HiI suffer from paroxysmal AF on bisoprolol and rivaroxaban.
I saw a new consultant today who has offered ablation. Says to think about it and let his secretary know if I want to go on waiting list.
I am thinking yes to the ablation as could potentially come off BBs, they make me feel so fatigued.
Hoping this is the right decision.
I still think it sounds scary though.
Any advice please?
Cat715 x
I would go for it. At least get on the waiting list. I understand wanting to get off Bisoprolol. I cannot tolerate this drug....it drains all my energy.
Did you get your TKR that you mentioned in previous post?
Hi JaliaThanks for your advice.
Yes, I am now 5 months post total knee replacement. I am still getting a lot of pain though and can't do everything that I thought I would be able to by now but the consultant reassures me that a tkr can take 18 months for a full recovery.
Thanks for asking.
I understand they can take some time to get over. No regrets though?! I'm due to have the same but have to get my pace/ ablate out of the way first. Not looking forward to the prospect as I'm carer for my husband with Parkinson’s....its a case of ' who looks after the carer!'
I'm sure you'll feel much better once you've had your ablation. ( I've had 5 (🙄 ) ) Yes they do sound scary but they are performed so much these days and you will be very well looked after.
Best wishes
J
Jalia
Thanks for replying.
Re: TKR. No regrets. Just impatient as my first goal was to be able to walk up and downstairs normally as been walking one step at a time for 3 to 4 years now. Also not driving yet. Hopefully this will all improve.
Sorry to hear you have so much on. Hope also you have someone to help you and your husband while you recover from your TKR.
No question but do understand it may need repeating. It really is a non event but recovery may take time. We have two fact sheet on preparing for and recovering from ablation when you are ready.
Thanks Bob. Yes please to the fact sheet.
I have had two ablations but still get AF about twice a year. Much less frequent than before and less prolonged. ! Not a difficult operation and the recovery period is quick, less than a week. I still think you will have to take blood thinners as you may get a recurrence at any to time
Thanks southkoreaI have been advised that it would be best to stay on a DOAC post ablation.
My consultant feels that it would be best to have the ablation while my AF is proxysmal and while I am free any other serious health problems.
My EP told me that ablation is much more successful if carried out whilst paroxysmal, once it becomes persistent or permanent it's much more difficult to treat
hi cat.
I was in exactly your predicament. Couldn’t tolerate the drugs at all. Felt like I was walking through mud all day in a daze of brain fog. I don’t need drugs anymore unless my heart jumps out which still happens albeit more rarely. Wish I’d exhausted all other options first. An ablation cannot be undone and if it goes wrong you could end up in a worse position. Took me over a year to recover and my heart hasn’t been the same since. I understand this is rare but when it’s you that’s unlucky, the rarity means nothing. Good luck in your decision.
Elli86So sorry to hear that the ablation was unsuccessful but wonder how you managed to stop the drugs?
Thanks for your reply. Your case certainly makes me realise there is a lot to consider.
I wouldn’t necessarily say it was unsuccessful entirely as it has got me off the tablets, although not permanently. They are now pip which is definitely a positive. There are now unintended differences from how my heart functioned prior to ablation and now. I’ve grown used to it over the last 2 years and know what I can and can’t do. If I could go back I would exhaust all other options as an ablation is permanent so your stuck with whatever the outcome.
If your AF is paroxysmal, could you try using Bisoprolol as a pill in pocket first, before an ablation ? Bisoprolol is a rate control drug, it doesn’t stop you getting AF.
My GP agreed to pip, saying why take a drug all the time that makes you feel awful. Just take it when needed.
Yes, I had the same response from my Cardiologist- I am now on an 'As needed' regimen- I usually take 1.25mg if my HR goes over 90 and it brings me down to a comfortable mid to late 60s quite quickly.
how many times have you had AF? How old are you? Have you tried drugs like Flecanide. The world of ablations is changing for the better with changes in the next few years like live MRI guided catheters to provide much better accuracy than currently available. I am waiting to see when this comes available and will continue on drugs for the near future.
I think you should ask yourself two important questions: how often do I get AF episodes and how long do they last? And: do they make my quality of life really miserable?
If the answers are ‘yes’, there are many options to try before ablations. Flecainide as PIP, Disopyramide, supplements, lifestyle changes, … ablations are a last resort solution, causing irreparable damage to heart tissue and rarely efficient from the first time.
Model52Thanks for your reply albeit a scary one. I hear you and will take your advice into account.
My consultant advises Ablation as a proactive step as in hopefully stopping the AF and so hopefully will need no meds apart from anticoagulants.
At 66 years of age I have to consider having an ablation before the AF becomes persistent and before I potentially become ill with any other chronic condition.
I agree re lifestyle changes. I have lost 2 stone and plan to continue to lose more weight. I have also stopped drinking alcohol.
I bit the bullet and had an ablation in 2022. I don't regret it at all it has improved my QoL enormously. I also had Paroxysmal Afib and the bottom line is the episodes will increase but on a positive note an ablation works well for PAfib. I went from 180 episodes a year to just 6 last year ( after 2 years free) lasting between 1 and 4 hours. Good luck with what you decide!
LilypocketIt's great to hear of your succesful outcome after ablation. Thank you.
How did you know you had 6 episodes last year? Did you verify with devices like a Kardia monitor, or did you make the judgment based on how you felt?
I am not really symptomatic in Afib but my heart feels weird - out of sync - so I take my pulse and sure enough I'm in fast Afib. I am also a bit breathless and feel a bit anxious. But it is easier to spot in the day. I have no idea if I have episodes at night but I doubt it. My episodes have always been diurnal (except once or twice over 13 years)
I think you are doing brilliantly and I was given the same advice - I was 66 when I had my ablation and was told it's much easier to knock it on the head whilst paroxysmal. Once it becomes persistent or permanent it becomes much more difficult to treat. I was quoted 80 to 85% success and so far it seems to have worked for me
Thank you. Very reassuring.
I hope you are wrong, I had my ablation last March and haven't had an episode since January 2024. It was the best decision I made, 🤞the beast stays in his box!!
I opted for ablation because I didn’t want to rely on medicine, never regretted it as I found the meds far scarier.
I would opt for ablation sooner rather than later simply because there are better outcomes from the earlier and the younger you are.
I would jump at the chance. I've had two ablations in the past with very little intervention with anti-arrythmics/beta blockers in the 5 to 6 years years post ablation. Although not a total cure for me, those two ablations certainly helped my QOL.
Good luck.
If you look up my previous posts you will see how much I dithered too!Tried lifestyle, then bisoprolol then flecanide and bisoprolol. Successful for a while but eventually AF and AFlutter got the upper hand and after a lot of whittering and angst,went for the cryo ablation 2022.
I nearly did a runner in the hospital car park still though lol!
Scarring is minimal,circles the 4 pulmonary veins.
Amazed how much better I felt almost straight away. I had obviously got used to feeling under par for years.
No flutter since at all, some isolated AFib episodes ( each could be attributed to known triggers )
Some people do need a follow up if the areas have not quite been isolated.
Best wishes ❤️
Hi Cat , I would go for the ablation ASAP. I delayed having one partly due to COVID and my P-AF suddenly and rapidly progressed to constant symptomatic AF with a HR of 160 lasting for 8 months while I waited for the ablation. I was literally on my knees with exhaustion and despair .
I think leaving my decision so long contributed to my ablation only being partially successful and I now need Flecainide to keep my AF controlled but I have had no episodes of AF for a year. Flecainide did not work for me before the ablation .
As say this as someone who had problems with bleeding from the groin and a damaged nerve in my thigh due to the ablation but I would have one again tomorrow.
ETA the latest research I looked at before my ablation suggested it was better to have an ablation early on before progressive episodes of AF remodelled the heart, after leaving my decision so long I went from an ejection fraction of 58 to 46 .
Yes I had ablation 6 years ago it was a success so far but had to stay on all my meds,
Oh I thought that meds would not be required if ablation was successful. Maybe its more individualised care
I'm still on flecanide but it's working now and much lower dose Hoping to get off next month xx
I'm not on any meds but have a prescription for Sotolol as a PIP in case. Now due to my age and being a woman plus occasional / rare episodes I take anti-coagulants.
I stayed on a lower dose of Sotalol I think it helps to keep it under control. Before the ablation Sotalol didn't work for me
I had mine in March 2024 and my EP has kept me on the meds but so far no episodes that I am aware of. I have almost forgotten about AF
it’s normal to be anxious about it Cat, Iv had three ablations and don’t regret it at all. 👍
I would suggest going for the ablation but don’t automatically expect to come of the meds. They like you to keep taking them for belt and braces.
Colutd my consultant told me that he would keep me on bisoprolol for a few weeks post ablation then wean me off them all being well but best to stay on rivaroxaban.
Yes, that's what my EP says
I felt exactly the same, so scared so when they called for me after 12 months I am embarrassed to say I made some feeble excuse I was going away that week. I didn't bank on them sending for me only a few weeks later!! I was so frightened but put my big pants on and went for it. The thought of those awful episodes of fast heart rate lasting over 36 hours was something I didn't want to continue with, it was stopping me travelling abroad for the sheer fact that it might 'kick off' when I was 35,000 feet in the air!!
I was terrified of the risks but.......I did it last March and so far I have remained in NSR 🤞long may the beast stay away!
It was the best decision I made and nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. 24 hours later I was out of hospital and within 2 days walking a fair few yards to Tesco cafe for coffee (decaf of course). The following weekend I went out for lunch. I did have some indigestion for a few weeks but this gradually settled. My EP still has me on Sotalol for now but a reduced dose and I will be on anticoagulants for life.
My advice is go for it!
KarendeenaLoved your anecdotes 😊
Great result and great inspiration. Thank you.
🩳
Yes, the big pants 🤣🤣🤣 Just to make you laugh, I had my ablation under sedation and I remember researching my EP at great length before I started seeing him. I discovered a few things about thim personally that I vaguely remember saying to him whilst the procedure was being carried out! I said "You play the piano don't you", he replied "Yes, but not very well". I then remember saying "You'd be surprised what I know about you", goodness knows what else I said.....how embarrassing 😜🤣
Oh, and I had no problem with the groin either and never felt the catheters going in!
Lol you sound like a stalker! Just joking. A sense of humour is a great thing.I was wide awake and not sedated, had an epidural anaesthetic when I had my Total knee replacement and I was chatting away to the anaesthetist.
However, I may have a general anaesthetic for the ablation. Not sure yet.
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