Permanent AF

[davidbruns]

I've been told I'm in permanent AF by my pacemaker clinic have I left it too late for an ablation

[Omniscient1]

Many people, probably the majority are. Are you in pain/uncomfortable?As to 'too late', maybe ask for a second opinion. How long was it before your last heart check of any kind (how long could you have been in perm AF)?

[DevonHubby1]

Wife was told by AF nurse 'that boat has sailed' when she was diagnosed with heart failure in addition to permanent AF. Up to that point AF had been controlled with Nebivolol. Multiple cardioversions had failed never attaining NSR. There was a remote chance that a course of Amiodonadrone may make CV work but potential permanent side effect of COPD put us off it then, and now it's too late. And if a CV won't work theycfont offer ablation.

Hopefully once HF is under control things will return to normal as wife was hoping we'll at the start of permanent AF.

[BobD Volunteer]

Permanent AF is merely an agreement between doctor and patient that further attemps to attain NSR are futile. That said unless a cardioversion can revert you to NSR then an ablation is extremely unlikely to do so.

[secondtry]

My AF currently around 7% and 85% ablation success rate quoted. If I go into permanent AF my cardiologist said this week, the chances of success (in my case) drop to 30-40%. So his conclusion, knowing my reluctance well, is it is now or I probably never will have one.

Meanwhile, I am increasing CoQ10 to 200mgs/day and considering re-starting a Magnesium compound with taurine et al, both recommended as the only necessary treatment for AF by a Naturopath. If interested, get advice first from your trusted medic and a blood test to see your starting levels; for Mg the blood test is a Red cell test which UK GP surgeries are unlikely to do for you.

[pip_pip]

No. I was in persistent AF for five years before the EP in London got hold of me. I might have needed more than one ablation over the years but sinus rhythm beckoned. Go for it. In fact, press for it. You can message me any time.

Phl

[beardy_chris]

I'm in permanent AF but I'm relatively asymptomatic. My EP advised that, as an ablation wouldn't increase my quantity or quality of life, it would not be worth the (small) risk of doing it.

I'm content with his advice - though I was a little disappointed at the time. I have since heard from several other EPs that he was a Good Guy - because the height of the EPs skill is doing ablations and they don't often turn down the option to do one - even if it isn't really necessary.

So I guess it depends on how symptomatic you are.

[Corazon17 in reply to beardy_chris]

Do you mean it would NOT be worth the small risk?

[beardy_chris in reply to Corazon17]

Yes - sorry - edited