4 ablations for a fib and back in a fib

[mamakuch]

I have had ablation for a fib 4 times, and have recently gone back into a fib after 18 months--the longest it ever lasted. Anyone had more than 4 ablations?

[jeanjeannie50]

There's someone on the AF Association site on Health Unlocked who has had 7 or 8. He's called Potty Pete, have a look.

Is your AF better now than it was before you had any ablations? I've had 3 and have been told I'm not suitable for any more.

Jean

[mamakuch in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I just popped out of sinus on Thursday. Took six 200 mg does of amiodarone, and popped back in yesterday. The last ablation kept me off amiodarone for 1.5 years. The other three lasted about six months. I don't know how to answer if it is better or worse. It is a fib, and when I have it, I am very symptomatic.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to mamakuch]

It sounds like all your AF attacks are the same? We all tend to have it in varying degrees. Mine was inconsistent and during my worst attack a few years ago I felt sick, dizzy and had to struggle to keep conscious. When the paramedics came they found my heart was racing too fast to register in my wrist. Other attacks have carried on for months making me feel quite disabled and unable to walk far, these were solved by cardioversions. Before any of my ablations an attack would make me feel ill and last for a few hours and occur about every six weeks. I've been in AF constantly now for about 8 months, but it feels nowhere near as bad as PAF.

Amiodarone is a horrible tablet to have to take, when I did it damaged my thyroid and I'll now have to take pills to support that for life. It's known as the pill of last resort because of the damage it can cause.

Wishing you well

Jean

[mamakuch in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I have had PAT beginning when I was 25. I have been on beta blocker since then (41 years.) If ablation had been available then, I don't think I would have ever gone into a fib when I was 57. Because of the beta blockers (which I have remained on due to familial tremor,) my heart rate doesn't get particularly high when I have a fib. I do get breathless and exhausted. I can fell it the second my heart goes out or comes back in, but when it goes out, it doesn't go back into sinus without assistance. I absolutely hate that I have put my family through four ablations with no long-lasting results. Still, amiodarone makes my joints ache so badly that I can barely walk. And, of course the toxicity is a constant concern. My daughter and my sister are both cardiac nurses. My sister has been very supportive of ablation; my daughter has been against it every time. My regular electrophysiologist doesn't do pulmonary vein ablation. His associate did it the last time and told me that he wouldn't do it again. I haven't see my doc since I went back into a fib (I am out now due to going back on amiodarone -six does of 200 mg. did it.) I won't see my doc until I get back from vacation, but he is totally against the pace maker which his associate said he wanted to do if the last ablation didn't hold. I have to admit that I am getting discouraged. Thanks for sharing!

[Eshirley23]

My husband had three ablations 15 years ago and 4 in the last three years. Last summer he had a hybrid ablation where they cauterized the entire back of his heart. He was in a surgery for ten and a half hours, went into shock and was in ICU for a week. They told him it would take a full year to heal. Nine months later he was in a fib and a flutter. They were supposed to do an ablation last week, but when they saw the inside of his heart, he was too scarred to safely do any procedure. He is on tikasyn now. If that doesn't work, hell have to get a pacemaker. He's only 50.

[elwell]

I just had my 9th ablation for afib & SVT last Friday. I’m hoping this one is successfully the last; however, I recently started getting ectopic beats and they freak me out because I’ve never had them before. Ectopic beats and trying to sleep don’t mix!

[Rdiehl01 in reply to elwell]

How old are you

[Rdiehl01]

Hello I have had 1...I’m only 34 though...they say I may need more in future