I am 64 years old and was diagnosed with Afib December of 2024. Before that I had two occurrences, which were 2 months apart and went away on their own. My doctor prescribed PIP Metoprolol, to take when I have Afib, because I fall into the low risk category. Since December I’ve had three Afib occurrences, the PIP worked great to shut it down but knocks the hell out of you for a day. I’ve been put on a list for PFA which will be in the next 2 to 4 months.
My question is, does any one out there experience heart flutters? Not sure if that is common with Afib, I can seem to control them with deep breathing in most cases, but have had to take a PIP. The other thing is what does everyone think of Pulse Field Ablation surgery?
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Beaver113
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what does everyone think of Pulse Field Ablation surgery?
Pulse Field Ablation (PFA)is considered a minimally invasive procedure not a surgery.
Relatively new, it didn't exist when most of us here had our ablations, but If I were going to have my ablation today, that would be my choice. It's also quicker so less time under anesthesia or sedation.
At least the same results as older rfa or cryo, but with a better safety profile and also less operated dependent so results should be more consistent.
If you've decided on an ablation, this is the one you want to have today.
You mention "heart flutters" which could be any number of things, but impossible to say without an EKG. Hopefully the will take care of those yoo.
your Apple Watch won’t show Ectopics which are very common and most people get them. This can feel like flutters, hops and bumps. They are quite benign so don’t stress. Sometimes my Apple gets it wrong and a quality ECG can show the difference. You are correct to do mindful nasal breathing to calm things down.
In answer to your question about PFA, I would highly recommend it based on my personal experience. Obviously I'm not a medic and don't know all the details around your condition, medical history and general state of health. I'm a similar age 62, fit, good diet, non-smoker and non-drinker. I was diagnosed aged 59 with paroxysmal AFib and I was asymptomatic. There were varying views on meds vs ablation and so I started off the meds route. Although I had no extreme reactions to the meds, I didn't feel great. So I saw two cardiologists, one in Dublin and one in London and in both cases were referred to EPs with the recommendation that an ablation would be a good course of action and if anything, the sooner the better with the likelihood of a better and longer lasting outcome. With too much prevarication and time passing, I was told my AFib could become permanent. So I decided to press ahead. The EP in Dublin recommended PFA as opposed to the London guy who was offering cryo. The PFA route seemed to suggest lower risks and a marginally better expectation in terms of results. So that's what I opted for.
It was done under general anaesthetic with a one night stay in hospital (standard). If I'm honest, it was on the edge of being a pleasurable experience. I felt in very safe hands, the EP had done the PFA procedure over 200 times so it felt like a well-oiled operation with a great team - I think there were 7 in the lab in all. Once I was hooked up to various monitors etc, I was put under and the next thing I woke up in the recovery suite, allegedly, very chatty. The procedure took 2 hours and the EP seemed confident it had all gone well. That evening, and actually throughout the coming days, I had absolutely no discomfort at all around the heart and nor did I feel anything in my throat area in spite of having been intubated. The only evidence to prove anything had happened was a very colourful bruising and a small lump in my groin where the catheter had been inserted, but that all had disappeared within two weeks. I returned home and was out on gentle walks within a couple of days and back at work the following week. That was all 14 months ago. I'm still in sinus, off all meds other than anti-coagulants. I feel so much better from coming off all the meds and I haven't had to change my lifestyle other than not participating in any extreme sports any more - thought it best not to give the heart too many more surprises!
I hope that's reassuring. For what it's worth I'd definitely investigate the PFA option - really hope you're suitable. Wishing you the very best.
Hello Beaver113. A 68 year old Canadian here. I had a PVI cryo-ablation for PAF 6-1/2 years ago (Aug. 2018). The EP deemed the procedure an "acute success". I've been 100% AF-free since the ablation and have experienced zero ectopic heart beats or flutter. My cryo-ablation procedure wasn't much of a bother at all.. but given the available choices today, it makes perfect sense to choose PFA over any other ablation technique.
I had a PFA with a general anaesthetic. I would say that the GA impact worse than the PFA itself. I am coming to the end of week 9 post procedure and no AF, so that’s good but more ventricular ectopics. I thought they were going to look for those and get rid as well but I don’t think they did.
Looks like you have experience with metoprolol. Can you help Beaver113?
I've been taking metoprolol succinate ER since 2019. 25 mg tablets PIP. It doesn't make me overly tired. In 2019 I started by taking one tab when episode started. Then wait 2 hours to take another one. It definitely helped.
As the years have gone by, I am now having to take at least 2 tabs to start with. And then maybe a 3rd or 4th after a couple of hours. I don't go above that because at that level it can make me light-headed.
I am beginning to wonder if it is helping at all now. I haven't tried not taking it when I get an episode. I need to do that to figure out if it's helping anymore.
In general, I have afib episodes about two or three times a week. Each episode lasts approximately 4 hours.
Next month I will see a different EP, And ask about the possibility of other medications or pulsed field ablation.
I’m 84 live in Ottawa and have AFib and fluttering for more than 25 years.I generally just ignore it and then it’s slowly going back to normal.Just taking Xeralto once a day to prevent blood clots.Good luck.
Heart flutters are often related to AF, being an extra beat arising from the atrium. An ECG done at the surgery might catch these but often doesn't, or you could ask for a two-week Holter ECG monitor. Alternatively, you could get hold of a home ECG device which makes it easier to catch them. Many use a Kardia, but I have a Contec PM20 / Emay 6L which gives a good free AI generated analysis. An Apple Watch is also a good investment but won't label what it finds unless it is AF, whereas the Contec will label many other arrhythmias. All produce an ECG trace which will show everything and can be shown to your doctor for analysis, though.
Canadian here, 56 years, male. Diagnosed in December, 21 with PAF. Tried the medication route bisoprolol/xarelto for a few years before asking about ablation. I live in Ottawa within walking distance of Canada’s premier Heart Institute. Interestingly enough they only offer RF ablation. The experience was excellent from the pre-op tests through the procedure and the follow up. Ablation was August 2024 with no recurrences. Medication remains the same until one year post-op.
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