OT Ablation for Afib OT

Zaltydog · February 2018

Had the procedure about 2.5 months ago for paroxsymal afib. The problem got worse for about 2 months. Last two weeks indicates that things may be improving. My ultimate goal is to be free of the meds. The doc assures me that I have a good chance and wants me to stay on the meds for 6 more months while my heart remodels. Anyone have any experience with this? I really hate what the meds do to me. I am 56 y/o.

DoubleEgger · February 2018

No experience but cheers to a full recovery.

gdenby · February 2018

I had ablation for congestive heart failure 5 years ago. (its amazing how much panic a moment of searing pain at the heart can be.) Don't know how the 2 conditions differ, but I had a nerve that was firing 2X times normal almost continually.

After the ablation, my heart rate calmed down right away. Fortunately, I had been able to afford early retirement at 64. I was useless for about 4 hours a day 'cause of the meds for the next 18 mo.'s.

I'm supposing you'll pull thru, it'll be crap, but hang in there.

HeavyG · February 2018

I have occasional bouts of afib. For whatever reason about every four or five years my heart goes into a "rough idle" for anywhere from 2-7 days or so. Kinda freaked me out the first time it happened 20 years ago.

It hasn't been enough of a problem to warrant any sort of procedure (yet).

I assume you were in afib often (always)?

Good luck!

OhioEgger · February 2018

A good friend had that about two years ago, same thing. After about three months he felt completely normal again, so there's a bit of encouragement for you.

20stone · February 2018

I have had afib issues in the past (please see (and try to unsee) pic above after Salado a couple of years ago. I recently had an ablation and am off the meds.

NOTE - I AM NOT A DOCTOR

Three notes from my process:

I had a cryoablation, where they freeze stuff. That is the newer procedure. A lot of folks still cauterize, but there are more (and bigger) risks with that procedure (while you are still on the table).
I had a loop recorder put in my chest - http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/fainting-heart-monitor/reveal-linq-icm.html - If I have an irregular heartbeat, my cardiologist gets a text. Docs are a lot more comfortable getting you off meds if they are confident they will find out if you have an issue. Highly recommended (provided it isn't a tracking chip or a time bomb)
I understand that ~70% of folks get it right on the first try, and you might have to go back for Round 2. Some folks never get corrected, and that is apparently correlated to the cause of their afib. Folks w sleep apnea are better addressing that instead of the ablation (AFAIK)

Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

Zaltydog · February 2018

Thanks all for the responses! 20stone you looked real happy in that photo, maybe residual effect from Salado? Thanks for the good info. I did not know about implant thing and I am definitely going to ask about that. That makes alot of sense. However, with my insurance company, you might be right and they may implant some sort of life-ending device to save a buck.

20stone · February 2018

Zaltydog said:

Thanks all for the responses! 20stone you looked real happy in that photo, maybe residual effect from Salado?

I had been in a-fib overnight and through the morning, and was in the ER in Temple. The plug I am holding was in the crash cart, which was juuuuust about to be used on me to cardiovert me (yes... that means "electrocute until his heart resets"). I ended up laughing really hard at a smarta$$ comment I made (laughing at my own jokes is a specialty), and that got me back in a sinus rhythm right before they pushed the button.

OT Ablation for Afib OT

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