Wellness

[Patriot3]

Has anyone here taken medication or had an ablation for Afib?  If so, what is your opinion on them?  Really confused.

[kug]

I had an ablation just a couple days ago mostly because the first medication I was placed on needed to be doubled eventually because I was still having episodes of fibrillation and then even another med was added because I was still having problems.  The ablation process was a difficult procedure as I was on the table for 4 1/2 hours because the cause of my fibrillations was not where the Dr. originally suspected. ( I had to have a rare case!)  He has to induce a medication to stimulate my heart into fibrillation 6 to 7 times in order to find the cause which was miserable. (They only gave me a sedative as using anesthesia slows the heart and would not give clear results)  He was able to find the problem and caulterize the area.  I was then taken to my room where I had to lay flat for another 3 hours.  I am home and feeling ok except for being tired with no energy.  The good news is that I am down to one medication with less dosage than the first med and the Dr. said if I continue to do well, I should be able to discontue that med and be 98% cured.  Good luck with your decision.  I am glad it is over and hope I never have to go through that again.

[Love my grandkids]

@kug Wow, you really went through a lot. I wish you all the very best and a good recovery.

[hckynut]

@kug 

Happy to hear that your procedure went well for you. Several of my friends have had ablation procedure, mostly with very good and long lasting results. 1 of them even came back to playing in my hockey league games, and without any issues.

My best wishes to you with continuing good results and getting off necessary medications. 

hckynut 🏒

[BlueFinch]

@kug Wow, that was quite an ordeal, but how wonderful to have had such a positive outcome.  Enjoy that road to your 98% cure .

[jlkz]

@kug 

Glad they found the right area to cauterize during the ablation

@Patriot3 @kug 

DH had an ablation late October 2019: it took 5 hrs. Under anesthesia.  There were many areas to be dealt with.  Then the specialist inserted a combined pacemaker / defibrillator which took 3 more hours.  

The Afib continues to be gone and they have just decreased the dosage of Entresto.  Also, the ejection fraction has returned to almost normal from a low of 20-25%.

We are very grateful for his ablation specialist and his cardiologist.  ( Also for the many prayer warriors on DH's side ! )

[Patriot3]

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@kug wrote:

I had an ablation just a couple days ago mostly because the first medication I was placed on needed to be doubled eventually because I was still having episodes of fibrillation and then even another med was added because I was still having problems.  The ablation process was a difficult procedure as I was on the table for 4 1/2 hours because the cause of my fibrillations was not where the Dr. originally suspected. ( I had to have a rare case!)  He has to induce a medication to stimulate my heart into fibrillation 6 to 7 times in order to find the cause which was miserable. (They only gave me a sedative as using anesthesia slows the heart and would not give clear results)  He was able to find the problem and caulterize the area.  I was then taken to my room where I had to lay flat for another 3 hours.  I am home and feeling ok except for being tired with no energy.  The good news is that I am down to one medication with less dosage than the first med and the Dr. said if I continue to do well, I should be able to discontue that med and be 98% cured.  Good luck with your decision.  I am glad it is over and hope I never have to go through that again.

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@kug  My goodness, what an ordeal you had!   I hope you continue to improve.  I'm so surprised that they didn't put you out for that!!  

I am kind of fearful of the ablation, but on the other hand, hate the idea of taking meds.  Two of the meds suggested states you have to be in hospital for 2-3 days to see if they work and what your response is.  I am not good w/meds. 

So glad for you that it's over.  Take good care of yourself.

PS....Dr did say it would be under general anesthesia

[aubnwa01]

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@kug wrote:

I had an ablation just a couple days ago mostly because the first medication I was placed on needed to be doubled eventually because I was still having episodes of fibrillation and then even another med was added because I was still having problems.  The ablation process was a difficult procedure as I was on the table for 4 1/2 hours because the cause of my fibrillations was not where the Dr. originally suspected. ( I had to have a rare case!)  He has to induce a medication to stimulate my heart into fibrillation 6 to 7 times in order to find the cause which was miserable. (They only gave me a sedative as using anesthesia slows the heart and would not give clear results)  He was able to find the problem and caulterize the area.  I was then taken to my room where I had to lay flat for another 3 hours.  I am home and feeling ok except for being tired with no energy.  The good news is that I am down to one medication with less dosage than the first med and the Dr. said if I continue to do well, I should be able to discontue that med and be 98% cured.  Good luck with your decision.  I am glad it is over and hope I never have to go through that again.

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@kugIt sounds like what you had was an electrophysiology study to pinpoint the area/pathway in your heart that was causing your problem.  I didn't have Afib, but I had to have this study done prior to having open heart surgery for Wolff-Parkinson-White in 1988 & had to lay flat on a gurney for 5 hours while they put my heart thru a variety of pacings to pinpoint the location of my accessory pathway.  They thought for a while that I might be a candidate for an ablation, but the location was too near something else & an ablation could've caused me to have a major heart attack & they decided open heart surgery was a safer option for me, which i had a few weeks later.  After the study, I had to lay flat for 6 hours in the hospital as the area in my groin where they'd run a catheter up into my heart to do the mapping could cause problems.  At the end of the study, with them making my heart do all these various rhythms, I was all sweaty & tired & felt like I'd run a marathon, when I'd only been laying flat on my back for 6 hours

[Mary Bailey]

DH had ablation about 15 years ago at age 50 after a stroke due to afib. 

The operation was about 6 hours. DH was on blood thinners before and after the ablation. He's not on any blood thinners now.

[MoJoV]

@Patriot3  I have afib and take Flecainide and Diltiazem twice daily. It has kept my afib at bay pretty well...maybe afib attacks twice a year.  Dr.said if and when they're no longer effective I will probably need a pacemaker.  Don't be afraid of the medication,it has helped me a lot and haven't  noticed any side affects.