Ablation for Afib

The only concerns I have are if they will think I need to try an anti-arrhythmic drug first. I don't want to try any more drugs. My second concern is that I want a pulse field ablation since they are less likely to harm surrounding tissue and they are done in less time than the radiofrequency ablation. Lastly, I am 79 and I am concerned that they will think I am too old to be concerned about this condition ruining my quality of life. It seems lately that everything boils down to "you're old so you just have to expect these things!"

I am 85 years old and there was no mention of my age. I did take Metoprolol and Eliquis before the PFA and I will be on them for another month or so. PFA is the way to go. I will say that when they wheeled me into the procedure room, I have never seen so much electronic equipment in a room in a hospital. BTW, no pain or discomfort after the PFA.

Thank you so much for the feedback! The A-fib episode started again last night at midnight! Third one in a month. So frustrated and upset and angry! I have another month to wait for an appointment with an electrophysiologist! I don't know how people "live" with this when it is so disruptive to me! You give me hope but I don't know what I am going to do now if this doesn't resolve in the next few hours! I so appreciate your information!

Where I live it is very rural and getting an appointment with a specialist takes some time. To see a cardiologist, it took about 5 weeks, and I have to travel 40 miles each way. To have the PFA I had to fly to Denver and spend 4 days there. My Afib started in December 2024, and it took until 5 March before I could have a cardioversion which lasted until the Sunday before the Friday PFA. I went back to NSR on Monday and was in NSR when they started the PFA procedure. If possible, maybe you can get a cardioversion while you go through the process of setting up a date for PFA. Worked for me.

I really congratulate you on your choices. I don't have as much difficulty getting to good docs but I would fly to anywhere about now to get my A-fib treated with PFA. I am hoping to see my cardiologist today to see what he plans for me after the "episode" this weekend. I am now questioning just what I am doing that triggers this! I would just like a "WHY" for this problem. I absolutely don't eat or drink anything that is supposed to be harmful but I did recently have a tonic with lime (no alcohol) as a substitute libation when we went to lunch with friends. Now I am reading that some people are sensitive to the quinine in the tonic! Can there be anything else that is "forbidden" to take away the pleasure in life at this age? LOL Good luck and thank you for the feedback. It helps not to feel alone in this journey.

I am currently in my 4th episode of AFib (each about 3 months) since I received my pacemaker. One I self-converted; two I had cardioversion. My EP said that you can't be shocked every few months! I am going to look into PFA, although he recommended AV Node ablation. Like sjm46 I would love to know WHY. I don't go near caffeine or alcohol, and I am also 79 with a concern that I am considered "old" by some of the doctors. It really helps to read experiences of people on this discussion (as stated above "it helps not to feel alone in this journey"). Some folks "live with" AFib. I don't want to live with the shortness of breath when walking fast or climbing steps. However, I don't want to continue to have AFib again and again after various treatments. Have any of you who had PFA then later had a recurrence of AFib, or did the PFA end the Afib? I have been on probably every possible medication - with no results. Currently I am taking 225 mg of Propafenone 3 times a day. Obviously, it did not prevent me from going back into AFib! Thanks to all of you!

Ablation helps but the drugs you have to take a lot of different side effects and there is a choice between the side effects and a stroke so I guess it’s better to take the meds after an ablation

I am surprised that you are on no medication! How is that possible? My doc practically ran out of the room to get me an Eliquis tablet when I saw him with my first A-fib episode. I had 5 months after that first episode and now I have had 3 in a month! I want an ablation ASAP! The more episodes of A-fib, the more it spreads according to what I have read.

Yes, very helpful here. Yes, 70s are considered old. ( I can’t wrap my head around this though.) I now have learned it’s never just “fixed” - over and done.

I have not heard of AV node ablation, so:
“Anyone who has AV node ablation needs a pacemaker for life to help the heart beat correctly. It's placed under the skin by the collarbone. You might have this device placed several weeks before AV node ablation to make sure it works well. But some people receive the pacemaker the day of the ablation.”

Please keep us updated. Wishing you well.

Yes, don't you just hate it when the only reason for your A-fib is "being old." And then the line "but A-fib isn't going to kill you." Well, guess what, it isn't improving my life much! I can't drink more than one cup of 1/2 caf, no alcohol, no tonic water, no chocolate, no "excessive" exercise, lose weight, no heavy meals, no extra salt, no bad sleep habits, take a crap-load of meds, no "stress" as if walking on eggshells waiting for the next episode to pop up isn't stressful! I absolutely hate this condition and I am doing everything I can to get an ablation with the hope that it will arrest this demon before I go crazy.