Flecainide or ablation for atrial fibrillation?

[TnJns]

My partner has recently been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. He has been offered either medication or ablation and he has opted for ablation as he does not want to be on medication for the rest of his life (he is early 40s). The consultant said it is a complicated procedure with risks and 1 in 200 will have a stroke due to the procedure. I am very worried and think medication would be best. Any thoughts or experiences anyone is willing to share?

[Taichid]

I was given flecainide after I had a surge in blood pressure. After 4 days it did the opposite to what it was supposed to do and I ended up inCCU. I was given bisoprolol and had a pacemaker 3 days later. All went well but I am struggling with biso side effects at the moment

[jeanjeannie50]

Flecainide is like a miracle drug to most people who have AF and it certainly was for me. I've had 3 ablations and still have AF. My EP said that for some people it works, but I'm one of those for whom it didn't. My AF started officially when I was 55, but I believe I had it long before then. I thought everyone's heart thumped and bumped like mine.

There is a forum on Health Unlocked for people with AF. I will get you the link and post it here:

Jean

[Metric]

I ha

[A_fi_bR]

What I've been told is that you'll need an ablation 'at some point', possibly several. The Flecainide 'might' buy you ten years before the first but it really depends on symptoms. I'm now on the max dosage they are prepared to give me and it largely works but I still get symptoms from time to time. Sometimes weeks go by and I think I'm cured but then it kicks back in for a few weeks. My understanding is that as time goes on the Flecainide won't be as effective, so symptoms will increase = ablation time. You have to remember that all these things are to try and limit the amount of times your heart goes into Afib. The more times it does it, the worse it will get. Thankfully it is actually treatable.

[OrdinaryGuy]

A successful catheter ablation procedure should I understand mean there is no need for Flecainide on a daily basis. However may be recommended to keep as "pill in the pocket" to take if an A/F event returns. In my case two catheter ablation procedures, a year apart, were needed to stop my A/F events which had been occuring intermittently for nearly ten years. None for last two years which is great. If taken need to consdier daily dosage. At 70+ around 2 x 150 gms OK I believe. Hopefully you have a Cardiologist - Heart Rhythm Specialist to advise and undertake catheter ablation procedure. Take their advice and follow it daily. Best wishes.