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Should I consider ablation?

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Sep 19, 2020 | Replies (86)

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@danab

Hi Mary, i can really relate to your concern. Ive had a total of 9 Ablations and had a pacemaker also. I was not Afib bur ventricular Tachacardia. I will say i truly had 2 very successful ablations i the early years. I then due to my EP dr moving tried a new one. I still believe to this day as i found out after the ablation that i did not need that one he was convinced he could get me off my meds with another ablation. I think he was something of a Maverick and tried to do to much. Well that was 2015 and by November 2017 i did not leave the hospital until. I received my new heart in jan 2018. They tried 5 more ablations but without success and i was getting shocked so much to keep me in rythum . So what im basically saying is if you have had great success with your current dr then trust him. Im still in contact with the dr i originally had for the first 2 ablations and after the fact i was talking to him and he never would have recommended an ablation since honestly i was doing great. With me if my first dr would have suggested it i would have trusted him and he was a type to only do what was needed. I learned a lesson. So my advice is if you have a great history with your current dr go with his or hers advice. If its a new dr i would get second opinions. Btw the dr that did the third ablation is not a Mayo dr. I personally trust all of the drs at Mayo i have worked with. Good luck and were here to help.

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Replies to "Hi Mary, i can really relate to your concern. Ive had a total of 9 Ablations..."

@danah Thanks for sharing your story. I don't have the same problem you did but 9 ablations seems like a bit much. I know there are some EPs out there who have no problem with doing one after another and disagreement about how many is too much. I really don't think doctors can predict any outcomes, they can only hope for the best. I have been told that I have multiple circuits and another ablation will not help much. It is all subjective of course. The resident EP who did my cardioversion thought a 6 month frequency was too much! I am on the other hand quite happy that it has kept me in sinus for 6 months and will be thrilled to get another 6 before having to make a decision about what to do next since the choices aren't great. My current EP is not too keen on another ablation but then again he did not perform the two that I've had since he was not available. In my case ablations are not a permanent fix, just to buy me some time so if it gets be another couple of years it would be great. I might just stop at 3 though. I can always get another opinion and if necessary will seek one at Mayo. Mary