I am due my second ablation on Friday 7th February and although I am of course nervous I do badly want to be rid of the AF episodes I get once a week. I asked my EP Cardiologist last October whether a Pacemaker was a possibility but he said "he didn't want to go down that road just yet"
Regardless, i think if this ablation doesn't work I will press for a Pacemaker as it seems to work very well for some people.
A pacemaker alone will not stop AF I'm afraid though admittedly a very few find it helpful in reducing symptoms. The "gold standard" is a pace and ablate where the AV node is ablated leaving the patient pacemaker dependent which is a serious step. Even that will not stop AF and some people will still feel the atrium fibrillating even though the ventricle and therefor heart beat is PM controlled.
Thank you for the reply and insight. Hopefully the ablation will be successful and the question becomes redundant.
Is that right, Bob? I understood, but I am not sure, that we cannot feel the atrium fibrillating, that there are no sensory receptors to allow this. I certainly cannot feel anything that I could say was atrial in origin. The feelings we get, when we do, as I understand it, are of the valves shutting, felt through more superficial sensory nerve receptors in the chest wall, along with various brain-related effects caused by lowered or disturbed heart output / blood pressure, if it occurs (e.g. light-head, dizziness, chest aching...). I understood that these are all circumvented by pace and ablate, at least inasmuch as the heart's output can be maintained to match physical demands upon the heart.
Steve
Pace and ablate is indeed a serious step. The procedure left me suffering VT as well as permanent AFlutter, and resulted in my having to have a CRT-D implanted. But I really didn't have a choice, after 5 failed ablations and regular emergency hospital admissions.
Totally agree , I still feel when I go nto AF and it can bring on sudden pulmonary oedema . But having said that I have a CRPT pacemaker set at rate of 80 and I am a lot better
I cringe when I read posts like this. Where are you getting the type of information that suggests even thinking about a pacemaker after only one or two failed ablations? Yes, it works well for some in the context of the alternative being symptomatic atrial fibrillation that cannot be stopped. But you are so far away from that point. Good luck with the second ablation,
Jim
The OP raised the subject with his EP in fairness. EP did not recommend it.
Bob, It was meant to be rhetorical, with no criticism of the the OP and i'm all with the EP. Yet I feel too many people are prematurely thinking seriously about a pacemaker, probably from things that they've read here, without understanding the context and the different histories.
Jim
My Dad had a bypass in 1992 when he was 64 and a few years later developed AF.Back then an ablation was not an option, so he was immediately fitted with a Pacemaker.Dad is 97 this year and although not particularly well, is still with us.I had a quadruple bypass when I was 62 and hoped I could emulate my Dad with his Pacemaker and live to 97.
Sorry to make you cringe, I was just hoping for other opinions and experiences.
Apologies for any miscommunication.You did not make me cringe at all and have my full sympathies. The issue, which I've seen here before, is that too often people seem to rush to pacemakers based on others experiences which do not match their profile at all. It sounds like your dad did absolutely the right thing under the circumstances, but your circumstances are not the same.
Jim
No probs.
well done to your father 30 years with his pacemaker, hopefully his quality of life since the pacemaker has been good up until more recently. I think genes play a role and why not 97 for you too!
He has been very well for the majority of time with his Pacemaker, enjoying holidays abroad, gardening and a drink or two. Thanks, yes I hope I follow suit!
I believe a lot in genetics my father had a quadruple bypass pass at 83, he had been a heavy smoker til 65, post op he developed permanent AF and lived a good life to over 90. Maybe you should do a separate post about your father and his story…how often he got AF, his meds, exercise etc….. It’s the sort of story that may give lots of hope to those who struggle. This AF journey can definitely be a mental struggle to us all
Yes maybe after I recover from the ablation tomorrow. He would I think be an inspiration to many.
All the best with it and keep your chin up I know a person at 10 year mark post ablation and no AF!
Thanks, I will.
The latest treatment rules here are that if two ablations are unsuccessful no more will be offered, which if the patient is still highly symptomatic in spite of meds would leave P&A as the only option. The question is, of course, what is considered an unsuccessful ablation. You could say that an ablation that lasts two years is successful so a person could then demand to have an ablation every two years forever which is just not going to happen anywhere. So many people say they wish they had been offered a P&A sooner as their lives have been transformed. It has not been completely satisfactory for everyone ie one person that I have seen posting has not found it helpful. So not surprising it is seen as a better option than repeated ablations although not always suitable.
Do you know if that's the same for those of us who who also have heart failure with a low EF? I was discussing my options for my Afib, (which is 100% burden) with my cardiologist last month. When I asked him how many ablations was the limit, he said four.
Surely there has to be certain circumstances that would permit more than two. I have a very fast irregular heartbeat, even with meds it's still averaging 90 resting but often goes over 100, I'm 59.
I can speak from experience that I have had 3 ablations so far and first 2 not very successful at all hence the third one (not afib free but episodes have been quite curtailed since the third). I have had discussions with my EP about a 4th in the future if afib intensifies and he is in support of this.
I also know of 2 people in my social circle that have had more than 4 ablations each as well. I really think it depends on health of person/ age/ EP etc.. more than hard and fast rule of X number of ablations...
Wishing you a stable heart.
Thanks.
Yes, depends on circumstances and cardiologist opinion so it’s a general rule, not set in stone. I think you would be considered too young to have a pacemaker unless you needed a defibrillator so all other options need to be tried.
This rule was only introduced last year so there will be many stories of people having multiple ablations in the past but the latest research being followed by the NHS is that two failed AF ablations shows that ablation is unlikely to be helpful long term.
Thanks.
Yes, there are exceptions to the "2 ablations only" protocol. You can read about the current NHS practice in this article from Barts, London ...
bartsaf.com/af-ablation-in-...
Thank you. 👍
Thanks for this link - smells like a cost saving to me being a cynic.
Obviously the people making the decisions have no experience of how AF can alter your quality of life.
I have had Crohns disease fro 40 years now as well as AF and I always wished the doctors who used to say that it was only a mild flare up had the pain and misery it causes for a few weeks. They would soon change their minds
My EP did recommend a pacemaker because my heart rate is on the low end, dropping into the 40s every night -- 50s as I sit here with my laptop. Having a pacemaker, in my case, would likely improve my tolerance to afib medications. In any case, psychologically, I wasn't ready for a pacemaker, but it does make sense. I'm hoping my ablation gives me a few years before I need to consider this again.
Good heavens ! Don't be in a hurry to have pace/ablate. You haven't even had ablation no 2 yet . I had my 5th ablation 7 months ago . This was last chance saloon for me at 80 years old.
Unfortunately AF has returned, not at a fast rate, in fact mainly quite slow but nevertheless making me feel quite ill and breathless. I will be having pacemaker implantation next month followed by AV Node ablation some weeks later.
This is not a decision taken lightly as I will be totally pacemaker dependent and the procedure is irreversible.
My advice would be to hold off before other avenues have been explored.
Good luck with your ablation on Friday!
Thank you for your reply and wise words.Much appreciated.
I had Pacemaker’i fitted 2018 and it DID work very well for me at stopping alAF. It was fitted in preparation for ablation of the AV node but worked so well that I didn’t need the AV node ablated.
Neither my EP nor myself ‘rushed’ into the decision. I had very symptomatic AF for some 15 years, drugs for about 7 years which I didn’t tolerate, 2 ablations which helped for a while, about 3 years. It was something like a last resort but one I’ve never regretted.
I can’t have GA, sedation and a long list of drugs so for me it was absolutely brilliant.
Modern pacemakers have algorithms which can help arrhythmias, including AF, for some people but very few EPs seem to have the expertise and think of them mainly for Bradycardia.
I wish you well for Friday and long lasting NSR.
Thank you for telling me about your experience with a Pacemaker, it is certainly food for thought and something I will discuss with my EP at a later date. As you say there is no rush.
Positive to read your pacemaker experience! I have always wondered why there has not been more research / success with pacemakers to counteract afib. You would think they would go hand in hand. Glad it worked for you.
I had a pacemaker fitted just over two years ago, due to a CA, but in March it will be two years since the last AF episode, so for me it has worked along with the medication!
I had an ablation which, although told was successful sadly wasn't , my heart rate then started to get too low and I had a pacemaker fitted and tomorrow, 10 years after, its due a battery change. As Bob said, a Pacemaker does not stop A/F and to be honest if my 'episodes' of A/F had been once a week I would not have had an ablation in the first place but waited it out. I would also say that not everyone who has either escapes having to take drugs, sadly these procedures do not always have the outcomes we desire.
I would like to amend your statement - ‘Pacemaker does not stop A/F’ to ‘Not all Pacemakers stop AF’ - depends upon the pacemaker because there are pacemakers that are designed specifically to manage AF such as Medtronic Azure. I have a Percepta CRT pacemaker and whilst it hasn’t eliminated AF entirely, my AF burden has gone from 70% down to 2% annually.
I am not suggesting it should be a question of ablation OR pacemaker but that when ablations don’t have a successful outcome, it may be an option for some.
mmmmm interesting I have a Medtronic SURESCAN and for me it has been a life changer however I am still taking heart meds and anticoagulants and had hoped they would be a thing of the past. Up until 2 years ago I had P/A/F but now in perm. A/F and heart failure and my trusty Pacemaker is not pacing correctly so, hopefully, after the new battery tomorrow I will be turbo charged.....we wait and see what tomorrow brings lol. I would add that in perm A/F I feel no arrythmias.
Here’s wishing you a successful second ablation. If there wasn’t a good chance of success they wouldn’t be wasting the time and expense on you! So think success, and remember to take life extremely slow and easy for a good few weeks following ablation!
Thank you I will and definitely no vacuuming apparently (although my wife is suspicious)
As a female, I can second - NO VACUUMING! I gave up doing that many years ago and got help to come in as it’s not worth putting up with vacuum induced arrythmias!
Absolutely!
Good luck for Friday! I’m 48 and had a pacemaker fitted last year after 4 ablations that were not necessarily failed but only afforded me a few years episode free from AF each time. I was diagnosed with AF in my early 20s and along with the ablations took flecanide. When the meds stopped working and I didn’t tolerate the alternatives a pacemaker was suggested. I was terrified and didn’t want it. I can now say I wish I had agreed to it sooner as for me it has been life changing and I didn’t realise how ill I actually felt all the time. I had a pacemaker fitted first and the ablate 6 weeks later. Both you and your cardiologist will know if and when it’s right. In my case no amount of ablations would have worked and they have investigated a genetic link as my sister and now daughter have also been diagnosed very early on in their life’s.
Thank you, when the dust settles I will reassess things with my EP and go from there.
Good luck with your 2nd.. I had my first in November, still waiting to see the cardiologist to see what's next. How long was it you went back into AF after your first ablation.
Thank you.I had my first ablation 3 years ago and apart from a couple of minor blips my first real episode of AF was in October 2024.
Thank you. Good luck. Let us know how you get on..🙂
Thank you.
Hi, I understood from my cardiologist that it is quite common to need a second ablation and that success rates after the second one are pretty high.Best of luck tomorrow and be sure to take it easy for the next while...plenty of relaxation and no worrying if you can help it.
Thank you.I will try to rest and not worry, the former being easier than the latter!
Hi I was given a pacemaker after my heart surgery. And now I have been told if my 3rd ablation (AF/AT) fails, they will albate and set up the pacemaker for that. There was no real discussion with me.
I also have a brain aneurysm, so I'm worried about having brain scans with a pacemaker.
Thank you.All the best and I hope things get sorted for you.
hi, I’ve had permanent AF for almost 30 years and have fought against the suggestion of ablation from my local cardiologist along the way. I would not agree to burning a part of my inner heart chamber and in those days the success rate was much much lower, so I sought a second opinion from an expert heart specialist in a well known heart hospital. He was also of the opinion that I should try medication first. Ablation was his speciality but not a permanent cure and can cause other problems.
Going forward 8 years my heartbeat slowed and so he suggested a pacemaker and stop Fleccanide as it wasn’t working, this they did within a few weeks and I’m now on my 2nd pacemaker and due no 3 in about 3 years time. I’m content that my heart is being helped constantly by my little gadget which is monitored by the heart team from the Boston Scientific relay box on my dressing table. If my PM had problems they would know and call me in for a check up.
Ablation is now very much advanced and more successful but I still would not wish to attack my inner heart if a pacemaker can be fitted to help it.,, so many stories of ablation failures when so many positive pacemakers.
Fitting a pacemaker is fast and painless, done mostly under local anaesthetic and home the same day. A life saver and friend.
Pace and Ablate is the last resort, it’s always there if I want it but I prefer to be not kept alive by just my PM.
Hopefully in the future they will design a PM with an everlasting battery so no more 10 year replacements necessary.
If your dad is now in his 90s that good enough for most people to wish for.
Thank you.I too have reservations about burning heart tissue, it doesn't feel right somehow. In addition, i take omeprazole for a reflux condition which affects my oesophagus and I am concerned about the close proximity of the oesophagus during the procedure.
Having said that I guess you have to have faith that these very clever people know what they are doing.
Hi, yes of course you do but make sure you get the very best cardiologist in this field. I found my specialist at Glenfield heart hospital after searching through the internet. My local hospital were trying to force me to have an ablation when I wasn’t sure it was that safe. Didn’t want my heart damaged any more.
My GP got me a second opinion at Glenfield where they said an ablation was not what they advised at my age 59, and from then on I was taken on their patients list and am still under their care. It’s a 70 miles round trip to see them but worth it for their expertise. You only have one body,,,make sure it gets the best.
Take care
Thank you.I am at the QE in Birmingham who have a very good Cardiology/EP dept.
After 7 ablations and 15 cardioversions in 8 years, I had a pace and ablate procedure in 2022, following a life threatening event during an ablation procedure. I am still in my 60s.
I was initially resistant to having the av node ablation done and the life threatening event virtually forced the issue . I now wish I’d had it done three years earlier, when my cardiologist first recommended it. It would have prevented the remorseless ill-health I suffered and might have saved my marriage.
The av node ablation has been life changing for me. I have been symptom free for two years and haven’t felt better since before 2014 when I had my first bout of AF. My cardiologist recently told me that my recovery has been amazing by all measures and my ejection fraction is almost normal for my age. Apart from the obvious visual sign, I wouldn’t even know the CRT device was in my body
I’m in the gym five times a week and literally have no symptoms at all. Long may the situation continue!
Wow you have been through the mill.Good luck and I hope you're good health continues as I'm sure it will.
It is clear that we are all different - as our physicians and the advice they give. So, like Dinamite I offer my experience of another side of the coin.
I have maintained a lifelong resting HR of 60 and no recollection of tachycardia being a factor at any point on my 'journey'.
My AF progressed to permanent over about 5 years, during which, and indeed ever since, I have taken beta-blockers. I have never been offered or given a cardioversion or ablation and have great sympathy for those that have repeated numerous and obviously variably effective procedures.
When I started syncope faints, an ILR confirmed stoppages of 10-14 seconds and I was promptly given a pacemaker. Now on my second PM (typically replaced after7-10 years ) I remain in permanent AF, totally unaware of my PM, 82 years old and in fine fettle,
So please remember that there is no 'one size fits all' answer....
Thank you. I agree, we should all remember, particularly those with strong views, that we are all different with different medical histories and needs and that "one size doesn't fit all"
I had a pace and abkate back in September 2022. I'd had 3 cardioversions and no ablationsMy ep referred me to a prominent professor in this field for a 2nd opinion and he agreed that the chance of a successful ablation was 30% ish. I also have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which I think was the stumbling point.
I was really concerned about having the av and being totally dependent on the pm but I'd had 10yrs of pretty miserable AF and different medication, which made me feel worse. I took the dreaded amioderone for many tests, thankfully with none of the possible serious effects but when that stopped working, I had to find a different route.
I was 68 at this stage and I felt it holding me back from doing what I wanted to do and forgot who I was actually.
Fast forward and like some others have said, I wish I'd done ot sooner. I feel none of the symptoms and take no heart meds, just apixaban to help prevent stroke, as I'm aware that my heart is still in AF.
I had my annual pm check last week and I still have 11.5yrs life left on the battery, even though I'm pm dependent. I had the Medtronic Azure fitted and ep said he managed to leave me 35% so if the pm stops, hopefully I'd still have time to get somewhere, albeit I wouldn't know much about it.
Anyway, just wanted to share my experience but aware that uts not fir everyone.
Sending very best wishes.
Sounds pretty similar to my situation! I never did ask what happens if the device fails!
Best wishes for ongoing good health.
You too, its been a ride eh?
Certainly has Sue! The annoying thing is that I’ve kept myself fit all my life. Never smoked, never took drugs, only moderate drinker.
My cardiologist thought too much Concept2 rowing machine activity may have contributed.
Live and learn!
Peter.
That's interesting. Like you I've never smoked, taken drugs, eaten convenience food etc.With my hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, I had some gene testing, as generally it is a condition that is inherited.
No gene was found and they told me that it was probably due to my extreme training when I was younger. I was a competitive swimmer and trained 7 days a week.
They think that in my case that the AF was eventually a knock on effect of the cardiomyopathy.
Anyway, interesting how many athlete's appear to be having problems, particularly the footballers?
Thank you.You too.
I have AF and also bradycardia. I was advised to have a pacemaker fitted. I thought brilliant no more AF! I was told afterwards it wouldn't stop AF and ablation wouldn't help me. Six weeks after the pacemaker I had cardioversion and six weeks later again I went in for a second CV but the AF righted itself. Fourteen years on I'm still having regular AF episodes, despite medication. I need my PM 98.7% of the time, so it only lasts about 8 and half years! I did see a cardiologist last year who has now put me on flecainide twice a day, but still get episodes.
Thank you.All the best.
Hi, ablation doesn't cure AF neither does a pacemaker. My PM is to stop my HR going below 60 it does nothing to stop it going high. In AF my HR can go up to 180 and medication, cardioversions and ablations can all be used to try to bring it back into sinus rhythm. I've had 3 ablations lasting 6mths, 1mth, and 2 yrs, and 3 cardioversions all lasting on average 12-16 mths, but i'm back in AF and just have to manage it.
Hi.Like everyone I dislike the randomness of AF and any attempt to regulate the situation seemed like a good idea, but like you a few people have said that a PM won't help reduce AF.Back to the drawing board!
And - given the right pacemaker with the right algorithm it may but unfortunately no guarantees.
Hi I had an ablation a year ago because I had too many PVC's. The ablation was unsuccessful because the surgeon could not get down far enough in my heart to stop the PVC's. My cardiologist then put me on sotolol to help control the PVC's. Prior to being put on sotolol, I wore a heart monitor for a week and my PVC's were 13%. After taking sotolol for 3 months, I had another heart monitor test and my PVC's were down to 1%. Sometimes these ablations are not successful.
HiSince my AF started back up again in October 2024 I have been on Sotalol 40mg twice a day which is I think the lowest dose available (I already have a slow heart rate so am unable to up the dose) .It has reduced the frequency of episodes down to around 1 a week, for which I am grateful. Hope you continue to improve.
As for myself, I had an ablation to get me back to a sinus rhythm, which was very slow at 35 but steady. Waited in the hospital a few days, it never got faster, they put in a pacer and have been great ever since. In my case the ablation was very necessary along with the pacer. Hope this helps!
Thanks, it all helps.
Getting a pacemaker is last resort it’s not really up to you until the doctor asked you about it. I am happy with mine for the most part. I feel normal again. That being said it has been a long road. It takes about a year or it did for me for the healing. You are not gonna be in pain as such, but there is a learning curve and more. It is also a one-way street. There’s no going back once you get and if you don’t get an AV node ablation to me, it would be a waste of time. Another thing is you’re still gonna feel a fib, flutter and palpitations. node and pacemaker done the you will not continue getting damage to your heart because the pacemaker will keep it going right. All this is dependent on your condition. Only your doctor has the. I had a cardioversion that failed badly and have severe scarring on my heart from an unusual ablation that was done. I don’t know if you get that much scarring from the other types. You have other options before the pacemaker, including new types of ablations. One thing you need to keep in mind everything they do for us is a Band-Aid. It is not curing a fib. It is helping to manage what it does to us. I was a person that had no interest in getting a pacemaker. I really had no choice because I also have heart failure and with the my EP would not even consider another ablation except the AV node. Think of having the AV done as if you are putting up a bulletproof wall so that the bad part that was messing up your can no longer do more damage
if it comes to getting one do not be afraid it’s amazing what they have these days but listen to your doctor. Listen to options. I don’t know how long you have had a fib your symptoms don’t sound all that bad. I have tachycardia also and for over six months had a heart rate around 200. I could not walk or even stand very well. When I to the bathroom I would feel as though I was blacking out and in so much pain in my chest. Not making light of what you feel, but you wouldn’t get all your teeth taken out because you have one toothache would you? You may want to do more research on pace and ablate I feel very blessed because I have an unusual case all the way around, including my pacemaker at the time it was made only for me. It did not exist before that and it was because I had a doctor that was not gonna let me die he told me I was not going anywhere he would tell me that every time I woke up from a surgery and would be patting my hand when he said it. I’m still here so he told the truth.
a fib changes our life forever the thing is don’t let it ruin your life roll with it and do what you’re told by the doctor. Ask questions also
best of luck if it comes to the time you are asked about getting I can tell you all kinds of good stuff but don’t try to rush it if you are trying to just get away from the feelings of a fib because you’re still gonna get them time to time that is part of the learning curve learning what triggers and that takes time knowledge is power
Thank you so much for your reply.It is pretty clear that you have been through a lot and it's very special that you still you have the time and motivation to help others with good advice.All the best.
people on here helped me when I first came on and they have all been through a lot. It’s part of a fib. Positivity will help you I like the way you to the drawing I saw that after I wrote you so I was happy to see you will rethink your request. I had an amazing doctor. He was also a teacher. Also Houston is known for its hospitals and the heart hospital I was in is no exception but for me, it was the doctor. I think he has the entire alphabet after his name and he is young. I’m not sure if he’s even 40 yet. He is humble and kind and was so happy to teach in terms without talking at spoke to me. There are some doctors that think they are gods and do not give the patient the respect we deserve but not. Once he realized how into it, I was about learning he made sure that I did and took the fear away if I had any about anything.
As I said if the day comes that you need to get reach out I will give you that positivity. I am so grateful and I want other people to know what they’re getting into and be grateful when they feel the difference. One example I will give you is when I left the hospital in a wheelchair the same way I arrived only this time it was protocol and I was able to stand up and get into the car myself. Each time I put the leash on my dog and take him out. I feel blessed.
Sometimes I seem a little bit rough on people I shoot from the hip because I worked enforcement and you need to be truthful to people. I don’t go overboard. I’m not gonna tell you anything scary honestly, I felt very at home in the hospital, which is a crazy thing to say, but they took such wonderful care of and with anything I had done, including I don’t remember a lot of pain lol maybe it’s the cocktails they give you seriously think positive do not push yourself. It’s a lot of trauma whatever you have done your poor little heart needs to rest. I don’t have great words of wisdom. I’m just giving you my view on things just like the wonderful people on here did for me and continue to do for me and everyone. I’m very empathetic most of the time.
best of luck let us know how you’re doing. Maybe you will be one of the lucky ones like on here who have ablations that last. My first one was six months. My second was a year. Oh, I still had issues but they weren’t that bad they were better than they had been. I don’t know if you have ever seen a commercial for something called Mucinex. It’s for coughs. bottom line a little mean looking guy some type of creature and he loves making people miserable. He is the germ or whatever. Then a long comes Mucinex and the people stop coughing everyone’s ignoring it and feeling OK. He is wandering around near them and he is so angry because the people are no longer miserable. They still have the cold, but they feel so much better. To me that is a fib after you have the AV node ablation and get a pacemaker. he still but he can’t hurt you now. My doctor told me my heart and I could not take. PS my heart failure since the pacemaker. I probably shouldn’t tell you that because you will want one lol just remember if they can help you another way let them. I told my EP I wasn’t really big on trusting electrical devices he said neither was he lol sometimes you have no choice. Sometimes you just believe someone up there is watching over you. I am not a crazy religious person, but I do know that my EP had someone take his hands and save my life.
Thank you again? your kind words and positivity are much appreciated.
PM not a decision to be entered into lightly
My EP didn’t advise unless it’s the only route left I view of being considered young at 58 (3 yrs ago)
I’ve had 3 ablutions & currently doing well. It was explained to me as, the pacemaker for AF is usually called Pace & Ablate. With this you lose your hearts ‘own pacemaker’ thus being dependent for life on mechanical PM.
Every battery change or dislodged wire opens heart up to infection, Depending on your age (if considered you the more entries may be required. Device failure although rare you have little reserve to get you seen urgently. I believe you can still have AF & may/may not feel it.
Investigate all avenues - it’s not a quick fix
Thank you for the reply, I will consider everything before making a decision and fingers crossed if today's ablation is successful then it won't even be an issue.
Don’t forget there can be a 3-4 month blanking period (healing period for scars to form) before your AF stops. Good luck
Ps I take Magnesium Taurate which I believe helps to keep my heart in NSR ( started taking end of last year following AF recurrence - after 4weeks of taking it I went back to NSR
Thak you.I will ask my EP about Magnesium as I have heard it is beneficial.
I had pace and ablate last monday. I must admit it was painfull but it was a short procedure. I now have no AV node and they told me to stop taking the metoprolol which i have done. So far i seem to be afib free, its marvelous. So its been a good choice for me. I have to continue to take 10m rivaroxaban. All the best to you in yoir xhoice. I personally find no problem with having to accept that node ablation is not reversable. Colin
Thank you.I will discuss the next step with my EP and of course see how this ablation goes.
All the best.
Pacemaker after ablation
Pacemaker adjustment after AV Node Ablation. 
AV Node Ablation and Pacemaker
Pacemaker
