Should I consider ablation?

Welcome @jimana,
Thanks for the details of your very recent events. I can imagine that your anxiety is high. This is all so very new. A number of members have asked about ablation and others have shared their experiences. Check out this discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/i-was-just-diagnosed-with-svt-and-cant-seem-to-find-any/ where you'll meet @martishka, @topaz @gonefishinmt.

Also see this discussion thread where @billmichalski @twptrustrek @jhoffmanj are discussing AFib issues https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/good-morning-im-almost-66-years-old-with-infrequent-afib-and-on/

Thanks so much for your help. Stopping my heart chemically and using the paddles to shock me three times made me convinced I never want A-fib again and will do anything to prevent a recurrence. I look forward to reading the advice and posts of folks more experienced than I.

Hi. I had cardiac ablation 10 days ago to try to elimi ate my A- fib. Im still scared it wont stop. Ive had two small episodes since that lasted 2-4 hours. Im afraid somehow ill set it off.

Welcome @nadine66,
I moved your message to this discussion that @jimana started earlier this evening asking about ablations. I look forward to @martishka joining this conversation to tell you about her experience with ablation.

Were you told that you may experience small episodes after your ablation?

Hi Jimana,
You are so fit, I am very impressed.. You sound like a strong and healthy person. That really works in your favour. And you want to get rid of the A FIB- What I don't understand is what kind of pacemaker you have. I'll just back up- I have had A Fib as well but it was accompanied by SVT - a rapid heart rate. In order to have a pacemaker I would have to have had my Sinus node ablated which meant that I would be pacemaker dependent. My heart would still beat if the pacemaker failed- at about 20 BPM. The idea is that by ablating the Sinus Node (the headquarters for your heart's electrical system) you essentially have stopped the rapid heartbeat of SVT (up to 220 for me) I didn't go that route and several years later began my journey with ablations. After 4 failed attempts I had a pulmonary vein ablation which cured me. The idea is that the rogue signal starts in one of the pulmonary veins. By ablating ( or burning ) around all the veins and the atria you create scar tissue so that when one of those rogue signals goes off it hits the scar tissue and dissipates. I couldn't be happier with this solution. Most people have success after one or two ablations- I was an anomaly. And that shouldn't discourage you. My only question would be whether or not you are still a candidate for an ablation since you've had a pacemaker. You would have to ask your dr about that. I can understand your fear of being paddled. I have had a lifetime of SVT (I was born with it). And when the episodes necessitated hospital visits I was sometimes told I would have to be cardio converted. I always objected, since I knew that with a verapimal drip, some calm thinking on my part, and a healthy dose of ativan I could convert spontaneously. That was true for me for over 25 years. I hope this helps you and I wish you the best. Try to remember that Afib is not a disease, and can be controlled. Good luck, martishka

HI Nadine.
You need to talk to your electrophysiologist. I;ve had 5 ablations and it is expected to have "episodes" after. Your heart has been prodded, probed and either heat or cold ablated. It reacts by beating erratically. After my PVA pulmonary vein ablation I had 3 months of some runs of tachycardia. some PVC's. (premature ventricular contractions which are benign) and some AFib. it is all part of the healing. I know its unsettling but hang in there. It seems to me that 2=4 hours is a bit long and I would ask my dr. I had holter monitors at different points post ablation (2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc...) We also have an AFib clinic here with nurses and a pharmacist who are trained in that area) They have our charts and get to know you.... So I often called to review my symptoms and discuss what to do. Perhaps your hospital offers that service. But if not, I Would speak to EP
All the best, martishka

I'd suggest you consider what your cardiologist recommended, and I didn't see ablation on that list.

Thanks for your response. I will check Into the info you suggested.<br>

@martishka - Thanks for the interesting account of your journey. You are most fortunate that you have arrived at a solution. My pacemaker is "on demand" set at 60 BPM, so I am not dependent on it. I assume this means an ablation is still possible, but have yet to hear back from my cardiologist. BTW, I like your username 🙂

I posted my story just a few hours before yours - see JohnDL. I'll add to this additional information based on what I understand is your situation (please understand I'm not a doctor). I had one ablation before the one that worked. The one that worked for me required the ablation to be performed in the left chamber. Since the doctor enters the heart thru the right chamber he "poked" a hole between the two chambers (it is something this group developed as I understand it). Check around as one must find a doctor who can do what you need done.