Atrial Fibrilation ablation surgery or Pacemaker

A pacemaker does not stop AFib. I had a pacemaker implanted due to very low heart rates (I passed out). However, since my pacemaker, I have had several episodes of AFib. I am now in Afib for the 4th time since my pacemaker. The EP wants to do an ablation because I am in AFib 100 percent of the time.

You might want to consider a Watchman. See if you can get an appointment with an electrophysiologist (a cardìologist)that specializes in the electrical system of your heart. She/he would do both the Watchman procedure and the ablation, if necessary. Since the Watchman prevents blood clots in your heart, thus traveling to your brain, it prevents strokes without the use of oral blood thinners. My bruising is minimal now. The Watchman is implanted through a vein/artery (I can't remember which one) but no major heart surgery 😄. Talk to the cardiologist and make the decision that's right for you.
Best wishes!

When i first got pacemaker Sept 5 2024 i had nonstop AFib until Dec 2024. Then aFib stopped. Doc said i “converted.” Since then I’ve had little to none aFib. Heart rate set at 70. Its been a miracle. Good luck!

I have never had an ablation and I have a Pacemaker. My AFib is persistent. UNC did not notice it and gave me an anti-arrhythmia drug that almost killed me.

Thanks! I need a miracle like yours! I was not in AFib when I received my pacemaker. However, since then I have had 4 episodes of AFib and am in AFib now. I sure wish I would "convert"!

Like you, my AFib is persistent and I also have a pacemaker. The anti-arrhythmia drug I was prescribed was Amiodarone. That was toxic to my lungs, and I have permanent scarring. Since then I have been on Sotalol, Flecainide, and am now on Propafenone. I am still in AFib. They want to do an ablation, but I know so many people that had to have more than one. I am not sure what to do.

Thanks! I need a miracle like yours! I was not in AFib when I received my pacemaker. However, since then I have had 4 episodes of AFib and am in AFib now. I sure wish I would "convert"!

Like you, my AFib is persistent and I also have a pacemaker. The anti-arrhythmia drug I was prescribed was Amiodarone. That was toxic to my lungs, and I have permanent scarring. Since then I have been on Sotalol, Flecainide, and am now on Propafenone. I am still in AFib. They want to do an ablation, but I know so many people that had to have more than one. I am not sure what to do.

About 75% of all index ablations (first attempts) are successful. So, about 25% fail. However, the re-dos typically run about 85% successful, so an improvement. I had to have two, seven months apart. Typically, the lesions caused during the first attempt don't let any spurious signal through and the EP team feels you have been completely isolated, so no more AF. Then, six, twelve weeks later, you break into AF one day, or a lot of PACs, and it becomes clear then that the team didn't manage to completely close off the focus (which in about 90% of all initial cases is at the pulmonary vein ostia...the mouths). A second attempt has a higher success rate.
An ablation is not to be feared. It's not very uncomfortable, usually, although everyone experiences it and the aftereffects differently. Most feel very well within a couple of days to a week and then they realize they have their life back! I know several people who have had three, four, five, even six ablations. The idea is to give your first EP another chance, but then you should be looking further afield for a better, or more experienced one. Like chefs, artists, dancers, and fishermen, some are better than others.