In afib again. Had cardioverson. Didn’t work.
Not sure if I should go for the ablation. Had it before. I know each time you get it it comes back again.
On venetoclax .. will be finished with that in September.
Not sure about my quality of life anymore. Feel like my life is cut short by this disease and not sure if I should do another ablation.
Any advice?
Repeat ablations have a high rate of success. If your cardiologist recommends it, I would definitely go for the chance of feeling better.
I think the success rate is even higher if you can afford or figure out how to have it done at Cleveland Clinic or another major heart center. A lot of regular cardiologists do ablations, but it’s an evolving field with evolving techniques. I personally would seek out an electrophysiologist over a cardiologist for the best chance at getting the most up to date procedure.
Good luck with whatever you decide. It sounds like you are feeling down and frustrated with it, which is understandable but might not have you in the right frame of mind to make the best decision. I would definitely opt for a good chance at feeling better.
Thank you so much. I will do that!
Here is an article that might help:
Success rate for repeat ablation procedure
Approximately 20 to 30 percent of patients need a second pulmonary vein ablation procedure because of recurrent atrial fibrillation that cannot be controlled with medications. Patients with other types of heart disease are more likely to need a second procedure. Second ablation procedures are generally very successful. Ablation of atrial fibrillation is successful in approximately 90 percent of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who have one or more ablation procedures.
My electrophysiologist offered a cardioversion OR an ablation. However, he did tell me that a cardioversion was most likely a temporary fix. So I chose the ablation.
I had an ablation for afib about 14 months ago and thus far have not had any issues. Prior to that I was taking tikosyn which worked well but didn't go well with another medication I was on. Also it was another pill I was dependent on so I opted for the ablation. I have been on 140 mg of ibrutinib during this time and maybe that has helped to keep the afib from recurring as well? I have had friends that have had 2 ablations with success although neither of them are on a btk inhibitor. Good luck and hope you get to feeling better soon.
Hang in there Mav, I was diagnosed with CLL in late 18 but evident a year prior. I have had two heart ablations with the last correcting the issue. Granted these ablations occurred in the initial stages of CLL but I have no ill effects on W&W. I’m about to start in a targeted therapy study and wonder what the meds will do to my heart rhythm.
My a-fib, I thought, came out of the blue in April 2017--never any heart issues! Prescribed meds. Then CLL (diagnosed 2012 and on W & W) went bonkers in August 2017. Participated in a year long, very successful clinical trial with infusion and Revlimid. Got CLL to trace amounts. But a-fib still present from time to time. Had ablation Sept 2019 at OSU Heart Hospital by electrophysiologist. NO problems since them!!
Would you say that an electrophysiologist is the better route to go than a cardiologist?
Definitely! Started with cardiologist who never seemed to get the a-fib~CLL connection. Changed to electrophysiologist who actually talks with my doc! Couldn't be happier with my team at Ohio State University James Cancer Center and Ross Heart Hospital Dr. John Byrd and Dr. Mahmoud Houmsse <3
I have had afib for a good while now-I believe it started before the CLL was DX in 2013. The pulse is not crazy high..but it varies between 50-s-80's.. but always in irregular rhythm. The cardiologist has me on Metoprolol Succinate and Digoxin and Eliquis. I was afraid to go for ablation but now wonder if I should try it. The meds are not reversing the afib-just keeping it from getting too out of whack. My fear is they will shock my heart and it will stop and not start up again . I do worry about the affects of the afib-wearing my heart out? The CLL is under control.
We all share periodic despair. I certainly do. But we must charge forward and play the cards we are dealt. You got a bad hand now but the future may be better. My buddy in a fib leads a full life. Another ablation or medical therapy may be better hands. Our thoughts are with you. We get it. Hang in there.
My own experience supports what others are saying. By all means try a second ablation. So far, for me, the first is working. Afib is gone for 6 months now, though it took a few months before the episodes stopped.
Definitely use a cardioelecrophysiologist. Find one that does literally hundreds of them. Discuss whether cryoablation or radio frequency ablation (cold or heat) is the produre they use. Cold is safer and better, but sometimes in second ablations they need to wait to decide which is needed by testing where the tissue that conducts the electric pulses is located and why it was not destroyed the first time.
The antiarrhythmic drugs like Sotalol and amiodarone can be dangerous. Sotalol especially can cause fatal ventricular irregularities. It needs to be used under careful supervision. My cardiologist handed me a sample and a prescription. I never took it. For me, cryoablation was far preferable.
I probably need to add that permanent afib, afib that never stops and that cannot be cardioconverted, is less successfully treated by ablation than paroxysmal afib, episodes that last a few hours or days and stoo by themselves. If that is your case talk to your electrophys. and cardiologist about whether rate control and Eliquis might be a better option. People live normal enough lives with permanent afib as long as stroke and heart failure are avoided. Eliquis reduces risk of stroke and rate control (simple BP meds like beta blockers) reduce risk of heart failure.
If you are on Venetoclax you need to avoid carvedilol and use a different beta blocker. Why I do not know, but your hemonc and your cardiologist might not know this.
So do see an electrophysiologist with lots if experience with cryoablation.
I wish you the best.
David
starting ibrutanib tomorrow bleeding AFib worries
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CLL, Diabetic, dialysis, afib
I started Paxlovid again.
