Hi I was diagnosed with A fib in Jan ‘19 & have been on Flecainide since, I’m due to have an ablation in the next couple of weeks, really not looking forward to it.
Any views on what to expect & anyone got experience on it being successful or not, is it very uncomfortable, I’m having a local anaesthetic, & is the puncture wound sore afterwards? I’m also concerned about the possible risks involved in having the procedure!!
Hi there. I have had 2 pulmonary vein isolation ablations, one was the cryo version where the area in the heart is frozen round where the irregular beat is going to seal it off. This lasted 3 years. Then I had another one done by the heat version where the area in the heart is burned. It sounds horrific but I didn't feel anything but I did have a general anaesthetic with both of my ablations. The second one lasted 4 years. You will have puncture wounds in both groins as they put a camera up in one and the equipment to do the ablation up the other side. The flex with camera and flex with equipment is very small and thin. I know it sounds horrendous. Afterwards I had to lie flat for about 6 hours as they do not stitch the wounds but one has a plug put in it and I carried a card for a period of time saying what I had done. As the heart is being tampered with it does sometimes object and you might feel AF but that doesn't mean the procedure has been unsuccessful. You have a period of time in which the heart recovers and then it can be seen if the procedure has been successful or not. As my 2nd one was 10 years ago I can't remember how long the period of time was but you can ask and will certainly be told. Not sure what the odds of success are these days but I was told because of my age, I was 66 then and the fact that I am diabetic type 2 the odds of success for me were not as high as they would be for anyone else. I was on warfarin before my first ablation and afterwards I was able to come off it, but after the 2nd one I was told I had to stay on it for the same reason, age, diabetic and even female came into it! As medical science is always moving on my experiences of 10 years ago and then 5 years ago may be different now. Maybe someone else will reply to you that might be more helpful with up to date information. I know its easy to say, but do try not to worry, these ablations have been done for many years now. I am sure it will all go well for you. Sending very best wishes. Hannah-Hay
Sorry just re-read your question when you ask if the puncture wounds are sore afterwards. I really don't remember them being sore at all.
Hi, thanks so much for replying, that sounds very reassuring. I’m having the ‘freezing’ procedure.
You say First ablation lasted 3 years & the second procedure lasted 4 years so are you now getting A Fib symptoms again? I’ve heard some people have several ablations, I’m hoping the first one works & will last a long time!!
As I’m 60 I’m not on routine blood thinners as apparently you have to be 65, but they have just put me on APIXABAN for 4 weeks before I can have it done, then I’ll have to stay on it for about 6 months afterwards !
I have now got atrial flutter & was going to have another ablation done in Dec 2018 but the night before the heart went from flutter to fibrillation! The Cardiologist decided to do cardioversion instead. This only lasts about 3 months for me. Ablation for flutter is apparently different from ablation for fibrillation. Best of luck with the ablation. For a lot of people ablation is successful the first time. I do hope you will be one of them. Very best wishes for a successful outcome.
I was diagnosed with hypotension when I was collapsing with atrial. I am at the back of the queue whilst idiots crowd the beaches to spread the virus. There a lots of papers on the internet about ablation,how to prepare and how to recover. Good luck. If you do your vitals every day the difference will give you every confidence
Thank you very much, hope you get sorted soon.
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