mg of Sotalol. I have now stopped the Amlodipine, which was making me feel awful, but it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to stop the Sotalol without my blood pressure going very high.Sotalol also reduces your blood pressure, which was why my BP had dropped to below 110 systolic. Tell me, how did stopping Sotalol, make you feel? What dose of Sotalol were you on and did you have blood pressure problems, or other problems, when stopping it.?

I’d love to stop the Sotalol, but if it means going on another blood pressure medicine, like that awful Amlodipine, I’d rather stay on the Sotalol.

[Curiousafib]

I’m a year and a few months post ablation and although I am once again taking a med and continuing on a blood thinner I am quite content with the results.

[Tidbits]

Thank you for this very encouraging post! I read so much about the possible complications and having to be re-ablated that it scares the heck out of me! Nice to hear that it worked for you!