if I start having an ablation now is this something that will keep needing to be repeated
What’s your experience as I’m thinning if I start having it done now I will need to keep having it done won’t I?
I’ve stopped alcohol, caffeine etc.
I would like some of my life back as I have young children.
Ablation has to be considered part of ongoing treatment but apparently NICE have decreed a max of two recently. I had three up till 2008 since when no AF but I went on to develop a different arrhythmia and now have a pacemaker.
They’ve said if bisoprolol don’t work they will try me with flacanade as well then offered an ablation. The side effects on bisoprolol are had for me to manage 🤷♀️ I have some pvcs and had an episode of AFiB.
Many people find Bisoprolol hard to tolerate but as it’s a beta blocker and designed to limit your heart rate it’s unlikely to stop AF unless high HR is a trigger for AF. There are other heart rate meds. The most common effects of Biso are breathlessness on exertion and fatigue. You can ask to try another med to see if you tolerate that better.
Another alternative is to ask if you can take Bisoprolol as a PIP - pill in the pocket ie: only as and if you have high heart rate / AF.
Hope that helps.
Bob - here is the paper outlining the criteria for repeat ablations - england.nhs.uk/wp-content/u...
There are qualifications for repeat ablations but it’s not a blanket ban on two ablations, that only applies to someone in persistent AF, not PAF.
You are correct Bob this is what they now say re - repeat procedures " Patients with paroxysmal AF should have had no more than 2 previous ablations in the
last 5 years for AF or atrial tachycardia.".....same for Persistent ... unsurprisingly.
I read that to say if you have had two ablations and five years later your AF returns you can have two more and so on ad nauseum. It also states you must have at least five years expected life span. and not be morbidly obese. ( I hope I have five years left at least as the so and sos who run one of my pensions won't have paid me all the money I put it till then! lol 😂 )
Maybe read up/watch YouTube on Pulsed Field Ablation.
Ablation is repeated only if AF returns and if you decide to do so. There is a lot of research that shows that earlier AF is treated (not managed), which mean ablated, higher are the chances that it won't came back ever. It is not true that it always come back, I met people that have been free of AF for 20 years (from first ablations performed) and counting.
That’s nice to know I always here the horror stories.
Yes, the forum is a bit distorted because obviously when we are unwell we come here for support but no one comes here to write a post saying "all good, 10 years no AF!" eheh, the lucky cases just go on living their lives 😉
That is true!
Yes, I had 15 good years after my 2002 ablation.
Only thing that made my AF return was an aortic dissection and an emergency 14 hour open chest surgery to repair + aortic valve + CABG. Monster case of post-operative AF on the back of my previous history.
My EP told me that early.intervention is best but that if that doesn't work you run out of options quicker because you started earlier, in my case four ablations in five years at sixty.
The cause of your AF won't be what you eat or drink, but a general electrical issue in the upper heart, maybe genetic. Coffee has definitively been shown to be safe and the occasional alcoholic drink helps mine if anything.
There's some evidence that an early ablation can have longer term success than waiting, but I don't think this is definitive. I would absolutely be guided by my doctor on this, or, if you feel unhappy, pay for a private second opinion (around £250+ dependent upon scans).
It can be a frightening and debilitating condition but in my experience and that of a few others I know, all older than you though, people cope with it better over time, perhaps as the fear element declines, What symptoms (and how frequent) do you suffer from that hold you back from enjoying the family? That is not a good thing at all and would urge everyone to towards abaltion,
Steve
I’m thinking of going private, I’ve had enough with how I have been treated.
I did the same, and I would recommend it, but the end result wasn't very different. It did mean I got a faster scan and MRI which helped my anxiety 100%.
Steve
That’s a good point. Thank you.
One point about private - whilst a private ablation sounds great, I have heard of cases of private surgery (NOT ablations) when the unexpected has happened and the (usually smaller) private hospitals are ill-equipped to deal with that, and the patient has had to be rapidly transferred to a major NHS hospital. The risks of ablation are small, but non-zero. If anyone opts for private ablation, it's worth checking that there is an established emergency pathway.
I had a look at your previous posts and noticed that you are on a lot of meds. I don't know your exact medical situation but I definitely second the suggestion to go private. And have always a second opinion.
My first private cardiologist gave me flecainide, which was lately suspected of causing me to develop flutter. I went to arrhytmia nurse and she wanted to give me more meds so that I would tollerate Flecainide, I refused all the meds and went for other 2 opinions which both said "no Flecainide".
I had an episode in October, menstrual cycle/womb inflammation and I had a an alcoholic drink. It was scary I ended up in a & e. Since I’ve been having some pvcs. Which came on worse a few weeks ago x
You will likely be given an echocardiogram to look closer at the workings of your ticker.
Frightening isn’t the word, is it? My experience is that AF and palpitations both become easier to cope with over time.
Steve
I’ve had an eco and my heart is fine structure wise . I hope it does come easier.
I totally agree Steve. I was petrified when I had an episode of AFIB and it put me into a depressed scared existence for a couple of years.!
Ten years on and I’m not scared anymore👍
I’m annoyed but not scared.!
My fears mostly evaporated only after a healthy looking MRI and discussion with the specialist. But then he mentioned words like “pacemaker “ and “pace and ablate” as options to an ablation.
The anxiety will never end fully, except, well… 😳😉
Steve
I know what you mean Steve.! It still niggles at me mentally but the total fear factor has gone thankfully.! It doesn’t help because I’m obsessed with certain things and health anxiety doesn’t help either.!
I am the same I have health anxiety.
Yes - there are several here so you’re far from alone. I have an elderly friend with permanent AF but never at high rate and his general comment is along the lines of, “I don’t let it bother me”.
Lucky for him that it doesn’t since, in truth, he has far less control over his mind than he believes . In fact, he has no idea just how lucky he is.
Steve
Sadly, nothing cures AF and generally it gets worse over time. Ablation etc may work for a while. It now appears that there is a limit of 2 ablations, I've already had 3 but was turned down for another. Has anyone mentioned cardioversion. I've had 3 of those and found them just as effective as an ablation for keeping AF at bay.
No im all new to it…. I’d like my life back as the side effects are horrible on these meds and I’ve stopped going out socially to try and reduce an episode coming on.
i have read of ablations being successful in stopping Afib episodes totally. I myself have had three ablations a few years ago but unfortunately I do still get bouts of afib but life is a lot better than it was.👍
I still work full time, go on holidays, and get run ragged by my grandkids. If I was you I would listen to your cardiologist and EP and do what they suggest. They’re the experts and are there to help you and do what’s ever best for you. 👍
What impact does your AF episodes have on you getting on with life? Treatment of AF is largely aimed at improving quality of life. Some, like me, are not significantly impacted by the effects of an episode. I'm on metoprolol (another beta blocker) paired twice daily with high dose of flecainide. I still have episodes several times a year but still consider my medications are working as overall, my AF doesn't have a significant impact on my quality of life. A lot of us on medications for AF still experience episodes so don't think having an episode means ablation is your only option. There are various medications, combinations of medications, different dosages and ways of administering e.g. PIP in response to episodes or daily to help prevent/minimise effects of epidodes that can be tried to fine tune your treatment. You've already made some lifestyle changes and they can help too. Ablations are obviously an option but not one i have seriously considered as i don't see it making enough of an improvement in my still good quality of life. I expect that to change at some stage but 5 years since diagnosis I've probably just finished my best year from an AF perspective.Anyway, it sounds like it's early days in your journey. There are a number of options for you to discuss and explore with your medical professional. Dont be rushed into making a quick decision unless your doctor believes one is required, which is unlikely. What you want is what works for you i.e. provides you with a workable or even desirable quality of life to enjoy with your family. Remember your treatment can and probably will change over time. Even if you decide against an ablation now doesn't rule it out as an option in the months or years ahead. Good luck with whatever you decide. Keep us posted on your progress.
Will do. I’ve stopped having an occasional drink with my husband and going on holiday havjng a few cocktails would be nice and not worrying I’m going to have to go to a&e
hopefully your meds will keep you in rhythm and you will be OK and it’s up to your doctor about how often and how many ablations. I suggest you watch that carefully, but this is just me. It is a procedure that can be abused. because except for a few lucky people it’s really a hit or miss procedure unless you get the new type which I’m hearing good about. I had three different types within a two-year period the last one went very wrong. I had moved found an incredible EP and do not believe in numerous and because of the scarring from my third, my would only consider the ablation when I got my things can I don’t know how it where you are the only good thing here is insurance and watches. You should have a good enough doctor anyway so that doesn’t need to be done
when I found my new EP, he didn’t waste a lot of time. My in Florida was also really great. I never had a cardioversion with him. He worked well with my EP again. They weren’t wasting time with things that weren’t working. The major thing he was trying were different meds because we are different. I was doing fairly good until just before I moved my last ablation had lasted about a year. Possibly the extra stress of things that going on plus move out of state off I don’t know all I can say is now I have my new as I call it. It will be two years in February Valentine’s Day lol I never thought I could feel normal again, but I do and when I can put the leash on my dog and take him out, it is the best feeling in the world. We also need to remember it’s not always the but poor heart gets blamed for everything. I still have fatigue. I am still on a couple of meds. I have an unusual situation with my but before the pacemaker walking to the car was impossible I was in a wheelchair at that point prior to the bad ablation I could not even grocery shop not only did I have pain in my legs. I even had it in my arms, trying to push the the things we take for granted.
give them a chance you didn’t mention what type of ablation you’ve got some great people on here with the newer ones and if you start feeling things aren’t right with your doctor find a new one
I also have reminded myself how old I really am because I’ve always said I’m 35 in my head but the past couple of years my body has been trying to tell me oh no, you’re not and I guess I have to start listening. The fatigue may be also just be. I’m getting older and I get tired
best of luck don’t be afraid if you do nothing you have no chance of feeling better. look at all the people on See how many people have good stories even though we have ups and downs. I still get flutter not often but it happens. The difference with a pacemaker is that it no longer damages your heart you just feel it with the palpitations. So I think the best thing to say is we are always going to have going forward because there is no cure yet for me. My pacemaker was the closest thing cure and I am tickled positivity is a big thing so hold onto it and don’t let runyour life
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