Scared about Ablation for AFib.

I ad an ablation at 78, a year and a half ago, and am doing fine, off all meds too.

Wow! That's wonderful!

Wow! That's wonderful!

73 YO Male here … had cryo-ablation for AFIB a year ago and an ICD implant this past May (because of Tachycardia). Today I am off of Eliquis, but still take low dose Sotalol and Metropolol . No AFIB and only a few PVC’s — so feeling much better than before. Recovery from ablation was no problem. Go for it!

Don't be nervous about the ablation - I've had two of them and both went well. I had zero pain afterwards, although my Dr. said occasionally patients will get chest pain. I had the option of going home the same day or spending the night at the hospital, I chose to spend the night since we live an hour away.

Thank you so much. All of you are helping me to calm down! I'm glad I joined this group.

Linda, your post touched my heart since I had exact experience 1/yr ago. Had 3 severe episodes 3 months apart with rate over 210 bpm. Scheduled ablation after 3rd one. Also was told very little in advance, live alone, no support. Ablation went well although had episode during procedure. After was alone snd in great fear. My experience was sporadic episodes of erratic hr which doc said was to be expected, terrible reflux causing difficulty breathing, inability to eat. No pain. My biggest problem was intolerance to the meds, especially antiarrythmic. Anxiety was terrible. Not a good time to be alone. Was tough experience but am 1 yr post ablation and doing well. Afib and being alone is difficult. In summary, be prepared for scary stuff post ablation. . And I do wish EPs would explain everything in advance so we could know what to expect. I do much better than dealing with unknown. Good luck

It is a scary thing to have an ablation. I had my first ablation in 2011 at 63 years of age. It lasted 8 years. I was off Pradaxa and anti-arrhythmia drugs 6 months later. My AFib resurfaced in 2019 and I was to have a second ablation in March of 2020 but COVID intervened (as did breast cancer and a double mastectomy) so I had my second ablation in May of 2021 at age 73. Both ablations were successful. I no longer take Eliquis and no anti-arrhythmia drugs. My quality of life was greatly improved and was so glad that my cardiac electrophysiologist recommended this procedure and sent me to someone who had much more experience in the ablation I needed. I know it is scary but for me it was a blessing and such a relief.

Muy alentador su comentario.Y también útil sobre todo ante la incertidumbre que causa una posible repetición de una FA.
Hace dos años,estando sola en mi casa sentí un malestar en el pecho que no era dolor pero que me hizo sentir que era algo grave ( gracias a Dios tengo una exelente salud solo alterada hace 18 años por un cáncer de mama operado a tiempo por qué se manifestó superficialmente) Pedí ayuda a una nieta mientras me dirigía al hospital de mi seguro médico.Mi ritmo cardíaco era de 190 cuando llegue y me internaron. Con medicación y control continuo de análisis me estabilizaron y al día siguiente volví a mi casa después de todos los estudios que repito cada 6 meses.Pero mi preocupación son los medicamentos que sigo tomando Rivaroxaban, (anticoagulante),flecanida,y bisoprolol. El hematólogo me dice que la única manera de obviar los medicamentos es con una ablacion. Pero realmente,en mi ignorancia,me siento aterrada ante la palabra sola.
Aclaro,que a los dos cuando tuve mi taquicardia,sin saberlo estaba incubando COVID. Cuyo único síntoma fué la perdida del gusto y olfato .Y mi duda siempre será ,si esa taquicardia no fue una manifestación pasajera del COVID.
Gracias por leer mi preocupación.