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Ablation in 2 weeks, looking for guidance and advice in preparing.
Hey friends ❤️,
I (44/m) have had AFib 4 times in my life. At 25, 30, 35 and most recently at 44 in July or 2025. After my most recent time, I was cardioverted in the ER and released that day. Like a dummy, I started an SSRI 2 days after I was home to reduce my stress levels. Wouldn’t you know it was a few days after that I had AFib again, and had to be cardioverted again.
After the cardioversion I was put on Amiodarone and had strong side effects including 90 hours of straight insomnia. I was then switched to Flecanaide with Diltiazem. Although I have major fatigue and brain fog from Flec, my heart is in a stable rhythm.
I was referred by my cardiologist to an EP and had my consult last week. He wants to ablate for AFib and also try to ablate for SVT since it was seen on a monitor I wore. He has noted there are small risks with each. I’ve been advised to stop Flecanaide and Diltiazem 3 days prior to the ablation, which makes me nervous I may convert back to AFib. I’ve been advised to call their office, not the ER, if I do find myself in AFib as they may want to see it when they ablate.
Looking for insights from folks who have been through a similar path as me. This whole experience has brought me a fair amount of anxiety and I’d be lying if I said i wasn’t nervous.
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Hi, and welcome to 'the fold'. We are mostly all arrhythmia students and sufferers here.
You WANT your heart in arrhythmia when you are wheeled into the cath lab. It's tougher for the EP to ferret out the bad spots with the rogue cells if you are in normal sinus rhythm (NSR) at the time of ablation.
I don't know how much you've looked into your condition, but AF is not lethal. It can be a royal pain, very unpleasant, and you may sense and know when it's happening. IOW, it's the symptoms that are the immediate annoyance and bother, not that your heart is fibrillating. Later on, left unmanaged, yes, AF can be a problem because it tends to progress to more advanced stages and can lead to other heart structure problems (officially called 'remodeling'). But you are still in the earliest stage, 'paroxysmal', and this is when it's easiest to treat, even if it's the hardest to locate. Fortunately, 90% of all early cases of AF are as a result of rogue firing cells found in the mouths of the pulmonary veins. Most EPs will do a pulmonary vein 'isolation' as a first crack at you.
If you'd like to learn more, and would rather watch and listen than to read a lot of articles, please consider going onto YouTube and typing, 'AFib Education Center' in the wide search field above all the videos that show. You'll get a real earful there.
Causes of AF:
a. ischemia (poor oxygenated blood supply to the heart);
b. too much stress (adrenalin and cortisol production over the 'usual' amount);
c. bad sleep, especially due to obstructive or central sleep apnea (a whole 'nuther subject for you to explore....AND be tested for); and
4. various 'triggers' which we all seem to have, and which we all have to discover for ourselves since we're all unique. Alcohol, caffeine, too little magnesium in the diet, too much fat, eating too much and getting indigestion or bending over with a full stomach, and the list goes on and on...
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2 ReactionsAt least to my knowledge I had only one episode of Afib. Was on Eliquis instantly and Diltiazem then switched from Diltiazem to metoprolol. Had a cardioversion which last until 3 days before my scheduled ablation. Pulse Field Ablation performed at UC Health in Aurora, CO. While they were performing the PFA, they saw that I also had flutter in both left and right atria. During the PFA procedure they used drugs to induced some form of Afib so they could find the areas that were causing the spurious electric signals. They spent about an hour and a half doing ablations in the left and right atria. I had no real prep before the PFA. Continued on the Eliquis and metoprolol. They did do a CT scan the day before the PFA to provide an accurate map of the organs around the heart so the cardio team could be sure to avoid the organs. I was in recovery for about 2 or 3 hours and then was discharged. I was staying in a hotel and spent an extra before flying home. Since the PFA I was taken off of metoprolol and am only taking the Eliquis. One of the reasons for the Eliquis is my age number in the CHA2DS2-VASc scoring system. I am over 75 which gives me a +2 which puts me at a risk for stroke.
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1 ReactionI've had AFib for years. In 2024, I had 59 episodes lasting over 20 hours each. I finally had a PF ablation (Mayo Rochester). I don't know why I waited so long. It was a piece of cake. I had absolutely no side effects except for a bruise on one side of my groin for a few days (no pain). No headache. No bumps or lumps. I had to struggle to try to relax for a few days. I can now exercise and weightlift. I carry grandchildren around. I can have a drink and eat too much (once in a while). I had a few short (minutes) episode in the days following the procedure. This is common while your heart settles down. Just be positive. You might shave yourself before getting there (though they will do a good job at it) and pack some loose clothes to travel home in. I was in early in the morning and out shortly afternoon. 73M and had mine done in February. From your perspective, you get wheeled into surgery, you go to sleep, you wake up in recovery. If you are like me, you wake up not feeling like you had anything done.
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